Point Roberts

Point Roberts is an unincorporated community in the Northwest Cascades region of the state of Washington. This small rectangular-shaped U.S. enclave is just below the 49th parallel. It sits on the Tsawwassen Peninsula and shares an international border with Canada (on its northern side).

Understand

As a US enclave accessible only from Canada by land, Point Roberts is effectively a gated community guarded by the US Department of Homeland Security. Sometimes visitors to Canada making a day trip to Point Roberts, but lacking a multiple entry visa to Canada, get stuck in Point Roberts. US Law Enforcement has used the Point, perceived as almost part of Canada, to trap US fugitives hiding in Canada. Once lured onto US soil on a false pretense, the Feds swoop in on the hapless crook who now has nowhere to run except into the ocean or back to the border and into the arms of US Border Patrol.

Get in

By car

If by land, Point Roberts is only accessible through the U.S. Border Station on Tyee Drive, which can be reached from 56th Street in (southern) Tsawwassen, Delta, British Columbia, Canada. For details, see Get in — By car section of the Northwest Cascades region article.

By plane

• 🌍 Point Roberts Airpark (FAA LID: 1RL), 622 Marine Dr, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. Small private local airport with 2,400ft of grass runway. San Juan Airlines has scheduled flights between Bellingham and Point Roberts on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

By water

• Point Roberts Marina, 713 Simundson Dr, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. Marina with fuel, boat launch. Pier Restaurant at [phone] (945-PIER) with bar and grill, pizza, seafood, burgers, salads. 
• Westwind Marine, 721 Simundson Dr, ☎ [phone]. Boat repair service. 

Get around

Public transit

• Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) Vanpool, Phone: [phone]. Convenient and relatively inexpensive local van service.

Taxi service

• Point Roberts Cab Company, 1800 Benson Road, Phone: [phone]. The only local taxi service in Point Roberts.

See

The line separating Point Roberts from Canada is the westernmost land border between Canada and the continental US. The westernmost spot is marked by a large monument honoring several UK soldiers from the 1800s. The monument is in a small park with a bench looking out over the Georgia Straight, the Gulf Islands, and Vancouver Island.

• Roosevelt Drive (North, along the Canadian border). Always open. Along this unassuming lane, the "undefended international border" is concretely visible. A narrow trench and periodic metre-high obelisks mark the boundary. To the north, back yards and wood fences of suburban Tsawwassen homes crowd in. To the south, groves of trees reveal the pastoral spirit of Point Roberts. No forbidding wall or cleared no-man's-land mars the scene. Free. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Monument Park. This small park includes a monument marking the establishment of the border between Canada and the USA. There is also a short but steep walk to the beach. Free. (updated Sep 2016)

Do

• 🌍 Point Roberts Golf & Country Club, 1350 Pelican Pl, ☎ [phone]. Championship-sized golf & country club attracts golfers from around North America. Eagle's Roost restaurant serves breakfast and lunch. Due to slightly dryer and sunnier conditions compared to the Fraser Valley, weather in Point Roberts is ideal for golfing. One green fee, approx $60. 
• There are many mountain bike trails that run through Point Roberts to the South East corner of the peninsula. Ramps and jumps are set up for beginner to intermediate level mountain bike riders.
• 🌍 Lighthouse Marine Park, ☎ [phone]. Park on southwest corner of the peninsula with beach and public restrooms, 21 acres with unobstructed view over the Georgia Straight to the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island. Thirty camp sites with fire pit, picnic table and parking. Whales can be spotted from here at times. $22/night for camper. 
• 🌍 Maple Beach. The largest public beach in Point Roberts. Free parking at the northern end of the beach. Free. (updated Sep 2016)
• 🌍 Lily Point Marine Park, 2315 APA Road (Drive to the end of APA road where you will find the park entrance and parking.). Lovely park with a few well-maintained tracks and beach access. This used to be the site of a salmon cannery. Free. (updated Sep 2016)

Buy

• Point Roberts main business is selling gas in litres (lower tax rates), dairy products and US postal services to Canadians. The post office rents far more boxes to Canadian residents than to local residents.
• Maple Tree Gallery, 1365 Gulf Rd (Next to Brewster's), ☎ [phone]. Fr-Su, 11AM-5PM. This charming shop showcases the artwork of the owners, and local artists they selected. The friendly proprietors, Rose Momsen and George Wright, are happy to tell you about their textiles and carved-wood pieces (respectively) . 

Eat

• 🌍 South Beach House Restaurant, 725 S Beach Rd, ☎ [phone]. Beachfront seafood restaurant, wine and beer, full bar, oceanfront patio. Dogs welcomed outside. Seasonal. 
• 🌍 The Shell Center, 423 Tyee Dr, ☎ [phone]. Breakfast, pizza, ice cream, coffee, wine and beer, gourmet sandwiches. Eat-in and takeout. 
• 🌍 Saltwater Cafe, 1345 Gulf Rd, ☎ [phone]. 

Drink

• 🌍 Kiniski's Reef Tavern (The Reef), 1334 Gulf Rd, ☎ [phone]. 

Sleep

• 🌍 Maple Meadows Inn, 101 Goodman Rd, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Wi-fi, fridge, microwave, breakfast room service, deck/patio. $145 May 15-Oct 15; $125 Oct 15-May 15. (updated Oct 2016)

Connect

Note that due to the proximity to Canada and distance from the rest of the United States, a US mobile phone plan not from Verizon (the only US carrier to place a cell site in the area) may not work or require an additional roaming add-on to function while in Point Roberts. If you need mobile coverage while here and are coming from the US, make sure your plan includes Canadian coverage. Conversely, if you are coming from the rest of Canada, your plan will likely function in Point Roberts as it does in Canada; all three major providers completely cover the community while Freedom Mobile may be spotty away from the border.

Go next

• Delta (British Columbia)