Though many of us counting down the minutes until winter is over if you want to find a new found respect and passion for winter then Whistler in British Columbia is where you must go. Besides looking like the perfect cross between a Hallmark Holiday movie set and Narnia, it is full of fun activities, adventures and of course, people. Let us guide you through the best places to stay, the best things to do and where to eat in Whistler.
Where To Stay
There are tons of hotels right there in the village but Delta Hotels Whistler Village Suites is not only super convenient but also quite accommodating. Perfect for a busy week or weekend of skiing the rooms all have washer/dryers as well as kitchens so if you are too tired after hitting the slopes you can do everything you need to right in your room.
The hotel which has 6 floors, 23 rooms, 184 suites and over 30,000 square feet of event space truly follows its motto of “simple made perfect.” You get exactly what you need right here. But if you do feel like venturing out all the great restaurant and bars are just a short walk away. Or you could literally stay in the hotel and go to Brickworks which features great live music, some of the best bartenders in Canada and plenty of locals. Delta Hotels, which is part of the Marriot portfolio, is growing rapidly right now opening a new property every other week last year.
Where To Eat
There are so many great restaurants but Caramba Restaurant right in the village is great as well as Hy’s Steakhouse and Cocktail Bar, especially if you are craving pizza or the to-die-for meatballs (I ordered two plates.)
If you are looking for some upscale bar food after a busy morning of skiing hit up Garibaldi Lift Co. Bar & Grill just try not to go into a food coma or you won’t make it back up the mountain.
If you are looking for something super special hit up the Bearfoot Bistro and ask to see the 20,000 wine cellar because owner Andre Saint-Jacques may just show you how to saber a champagne bottle and your life will never be the same again. After all, there is no amount of witty cocktail banter that can outdo saboring a bottle with giant sword.
Saint-Jacques even has one from Napoleon on hand. It is rather fitting that he has one of these swords as it was the soldiers of Napoleon’s army that practiced the hobby. “If they sliced the neck off clean it meant good karma. Then they’d win the battle and they’d return home safe.”
The food which is a pre-fixe three or five-course menu (seasonally changed) is also absolutely exquisite, but I’d suggest you save yourself for the nitrogen ice cream sundae bar. It is dessert and a show all in one. And then you can top it all off with a trip to the Ketel One Ice Room (it’s in the same building.) You may have thought it was cold outside but you would be wrong as now you will be in the coldest vodka tasting room in the entire world (-25 degrees Fahrenheit.) It also the only permanent sub-zero vodka room in all of Canada. Don’t worry, they lend you Canada Goose coats to keep you warm-ish but luckily the vodka is delicious and it makes for some great Instagram pics.
What To Do
If you are looking to just sit back and relax then this is not the place for you. But if you want to be constantly active and go to the adult version of Disneyland then book your trip now. With 8,100 skiable acres it is the biggest resort in all of North America. From the very top of the mountain down it is 5,200 feet. In other words that is a good long ski run. Plus it caters to all levels: 18% green trains, 55% blue, 22% black, and 5% double-black.
But if you are looking to diversify consider a morning snowmobile tour across the Callaghan Valley with Canadian Wilderness Adventures ending in an amazing Yukon-style mountain breakfast feast at Carleton Lodge. After trekking up that mountain on our snowmobiles, which did make me feel like I was in Star Wars, we were quite ravenous and the hearty breakfast( Canadian back bacon, Yukon gold potatoes, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, sautéed onions, and bell peppers along with pancakes and real maple syrup) in the cabin was absolutely what we needed. It was right out of Little House on the Prairie (except there was way more snow and no annoying Nellie Olsen lurking around.)
Our guides were energetic, fun and knew the trails and these machines like the back of their hands. We also got some of the most amazing views as our fleet moved up the mountain.
If you have always dreamt of flying then Superfly Ziplines is your fantasy come true. Fly through the air (but strapped in safely) you will be too busy taking in unparalleled views of volcanic peaks, rainforests and glaciers to even get scared. Though conditions were a little tough on the day we went with the wind and snow it was still super fun.
Then after all that you must retreat to the Scandinave Spa, which was built when the city hosted the 2010 Olympics (and Justin Bieber is a fan apparently.) The spa has stellar offerings including deep tissue and Swedish-style massages, Scandinavian baths, solariums, saunas and steam rooms but do remember there is a silent policy so save the gossip for later.
But then it is time to get back up that mountain. If you want a break from skiing why not true snowshoeing? It’s a great workout but a little bit more slower paced and relaxing than whizzing down the mountain. Plus you really get to take in the views for as long as you want as you make your way through the forest with The Adventure Group.
Another great way to get some incredible views is by taking the Peak 2 Peak 360 Gondola Experience (just be sure you aren’t afraid of heights.) It takes a little while but then you can have a delicious gourmet lunch at the very top of the mountain at Christine’s on Blackcomb. There is nothing like drinking champagne at a high altitude!
All in all you can’t go wrong in Whistler. There is also plenty of shopping to keep you occupied (after all, this is the country that gave us Lululemon) and all the employees at every restaurant, hotel and adventure group are friendly and incredible.
Consider Whistler for your next big active vacation!
