The first two Europeans to arrive where Bellingham is located today were adventurous lumberjacks who set to felling trees and building a saw mill. There were a few other pioneers in the surrounding area who farmed the land, but no permanent community as such until the mid-19th century. An influx of prospectors hoping to make it rich in the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush increased the area's population, but it was only temporary and when their luck ran out, they left. It was when black gold was found by Whatcom Creek that Bellingham began to evolve as a coal mining town. Coal mining became the mainstay of the community after three railway tracks were installed to transport the coal out of the rural location. It wasn't long before other large companies like canneries and town planners took an interest in the prospering settlement and Bellingham. Bellingham underwent an era of rapid growth and by the 1950s had over thirty-five thousand inhabitants. Among those residents were a few Italians who decided coal mining and canning fish wasn't for them so they went independent and opened the first pizzerias in Bellingham.

Bellingham in Washington is known for Gourmet Pizza

Bellingham is known for gourmet pizzas. In all honesty, it could be said that Bellingham is known for old world thick crust pizzas but the incredibly creative topping combinations the pizzerias in Bellingham use on their pies takes them to an entirely new level. If you like plain and simple, don't worry, you can still get basic pizzas in the Bellingham pizzerias too. Try one with pickled tomatoes, Calabrian chilies and chickpeas, and you may well be a convert for life. Another great aspect of the pizzerias in Bellingham is that they cater for vegans and vegetarians by offering specially-made pizzas with vegan ingredients. While most pizzerias have veggie pies, specialist vegan ones are something you don't see often, so thumbs up to the Bellingham pizzerias.

Best Delivery Pizza in Bellingham, Washington

To get the best delivery pizza in Bellingham you have to order from a pizzeria that really knows how to look after their customers as well as cater to a wide variety of tastes and special dietary requirements. That Bellingham pizzeria is Sliced. Sliced is located on Bellis Fair Parkway in the Bellis Fair shopping complex where it occupies a large and very smart premises. This is a family-owned and run pizzeria and it's one they put their heart and soul into. Whether you choose a regular pie from their specials menu, a gluten-free one or try their vegan pizzas, you'll be over the moon with what you get delivered.

Best Takeout Pizza in Bellingham, Washington

After you've hiked your heart out on the North Chuckanut Mountain Trail you have a reasonable right to be dreaming of tucking into a pizza. To get your hands on the best take-out pizza in Bellingham all you have to do is head down Chuckanut Drive until you find the turnoff for 10th Street and you'll see a pizzeria called Övn Wood Fired Pizza which is where you need to be.

Övn Wood Fired Pizza has a premises on the ground floor of South Bay Suites. That sounds posh and it is, and they're so busy that they often forget to water the potted plants at the entrance so don't be put off by the dead and dried-out foliage. The pizzas here are a delicious fusion of traditional Italian and sophisticated toppings. Read the menu carefully before ordering or you could find yourself whistling while trying to cool your lips down after biting into a slice topped with chile de arbol.

Best Pizza near Bellingham, Washington

Chuckanut

The only reason to head in the direction of Chuckanut seven miles south of Bellingham is to go to the Larrabee State Park. While it would be easy enough to spend an entire day wandering up and down the shoreline here admiring the rugged scenery, there are other things to do. If you like seafood you can clamber around the tide pools and hope to find some oysters to take home. If you're not short of energy there's a twenty-one mile trail you can hike along Chuckanut Drive or if that's too much, there are several hiking and biking trails running through the forest on the lower slope of Chuckanut Mountain. It's a great place to escape to for the day and if it leaves you famished, you can pick up a pizza from Övn Wood Fired Pizza on your way back into Bellingham.

Geneva

Geneva is just a five mile drive north of Bellingham and while there's not much to do in Geneva itself, it's surrounded by some fantastic parks and reserves as well as being right next to Lake Whatcom. One must-visit spot is the Whatcom Falls Park which is two-hundred and fifty acres of part-natural, part-manicured countryside alongside Whatcom Creek. Hike the Whatcom Creek Trail and it'll pay you dividends as the creek has four waterfalls all of which are exceptionally photogenic. If you find it tempting to spend an afternoon there and want to enjoy a picnic in the open air, you can pick up a pizza from De Vinci's on Electric Avenue.

Ferndale

If you've ever wondered what it was like to be a pioneer or a homesteader in bygone days, you can find out by driving ten miles northwest of Bellingham to Ferndale. In Ferndale you can visit the Hovander Homestead Park which is part living museum and part working farm. That's a great place to take the youngsters as they'll get to see lots of farm animals while you explore the homestead. Pioneer Park is an intact pioneering village with various structures some of which, like the Tillicum House, are complete with furnishings and every day implements a pioneer family would have needed to survive. Thankfully, you won't need to cook your lunch on an open fire as you can pick up a pizza from Coconut Kenny's on La Bounty Drive.