2bd, 1ba-Sleeps 6 cozy cabin with 90’ of beachfront on beautiful Lake Samish. Only 1.5hrs to Seattle and 1hour to Vancouver BC (bring your passport). Bellingham is best known for its outdoor oasis. Everything from the best skiing (Mt Baker about an hour away), great whale watching (Bellingham Bay), epic mountain biking (over 700 trails!) and picturesque hiking (Larabee State Park, Whatcom Falls, Clayton Beach with 1000’s of sand dollars at low tide) are all in Bellingham. Family friendly for all ages.
CATCH: we have no air-conditioning! Plenty of fans though. But not the place for you if you like a constant cool temp.
The space
Our cozy cabin is a 600 sq ft A-Frame cottage with a flat outdoor grassy yard to play on or sunbathe as you take in the beautiful views.
Upstairs:
1st bedroom: One King bed
2nd bedroom: Two Twin (low to the ground) bunk beds (room for another twin mattress if needed or playpen).
There is a screened in deck also upstairs outside the master (king) bedroom. We have been known to take our sleeping bags/air mattresses (twin) and sleep on the deck during the summer nights.
Please note there are no doors to the bedrooms upstairs due to the unique architecture of the house. The staircase and walls divide the rooms providing privacy. The only interior door in the house is the bathroom door.
Downstairs/Main Level: Fold out full size couch
Lots of toys and kids books to entertain the littles.
The kitchen is stocked with all your needs including toaster, oven/stove, refrigerator, nutri bullet, water cooler, microwave and coffee maker.
Note: there is no dishwasher or washer/dryer but we can try to arrange laundry service for pick up and drop off if you wish at a nominal fee. We have had guests stay for 2 weeks and did their laundry near grocery/shopping.
There is a sandy beach right outside your door with amazing lake views.
Lots of parking space-including RV parking space (no hookups).
We have a playset (best for toddlers) and all guests are welcome to our water toys including a tandem kayak and single kayak.
Our Weber BBQ and gas table top is yours to use also.
Lake Samish is great for fishing and you can catch plenty of fish right from our bulkhead (we have our permit and should be done by end of spring 2024!).
Guest access
2 story house with a steeper/narrow staircase (with handles). We have a baby gate guests can use at the bottom of the stairs. We also have rails for the bunk room should you need them for littles.
Notes
*We are a no shoes home* - we ask respectfully that all shoes are removed before entering the house. This is also a no smoking home.
You’ll often find eagles, deer, fish, bunnies, frogs and other great wildlife on your visit. We spend countless hours outside whether it’d be swimming, kayaking, SUP’ing, looking for creatures, playing on the playset with the kids, taking bike rides around the lake or eagle watching-all our time is spent outside here...cloudy, rainy, snowy or sunny!
This is a great home if you want to stay outside the hustle and bustle of big cities, but right on I-5 for easy access to Vancouver and Seattle.
You’ll likely be exploring outside and visiting the great breweries and restaurants that Bellingham has to offer. Great place to relax and even book a schooner or whale watching tour. Bellingham offers a great Saturday farmers market (among the best in the state), a (free-donations welcome) marine life center (great for kids), tons of parks (many by the water including Boulevard Park-including walking on Taylor Dock-pictured) and a very quaint shopping/dining town-Fairhaven (only 15min away-also pictured). Skiing and hiking one of Washington’s snowiest (in the winter) mountains is also nearby-Mt Baker! Diablo Lake is also worth a visit to experience the amazing bright blue waters.
Don’t forget that the San Juan Islands are also a short drive/ferry ride away. The islands are world renowned for its peaceful beaches and quaint towns on Orcas Island and Friday Harbor.
Since this is our second home, we can’t get there in between guests. We ask that you Venmo $140 in advance for the cleaning crew.
We can help arrange the following also:
-laundry service (pick up and drop off) for longer exchanges at a nominal cost.
-car seats for kids
-we may be able to leave a car for you also (if flying into Seattle/Tacoma airport). Needs to be previously agreed upon/scheduled.
-If you are coming through the Seattle/Tacoma airport, we may be able to pick you up and drop off.
Due to my husbands allergies, we cannot take care of a cat or stay at a home with cats.
We are big dog lovers, however and have a hypoallergenic mini-golden doodle that often does not travel with us unless it’s driving distance (no more than 5 hours) from our home. She typically stays with my parents, but we may ask for her care (very rare).
Features
Washer
Dishwasher
Clothes dryer
Oven
Microwave
Coffee machine
Fridge
Iron
Hair dryer
Heating
Air conditioning
TV
WiFi
High Speed Internet
Bathtub
First aid kit
Wheelchair accessible
Smoke alarms
Fire extinguisher
Bed sheets
Towels
Workspace
Fireplace
Home cinema
Toys
Gym
Sauna
BBQ
Pool
Hot tub
Balcony
Garden / yard
Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace
Covered porch / verandah
Kosher home
Meat-free kitchen
Gated community
EV Home Charger
Bikes
Camping gear
Kayak
Tennis court
Standup paddleboard
Travel Styles
Long term
Weekend
Adventure
Budget
Family
Romantic
Sport and leisure
Foodie
Relaxing
City
Mountains
Beach
Water
Remote
Skiing
Culture
Hiking
Cycling
Last minute
Cross-country skiing
Ukraine support available
House rules
Suitable for infants under 2
Suitable for children ages 2-12
Pets welcome
No smoking
Allergens
Cat free
Smoke free
Dates of Availability
Click on availability periods to see exchange types and descriptions.
AvailableNon-reciprocal Only
Neighbourhood
Super quiet dead-end road. Kids can play easily outside. Biking or running around the lake is very common-about 45 minutes on bike with a couple minor hills-6.2 miles.
Getting to my home
Our house is 5 min from I-5. Very easily accessible from 3 nearby airports.
Nearest airport
Bellingham has an airport (only about 20 mins away) and the home is about 1.5 hours from SeaTac International airport. You can also fly into the Vancouver airport (only about an hour drive across the border, but the border wait times always vary).
Getting around
You will need a car to get in and out of town. The beach house is only a 15 minute drive from any shops/restaurants/grocery store.
There is a road circling the lake-about 6.2 miles. It is a perfect biking, running or walking loop!
What a hidden GEM is the Lake House. We were so lucky to stay here and enjoy the area. So much to see and do.
The Lake House has all you need and more. You will not be bored here. Go swimming, kayaking, just looking at the lake with a nice cappuccino. Looking at the sunset, have a bbq on the deck.....
Ghazal is super and communication was great. She really want her guests to be happy and will do everything she can to make it work. We had the pleasure of having her over for the day. We jumped of the new dock together for the first time.
We're very much looking forward to seeing her again in the Netherlands and are very happy that our paths have crossed.
You’re such a delight Monique! Looking forward to connecting again.
Such a fun spot right on the lake! 10 minutes from most things in Bellingham and it’s was a perfect place to come back to after exploring or riding bikes! We are so thankful we had the opportunity to exchange with Ghazal at two of her homes to make this epic month long adventure to Wa.
Enjoyed having you guys!!!!!
We had a wonderful stay at Ghazal's cabin where we were able to enjoy the lake, swimming and kayaking, and relax on the deck ! Ghazal was easy to reach and communicate with, as well as very responsive and helpful. We definitly recommand her for an exchange.
Thanks a lot, Ghazal !
We enjoyed this delightful cottage. A very relaxing getaway. Lots of ducks, geese, herons, and an occasional eagle. We swam in the peaceful lake, and enjoyed the kayaks. Some easy walking trails nearby, as well as some charming towns. We’d love to come back!
Ghazal is simply amazing! She is super carrying, accommodating and pleasant to communicate with. We had an amazing stay at her cozy cabin in Bellingham. The cabin is tiny, but super cute and has everything you need for a comfortable stay. The view from the porch is simply breathtaking and the one we'll remember for years. While at the cabin we enjoyed sunbathing, fishing, kayaking and even swimming in the lake. We saw many bold eagles, tons of bunnies and two garden snakes. The area is so tranquil! There's lots to do near by, many parks, farms and other attractions. We are beyond thankful to Ghazal for allowing us to stay at her cabin, we made a ton of beautiful memories. Highly recommend this host!
It has been a pleasure to exchange with Ghazal. We were in contact frequently and we got to know each other virtually. Ghazal wished to take her family to Portugal, a country that she loves and I was glad to share with her experiences of my own family at our place in the Algarve. I am very happy that they enjoyed their stay. I am sure we will meet in person at some point somewhere in the world.
Palmira-thank you again for the lifelong memories you enabled us to make in the Algarve! May our paths cross again.
Ghazal and her family have been incredible guests. Friendly, polite, fun, the children behaved great, they speak Spanish and were very affectionate. We¡re able to share a dinner at Carmen's house and we're very comfortable.
They're no longer guests, they're friends, and they can come back to our house whenever they want, they will be very welcome.
I recommend exchanging with them.
Conchi - thank you SO much for having us. Malaga is an amazing city to visit and we are so grateful to make family memories at your spacious home while being able to spend time with you and Juan Antonio and meeting your beautiful daughter. The memories will last a long time and I know we will return again. We welcome you to Seattle anytime!!
Ghazal and her family have been the perfect guests! The kids are the cutest duo, and I’m sure my dogs will miss all the attention received.
Ghazal and her family are the reason why we’ve joined the home exchanging world: beautiful people with wonderful stories to share. I feel lucky to have met them, even if just for a day, but I’m sure they’ll be in our hearts forever.
Oh Ana! Thank you for the amazing memories you allowed us to make in your piece of paradise in Ardea. I very much hope you and your family come and visit us in Edmonds/Bellingham. Our doors will always welcome you. Blessings to you and your family!
Ghazal is the best! She is a wonderful communicator and a very thoughtful, respectful guest. They were a party of 9 and you would never had known anyone had stayed in our home! I look forward to many more connections throughout the years. If you are looking for a PLU connection in the Seattle area I highly recommend connecting with Ghazal:)
We were happy we could offer our home to Ghazal and lovely family and friends for their last minute request. They were easy to communicate with. We were glad we had the chance to meet them before we headed out. They left our house clean and tidy as they found it. They are very welcome should they come back to Victoria.
Ghazal and her friend showed up in my house with a big smile and hug. They are super active, animal loving fun ladies and we connected immediately. I truly felt that they are "people like us", we share similar values and sense of respect to each other's homes. I cannot wait to visit Ghazal's lake house, and I would love to join her girlfriends' getaway trip there!
We were delighted we could provide a last minute non sim swap for this lovely family. They were easy to communicate with, and we got things sorted very quickly. We had a quick visit with them on their arrival. Their two little boys were so sweet, they even signed the thank you note! They left us some thoughtful gifts, left the house spotless, and were kind enough to water some of our outdoor plants. Thank you! We would certainly welcome them back anytime, and we are excited to be going to their holiday cottage sometime in the near future.
We hosted Monique and Jan at both our homes. They took care of our precious dog in our Edmonds home for a few weeks and then spent some time at the lake for a couple weeks. Jan likes to tinker and they both took wonderful care of our garden. I was lucky to go and meet them in and jump in the lake together while enjoying a great meal and talking about our travels. I look forward to seeing them in Netherlands next summer (if not before!).
Tatiana’s home is in a very centrally located neighborhood, close to the LX Factory and walkable to grocery, restaurants and shops. The home is very well equipped with magnificent views of the bridge. We appreciated some of the quirks of the home! Thank you so much for having our family. We got to really explore Lisbon and all its beauty. Thank you also for allowing us to join the car share during our stay!! Hope we can host you and your family in the PNW sometime.
Palmira is considered a friend. We had such an amazing time at her home. Her communication is flawless and we made wonderful memories at the beaches and the pool at her spacious, clean, well stocked home. Hope to have you in Seattle Palmira!
Your enthusiasm has made me a fan of home exchange! It has been interesting to follow your travels with your family! I am sure we will meet at some point!
Monique and Jan stayed at our Edmonds home for 2.5 weeks and watched over our furry love, Sophie. They were incredible. They don’t sit still! We came back to an immaculately clean home AND yard! Their communication is wonderful and we can’t wait to visit their home next summer. We couldn’t ask for better guests…and now friends!
We had such an amazing time at Conchi’s home. We shared a special dinner together with Carmen and the husbands and our boys.
The home was very spacious with a great location. We found one of our favorite ice cream shops during our 9.5 week Europe trip nearby also-called Mederitto! We were bummed to miss the fair by one day, but that just means we need to go back!! Thank you Conchi and hope to see you and Juan Antonio and your daughter in Seattle
Thank you Ghazal. We will be here and we will be delighted to go to the fair with you.
Kisses.
We had the pleasure of having Cassie, Johnathan and their family at our house for a few weeks in the summer. They gave SO much love to our dog, Sophie. She has some quirks and absolutely fell in love with them! It made it easier for us to leave her. We have never left her for a long period like this. We would highly recommend them. The communication was wonderful also! Come back anytime!!
We enjoyed having Brittany at our lake house. They doubled up and stayed in both our homes! She helped fix a few things and was wonderful in communicating before and during their stay. We hope to cross paths with her and her sweet family again.
We were so lucky to overlap Ana by a night. She was so welcoming treating our kiddos to a fresh baked cake and her husband made us a fantastic, traditional meal. That was all after they picked us up from the train station…which is SUCH a treat when we are traveling with 2 small children.
The house is great. The kids loved the pool, the nearby beaches are incredible and I love how Ardea is off the beaten path in the midst of the busy tourist season.
We really enjoyed spending time with Ana’s husband Francesco also and hope to host them in Seattle!
We really hope to see you again soon ❤️
Brittany and her sweet family stayed at our home for almost 3 weeks. She was very responsive and tended to our house (plants, mowing, fish, etc) and did the linens before departure considering new guests are coming in right after them. I enjoyed learning that their stay sparked a family reunion! Hope we cross paths again Brittany!!
Emma and her family were the first to stay at our primary home. My husband, more than me, was a bit skeptical, but Emma left the house in great order. I would welcome her back anytime and highly recommend her for an exchange. She was wonderful in communicating with also.
Shan couldn’t make it on the exchange due to a last minute sickness in the family, but had communicated so well throughout as we were going to host a non-reciprocal exchange. Hopefully we can do it again sometime.
Leanne is simply amazing. To allow a large group into a home is not the easiest. She did not hesitate to help host us for a "mini" family reunion. We had an amazing time in her cozy home with an amazing park in the backyard essentially. Her daughter also delighted both the kids and adults with a plane tour! We are beyond grateful for the memories made. Hope we are able to host them soon! Thank you!
Christelle was a great guest! She was highly communicative and helpful in tending to our home. We would exchange with her again any day!
We absolutely loved having Heather and Keith at our lake house. We were fortunate to stay at their beautiful Victoria (Canada) home a year prior as our first PLU exchange and almost a year later, host them at our place. Heather is wonderful with communication and left our home in amazing condition. Thanks for being our guests-come back anytime!
We absolutely loved having Heather and Keith at our lake house. We were fortunate to stay at their beautiful Victoria (Canada) home a year prior as our first PLU exchange and almost a year later, host them at our place. Heather is wonderful with communication and left our home in amazing condition. Thanks for being our guests-come back anytime!
We had Marta (Halyna’s daughter) book our place. We had 6 guests and really had great response and communication leading up to, during and after the stay. They were our first PLU guests-we were thrilled to have them and would highly recommend them as guests!
Tomoko was an amazing host! We had a girls long weekend in NYC. Her apartment is tidy, clean and in a perfect location in Long Island City-just across the water from the hustle and bustle of NYC.
I’m not much of a cat person (much prefer dogs), but her cat was awesome…and I confirm that she does indeed act more like a dog as Tomoko states.
We can’t wait to welcome Tomoko to our lakehouse in Bellingham when she’s ready to visit the Pacific Northwest for some swimming or skiing!
We loved everything about Heather and Keith’s home. The convenient location close to downtown Victoria and backed to a park was perfect.
We were greeted by Keith and Heather, toured the home and left to a clean, cozy home. The generous thought of fresh cut flowers in each room, welcome basket full of yummy treats and toys/games for the kids were so unexpected. This was our first PLU exchange that all happened in 6 days as another exchange cancelled last minute. Heather and Keith had no plans and decided to take us on and rescue us since we were already booked for the visit.
What a way to start on this PLU journey-highly recommend this charming home with wonderful hosts!
Premium
Ghazal
We are a family of 4 from Edmonds, Washington USA and love to travel and meet people from around the world. I've traveled Europe and the Caribbean a bit and trying to get my husband and boys to travel more. Our kids will be in a 100% Spanish immersion program through 2029, so we would love to go to Spain (and surrounding countries - Croatia, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal are high on our list) every summer for 4-8 weeks. We'd love to share our lakefront beach house in Bellingham or our "walk to the beach" house in Edmonds, Washington with those that want to spend time splashing around and outside in nature.
We’re most interested in sim, non-sim and globe exchanges in the following locations:
Croatia, Spain (prefer "Coastal" Spain since summers are hot!), Switzerland, Hawaii (Maui 2025), Italy, Iceland, Turks and Caicos, Japan, Vancouver and San Diego, CA. Pools are a major plus!
Open to New Zealand and Australia for 3 weeks in mid December-early January also (2025!)
We are open to hospitality stays also!
"Looking for Australia mid December 2026-January 15th. Multiple (3-4)locations including Melbourne for about 3 weeks."
Dates flexible
"Looking for New Zealand mid December 2026-mid January 2027 for about 3-4 weeks."
Mar 28, 2025 - Apr 6, 2025
"We would love to bring the family for spring break to see Legoland and the San Diego Zoo. We love San Diego and have never spent more than a day trip there. We often talk about it being the perfect place to live (besides Portugal 🤪)!"
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