Whistler

You will find the Whistler ski resort at the foot of two mountains, named Whistler and Blackcomb, eighty or so miles from Vancouver on the west coast of Canada.  The resort area started as a skiing area for locals in the middle of the 1960s, and has expanded to include three distinct areas, Creekside, Whistler Village and the Upper Village at the base of Blackcomb Mountain.

Whistler has grown to become North America’s largest skiing area and attracts thousands of ski-seekers each year due to its unique combination of high, open bowls, woodland trails and Alpine-like scenery.

It’s an attractive village full of modern amenities that is purpose-built for skiers with a large and central car-free area.  It has an excellent range of restaurants and spirited après-ski opportunities.  The Creekside area of Whistler was one of the venues for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Due to its attractiveness, Whistler can become packed and over-burdened with skiers during peak periods with over-crowding leading to packed pistes and excessive queues at the lifts.  The closeness of the resort to the Pacific Ocean means some cloudy weather and the odd spell of rain.  Be wary too that the mountain-based restaurants can become equally crowded and that they don’t match the excellence of the ones you find at the bottom of the slopes.

Whistler’s main attribute is its charm, with each of the centres designed to remain traffic-free.  There is a mix of accommodation styles, from chalet-style apartments on the sides of the hills to a more multi-storey hotel feel in the village centres.  Please be aware, the Village Square is the place where people like to party, so you’ve no room to complain if you book your accommodation there and you’re kept awake until the early hours by the noise.

If you’ve a head for heights, you can take the Peak 2 Peak gondola that links Whistler Village, Upper Village and Creekside, making each peak easily accessible.  Each mountain-top is reachable by a maximum of three lifts.  For your refreshment needs, Whistler Village by far the most bars, restaurants and shops, whilst the newer and car-free Whistler Village North is linked by a pedestrian bridge to the main centre.  Both Upper Village and Creekside are smaller and quieter.

The alpine-like views from each peak will take your icy breath away, especially of the deep Fitzsimmons Creek valley from the Peak 2 Peak gondola.  You can even see the coast from the upper slopes.  The pistes are largely well-maintained, although some of the lower slopes can become slushy.

If you’re new to skiing, you can sign up for either a three-day or five-day course to suit most standards from complete beginner to intermediate.  You will be placed in a small group with the same instructor each day, meaning your own personal needs will not be overlooked.  Two day courses are available for those who wish to really up their experience and expertise.

If you are on a family vacation, you will find children have been thought about and are well-catered for.  The Blackcomb base area and the gondola mid-station both have excellent children-only areas, with the Children’s Adventure Park on Blackcomb, with its Magic Castle and Great Wall climbing centre, particularly appealing.

For snowboarders, skiers or just those who like snow, Whistler’s two peaks and three centres gives you everything you need for an Alpine-like experience in North America.  Book your skiing holiday now to see why Whistler has grown to become Canada’s most successful ski resort.