Birch Bay Vacation

Your Birch Bay Vacation: A Perfect Washington Getaway

When you live in a pretty place it’s often hard to justify a Birch Bay Vacation. My home is east of Seattle, Washington, and in no more than a 20-minute drive I can either be on the water, in the mountains or deep in the woods. But a change of surroundings to shake off the cobwebs is vital from time to time, even if only for a day.

This past July I found myself longing for a getaway but with precisely this tiny window of opportunity, 24 hours, to enjoy it. Was any place worth the effort for so short a time? One look at the list of Timeshare Rentals presented me with the answer: a Birch Bay vacation.

With miles of bay front offering hours of tidal entertainment, a come-as-you-are atmosphere, and handy proximity to major metropolitan areas, amiable WorldMark Birch Bay provides the perfect Pacific Northwest escape for a week, weekend or even just one day. Ask about availability at WorldMark Birch Bay.

Not a town, but a state of mind

Technically, Birch Bay is not a town; it’s a community that arose around the half-moon-shaped bay that leads into the Georgian Strait and is surrounded by the Cascade and Canadian coastal mountain ranges. Situated between Semiahmoo Bay and Lummi Bay at the top of Washington State just south of the Canadian border, Birch Bay’s protected headland waters benefit from the action of waves bending and losing energy as they enter the bay. The result is a massive pool of delightfully temperate salt water — the warmest waters north of California — that’s safe for swimming, perfect for beachcombing and ideal for clamming and crabbing at low tide.

In its earliest incarnation as a resort locale more than 100 years ago, Birch Bay attracted Sunday day trippers and vacationers weary of the fast-paced life in nearby towns. Tents soon peppered the beach every weekend, and the region gained a reputation as a perfect getaway destination. The construction of resort hotels and private vacation cottages soon followed, but the area never over-developed or “went Hollywood.” Birch Bay’s draw continues to be the beach and the bay, and its relaxed atmosphere and feeling of welcome remain genuinely sincere.

Perfect placement

The timeshare rental complex (Ask about availability) of 104 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units (including three-bedroom penthouses) sits directly across the street from the bay, with many units enjoying a water view. A seasonal outdoor pool, partially enclosed family pool and two outdoor spas provide hydrotherapy for those who prefer to stay out of the bay; a fitness room and game room with pool table and arcade games round out the resort amenities. In addition, a licensed masseuse is available for on-premises massage.

Three small retail establishments are housed on the resort grounds: Blue Heron Gifts for souvenirs and apparel; Birch Bay Liquor Store for beer, wine and spirits; and the TradeWinds Café, Gifts and Gallery for gourmet coffee, breakfast items and lunches (if you’re going on an excursion you can pre-order a box lunch that includes a sandwich of your choice, chips, a cookie and a bottle of water for $5.95), art work, and 24 flavors of soft-serve ice cream.

Contagious happiness

I arrive at WorldMark Birch Bay (Ask about availability) just before noon; much too early to check in but a good time to check out the vibe of the resort. The spacious lobby is animated with excited children heading to the pools or the waterfront, owners making inquires at the hospitality desk and families checking out (somewhat reluctantly, I detect). I make the acquaintance of resort manager Barbara Downen and assistant manager Heather Trent and almost immediately get swept up into the feeling of joy and care they, and the entire resort staff exhibit to all who enter their realm. Fun is the prime directive here.

Barbara keeps a big box of silly delights in her office — small toys, balloons, plastic leis, crayons — and children are invited to go through it and pick out a treat so the feeling of specialness begins for them as soon as they arrive. Some families have been coming to the resort yearly for two generations now, and the staff tracks birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions as carefully as they would for family.

A muse of water

The joint is jumping: from June through September WorldMark Birch Bay (Ask about availability) is virtually at 100 percent capacity. I decide to take myself out of the action until check-in time and go walk the beach. I pass the family pool area, where owners are lounging, reading, laughing and chatting. Children are splashing exuberantly; a small group has started a game of “Marco Polo.” Uncontrollable giggling accompanies the call and response of “Marco!” “Polo!” Barbara hurries by. “That is my favorite thing — I love the sound of kids playing that game more than anything! It’s just such a happy sound.”

When I first entered town the tide was low and people were popping up on the wide expanse of wet sand like mushrooms on the floor of a forest. Small children with buckets were gleefully examining tide pools for treasures, clammers and crabbers panned for shellfish gold, and more than one cry of “Ew! Gross!” resounded through the air as I drove by.

As I approach the bay I see the tide is back and all that’s exposed is the rocky beach, encrusted with smooth, rounded stones that are easily maneuvered with sneakers or swim shoes. Here and there are the shed exoskeletons of crabs, the occasional shell and slippery green tangles of seaweed. The air is salt-infused and bracing.

As I walk I see an entire living panorama of how people relate to the wonder of the water. Children are inevitably overjoyed, bounding in and out of the warm shallows, squealing with delight. Parents try to read books or have conversations between stretches of lifeguard duty. Solo teen girls gaze out into the water as if looking into an oracle, comfortable in their solitude. Groups of young boys are constantly in motion, digging, poking and investigating. Everyone has a beach activity that is giving them something they need. I realize I haven’t thought about anything but the water for as long as I’ve been on foot. My mini-vacation is already working.

Blissful beginnings

The walk in the fresh air has made me ravenous. Three restaurants lie within close walking distance of WorldMark Birch Bay: Shores, chic and cheery and serving from 9 a.m. until midnight; Bobby’s Dry Dock Bar & Grill, more casual with breakfast, burgers, salads, and featuring karaoke and DJ music nights; and CJ’s Beach House, serving lunch and dinner in a building that started life in 1929 as the club house of a local golf course. The large outdoor dining veranda of CJ’s wins out.

Earlier, Barbara and Heather sang the praises of the hot rolls at CJ’s, and I know now they weren’t exaggerating; the slightly sweet yeast rolls are piping hot and incredibly delicious. I’d be content with a few of those and a stick of butter, but I consult with my server and order the fish taco special for lunch. A duo of soft taco rounds filled with grilled mahi-mahi arrive, paired with cabbage slaw and grated white cheese, and buttressed by a side of fries. Everything tastes incredible. I sit under the table umbrella, look out over the bay, work the crossword in the USA Today, and slowly savor every bite. I am perfectly happy. I am having a great vacation. And it’s barely even begun.

Three for the Road: Easy Day Trips from Birch Bay

You may find it quite difficult to tear yourself away from WorldMark Birch Bay but if you get restless, or if other family members insist on getting up out of their lounge chairs, a change of venue is a simple proposition. Each of the following destinations is less than 50 miles away.

Bellingham, Washington offers a more urban vibe that nicely complements Birch Bay’s small town charms. Filled with art centers, boutiques, galleries and restaurants — many of them housed in tenderly preserved Victorian buildings — this city presents endless possibilities for a pleasantly spent day. (Fairhaven, Bellingham’s village-within-the-city, is a particularly engaging area for strolling and shopping.) Museum buffs will fare especially well here: The American Museum of Radio and Electricity (360-738-3886; 20.8 miles from resort) has scores of vintage radios and an astonishing library of old radio programs; the Whatcom Museum of History and Art (360-778-8930; 20.8 miles from resort) is devoted to promoting the distinctive culture and art of the region with compelling permanent and visiting collections.

Lynden, Washington is home to a sizable Dutch community and that heritage is reflected in the windmills, wooden shoes and representative art work of Holland evident along Front Street, the town’s main boulevard. Situated in a valley bordering the Nooksack River, Lynden has a rich agricultural identity born of the many dairy farms and berry fields that populate the area. Appropriately, you’ll want to bring your appetite when you visit. Restaurants such as Dutch Mother’s Family Restaurant (360-354-2174; 14.8 miles from resort) and The Nuthouse Grill (360-318-0588; 16.9 miles from resort) pride themselves on massive portions and ingredients that often celebrate the bounty of the region.

Vancouver, British Columbia, about 45 minutes away across the Canadian border (remember to bring your passport), is the big daddy of local big cities. Naturally, there is superb shopping and appetizing dining to be had here in the largest metropolitan area in Western Canada. But for adventures beyond mere food and commerce, ride the Grouse Mountain Skyride (604-980-9311; 45.6 miles from resort), a gondola that transports you up 4,100 vertical feet to the mountain’s Theatre in the Sky, Refuge for Endangered Wildlife and seasonal skiing, ice-skating and sleigh rides; tour the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park (604-659-3521; 40.9 miles from resort) and commune with Steller sea lions, Pacific white-sided dolphins and beluga whales; or head to Chinatown and amble through the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (604-662-3207; 38.9 miles from resort), where landscaping, water features and architecture are carefully balanced to achieve ultimate harmony.

This article was based on an article in our timeshare owner's magazine.

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