Thanks for joining me! There will be various posts about life in Whistler and what to do if you’re there for the first time and want that ‘local’ experience!
And then I realized, adventures are the best way to learn – Anonymous
One of the most family friendly and entertaining activities to participate in at Whistler Blackcomb is tubing in the Tube Park! The Coca – Cola tube park is located on Blackcomb mountain, and is accessible by both car, and skiing down via a chairlift/gondola. There are eight available lanes, with different levels of difficulty. There is also a kiddie lane, for children under 5, which is about 1/2 the distance of a regular run. This lane is optional for the kids. If you’ve never been tubing before, or if you’re a seasoned veteran on the hills, it is full of excitement for all ages and expertise.
I went to the tube park on my first day in Whistler to get a look at the mountain and have fun in the snow without lots of exercise involved, as we had been traveling all day. This activity is great because even people who are not as athletically inclined can participate! When I went I paid for one hour and I found that that was plenty enough time to enjoy it. Each run takes anywhere between 5-20minutes, depending on the crowds and the time of day. On average our runs we’re about 15 minutes, including the ride up and walking around. This allowed us to get 4-5 runs in by the end of the day! You may think that it doesn’t sound like very much, but I personally felt at the end that I had fully experienced the park and didn’t feel the need to continue any more runs. If you are having the time of you’re life, and want to keep tubing, you can by a pass for 2+ hours, and continue the fun!
The tube park also has other activities open year round, including games that you might see at a fair or carnival. The is a zero gravity machine, and a spider web. Although these are more popular in the summer, they are also available in the winter if a young one gets bored or cold out in the snow. Beside these rides there is a little snack shack that offers lots of warm drinks and sometimes pastries. There is also a giant fire pit with surrounding benches, to sit and warm up beside after your day in the snow!
For the athletes out there concerned or worried about keeping up their training and physique, there is a High Performance Gym located in Whistler as well, which is home to the Olympic Athletes from the 2010 Olympics, as well as the future Olympians. It is located less than ten minutes away from Creekside Village, the gym is fully equipped with everything to have a proper workout; treadmills, Olympic weights, hot and cold tubs, and more.
I went there three times over the course of my stay in Whistler, and I was blown away by the quality of the gym and how peaceful in was out there. The gym was surrounded by fields, and they were lightly covered in snow. It was exactly what I would imagine as being in a winter wonderland.
To summarize, there are multiple things to do in Whistler to stay active, and if you are interested in even more ways to stay active, I have linked a website below taking you to the Whistler Blackcomb website, where you can find much more information! Hope you enjoyed this blog and have an amazing time on your next adventure!
(1) - - https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/explore-the-resort/activities-and-events/winter-activities/tube-park.aspx
(2) - https://www.coca-colacompany.com/coca-cola-tubing
(3) - https://www.blackcombpeaks.com/things-to-do/family-activities/coca-cola-tube-park
(4) - https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/explore-the-resort/activities-and-events/winter-activities/tube-park.aspx
You absolutely CANNOT leave Whistler Blackcomb without riding the Peak to Peak. This Gondola ride spans the distance between the two cliffs of both mountains, and allows riders to go back and forth as they please throughout the day. It’s an eleven minute ride from one end to the other, although you’ll be so caught up in the views it will feel like seconds. This ride he’d the record for the longest free span between towers, a whopping 3.03Km, until about 2017 (4). It still holds the record for the highest Gondola off the ground, at approximately 1430 ft.
For a special treat, you can wait for the exclusive Gondola, with a glass bottom, and view the amazing rich forests below you. This Gondola runs along the same chain, but has a light blue coloring and native patterns painted across it.
I rode the Gondola multiple times on my trip with my family, and an interesting cultural aspect of it is that there are many people on board from all over the world. Some who don’t even know how to ski, but sit on the Peak to Peak round and round for hours meeting new people. While I was riding I met a new to the country Chinese family who were pro skiers, even the kids! I also met an elderly man from England who had never touched a ski in his life, but was visiting family and wanted to experience the mountain. The peak to peak is an amazing ride for any and all types of people, and the world class views speak for themselves.
(1) - https://www.whistlerreservations.com/summer-activities/peak-2-peak-gondola
(2) - https://travelingcanucks.com/2010/09/peak-2-peak-gondola-whistler-blackcomb-british-columbia/
(3) - https://travelingcanucks.com/2010/09/peak-2-peak-gondola-whistler-blackcomb-british-columbia/
(4) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_2_Peak_Gondola
This mountain is very unique because it has one of the largest communities living there. Due to this there is an overwhelming need for shopping and various stores to be avalible close to home. Whistler Village is home to many apparel stores, ski stores, cafes and eateries such as The Brewhouse.
While in Whistler, I spent a couple of days in the Village shopping, and one thing that is nice about the village is that they have many of the stores we have on the island, however they carry lines of apparel that you can’t find anywhere else. For example in the local Lululemon they have a line of super soft sweatpants and fleece lined coats that can’t be found anywhere else in BC. Some other well-known stores in the village include;
Shopping in Whistler can be entertaining for more than just the buying aspect. If you’re on a budget, or not a big shopper, the village has much more to offer. You can stop at countless Cafes, or step in to a local pub for a quick beer. The village also has access to Gondolas that take you to the Peak to Peak adventure line. As well, there is a skating rink and Tube / Toboggan park at the Northside of the village. You and you’re family could spend hours in there, just as mine did!
The stores in the village are open daily, from 8:00AM – 6:00PM daily, although the lifts and gondolas close around 3:00. Most restaurants enclosed in the village are open until midnight. Happy Shopping!
Whistler Village Shopping Centre
(1) - https://sgbonline.com/the-north-face-whistler-store-gets-a-facelift/
(2) - https://stores.arcteryx.com
(3) - https://www.whistler.com/village-directory/
(4) - http://www.whatsupwithdana.com/lululemon-athletica-blog/category/fashion
The Brewhouse is a classic family restaurant for all ages, with magnificent foods from all ethnicities. The menu is a=mostly all American, but features some Indian and Chinese cuisine. It is located on the in Whistler North, which is the most North side of the village, next to the Olympic Rings and “Pure Bread.” The Brewhouse is one of the biggest restaurants in the Village, and can host parties of up to 50 people.
When I visited the Brewhouse, I was with my family and boyfriend, and we went for a late lunch. We ordered two Margarita Flatbread Pizzas, and Two French Dips, so there wasn’t a lot of variety, but the food we got was absolutely divine. The Pizzas were very large, but I managed to finish mine. They were topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, chicken, and mozzarella. The French dips came with sides of caesar and fries, which were great for sharing. The brewhouse also offers a large variety of beers, Alger, and specialty drinks that my parents indulged in. A unique feature of the Brewhouse which sets it apart from other restaurants is the fact that it has a 7ft train zooming around a train track that covers the entirety of the restaurant. It dips up and around, but mainly runs along a track above your head, parallel to the ceiling and cross bars. It creates entertainment for even the youngest in your family.
“Classic dishes prepared with the finest ingredients, and a diverse wine list to complement.” – Whistler Blackcomb
https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/explore-the-resort/the-village/dining/christines.aspx?page=viewall
Christine’s is a mountain top restaurant that serves high end food in a fancy setting. The view is almost as good as the food! After a long hard day of skiing and snowboarding, you can come in for a nice mid-day lunch / early dinner, and meet up with your friends and family!
Especially for those non-skiers visiting Whistler, this place is a great to sit and watch the view, no matter the time of year. In the winter Christine’s is open until 4:00pm, but throughout summer it opens up a bit later. The setting there deems a formal attire, but Whistler is not your average “formal”. It is perfectly acceptable to eat in your ski sweaters and pants. Christine’s is approximately 1860 meters above ground, located in “The Rendezvous Lodge.”
The menu is very diverse as well, Christine’s offers a wide variety of foods that are not your typical family restaurant meal. The menu is short and select. (Pictured below) Christine’s is well known for its long wine lists, importing from all over the world. This restaurant is a must see for any and all visitors.
(1) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/tukatuka/5707883851
(2) - https://clubzone.ca/places/brew-house-whistler/
(3), (4) - https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/explore-the-resort/the-village/dining/christines.aspx?page=viewall
(5) - http://foodology.ca/christines-whister/
(6) - https://genkisnow.com.au/explore/canada/christines-on-blackcomb/
(7) - https://assets.vailresorts.com/-/media/whistler-blackcomb/products/explore-the-resort/the-village/dining/christines/christines-lunch-v2.ashx
The Fire and Ice show, held at the base of Whistler mountain, at the Skiers plaza between the Whistler and Blackcomb Gondolas. The show consists of lively music, dancers, and top of the line athletes performing tricks and flips off a jump. It’s great fun for all ages!
I went to this show for the first opening of 2018 on December 23rd and wasn’t expecting much. I was blown away by the skill level and expertise of the athletes. Little did I know the six athletes that participated has been training for months to prepare. Some of them were ski and snowboard instructors on the mountain, and the others were competing in pro competitions. They had to compete with countless other athletes at a tryout leading up to this season of shows. The three snowboarders and three skiers are very select. The show begins with a group of “fire dancers” who light hula hoops, rings, and bamboo sticks on fire, and perform dances with them underneath the jump. As the athletes begin, the dancers move to podiums throughout the crowds and continue with their hoops ablaze. The athletes start with some simpler jumps, as the hoop has not been set up with. I watched many 180s, 360s, and other various flips and tricks. The MC builds up to the ring of fire and there are giveaway prizes thrown out into a crowd. For my viewing they gave away a Nintendo and new snowboard boots. After about 30 minutes they hoist the ring of fire up, and the athletes fly through it at amazing paces. After the show the athletes are congratulated and ski off the hill, and the sky lights up with the most beautiful firework show ever, they have all the colors you can imagine and you can feel the explosions beneath your feet. This show was a definite highlight of my trip and I would recommend it to ANYONE visiting Whistler.
The show runs every Sunday and starts at 7:00. After the amazing panel of athletes finish their jumps, the show closes with a brilliant Firework show. It runs throughout the season from December 23, 2018 – March 25, 2019.
(1) - http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/do-whistler-like-a-local
(2) - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/picturesoftheday/7187689/Pictures-of-the-day-8-February-2010.html?image=14
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