Western Washington University

The 189-acre Western Washington University campus has five colleges and two schools for 12,000 students. It began as the State Normal School in 1893, and became a full-fledged university in 1977. The campus is also known for its 22 sculptures in the Outdoor Sculpture Garden.

Contact the Admissions office (360/650-3861, www.wwu.edu [1]) for campus tours. Viking Union includes a bookstore, deli and other food options, a post office, and information desk.

Overlooking Bellingham Bay and accessible via a footpath from Western Washington University, the Sehome Hill Arboretum provides splendid views of the San Juans and Mt. Baker, plus 70 acres of tall Douglas firs, wildflowers, and bigleaf maples preserved in their natural state. The 3.5 miles of paved trails provide views of Bellingham [2] and the San Juans [3], along with Mt. Baker [4].