Birchwood, Bellingham

This family-oriented neighborhood boasts large, deep lots - many of which were once small farms on the edge of the city - with a mix of well-kept, estabished single-family homes and newer apartment complexes.

The neighborhood is on the northwest side of town and has large streets, many tree-covered lots and ready access to Bellingham Bay. Squalicum Creek borders the neighborhood, giving kids a place to ride bike trails without leaving the neighborhood. Adults enjoy Bellingham Golf & Country Club, which has an 18-hole course and outdoor swimming pool.

Park Manor Center on Northwest Avenue anchors the retail district with an Albertson's supermarket and Big Lots Store. Yeager's Sporting Good and Rite Aid pharmacy are nearby. Smaller shops, restaurants and offices are also clustered around the commercial-retail area.

This neighborhood is also close to Bellis Fair mall, the region's major shopping center, located just across Interstate 5 to the northeast.

Schools are convenient for many families: Birchwood Elementary School and Shuksan Middle School are within the neighborhood's boundaries, as is Bellingham Technical College. Some students on the northwest end of the neighborhood attend Alderwood Elementary. Teens from the Birchwood neighborhood attend Squalicum High School.