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city in Whatcom County, Washington, United States
(Redirected from Birch Bay)
North America > United States of America > Pacific Northwest > Washington (state) > North Cascades > Northwest Washington > Blaine

Blaine is a city in the Northwest Washington region of Washington (state). "The Peace Arch City" is the major land border crossing between Wstern Washington and the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada. It is on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, on Semiahmoo Bay and immediately north of Birch Bay.

Understand

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Blaine was settled by Europeans in the mid-1800s and named after James G. Blaine, secretary of state and presidential candidate. It was incorporated as a city in 1890.

Blaine is a border town and the northern terminus of Interstate 5 which becomes BC-99 as one crosses into Canada. Blaine is also the most Northwest town in the Lower 48 States.

The Department of Homeland Security has two border inspection stations: Peace Arch Crossing to the west for passenger vehicles & the "Truck Crossing" to the east for both commercial entry and passenger vehicles. A great deal of Blaine's economy is based on legal trade across the Canadian border and Blaine also has a long history of smuggling.

Its population was estimated to be 5,400 in 2018.

Blaine has two large marinas with hundreds of boats. Salmon, crab, and other seafood are widely available.

Get in

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Map
Map of Blaine

By car

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Blaine is northern terminus of Interstate 5. It is also location of the two primary ports of entry between this part of Washington and the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada:

  • 1 Surrey (Douglas/Peace Arch) - Blaine (Peace Arch) (Surrey, BC (Highway 99) – Blaine, WA (Interstate 5)). 24/7. Open to cars, but not commercial trucks and buses. Peace Arch Border Crossing (Q24190114) on Wikidata Peace Arch Border Crossing on Wikipedia (updated Aug 2023)
  • 2 Pacific Highway - Blaine (Pacific Highway) (Surrey, BC (Highway 15) - Blaine, WA (WA-543)). 24/7. Open to all vehicles. Pacific Highway Border Crossing (Q24190263) on Wikidata Pacific Highway Border Crossing on Wikipedia (updated Aug 2023)

See the Get in – By car section of the Northwest Washington article for details.

By plane

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The nearest commercial airport is Bellingham International Airport (BLI IATA).

Vancouver International Airport (YVR IATA), while across the border in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada, offers a much wider range of destinations.

By bus

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Get around

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By taxi

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Peace Arch located on the United States - Canada border within Peace Arch State Park
  • 1 Peace Arch State Park (Go north on 2nd Street until the loop at A Street.), ☏ +1 360 332-8221, . 8AM-dusk. A grand white arch in a grassy lawn marks the US-Canada international border. On either side of the park are frequently lines of cars crawling slowly through the border checkpoint lines. You can enter the park from either the US or Canadian side, and walk all around it, but you must leave by the side you entered, or else formally pass through the border checkpoint. Free. Peace Arch Park (Q192531) on Wikidata Peace Arch Park on Wikipedia (updated Nov 2020)

There are many biking & walking trails, including along Boundary Bay. Blaine is a major birdwatching area. There is a casino in Blaine, a library, and various small businesses.

Drink

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Sleep

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Connect

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Go next

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Go north to Canada's West Coast gem Vancouver, or head south to Seattle for a great time on the Sound.

Routes through Blaine
Vancouver ← Surrey ← becomes ← passport control (cars) ←  N  S  → Ferndale → Seattle
Vancouver via ← Surrey ← becomes ← passport control (cars / trucks / buses) ←  N  S  → ENDS at


This city travel guide to Blaine is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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