If you want to experience some of the most stunning scenery in North America, look no further than a holiday in Whistler, a mountain resort in British Columbia. With tree-lined peaks, cobblestone walkways and Alpine architecture, Whistler is diverse with a wide range of accommodation options ranging from village hotel rooms that are ideal for those on a tight budget to large villas and grand condos. Skiing and snowboarding are the main attractions with terrain to suit all levels from experts to beginners, but the resort does have much more to offer including a legitimate party atmosphere and a wide variety of nightlife. Temperatures in Whistler range from around -10°C during the winter to 27°C in the summer months. Whistler is around 74 miles north of Vancouver and can be reached by bus and train, with flights to Vancouver taking around ten hours.
Whether a beginner or an expert, Whistler is the ultimate family skiing experience…
Whistler is a great place to enjoy skiing and snowboarding. Whether a novice or an expert, there are slopes and instructors to suit all abilities. Family skiing is very popular thanks in large to the area's recent expansion with shops and restaurants, and with many additional family friendly facilities. With plenty to keep you active away from the slopes this is a good place for those who want to give skiing a trial run, with plenty to fallback on, including swimming and sunbathing during the summer months.
Anyone taking a holiday in Whistler will do so for one primary reason - to ski, or at the very least to experience one of the many winter sports available such as snowboarding, heli-skiing, snowmobiling and hiking. Whistler's top elevation is 7,160ft with base elevation at 2,140ft. The mountain is the setting for many established events throughout the year including the Kokanee Valley Race series at the start of the year, the Whistler Cup in April (which plays host to the world's best juvenile skiers) and the Snowboard FIS World Cup in December. In the summer you can enjoy some of the many mountain walk and hiking options in the area.
For families, through the winter months there are many children's programs available along with the 'Red Tribe' programs, which are built for teenagers. Dog sledding and snow shoeing also prove popular, while for a change of pace you can enjoy a Snowcat tour, which will introduce you to the snow-covered mountain routes. There is also a tour known as the Backcountry/Wildlife Tour, which features specially built hotrods guiding you through the rivers, mountains and old forestry roads. Perhaps the most popular family attraction however, is the Whistler Blackcomb Tube Park, which includes mini-tubes allowing you to zoom down one of eight hills with varying levels of difficulty.
Away from the snow, you might wish to swim in one of the many lakes or capitalise on the hot summer temperatures when you can relax in the sun. For the more active, mountain biking is a favourite and there's plenty to keep avid shoppers busy including the Hat Gallery, featuring hats of just about every style and colour. It's certainly not the hotspot for galleries or high fashion, but there are many tourist trinkets and lots of good skiing equipment available. The area is also noted for having several world-class golf courses and there is canoeing and kayaking to be enjoyed on the river.
By night, there are plenty of eating options with restaurants serving everything from pub food, to sushi and Italian. As with most ski resorts you might prefer to spend longer in the bars than on the slopes as Whistler is noted for its exciting nightlife with bars to suit just about every taste. By day, if you wish to escape the area, head to Vancouver for that big-city vibe.
