Stay in the most beautiful and chic hotel in Lynden, Washington

Lynden is a quaint little town in Whatcom County, perfect for a relaxing vacation. The city is home to Washington State’s largest Dutch settlement, which was established in 1874. This special little town is known for its rich history, which travelers will immediately notice as they walk down the iconic Front Street, which just so happens to be where The Inn at Lynden is located. In addition to being known for its Dutch heritage, Lynden is known for its region’s farmland, so you’ll be able to find some great meat and cheese as well as raspberries because Lynden is also one of the biggest producers of Raspberries in Washington State.

We had a little staycation in Lynden, which is about 30 minutes from Bellingham but feels like a world away because of its Dutch heritage, evident all along historic Front Street such as the gorgeous giant windmills.

The Inn at Lynden is quite literally steps from Front Street, which adds to its already appealing aesthetic and vibe. What I love most about this area of Lynden is the history. The Inn is located in the historic 100-year-old Waples Mercantile Building, which was formerly the Lynden Department Store. For nearly a century, the Lynden Department Store served as the marketplace for the farming community and was a popular gathering spot for locals. The store was built in 1914 and owned by Billy Waples, one of the original founding fathers of Lynden. Mr. Waples had a pretty significant role in Lynden’s growth. He owned the Lynden Mill and Light Company, which operated a lumber mill in town. He was responsible for bringing electric lighting to the city’s streets and was a driving force in establishing Lynden’s first railroad. In addition, he was instrumental in establishing the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds and the Lynden Fair, which has since become an annual tradition. We’ve partaken in the Northwest Washington Fair, which happens in August, and it’s a good time, especially if you love classic fair food and fresh-squeezed lemonade.

This boutique hotel is one of a select few in Washington State that reside in a structure listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, making it a pretty unique and special place to stay. You can see the historic aspects of the building in the hotel from the moment you walk in, such as the classic wooden floors in the lobby — I was obsessed with them. They’re so beautiful!

What are the rooms like at The Inn at Lynden?

The rooms were cozy and comfortable yet spacious, if that makes sense. The beds were extremely comfortable, as well as the pillows, and I’m a pretty picky pillow girlie. The rooms felt styled and elevated, which I always appreciate and, honestly, take into consideration when I’m booking hotel rooms. The only minor issue I had was that there wasn’t an easy place to plug my electronics in on the nightstand. I love it when the lamps have USB ports or plug-ins, or even when the nightstand has plug-ins too. Again, very minor, but it’s something I would have liked to have.

When I mentioned how cozy the room felt, I think it’s because of this big ole chair in the corner, perfect for snuggling up with a good book or enjoying the view with your morning cup of coffee. Our specific room had such a great view of historic Front Street and the iconic Lynden Dutch Bakery. Do me a favor and run across the street in the morning and get a coffee and a couple of pastries to bring back and enjoy in this comfy chair or to eat in bed - I won’t judge! The Lynden Dutch Bakery building has operated as a bakery since 1910, making it the city's oldest establishment dedicated to this trade. Some recommendations on what to get are the stroopwafel latte and Poffertje Muffin. They were both delicious!

What amenities are available in the rooms?

Our room was fully stocked with coffee, creamer, and even a snack basket! If there’s one thing that puts a room over the top for me, it’s a snack basket and drinks. It just feels like you get a free mini bar, even if the price of the snacks is baked into your room price. I don’t care; it makes me feel special and fancy. We hadn’t had anything to eat when we checked in, so it was great to have a little snack while deciding what to do for the evening and where to go for dinner.

As I said, I’m such a sucker for the little things that make me, as a guest, feel special, and I loved that The Inn at Lynden had a fully stocked drink area for tea and coffee, along with LIQUID creamer. I cannot stand the powdered stuff, so when a place has actual liquid creamer, I’m a very happy girl. Not only did they have liquid half and half, but they also had liquid dairy-free creamer! In addition to the Keurig coffee machine, they had an electric tea kettle to heat water for tea. I know, I know, you can heat water in the Keurig, but I loved that they had a separate appliance for tea, so your water doesn’t end up tasting a little like coffee. It’s a minor detail, but it means a lot to me as a guest.

What is the bathroom area like at the Inn at Lynden?

The bathrooms were pretty dang spacious. When you walk in, you’re greeted by a dedicated area to hang your belongings, followed by a counter space with a sink and a place to get ready. Behind that area is the toilet and shower, which are in a huge room, or at least one of the biggest I’ve seen in a hotel room before. They had some lovely little amenities, including nice shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion, and a dedicated towel for makeup, which is slowly becoming a must at hotels, which I love!

The historic Waples Building, where the hotel is located, is also home to some pretty great shops and restaurants!

When it comes to shopping, one of my all-time favorite bookstores in Bellingham, Village Books and Paper Dreams, has another location inside, AND the hotel even gave us a little coupon to use, which we, of course, did. They have a great selection of books and gifts. Seriously, their gift selection is GREAT because it feels like an old school gift shop where you could find things millennials grew up playing with. There’s also a boutique inside called Cheeks that sells designer clothes and accessories. The stuff in the shop wasn’t my specific style, but it was cute nonetheless. In addition to shopping, there are two places to eat, Avenue Bread and Overflow Taps. Avenue Bread is a wonderful place for bistro-style food like soups, sandwiches, and salads. We absolutely LOVE their food, drinks, bread, you name it. We stopped by Overflow Taps for some pub snacks, including soft pretzel bites, Cajun tater tots (SO GOOD), and a flight to try a couple of different beers and ciders. One of my favorites was the One Tree Lemon Basil cider, which you can find on tap in a decent number of places in Whatcom County.