Get out into Whistler’s spectacular mountain environment,
immerse yourself in a rich west coast culture and celebrate
every day in our vibrant village. Come as you are, and let
yourself out.
Whistler Village
Whistler Village is based around the lifts for Whistler
and Blackcomb Mountains and split into different areas –
Village Centre, Upper Village and Village North – all connected
by pedestrian walkways and sections of the Valley Trail
that take you through forest and over creeks. You can walk
and shop all day long, go patio hopping, browse the galleries…make
it a ‘no plans’ day and you’ll never know what you might
discover.
Beyond the Village
The sightseeing doesn’t stop at the Village boundaries,
there are multiple neighbourhoods in Whistler waiting to
be explored. South of the Village neighbourhoods such as
Whistler Creekside and Function Junction offer their own
eclectic shopping, dining and cultural experiences while
north of the Village the neighbourhood of Rainbow boasts
a brand new shopping area – and there’s a great local transit
service to get you there, no car needed. Up above the Village,
you can take a tour of the Whistler Sliding Centre, even
have go at sliding yourself with the public skeleton and
bobsleigh programs for an Olympic-sized rush.
The Valley Trail
The Valley Trail connects Whistler’s neighbourhoods and
a gentle stroll on the pedestrian-only Valley Trail is a
gentle and peaceful way to discover ice-covered lakes, soaring
mountain views and snow-covered forests. The trail allows
you to find places like Lost Lake Park with cross country
skiing and snowshoeing, and further out you can connect
with hiking and biking trails which in winter months are
ideal for more challenging snowshoe adventures.
The Valley Trail is maintained over winter but just like
the Sea to Sky Highway conditions on the trail can change
depending on the weather. Be sure to dress for outdoor adventures
with good non-slip, waterproof footwear and see our guide
to winter walking on the Valley Trail for suggested routes.
You can easily make it a day out by adding a winter picnic
along the way…
Callaghan Valley and Beyond
A short drive south of Whistler the Callaghan Valley is
another fantastic winter sightseeing destination. Whistler
Olympic Park and Callaghan Country combine forces in an
area called Ski Callaghan, where you can pop out to take
in the snowy views and add a ton of activities including
xc skiing, snowshoing, toboganning, ski jumping, Nordic
skiing and more, with rentals available for everything and
lessons for those new to the sports. You can even tour out
to the Journeyman Lodge via xc ski or snowshoe for a true
backcountry experience.
You can also check out some gorgeous waterfalls along the
Sea to Sky Highway, but be aware that not all trails or
parking lots are open or maintained over winter.
On the Mountains
The PEAK 2 PEAK Sightseeing Experience is open to non-skiers
over winter and it’s a fantastic way to see the mountains.
Dress for the snow, grab a ticket, then upload in up the
Whistler Village Gondola. Once at the Roundhouse on Whistler
Mountain you can stroll around and enjoy the views, snap
a picture with the Olympic Rings and ride on the PEAK 2
PEAK Gondola from Whistler to Blackcomb and back again.
The mountain-top dining on both mountains is available along
with events like Winemaker Après, and there’s nothing classier
than sipping bubbly watching skiers whizz past below you
with the sun bright on the peaks. Glorious.
Other Snow Adventures
Skis and snowboards are definitely not the only way to play
in the snow, and in Whistler you can get out and enjoy the
fluffy white stuff in a multitude of ways:
No Experience Needed
If you’ve never been to the snow before, and don’t know
what to expect there’s winter activities that require little
or no experience – great for mixed groups. Every year they
create a big pile of snow in Whistler Olympic Plaza that’s
perfect for kids to toboggan and play on, and making snowmen
and snow angels in any pile of snow is completely acceptable.
The options range towards more adventurous too with an ice
skating rink right in the Village and snowshoeing, tubing,
ziplining, tree adventures, snowmobiling and dogsled tours
all running from the Village.
Some Fitness, Lots of Fun
Fans of cross country skiing will enjoy having access to
three venues and miles of trails (with each venue offering
lessons for those who want to give it a try), and fatbike
rentals are available in Whistler Village for those who
want to explore the Valley Trail on two wheels (weather/trail
maintenance dependent).
Hidden Secrets and High Octane
If you think you’ve seen and done it all there’s always
a few activities that can surprise – ice fishing and ice
climbing are two quirky ones for mid-winter. For a natural
history lesson the Eagle Viewing float tours offer an incredible
look at the bald eagle population in nearby Squamish. Adrenaline
fiends will enjoy offerings like bungee jumping over icy
rivers, ziplining, snowmobiling and the skeleton and bobsleigh
at the Whistler Sliding Centre.
An Excursion to Natural Wonders
If you want to experience the mountains from a higher perspective,
flightseeing is for you. Helicopter tours in Whistler range
from strictly flightseeing to glacier landing and ice cave
exploring. These remote marvels from the last ice age are
sure to be the highlight of any Whistler visit, even seasoned
locals are blown away by these tours.
If you’re really up for a one of a kind adventure you can
also book a Heli-Snowmobile Tour which is a legitimate guided
expedition. You’ll fly to the ice fields then traverse by
snowmobile in search of ice caves to spelunk through.
Discover Local Art, Music and Culture
Whistler’s arts and culture scene is growing rapidly, and
it’s an open invitation to slow down and discover something
deeper about the people and landscape of this place. Get
your neurons firing with a walk around Whistler’s new Cultural
Connector, a walking path through Whistler Village that
connects all the big arts and culture attractions including
the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, the Whistler Museum,
the Audain Art Musuem, The Lost Lake Passiv Haus, public
artworks and more. Add in multiple private galleries for
browsing and you’ll have entertainment for days.
Like any good arts scene the offerings change from week
to week, so the huge list of events, speaker series, live
performances, music, movies and more deserve a mention here.
Layer in other quirky cultural offerings like Hockey Tours
(quintessentially Canadian), the Olympic Self-Guided tour,
art workshops with a local artist, workshops offering hands-on
learning with the local First Nations crafts and a library
and bookstore packed with books and puzzles for all ages
and you’ll quickly learn that Whistler is a place with stories
as deep as the mountains are high.
Play with the Kids, Hang out with the Teens
Just about all of the outdoor activities on offer are good to do with families, but there’s extra layers to the onion here too. During winter big free events like Family Après (Monday and Wednesday evenings) and the weekly Fire & Ice Show (Sundays and special events) provide easy entertainment.
Arts and culture venues, events and workshops are also great for the kids and there’s some local gems like Escape! Whistler and the indoor climbing at The Core to throw into the mix if anyone starts saying they are bored (they probably won’t). Check out this list of other indoor activities and family travel ideas for more things to do with the smaller humans in your life. Our guide to family winter fun is a great place to dive into the kid-friendly activities, and we’ve even got a local mom’s guide to hanging with babies (it’s way more fun than you think).
Eat, Drink and Be Merry
Dine Out in Whistler
There’s over different 100 places to eat in Whistler from cheap and cheerful to high end, so you never have to eat in the same place twice. If you are planning a special dinner or simply want to knock it up a notch for a night, award-winning restaurants – including but not limited to The Rimrock Café, Araxi, Bearfoot Bistro and Red Door Bistro – are on hand to satisfy your tastebuds.
Top tip: always book ahead to ensure you get your preferred day and time. If you aren’t sure where to start our dining guide has a handy list of places broken down by price and meal. And there’s no need to limit yourself to the traditional three square meals a day. Every meal and in-between meal is catered for here – brunch, après-anything, dinner, sweet treats, cheap and cheerful meals, ice cream (yes, even in winter) grab and go meals, family friendly food and more.
Food and Tasting Tours
The dining scene can be pretty overwhelming for new guests to town, so we highly recommend taking a tasting tour for a sample of the local restaurants. The advantage is you’ll hang out with a local guide for a couple of hours and be able to get their recommendations first hand. Whistler Food Tours offer an informative lunchtime food tour and Whistler Tasting Tours are another great way to get a handle on a couple of local places in one night. You’ve always got the chance to go back and sample the full menu later.
For those who like the DIY approach, checking out some of the tasting menus or flights is another great way to have a mini-culinary adventure.
Party Animals, Après Hounds & Night Owls
Socialising is good for your health. Whether you want to après-ski Whistler-style, like to have a casual beer by a firepit after a snowshoe adventure or are looking to cruise from cocktail to club there’s an option for you. We covered nights out pretty well in this 25 Things to Do in the Evening article – have a read and start planning your after-dark adventure. And for those early spring days when you just want some sunshine? Here’s the lowdown on patios for spring après.
Shop ‘til You Drop
Some people make retail therapy into an artform, and in Whistler there’s a tempting array of boutique shops, galleries, gift shops, souvenir stores and artisan markets to discover alongside some big name outdoor and technical gear stores for all your mountain adventure needs (here’s some locally developed winter brands locals like to get you started).
The different neighbourhoods and meandering cobbled walkways create a delightful environment to discover new shops. Sure, you may get snowed on between purchases but that’s far more charming than strip mall lighting. Any good shopper knows that rest stops are crucial to a good walk and shop, and the patios and cafes sprinkled through the shops offer welcome respite for weary feet. Don’t forget to explore the neighbourhoods beyond the Village for hidden gems – a true shopper will sniff them all out.
Relax, Recover, Reconnect
Doing stuff is great, but a real holiday should probably include some serious chill time. There’s options to increase your feelings of relaxation, which when combined with more active days can create a feeling of absolute bliss. Going to a spa, have a float session and stretching it out at yoga are three excellent ways to enhance your wellness – we’ve done the work and put together a couple of suggestions for a DIY Whistler Retreat to help you plan.
At the same time, nothing is stopping you from staying in your hotel all day, having a good old sleep in, reading books, writing, sketching, knitting – whatever makes you feel good and helps you relax. Take gentle walks in nature, take a few photos. Spend hours chilling by the fireplace with hot drink. Or shift to an outdoor patio and watch people come and go along the Village Stroll. Have long, good conversations over a glass of wine. Watch the snow fall. Sometimes slowing down is all you need to let magic happen.
Learn to Ski
Is it possible you might actually be into skiing, but have never had the opportunity to try? Here’s your chance to give it a whirl or introduce your favourite non-skier to a sport they might love, they just don’t know it yet. Heed the advice on skiing with your spouse, though, and get them a lesson or a camp to start them on the path. Let them get out there and get a few turns on Whistler Blackcomb’s green runs, and you might just have a skiing or riding buddy for life.
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