Peace Arch Historical State Park sits at the very top of Blaine, right on the US–Canada border. Its centerpiece is the 67-foot white Peace Arch, a monument to the long peace between the two countries, surrounded by formal gardens planted with more than 10,000 annual flowers in season. Around the monument and grounds you’ll find picnic shelters, a kitchen shelter, a playground, drinking water and interpretive displays, with views out over Semiahmoo Bay. A Discover Pass is required for day-use parking. It’s a unique, photogenic park — equal parts garden, history lesson and viewpoint — that anchors the north end of town.

What you’ll find

The Peace Arch monument is the heart of it — a 67-foot white arch straddling the international boundary, which you can walk right up to. The grounds around it are formal gardens, planted each year with over 10,000 annual flowers, so in summer it’s genuinely colorful. For families and groups there are picnic shelters, a kitchen shelter that can host gatherings, a playground and drinking water, and interpretive displays explain the monument’s history and the border. The setting opens onto Semiahmoo Bay views. Restrooms and parking are on site, with a Discover Pass required for day-use parking. It’s the kind of park people visit for the spectacle of the monument and gardens as much as for recreation.

Good for

Peace Arch suits anyone who likes gardens, history or a striking photo spot — the monument and summer flowers make it a popular stop for visitors and a point of pride for locals. The picnic and kitchen shelters make it a solid choice for family gatherings and events, and the playground keeps kids busy. It’s a gentle, accessible park rather than a hiking or sports destination. Worth noting: it sits right at the border crossing, so the area sees traffic, and the gardens are at their best in the warm months.

When to go

Summer is the park’s showcase — that’s when the 10,000-plus annual flowers are in bloom and the gardens are at their most striking, making it the prime window for a visit or photos. Late spring through early fall is generally the most rewarding. The monument and grounds are open year-round, but the gardens are a warm-season feature, so a winter visit is more about the arch and the bay views than the flowers. Weekday visits avoid the busiest crowds at the popular monument.

Getting there

Peace Arch State Park is at the north edge of Blaine right at the US–Canada border, just off I-5 at the final US exit before the crossing. There’s parking, restrooms, drinking water and an accessible, mostly level layout that’s easy to get around. Bring a Discover Pass for day-use parking. Because it’s adjacent to the border crossing, give yourself a moment to navigate the area, and note the park is for recreation and gardens — it’s not a place to cross the border on foot.

A local broker’s take

Blaine is a true border town, and the Peace Arch is its signature landmark — a reminder that life up here is shaped by being on the line between two countries. Buyers I work with in Blaine like the slower pace, the waterfront and the relative affordability compared with Bellingham. The honest trade-offs are border traffic, a longer haul to the city’s bigger services, and a quieter commercial scene. For people who want a small, friendly coastal town and don’t mind the distance, Blaine delivers. Ask me what the Blaine market looks like right now.

Good to know

Can you walk up to the Peace Arch monument?

Yes. The 67-foot Peace Arch straddles the US–Canada border within the park, and you can walk right up to it on the grounds. The park is for recreation and gardens, not for crossing the border on foot.

When are the Peace Arch gardens in bloom?

The formal gardens are planted with more than 10,000 annual flowers and are at their best in summer, roughly late spring through early fall.

Do you need a Discover Pass at Peace Arch State Park?

Yes, a Discover Pass is required for day-use parking, as at other Washington state parks.