During my college search, I was drawn to schools in cities. I toured a good number of schools in rural Minnesota and areas of Oregon before deciding I needed to be somewhere that had more to offer off campus. Coming to Bellingham, Washington, was like taking a breath of fresh air after being stuck in a musty basement (not that I've experienced that). Bellingham has so much to offer; it's hard to be bored here, especially as a student. Here are the main reasons I think Bellingham is the perfect college town:

1. Music venues galore.

The Wild Buffalo, The Shakedown and The Green Frog -- just to name a few! And for everyone under 21, house shows are the way to go on the weekends!

2. Insanely walkable hikes for days.

The Interurban trail is my lifeline. That and the fact that one can just walk into the Chuckanuts for a backpacking trip. I've already done this twice! Also: Don't miss out on Oyster Dome; it's not going to be around much longer.

On another note, Bellingham has a great transportation system. We have Bolt Bus and Greyhound stations, and local buses can take you almost anywhere you want to go!

3. Extraordinary sunsets.

My favorite locations for premier sunset observing are Clark’s Point (where I took this photo), Teddy Bear Cove, Oyster Dome, and Clayton Beach. But if you don’t want to travel, campus has an insane view, as well.

4. Unrivalled location.

Along with sitting directly on Bellingham Bay (IT’S THE OCEAN), Bellingham is between Seattle (90 mi) and Vancouver, BC (60 mi). Not to mention, Mt. Baker is only 1 hour 30 min away if you're looking for some insane adventures.

5. Drool-worthy restaurants.

My top choices would be Old Town Cafe, Boomers, Avenue Bread, AB Crepes, Brandywine Kitchen, Boundary Bay, and Mount Bakery.

Also, if you’re ever feeling potatoes like I am honestly 24/7, get potato dumplings at Pel’mini or a potato burrito at Casa Que Pasa.

6. The BEST local businesses.

There are too many to count. If you’ve been here, you’ll know.

Some personal favorites: Vital Climbing Gym, Eclipse Bookstore, Black Drop Coffee House, and the Antique Mall.

7. People, oh the people.

Yep, they’re pretty great.

It's true.