The majority of us probably leave Bellingham at some point or another...then come back. Whether you are going to visit your family or permanently leaving the City of 'Subdued Excitement,' there are quite a few options for transportation.
1. Greyhound.
This bus is probably the most popular transportation method for those without a car. If you buy ahead of time, tickets are fairly inexpensive, sometimes below $10. It's located in Fairhaven and travels both north and south. It stops fairly often, which makes the trip longer, but is good if your destination is in a smaller city.
2. Amtrak.
Also located in Fairhaven, going on the train is the way to go if you want a scenic route north or south (assuming you travel during the day). They also have buses similar to Greyhound.
3. Bolt Bus.
From Bellingham at Cordata Station, you can go to Vancouver (B.C.), Seattle, or Portland.This is my personal favorite because of cost and convenience (other than having to travel to/from Cordata Station). If your stop is Seattle, you can take the Link Light Rail (you get dropped off at International Station) down to Sea-Tac or down to Westlake. They usually have extra seats available for $15 (or $25 if your destination is two stops ahead) if you don't buy tickets online.
4. Airporter Shuttle.
The Airporter has many pick-up and drop-off locations, including in front of WWU's Performing Arts Center and Sea-Tac. It is more expensive than the other bus methods, but may be more convenient if you don't want to endure miscellaneous travel.
5. County transportation.
If you are a WWU student, you can get to Seattle for only $5.50 ($7.50 if you are not). Either at the Downtown Station or Lincoln Creek, you can get on the 80x to Mount Vernon for $2 or for free if you use your WWU student bus pass. To Everett, take the 90x for another $2. Pay $3.50 for the 510/512 to get to Seattle. (If you plan to make this trip at least once a month, I recommend you acquire an ORCA card.) If you need to get to a Link Station, get off at Westlake. I do not recommend this route if you absolutely need to make it somewhere by a specific time. While this is probably the cheapest method, it also takes approximately three hours to get to Seattle, makes a lot of stops, and the buses being late is more than an occasional occurrence.
6. Carpooling.
Understandably, you probably won't be able to find a friend who is headed south within a week's notice, but you can find dozens of other people who are. On Facebook, there are plentiful groups for finding drivers and passengers, although some have more privacy settings: Carpooling and Transportation (open with Western), WWU Rideshare (closed), Carpools & Rides! (WWU/Bellingham - Gig Harbor/Tacoma) (public), Carpooling between Seattle and Vancouver (closed), Bellingham - Olympia Carpools (public), Bellingham Ride Share (public), Bellingham-Seattle Ride Board (public), Seattle to Bellingham/ Bellingham to Seattle rideshare (public), and Whatcom County Ride Share (public).
7. Alaska ferry.
The Bellingham Cruise Terminal in Fairhaven is the southern connection for the Alaska Marine Highway System. While the ferries to Alaska tend to be expensive, they may just be the perfect mode of transportation for seafarers.
8. Bellingham International Airport.
It's not extravagant, but if you happen to find a direct flight to where you want to go, it can be quite the steal, and is more convenient than traveling south to Sea-Tac. Otherwise, most flights connect to Seattle. I have also heard that this is a great airport to catch a flight to Hawaii.
With so many options, I wish you all happy traveling!
