Birch Bay is an unincorporated seaside community in Whatcom County, in the far northwest corner of Washington, occupying the shore of the crescent-shaped bay of the same name between Bellingham and Blaine. The area was originally inhabited by the Semiahmoo people, part of the Coast Salish peoples of the Salish Sea, and its name reflects the bay's setting. Today Birch Bay is a census-designated place of roughly 10,000 year-round residents, but its identity has long been shaped by visitors: the community has been a popular seaside resort destination since the 1920s, and well over 100,000 tourists arrive in a typical year. That resort character defines the place. A crescent of beach arcs around the bay, fronted by a mix of vacation cottages, condominiums, and year-round homes, along with campgrounds and leisure communities that fill each summer. The centerpiece is Birch Bay State Park, a waterfront park with more than 8,000 feet of saltwater shoreline and additional frontage on Terrell Creek, offering beach access, clamming, and camping. A seasonal waterslides park and miles of walkable beach round out the family-oriented draw. Birch Bay is unincorporated, so it has no city government of its own; it is served by Whatcom County, and public-school students attend the Blaine School District, which also serves Blaine and the outlying community of Point Roberts. Bellingham, the county's largest city, lies roughly fifteen miles south, while Blaine and the Canadian border are just a few miles north, making Birch Bay an easy base for cross-border trips toward Vancouver. For households, Birch Bay offers a relaxed coastal lifestyle — beach walks, clamming, boating, and quiet winters — with the amenities of Bellingham and Blaine close at hand. It suits both year-round residents and those seeking a waterfront second home in one of Washington's most accessible seaside settings.