Anchoring the Northwest corner of the county are Blaine and Birch Bay, waterfront towns who take their identities from the harbors on which they were built.
Blaine has always been a working waterfront, home to a fishing fleet which has fallen prey to declining salmon stocks. The smaller commercial fleet has made space for growing numbers of pleasure boaters, lured by the protected waters and unparalleled scenery of the San Juan and Gulf Islands. Blaine has adapted, emphasizing its downtown historic district, duty free shopping for Canadian visitors and wonderful Peace Arch park.
Semiahmoo is a newer residential area between Blaine and Birch Bay. It boasts a world class destination resort and golf course- The Resort Semiahmoo and a marina.
Central to all three of these communities is shopping at the Peach Arch Factory Outlets.