Sumas
Sumas is in Whatcom County in the Northwest Washington region of Washington State. It has a major land border crossing into British Columbia, Canada.
Understand
[edit]Sumas is an incorporated town of about 1,500 people in Whatcom Country. Cherry Street is the main north–south access for the town and the location of most businesses. There is also an industrial park to the west and residential areas around the business core.
Due to somewhat primitive survey techniques when the border was monumented, much of Sumas is actually north of the 49th parallel and therefore the northernmost incorporated US community in the lower 48 states. If you have a GPS, turn it on and see for yourself.
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]Sumas is immediately south of the Canadian border, and is at a major border crossing. See the Get in – By car section of the Northwest Washington article for details.
- 1 Huntingdon - Sumas (Abbotsford, BC (Highway 11) - Sumas, WA (WA-9)). 24/7. Open to all vehicles.
By public transit
[edit]2 Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA), ☏ +1 360-676-7433. Operates public transit bus service in Whatcom County including Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, and Sumas. Also operates bus route 80X traveling north from Burlington and Mount Vernon in Skagit County to Bellingham. Route 71X operates from Monday to Saturday between Sumas and Bellingham.
The nearest public transit stops in Abbotsford are located a few blocks from the border crossing.
Get around
[edit]
Everything of interest, including the border crossing, can be easily walked to as the commercial area is two blocks wide and about 8 blocks long. Cherry Street is the main thoroughfare, terminating at Canadian customs and immigration. Signs designate a golf cart zone in town, but golf carts are never seen on the streets.
Cherry Street leads directly to the border crossing, so lineups often clog it with stopped traffic.
The presence of US Homeland Security staff and cameras right in this small town tends to reduce serious crime, leaving local police with little to do but enforce the varied but generally very low speed limits in Sumas. Drive slowly or be prepared to help fund the local police department.
See
[edit]- A small monument to the victims of 9-11 can be found near the US Border Station
- The former US Border station is located slightly south-east of the current Canadian border post. This brick building with a hip roof was moved and converted to private use.
Do
[edit]Sumas stages rodeo and other public events at the fairgrounds on the south edge of town.
Buy
[edit]As a border town, Sumas has many more gas stations than would be expected to sell lower priced fuel to Canadians. Be like the Canadians and gas up on the cheap before crossing the border.
It generally be less expensive to buy dairy, eggs, and alcohol in the United States than Canada, but keep in mind that there are exemption limits, especially for alcohol. If you cross into Canada exceeding exemption limits, especially for cigarettes and alcohol, expect to be heavily taxed.
Most businesses have separate cash drawers for US and Canadian currency and will readily transact in either currency, but cash exchange rates can be unfavorable depending on the business.
- 1 Duty Free Americas, 108 Harrison Ave, ☏ +1 360-988-9413. A duty free store located just before crossing into Canada.
- 2 Sumas Market, 944 Cherry St, ☏ +1 360-988-8800. Local grocery store
Eat
[edit]- 1 El Nopal, 625 Cherry St, ☏ +1 360-988-0305. Offers authentic and reasonably prices "south of the border" Mexican meals and a full bar.
- 2 Bob's Burgers, 819 Cherry St, ☏ +1 360-988-4483. Is part of a small local chain of popular American food joints.
Drink
[edit]See the eat section for listings.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Sumas Mountain Lodge, 819 Cherry St, ☏ +1 360-988-4483.
- 2 Sumas RV Park & Campground, 9600 Easterbrook Rd, ☏ +1 -360-988-8875.
Connect
[edit]- 1 United States Postal Service (USPS), 534 Railroad Ave, ☏ +1 360-988-2613. The local post office has with far more PO Boxes than area households because over 1000 Canadians have PO Boxes here. The local zip code is 98295.
At least three private businesses offer courier shipping and receiving services to a mainly Canadian clientele.
The local library (limited hours) offers free Wi-Fi.
Go next
[edit]| Routes through Sumas |
Mission ← Abbotsford ← becomes  ←  ← |
N  S |
→ Sedro-Woolley → Mount Vernon |
Bellingham via  ← Lynden ← |
W  E |
→ ENDS at  |