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They Don't Call It Happy Hour for Nothing
While a trip to a local restaurant without the kids in tow could feel like an occurrence rarer than the appearance of Halley's Comet, Happy Hour deals on drinks and appetizers make for a quick getaway for you and your spouse, without the budget of dinner, a movie, and a sitter. So the next time your kids are invited over to a friend's after school, make a date with your mate and check out some nearby bars and their Happy Hour specials.
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Bandito’s Burritos—One Family’s Sanity Saver
Lots of people have their favorite pizza delivery’s phone number memorized for that last-minute dinner option when there’s nothing in the fridge, and everyone is hungry right now. Pizza’s fine, but in our family when the cooking gets tough and the paycheck is low (even when it isn’t), we look no further than Bandito’s Burritos. It's such a crowd pleaser in our house that we end up here more than any other restaurant in town.
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Grab a Burger at Boomer's Drive-In
Whenever my family is feeling like burgers for dinner, we head to Boomer’s Drive-In on Samish Way. It’s quick, affordable, and about as family-friendly as you can get, with take-out or sit-down or eat-in-your-car, whatever you please. Besides the burgers, what I love about Boomer’s is its old-fashioned drive-in kind of feel with its outdoor menu for those who want to park and order from outside.
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Taste the Local Flavor of Mallard Ice Cream
My favorite thing about summer is the sun. Not only do I enjoy the warm weather, but I love the extra hours of daylight. When the sun doesn’t set until nine o’clock, there’s plenty of time for an after-dinner walk to downtown Bellingham for some frozen dessert. My second favorite thing about summer is probably Mallard Ice Cream. No matter what age you are, a Bellingham summer is incomplete without enjoying the wares of this funky, local ice cream shop.
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Start Your Morning at Rocket Donuts
Sometimes on a Saturday morning, there’s no better way to start the day than with a doughnut (or a donut, as it’s also spelled). So my kids think. Their favorite doughnut haunt is Rocket Donuts. Personally, I prefer toast and eggs for breakfast (and Old Town Café is tantalizingly close), but one recent morning I agreed to take Leah and a friend of hers out to breakfast at Rocket. We weren’t disappointed.
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Authentic Mexican at Taco Lobo
It’s dinnertime once again, and our family is in the mood for Mexican. Not just any Mexican, though; we want Taco Lobo Mexican in downtown Bellingham. Whatever we order, Taco Lobo’s fare never fails to bring back memories of a winter trip to Baja—it’s that good—where my kids discovered what authentic Mexican tacos taste like. Now my eleven-year-old is a self-confessed convert to authentic Mexican, along with her parents, and we go to Taco Lobo to get it.
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Kid-Friendly La Fiamma Wood Fire Pizza
La Fiamma Wood Fire Pizza in downtown Bellingham is known for its gourmet pizza with a hand-tossed crust that has been "kissed by the flame" in their wood-fired pizza oven. And according to Joanna Nesbit, it's also one of the best places to bring the kids in town. From a menu that appeals to tastes of all ages to a warm and inviting atmosphere, find out why La Fiamma is such a popular place for dining out with kids.
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Caffe Adagio - Coffee with a Family Touch
Dianna and Luke Del Diorgio had discussed starting their own business, perhaps a bed and breakfast, during their retirement years. But after the birth of their son Isaiah, now 3, they decided that owning a business would allow them to spend more time together as a family. They opened up Caffe Adagio, located in downtown Bellingham, in August of 2006.