From sustainability, to First Nations, skiing, snowboarding, golf, mountain biking, events, arts and culture and community, Tourism Whistler is pleased to provide media with a library of story sheets that provide information on a variety of topics. To search the datatabase, please use the Media Marmot search tool.
- Food & Wine
Whistler offers more than 200 restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars, and is a mecca for food and wine lovers. Some of the country's best restaurants and chefs marry B.C. food with B.C. wines, spirits, craft beers - as well as food and wine from around the world - to create unique epicurean experiences.
Whistler's Restaurants Feature Locally-Grown Ingredients
Whistler restaurants take pride in featuring fresh, local, organic produce and Canadian specialties, including B.C. wild salmon, halibut and shellfish, B.C.-raised venison, BC-produced wines, Pemberton fingerling potatoes, and produce and cheeses from organic producers on Salt Spring Island, to name just a few.
Whistler's Chefs and Farmers Collaborate
Whistler's proximity to Pemberton, a fertile farming valley 25 minutes north, makes it easy for chefs to work with local farmers to create dishes that feature fresh local ingredients. Executive chef James Walt of Araxi and Il Caminetto restaurants lives in Pemberton and stops by North Arm Farm on most workdays in the spring/summer to pick up fresh produce.
Indigenous Cuisine Showcased at Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Center
Located on six forested acres along Fitzsimmons Creek, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) provides visitors with the unique opportunity to explore the heritage and living culture of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation. Using the finest local ingredients, many of them inspired by traditional Squamish and Lil'wat foods, the culinary team creates a spectacular dining experience. Some menu items include: Bannock, Wild Boar Prosciutto, Oolichan, Venison Chili, Caribou Terrine, Soapallallie Berry Juice, House Smoked Salmon, bison carpaccio, Pemmichan, Lil’wat Honey, Sturgeon Caviar and Okanagan Elk.
Whistler's Famed Après Scene
The nightlife in Whistler is almost as famous as the skiing and snowboarding. There's plenty of entertainment in town, with top DJs in the nightclubs and a vibrant live music scene. One of the best things about skiing and boarding is gathering with friends over a drink when the day is done. When the sun goes down, some people go into party mode, put on their dancing shoes and head for the nightclubs. For others in search of something more laid back, Whistler is dotted with lounges and pubs serving local craft beers and wines from BC's rapidly growing wine regions.
In summer, après ski gives way to après bike at the many sunny outdoor village patios. The Whistler après bike scene is lively, with people who have spent the day either downhill mountain biking, cross country riding or cruising the valley trail all converging on one of the many outdoor patios along Whistler’s pedestrian stroll to enjoy a cold beverage and a tasty appetizer.
Bred Organic Sourdough Made by Ed
Originally from Kent in the UK, Ed has always worked in fine dining kitchens around the world and has been making sourdough since 2008. Ed and Natasha moved to Canada in 2013 to snowboard for a season. They both worked in hospitality and Ed worked in farm-to-table restaurant Alta Bistro in Whistler, BC. While taking some shoulder-season leave and working on Vancouver Island farms in the summer of 2014, Ed started a sourdough culture that he took with him back to Alta Bistro and implemented a bread programme for the restaurant. Back in 2016, Ed rented the bistro’s kitchen once a week to make bread for his friends, who subsequently told their friends, and before long demand had increased to a point where Ed had outgrown the equipment. That’s when Ed and his wife, Natasha, decided to team up and start planning to open an 100% plant-based organic sourdough bread shop in Creekside, Whistler. Natasha admired Ed’s dedication to making tasty artisan loaves and Ed knew that Natasha’s background as an English teacher and examiner, as well as a string of hospitality jobs over the years would come in useful for starting a food and beverage business. Being vegan for the past five years, it was important for Ed and Natasha to bring that into their business. They both believe that you shouldn’t make food for other people that you wouldn’t eat yourself. The bread shop and plant-based bakery sells loaves for pick-up in-store and a selection of small baked items and espresso-based coffees are available in the bread shop. Direct-trade, Australian-inspired Canadian roasted smooth, rich and balanced deep chocolate syrupy sweetness and cherry-like fruitiness espresso coffees matched with oat, almond, soy or coconut alternatives to cow’s milk. edsbred.com
Craft Beer
With three breweries and dozens of pubs serving delicious craft liquid, Whistler is a must-stop for any craft beer enthusiast exploring BC’s Ale Trail. Function Junction, Whistler’s 'industrial zone' 10 minutes south of the Village, is home to two breweries—one old and one new. Whistler Brewing Company, founded in 1989 (though not in this location) has a strong, stable presence in the community and throughout BC. The brewery has a tasting room and offers tours. Nearby is Coast Mountain Brewing, a new addition to the scene since 2016 that offers its own unique range of beers in its tasting room. Head to the Village and visit High Mountain Brewing Co - Brewhouse, located right beside the Olympic Plaza that only sells its beer on-site, allowing them to brew smaller batches and experiment with seasonal offerings. Beers include the award-winning 5 Rings IPA, which was named BC’s Beer of the Year in 2012. If you’ve timed your visit well, you can also experience the Whistler Village Beer Festival, which takes over Whistler Olympic Plaza and other venues in the Village in mid-September each year. Or head out to Pemberton and visit The Beer Farmers which comes by its rural charm honestly — the Miller family has owned and farmed the land it’s on since 1911, and brewing is just the most recent activity it’s taken on. https://bcaletrail.ca
First Nations Feast
For a truly unique First Nations experience, enjoy a delicious indigenous inspired feast and tour of the award-winning Squamish Líl’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC). This culinary evening blends traditional ingredients in modern plates while Spo7ez Performers in regalia share songs and stories Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation. https://slcc.ca/feast/
Montis Distilling Custom Gin Program
Montis Distilling is a locally crafted small batch distillery in Function Junction, Whistler, B.C. Creating crafted spirits using malted barley sourced from the province of British Columbia, Montis Distilling opened its doors in the summer of 2019, and distills gin, vodka, and whiskey. Montis Distilling offers customized programs for custom batches of gin and whiskey. The custom gin program allows you to create your very own custom flavoured gin. During your gin consultation, they will develop your tasting profile and then create your custom gin recipe from the botanicals you have chosen. It is a 12-bottle minimum requirement to create a custom gin batch. Or enjoy a guided tour of the distillery with tastings included in their tasting room. The tasting tour is 1 hour and includes a taster of each spirit distilled at Montis Distilling.
Pemberton Distillery's Single Malt Whisky
Renowned for their Schramm Organic Potato Vodka and Schramm Organic Gin, Pemberton Distillery, a boutique family owned and operated craft distillery, also releases limited edition organic single malt whisky and brandy. Water, 100% organic malted barley and yeast are the only ingredients, making it the first single malt whisky made in British Columbia and the only organic single malt whisky in North America. The Distillery also creates cask-aged Apple Brandy from locally sourced organic apples in the Sea to Sky, organic Absinthe from Pemberton potato spirits and Grande Wormwood grown in their distillery garden and an Organic Ceylon Cinnamon Extract made from a slow, cold processed blend of high quality certified organic Ceylon Cinnamon, hand harvested in Costa Rica, and their own locally distilled organic potato spirits.
Purebread
A family bakery established in Whistler with one simple mission: to bake delicious bread, savouries, cakes & treats that bring a smile to peoples' faces. They started off by baking bread at home for family & friends and to the owners, it is still like that...just their family's a little bigger! After plucking up the courage to share their baking at a Christmas market in Whistler some years ago, they enjoyed fantastic local support & have grown to do many more regular markets throughout the Sea to Sky region, in addition to opening five bakeries - two in Whistler & three in Vancouver: Gastown, Mount Pleasant & Kitsilano. Purebread uses real, quality ingredients that help to make the goodies delicious served up with warm & welcoming customer service, and great coffee.
Whistler Chocolate
Whistler chocolate bars are 100% certified organic and are made from the finest organic ingredients. Whistler Chocolate was founded in November 2006 by adventure and chocolate loving Whistlerites. The goal was to combine their love of chocolate with their love for the Whistler lifestyle. They launched new eco-friendly packaging May 2009. The inner wrap is now 100% compostable and made from wood fibre. The box is 100% recyclable and is made from 35-75% post consumer waste - so as long as you eat the chocolate (we know you will) there is absolutely no waste!
Ranger Teacrafters - Namasthé® Tea
Handcrafted in Whistler since 2006, Namasthé® Teas features Pemberton whole leaf Thérroir™ Tisanes in a wide selection of premium quality, certified organic and fair-trade loose-leaf teas. As dedicated Tea Artisans, they blend sustainabilitea in every tea pouch using Manila hemp tea pouches, 100% home compostable clear overwrap and 100% solar & wind power at the farm & Teacrafting Temple. Namasthé Tea`s TEO Isabelle Ranger is a Consultant Herbalist offering over a decade of service to the Sea to Sky communities custom blending & wildcrafting organic wellness & medicinal teas.
Whistler's Food and Wine Events
One of Whistler's most popular and anticipated events is Cornucopia, Whistler's Celebration of food and drink. Cornucopia has expanded to an exciting eleven days of seminars, tastings, winery dinners, and a series of fabulous after-parties, brunches and Chefs lunches that takes place every November!
The dining options in Whistler are vast and varied with an array of establishments with menu options just waiting to take guests – and their taste buds – on a culinary excursion. Discover Spring, Whistler's unlimited season. Spring brings together everything amazing about Whistler, from outdoor adventure to deep relaxation. Add in a festival or two, dining specials and great deals on accommodation and you've got a cure for spring fever. Spring is the time to experience it all. https://www.whistler.com/spring-thing/
The Whistler's Farmer's Market will be held at the Whistler Racket Club this year and runs every Sunday from mid-June through to mid-October. It is part of the B.C. Farmers' Market Association and all participants are required to make, bake or grow their wares. From humble beginnings of one farm and a couple of crafters in the summer of 1994, the market now hosts an average of 90 vendors showcasing fresh fruit, produce, artisan crafts and food products.
Slow Food Cycle Sunday is a scenic and flat 40km/25 mile bike ride through the heart of Pemberton's farmland, just 35km north of Whistler. Held over a day in August, cyclists take a pedal-powered trip through the natural buffet that is Pemberton Meadows farmland to meet local growers and sample produce fresh from the field such as organic blueberries, hazelnuts, garlic, potatoes, greens, beef, and more, as participating farms, chefs and artists offer their produce for sale during the ride.
Araxi Longtable is a series of outdoor dining experiences that takes place in Pemberton at North Arm Farm with Mount Currie as its picturesque backdrop. From Chef James Walt’s outdoor kitchen, diners enjoy a four-course menu featuring the valley’s freshest local produce, beef from its pastures, day-boat catches from our coastal fisheries and wines from leading producers. More details here:
Held over summer evenings at the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain, the Mountain Top Summer Feast offers an incredible, mountain top dining experience with live music. Just ride up the Whistler Village Gondola and enjoy mouth-watering mains, fresh salads and delicious desserts at 6,000ft. Whether you dine inside or on the scenic patio it is great for the whole family.
Winemaker Après Series
Special afternoons featuring BC's best wines paired with locally sourced culinary delights. Perched atop Whistler Mountain with stunning views from Steeps Grill & Wine Bar, a full-course luncheon complete with wine pairings is guaranteed to be a feast for your senses.
Salmon Bake ATV Tour
For a unique dining experience, journey by ATV to the Crystal Hut, perched atop Blackcomb Mountain at 6,000ft and enjoy a West Coast meal. From the deck of the rustic cabin enjoy the rich array of alpine colours and panoramic views of the surrounding Coastal Mountain Range. Relax and enjoy live entertainment as your chef prepares a sampling of West Coast Fare including cedar planked, maple glazed wild BC salmon, salads and dessert.
Sproatt Steak Night by Snowmobile
Explore the Callaghan backcountry at dusk by snowmobile as you venture up to a rustic cabin on Sproatt Mountain for an intimate, gourmet 3 course steak dinner. Cooked on an old-fashioned wood stove and grill, this mountain-sized meal includes the Chef’s daily inspiration soup, house baked bread, Angus beef sirloin served with garlic mashed potatoes & seasonal vegetables and a feature dessert prepared by the Bearfoot Bistro. Vegetarian option available.
Whistler's Culinary Wizards
Nick Cassettari is a third-generation chef, born and culinary trained in Australia. He has worked in Sydney’s finest restaurants where he refined his skills and fuelled his passion for creating new and exciting cuisine with a classic approach. The love of cuisine and travel has taken him all over the world before settling in Whistler, British Columbia. Whistler has proven to be the perfect environment for Nick - cooking with fresh Pacific seafood, game, locally grown produce while allowing him to explore his outdoor passions which include snowboarding and fishing. Nick’s dedication to creating a memorable culinary experience for his guests is what makes him stand apart. His love of cuisine can be seen in a passing glance by observing his attention to every detail in the Alta Bistro kitchen.
In a profession traditionally dominated by men, Melissa Craig, the award-winning executive chef of the Bearfoot Bistro, is a rarity. In 2008 she was named the winner of the Gold Medal Plates' Canadian Culinary Championships - arguably the most prestigious culinary event in Canada. Passionate, driven, and undeniably talented, Craig is a B.C. girl whose career began in the Culinary Arts Program of Malaspina University College on Vancouver Island. Her menu features the very finest wild and cultivated products paired with wines from the Bearfoot's 20,000 bottle wine cellar.
Recognized by Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper as ‘one of the top seven chefs in the country shaping the nation,' James Walt is executive chef at Araxi and Il Caminetto. Walt creates compelling regional cuisine based on local, sustainable ingredients. His impressive culinary career includes stints at some of British Columbia's leading restaurants, as well as an appointment as executive chef to the Canadian Embassy in Rome, a post that significantly influenced the way he cooks today. He has also been invited to cook at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City three times, the first and only chef in Whistler to receive such an invitation.
After nearly four years with Four Seasons Resort Whistler, previously as Executive Sous Chef, Executive Chef Sajish Kumar Das is now bringing his unique and impeccable skill set to lead the culinary experience at Braidwood Tavern and SIDECUT Steakhouse. Developing an interest in cooking for others from an early age, Chef Kumar transformed a passion into a profession. He brings more than two decades of dining expertise to his new position with time spent in India, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Canada with acclaimed luxury properties including Taj, Grand Hyatt, Ritz Carlton, and Four Seasons. Internationally regarded for his comprehensive knowledge of cuisine presented with contemporary flair, Chef Kumar looks to highlight Whistler’s supernatural beauty through each and every dish.
Chef/owner of the Rimrock Café, Rolf Gunther is a long-time Whistlerite. His formal training includes hotel and restaurant management in Heidelberg, Germany as well as culinary training in Germany's Black Forest region. His experience has taken him from Switzerland to Holland to various leading establishments in Canada. Specializing in fish and game, Gunther and his team at the Rimrock have cemented themselves as firm favourites with locals and visitors to Whistler.
Executive Chef Cliff Crawford, a passionate food enthusiast joined Fairmont Chateau Whistler with over 20 years of professional culinary experience. Cliff joined Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in 2002 at Fairmont Southampton. In 2011, Cliff transferred to Fairmont Vancouver Airport as an Executive Sous Chef and has since worked at Fairmont San Francisco and Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Cliff is joining Fairmont Chateau Whistler from his most recent role as Executive Chef at Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile.
Growing up in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, in the quaint town of Canmore, Alberta, Executive Chef Elliot Brass, Westin Resort and Spa, Whistler started working in local restaurants at age 14. After high school, Elliot began his professional cooking career working at the Rimrock Hotel, Banff National Park. At 23, Brass continued his culinary career in the United Kingdom, working at the world-renowned health resort Champneys at Tring. Returning to Canada, Brass moved to Whistler in the fall of 2003. Brass spent time working at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, running a restaurant in Squamish, before starting at the Westin Resort and Spa, Whistler in 2011 and in 2022 he was promoted to the role of Executive Chef.
Executive Chef Steve Faucho and Lil’wat Nation Sous-Chef Maggie Wallace, are the team behind the kitchen at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC). Fecho got his first taste of working in a kitchen during his time with the navy. He went onto apprenticeship at the Westin Bayshore, then Lumiere in Vancouver, where he worked with Chef Robert Feenie. Maggie started in the Indigenous Youth Ambassador (IYA) program at the SLCC, where she was drawn to the kitchen, and she started her apprenticeship in 2019. This path has led her in search of her Indigenous roots through food and recently passed her Level 3 Red Seal Chef exams at Camuson College, with Awards of Distinction, and is currently building the requisite hours needed for full certification.
- Squamish & Lil'wat First Nations
The Li´l?wat7ul (Lil’wat Nation) to the north and Skw_xw_ú7mesh (Squamish Nation) to the south have stewarded this shared territory that we now call Whistler since time immemorial. The village of Spo7ez, where Rubble Creek meets the Cheakamus River (16 kilometres south of Whistler), was a communal gathering place for peaceful trade and commerce. Today, the two First Nations continue their partnership and influence on Whistler and the Sea to Sky through a shared cultural centre and land stewardship.
Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre (SLCC)
The SLCC is the first centre of its kind in Canada, located on the shared, traditional territories of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation. Two nations came together to celebrate and share their cultures with the world while creating meaningful employment opportunities for members of both the Sk_wxwu´7mesh U´xwumixw (Squamish Nation, Coast Salish) and Li´l?wat7ul (Lil’wat Nation, Interior Salish) Nations. Designed to evoke the form of a Squamish Longhouse and Lil’wat Istken (earthen dwelling), the SLCC embodies the spirit of partnership between two unique Nations who wish to preserve, grow, and share their traditional cultures.
Community Reconciliation Canoe
Over the summer of 2022, The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) hosted Master Carver Chief Ray Natraoro (Ses Siyam) of Skw_xw_ú7mesh (Squamish Nation), who led SLCC Apprentices on the carving of the Community Reconciliation Canoe. The Canoe aims to bridge distance between all the hearts travelling to this land, those living in appreciation on it, and the original peoples who steward the landscape. It is a vessel to bridge Nations, residents, and visitors together – reminding us of a common thread between us – a connection, appreciation and reverence for the land and beauty that is Cwítima (‘Whistler’ – Lil’wat Nation), Sk_wik_w (‘Whistler’ – Squamish Nation).
Visitors to the SLCC were invited to watch the carvers in action, take a special curated Canoe Tour and listen to the songs of these river and ocean vessels. Guests were able to take their own turn at thoughtfully carving the fallen cedar and being part of giving it a new life, continuing our journey towards reconciliation. Following this, guests were gifted with the cedar shavings of their efforts and invited to bring it as an offering to the place they connect with most in Whistler.
Framework Agreement
The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), Lil’wat Nation, Squamish Nation, Province of British Columbia and Vail Resorts have signed a Framework Agreement (Framework) that furthers reconciliation and shared goals between the parties. The Framework Agreement builds on several other Agreements between the parties including a 2017 Memorandum of Understanding, and 2018 government to government Protocol Agreement between RMOW, Lil’wat Nation and the Squamish Nation. The Framework furthers Whistler’s reconciliation path with the Lil’wat Nation and Squamish Nation through greater participation in economic and cultural opportunities in Whistler.
Arts Whistler Indigenous Programming
Arts Whistler is the lead agency for arts and culture in Whistler and strives to make creativity a part of everyone’s Whistler experience. They program, promote and advocate for the arts and local artists, while providing residents and visitors with access to bold, inspiring, and engaging experiences in the arts. Working closely with community cultural partners and the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Arts Whistler operates the Maury Young Arts Centre.
Example of Programming:
emhám - Celebrating Indigenous arts and knowledge, September 2022
/emhám/ to be smart at something, knowledgeable. Adjective.
Every Thursday in September 2022, Arts Whistler and the Lil’wat Nation’s Ts’zil Learning Centre offered Indigenous performances, music, knowledge sharing, and storytelling at the Maury Young Arts Centre. This weekly gathering was an opportunity to build stronger relationships, share in Indigenous knowledge, and foster greater understanding leading up to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.
emhám highlighted Indigenous artistry through storytelling, cultural performances, and traditional workshops, all led by Indigenous practitioners, and built upon Arts Whistler’s past and future Indigenous arts presentations including:
- The Art and Culture of Líl?wat Nation – Maury Young Arts Centre gallery exhibition
- Útszan - the World Premiere of a New Canadian Indigenous play
- After the Blast – The Art of Levi Nelson Arts Centre gallery exhibition
- Raven Spirit Dance – contemporary dance performance rooted in Indigenous worldviews
Indigenous Artist DJ Shub Featured in Whistler Summer Concert Series
This summer (2022), Indigenous electronic music artist DJ Shub took the stage at the Whistler Olympic Plaza for an incredible concert, presenting War Club Live – a live performance of his critically acclaimed Indigenous electronic album. DJ Shub is a Mohawk, turtle clan of the Six Nations of the Grand River, from Ontario. He won the 2022 Juno award for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year, and is considered to be the Godfather of PowWowStep, pioneering a growing genre of electronic music. DJ Shub’s concert was preceded by a cultural performance by local Indigenous group, Native Thunder.
Two Indigneous Youth Artists Featured in “Every Child Matters” Banner
The Ted Nebbeling Bridge on Whistler’s Village Gate Boulevard features a new orange banner to honour the survivors and victims of the residential school system for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The moving artwork displayed on the banner is a collaborative piece created by Skw_xw_ú7mesh (Squamish Nation) artist and SLCC Indigenous Youth Ambassador, Courtney Williams, and Li´l?wat7ul (Lil’wat Nation) artist and SLCC Cultural Ambassador, Jordana Abraham.
The Centre Heart by Courtney Williams incorporates symbolic elements, including baby frogs to represent the children who were found at residential schools, along with a dragonfly, which symbolises spiritual transformation and guidance into the afterlife. A pair of eyes above these symbols are there for guidance and wisdom, watching over the children’s journey to the afterlife.
Two Panels, and the Dragonfly Takes Her Home by Jordana Abraham includes two depictions of the same girl. In one image, she is given a number (39) and has no face because everything has been taken from her – her hair is cut short and she is unable to speak her name or her language. In the other image, the same girl has found peace and guidance as the dragonfly guides her into the spirit world to be with her ancestors who show her their culture.
Whistler Blackcomb Honours First Nations with Peak Signs Created By Local Artist, James Harry
Whistler Blackcomb worked on a project to rightfully encompass the First Nations in the Peak signage, that is now coming to fruition with the signs in their final places. The resort commissioned James Harry, a local Skw_xw_ú7mesh (Squamish Nation) artist to do the Salish artwork displayed on the signs. James’ design inspiration landed on three animals from the ocean, the land and the sky – Trout, Bear and the Thunderbird.
James is a local Squamish artist and the son of another local First Nations artist, Rick Harry. Both have played a pivotal role in art pieces around Whistler, including the welcome figure for the PEAK 2 PEAK and the aluminum totem at the Audain Art Museum.
How to Experience Indigenous Culture in and Around Whistler
- Take a Cultural Journey along the Sea to Sky Highway through the Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations, learning about First Nations oral history, supernatural beings and place names along the way.
- Learn the stories about Whistler’s culturally significant landmarks, like the iconic volcano cone we now call the Black Tusk which marks the beginning of the Squamish and Lil’wat shared territory.
- Discover cultural exhibitions and Indigenous cuisine at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.
- Visit the Audain Art Museum, which houses a large collection of traditional and contemporary Indigenous art.
- Take a self-guided tour of the Indigenous outdoor public art installations sprinkled throughout Whistler, each with meaningful stories behind them including totems, carvings and statues.
- Skiing & Snowboarding
Visitors flock to Whistler each winter to experience world-famous skiing and boarding. With 37 lifts and gondolas and all types of terrain on Whistler Blackcomb – including steeps, alpine bowls, easy cruisers and terrain parks – the two mountains have developed a reputation as a premier skiing and snowboarding destination.
Whistler Blackcomb consistently receives awards and accolades recognizing it as a premier ski destination by outlets including Luxury Travel Magazine Australia, Condé Nast Traveler and SKI Magazine.
Whistler Blackcomb boasts 8,171 acres (3,307 hectares) of skiable terrain and an immense backcountry, giving skiers and riders access to powder-filled bowls along with expertly-groomed corduroy. Varied terrain, spectacular snow conditions and pristine scenery have all contributed to the area’s outstanding reputation.
2018 saw a number of lift upgrades at Whistler Blackcomb, including a new 10-passenger gondola on Blackcomb Mountain (replacing Wizard Express and Solar Coaster), the upgrade of Blackcomb Mountain’s Catskinner to a four-passenger, high-speed lift, and the upgrade of the Emerald Express chair on Whistler Mountain to a six-passenger, high-speed lift.
Fast facts about skiing and snowboarding in Whistler
• Huge vertical – Whistler and Blackcomb mountains each offer over 1,500 vertical metres.
• Terrain – 8,171 acres (3,307 hectares) of skiable terrain – the most in North America. ‘Peak to Creek’ is the longest run at 11 kilometres (7 miles), starting at the Peak of Whistler mountain and finishing in Creekside Village.
• Glacier skiing – The only resort in North America where you can ski or ride on a glacier
• Average snowfall – Whistler Blackcomb is blessed with an average of 1,181 cm (38.8 ft) per year (average based on the previous 10 years).
• Longest ski season in North America – Whistler Blackcomb’s regular ski season runs November until May, with summer glacier skiing also offered in June and July.
• Dining – There are a total of 17 mountain restaurants
• Après ski – Whistler Blackcomb's ski runs reach right to the edges of Whistler's pedestrian village, Upper Village and Creekside Village, where the lively après scene awaits.
PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola
Whistler and Blackcomb mountains are united by the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, which sets world records for length and height while providing an unmatched experience for skiers and snowboarders. The gondola transports guests from Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain to the Rendezvous Lodge on Blackcomb Mountain in just 11 minutes, travelling a distance of 4.4 kilometres (2.7 miles). Other engineering feats include the fact that the unsupported cable span between its two middle towers is the world's longest at 3.02 kilometres (1.88 miles). The PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola also gives guests unprecedented access to both mountains and spectacular vistas.
Whistler Blackcomb terrain parks
For guests with jibs and jumps in their blood, Whistler Blackcomb offers 99 acres of terrain parks, sprinkled with over 100 rails, countless tabletops and wall rides. Blackcomb Mountain sports three parks of varying difficulty, from the welcoming Big Easy Terrain Garden, to the popular Nintendo Terrain Park and the awe-inspiring Highest Level Park. On Whistler, the two sections of the Habitat Terrain Park give skiers and riders an opportunity to hit features inspired by nature, including tree jibs and bonks. Blackcomb Mountain also features two half-pipes, the new 22-foot Olympic-sized super-pipe and the 15-foot mini-pipe.
Ski and snowboard school
Whistler attracts some of North America’s top instructors, coaches and guides. Whistler Blackcomb’s Ski and Snowboard School is the largest in the world, with 1,350 employees, and offers unique programs for all ages and levels including lessons for beginners as well as specialized clinics and camps for intermediate and advanced skiers and riders. Whistler Blackcomb Ski and Snowboard School has taught as many as 240,000 lesson days in a single season.
Whistler Kids and Ride Tribe programs use the FLAIK GPS tracking system. The real-time tracking unit is comprised of a GPS tag worn by skiers and riders that allow guests to track their day on the mountains. Data include which runs guests skied and how much vertical they achieved.
The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program also runs skiing and snowboarding lessons to make snow sports accessible to people of all abilities. Throughout the year this non-profit organization gives hundreds of people with a range of disabilities the chance to take part in sports and recreation programs in Whistler.
Heli-skiing and heli-boarding
The Coast Mountain range is the alpine setting for the great heli-skiing and boarding around Whistler. Suitable for those with intermediate to advanced abilities, heli-skiing and boarding trips allow skiers and boarders to descend through endless untouched powder accessible only by helicopter.
Cat skiing and boarding
Quickly becoming recognized as a quality alternative to heli-skiing, cat skiing and boarding are a great option because the snow cats run every day regardless of weather conditions while still providing untouched powder runs in the backcountry. Tours are conducted on nearby Powder Mountain, and typically involve 12 guests per tour and an average of six to 10 runs in a day.
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country (or Nordic) skiing is one of Whistler's most invigorating activities, offering guests more than 160 kilometres of groomed trails for all abilities at cross-country skiing venues, including Lost Lake Park and the official Nordic venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The official Nordic venue, located at Whistler Olympic Park, has already earned accolades for its superb trails that target both classic and skate skiing, and also offers night skiing and biathlon.
Backcountry tours
Skiing and riding in Whistler doesn’t end when you move out-of-bounds, thanks to touring skis, skins and splitboards. Guided winter adventures in Whistler include backcountry skiing and snowboarding tours, ski mountaineering, ice climbing and snowshoeing and offer bowls, glaciers and gladed runs. Conditions are almost always favourable with lots of powder, although an expert knowledge of backcountry conditions and avalanche training is required.
Glacier skiing and snowboarding
Even when the sun is shining and the alpine lakes are warm, skiers and riders can experience the mountains. While the majority of the resort’s ski area closes in May, Blackcomb Mountain’s Horstman Glacier lets intermediate to advanced skiers and riders improve their park skills while working on their tans. The Glacier is open for skiing and snowboarding in June and July and has an elevation of 2,000 metres (7,000 feet.)
- Whistler Chefs
Executive Chef Nick Cassettari, Alta Bistro
Executive Chef Nick Cassettari is a third generation chef, born and culinary trained in Australia. Having worked in Sydney’s finest restaurants, Chef Cassettari refined his skills and fueled a passion for creating new and exciting cuisine with a classic French approach. The love of cuisine and travel has taken him all over the world bringing him to settle in Whistler which has proven to be the perfect environment for Chef Cassettari. Whistler has allowed Chef Cassettari to cook with fresh Pacific seafood and game, source locally grown produce while exploring his outdoor passions which include snowboarding and fishing. Chef Nick’s dedication to creating a memorable culinary experience for his guests is what makes him stand apart.
Executive Chef Joel Labute, Araxi
Chef Joel Labute brings over 20 years of fine dining experience to the Araxi team. Since the beginning of his culinary training, Chef Joel has focused on sustainable and local food sources as his inspiration, a passion he brings to his current role as Executive Chef.
Prior to joining Araxi, Chef Joel spent a year reimagining the menu at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Grill Room, Mallard Lounge and Portobello Café. With a family background in farming, Chef Joel proudly maintains a network of local suppliers to bring only the freshest ingredients to our farm-to-table inspired menu at Araxi.
Executive Chef Cliff Crawford, Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Chef Cliff Crawford is a passionate food enthusiast joining Fairmont Chateau Whistler with over 20 years of professional culinary experience. Cliff joined Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in 2002 at Fairmont Southampton. In 2011, Cliff transferred to Fairmont Vancouver Airport as an Executive Sous Chef, and has since worked at Fairmont San Francisco and Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Cliff is joining Fairmont Chateau Whistler from his most recent role as Executive Chef at Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile.
Executive Chef Sajish Kumar Das, Four Seasons Resort Whistler
After nearly four years with Four Seasons Resort Whistler, previously as Executive Sous Chef, Chef Kumar is now bringing his unique and impeccable skill set to lead the culinary experience at Braidwood Tavern and SIDECUT Steakhouse.
Developing an interest in cooking for others from an early age, Chef Kumar transformed a passion into a profession. He brings more than two decades of dining expertise to his new position with time spent in India, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Canada with acclaimed luxury properties including Taj, Grand Hyatt, Ritz Carlton, and Four Seasons.
Internationally regarded for his comprehensive knowledge of cuisine presented with contemporary flair, Chef Kumar looks to highlight Whistler’s supernatural beauty through each and every dish.
“The Sea to Sky bounty is really the inspiration behind each dish here,” says Chef Kumar. “For me, it’s the quality of ingredients – mainly sourced from local producers and farmers – that is of the utmost importance in providing an exceptional culinary experience.”
Managing all aspects of full-service kitchen and banquet facility, developing lunch, dinner, and dessert menus, Chef Kumar not only brings a distinctive culinary philosophy but trusted leadership to all aspects of the property’s epicurean service, together with the rest of the culinary team.
Chef Kumar is thrilled to be bringing one-of-a-kind culinary events and offerings to the Resort, each designed to celebrate the food and culture unique to Whistler. The entire team at Four Seasons Whistler anticipates many seasons of excellence from Chef Kumar.
Executive Chef James Walt, Culinary Director, Il Caminetto, Araxi, The Cellar by Araxi, Bar Oso
One of the country’s leading chefs, a cookbook author and a “farm-to-table” pioneer, James Walt continues to inspire his guests, creating compelling regional cuisine based on local, sustainable ingredients. A graduate of the Stratford Chefs School, his impressive culinary career spans across several of British Columbia’s leading restaurants including a four-year tenure at Sooke Harbour House and as opening chef to sister restaurant Blue Water Cafe in Vancouver. James was also Executive Chef to the Canadian Embassy in Rome, Italy; an experience that helped shape the way he cooks today.
James is Whistler’s only chef to cook at the celebrated James Beard House in New York City where he has performed on three separate occasions. He has been voted best chef in Whistler by Pique Newsmagazine and was inducted into the British Columbia Restaurant Association Hall of Fame in 2011.
James continues to oversee the kitchens of Araxi, The Cellar by Araxi and Bar Oso in addition to his new duties at Il Caminetto.
James lives in nearby Squamish where he works closely with local farmers and producers and personally selects the freshest ingredients featured on the Il Caminetto menu.
Executive Chef Mark Mcloughlin, Il Caminetto
Chef Mark discovered his passion for food at a young age by cooking for family and friends. He entered the hospitality industry at the age of fifteen and has never looked back.
After graduating from the Chef Training Program at George Brown College in Toronto, Chef Mark began his fine dining journey in notable kitchens across Canada. On the east coast, he honed his culinary skills at Pickering’s Port Restaurant, Blue Mountain’s Oliver & Bonacini, Montreal’s Barroco and the Inn at Bay Fortune in P.E.I.
In 2013, Chef Mark made his way to the west coast to join Chef James Walt’s award-winning team as Sous Chef at Araxi Restaurant. After earning the title of Executive Sous Chef at Araxi, Chef Mark transitioned to Il Caminetto and took on the role of Chef de Cuisine in 2019. Today as Executive Chef, Mark continues to work closely with Chef Walt crafting Il Caminetto’s dynamic menu of Italian-local fare featuring the season’s best.
Chef Mark finds inspiration at every turn, from extraordinary ingredients, Whistler’s local producers, his culinary community and most importantly our guests’ experience.
When Chef Mark is not in the kitchen developing his team or experimenting with a new dish, he can be found enjoying Whistler life to the fullest – from snowboarding to fishing to foraging in the forest.
Executive Chef Elliot Brass, The Westin Resort & Spa
Growing up in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, in the quaint town of Canmore, Alberta, Executive Chef Elliot Brass, started working in local restaurants at age 14. After high school, Elliot began his professional cooking career working at the Rimrock Hotel under the snow-capped peaks of Banff National Park. .
At 23, Brass continued his culinary career in the United Kingdom, working at the world-renowned health resort Champneys at Tring. He was also fortunate to work under chef Raymond Blanc during his time overseas.
Returning to Canada, Brass traded the Rockies of Alberta for the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, moving to Whistler in the fall of 2003. Brass spent time working at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, running a restaurant in Squamish, before starting at the Westin Resort and Spa, Whistler in 2011, working under Chef Bradley Cumming. In 2022 he was promoted to the role of Executive Chef.
Brass lives in Squamish with his wife Gabriella, and his dog Eina, and balances his culinary career with his passion for fly fishing and spending time in the British Columbia wilderness.
Executive Chef Derek Bendig, Wild Blue
Chef Bendig's prestigious awards include four gold medal placings for Food Day Canada and a Best Whistler Restaurant Award from Vancouver Magazine. Food and wine enthusiasts will recognize Chef Bendig’s name from his time representing Canada at James Beard House in New York City and for his work at a two Michelin star restaurant in France. Known for marrying his innovative approach to hyper-local, seasonal ingredients and his passion for wine, Chef Bendig has recently completed his WSET level 4 exams, one of the highest levels of wine and spirit education.
- Top 5 Festivals & Events
It’s no secret that Whistler knows how to throw a heck of a bash. Set into the sky-scraping mountains of the Coast Mountain range, the town has always had an irrepressible spirit that matches its surroundings. Sure, things have changed a bit since the days of skiers drinking beer out of their boots, but Whistler still offers an exceptional blend of natural and social energy. The last few decades have been marked by the town’s artistic and cultural evolution, and there’s no better way to experience contemporary Whistler than to take in one of its many festivals and events.
Here are five of our annual favourites.
World Ski & Snowboard Festival
An annual gathering at the end of the snow season, the World Ski & Snowboard Festival is a celebration and exhibition of modern mountain culture. There’s plenty of action on the slopes, but what really sets the festival apart is its focus on the arts. With theatre and storytelling events, film and photo shows, and live music from big-name bands, it’s a week-long party that’s not to be missed. Among the highlights is ART + Soul, a curated exhibit of alternative visual arts exposing the underbelly of mountain culture. All in all, it’s a chance to experience the stoke and energy of alpine culture—with some epic spring lines thrown in as the icing on the cake.
Crankworx Whistler
When the snow melts, Whistler’s adrenaline fiends stash their boards and haul out their bikes as the world-famous Whistler Mountain Bike Park opens for the season. Crankworx Whistler bills itself as a “ground-breaking gravity-fueled mountain bike festival,” and that description is right on the mark. Boasting a wide range of amateur and professional events, Crankworx is a window into the brash world of downhill mountain bike riding. Some of the essentials include the Canadian Open Enduro, Kidsworx, and the all-out downhill races—not to mention the Red Bull Joyride that has pro riders hucking themselves off huge booters in front of 20,000 fans. Crankworx is always a blast, and it’s also an ideal time to get out and ride Whistler’s many features and trails.
Cornucopia, Whistler’s Celebration of Food + Drink
The festival to indulge in, Cornucopia presented by BlueShore Financial, is Whistler’s annual feast of all things food + drink. The 11 day festival brings together chefs, vintners and legions of food fans; it’s certainly the best representation of the ever-evolving foodie scene in Sea to Sky country. From delicious food seminars to chef table luncheons, and fine wine tastings, Cornucopia has become a favourite of famous critics and local foragers alike. Highlights of the festival include the CRUSH Gala Grand Tasting, Bubbles & Brunch and assorted winery dinners. Come to Cornucopia with an appetite and a few fancy shirts, and you’ll find that it’s a series of events that you’ll never forget.
Whistler Pride + Ski Festival
One of the world’s best gay ski events, Whistler Pride + Ski Festival is a testament to Whistler’s diversity and inclusiveness. The festival combines days on the mountains with exuberant après life that includes DJs, comedy nights, fashion shows, and the fabled Snowball dance party. If you’re looking for a bit of winter fun—or something that brings a bit of glam to the slopes—the welcoming energy of Whistler and Whistler Pride + Ski Festival won’t let you down.
Whistler Film Festival
A five-day fête, the Whistler Film Festival is a showcase of some of the best new films from Canada and around the world. As one of North America’s best small festivals, it has an open and intimate nature than some of the bigger festivals throughout the year. The focus is on progressive and cutting-edge film, and each year close to a hundred features, shorts, and documentaries are presented to the public. With premieres, speakers, and open sessions, it’s chance for film fans to mix and mingle with actors, directors, and cinema enthusiasts from all over the globe. The Whistler Film Festival also presents a variety of juried and audience awards, including Best New Canadian Feature and Best Mountain Culture Film.
- Legacies from the 2010 Winter Olympic Games
The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games left a lasting mark on Whistler in terms of new sports venues, facilities and housing for locals. These legacies serve as reminders of the Games as well as enrich Whistler’s vibrant community and guest experiences.
Official Venues
Whistler Sliding Centre
Test your nerves with the latest addition to the Whistler Sliding Centre – bobsleigh and skeleton rides for the public. Visitors and locals can now ride down this fast and technical track head first, reaching speeds of up to 100 km/hr with the skeleton experience. Visitors will get up to 130 km/hr on a piloted four-man sled with the bobsleigh experience. Don’t worry: visitors have their own special starting gate lower down the course!
During the 2010 Winter Games, the Whistler Sliding Centre was the official venue for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. Today, the 1450 metre facility remains open for athlete training and youth recruitment into the sport. One of only two sliding tracks in Canada, the facility sits on the southeast slope of Blackcomb Mountain, minutes away from Whistler Village, with a top elevation of 938 metres and a bottom elevation of 786 metres.
Whistler Olympic Park
Take aim at the biathlon shooting range used by athletes during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games with the guidance of a certified instructor. Visitors can now combine skate skiing with target shooting in the winter, or mix biathlon with bike riding in the summer. No experience necessary – just a willingness to test your marksmanship with a traditional 0.22-calibre rifle.
Whistler Olympic Park was the first venue to include all three traditional Nordic sport stadiums in one site: cross-country, ski jumping and biathlon. Today, the venue is a legacy for the enjoyment of residents, visitors and athletes. The area has more than 90 kilometres of both snowshoe and cross-country ski trails, expertly groomed for both classic and skate skiing in the winter, and the trails range from beginner to Olympic calibre.
Whistler Athletes’ Centre
The Whistler Athletes’ Centre is a high performance training and accommodation facility for all levels of sport, educational groups, and art & culture organizations. Built for the athletes of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, competitors continue to utilize the Whistler Athletes’ Centre for short- and long-term lodging and dryland conditioning. A total of 165 beds is available for nightly rentals, as well as additional longterm accommodation options. No other venue in Whistler provides the level of accessibility and amenities for athletes like the Whistler Athletes’ Centre.
Whistler Mountain
Skiers and boarders to Whistler Blackcomb can now earn bragging rights by descending the men’s and women’s 2010 Winter Games alpine ski courses. The Official Alpine Skiing Venue, which includes the Dave Murray Downhill and Franz’s Run, are open to the public for skiing and snowboarding. The area is also used for international competitions and Canadian team training. During the Games, these runs saw some of the world’s best athletes compete at super G, giant slalom, slalom, and combined.
Community Legacies
Whistler Olympic Plaza
Over the course of a year, a $14 million investment project converted Whistler Medals Plaza (home of nightly medals ceremonies and concerts during the 2010 Winter Games) into Whistler Olympic Plaza. The plaza rivals other entertainment sites in Canada and is capable of accommodating 650 people sitting or 3,000 people standing. To commemorate the Games, the revamped landscaped area also includes the Olympic Rings and Paralympic Agitos, a children's playground, terraced seating and public art (summer) and an outdoor skating ice rink (winter). There are sculptures, information plaques and the Olympic Legacy Cauldron to serve as an ongoing reminder to locals and visitors of the Winter Games hosted in Whistler.
Cheakamus
Crossing
Cheakamus Crossing was the site of the Athletes’ Village during the 2010 Winter Games. After the Games wrapped up, the buildings were turned into affordable and environmentally-sustainable housing for Whistler locals. Eight hundred residents moved into their new homes in September 2010, and Cheakamus Crossing is now a vibrant community with a diverse housing mix and front-door access to beautiful walking, hiking and mountain biking trails. Along with 220 resident-restricted townhomes and units, the mixed-use neighbourhood also contains a 55-bed youth hostel run by Hostelling International, 55 rental units managed by Whistler Housing Authority and a high-performance training centre with athlete accommodation. Cheakamus Crossing is also one of only a handful of Canadian developments designated with the new LEED-ND (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design - Neighbourhood Development).”
High Performance Centre
Built as part of the Athletes’ Village, the Whistler High Performance Centre caters to the development of sport groups looking to train year-round. The facility offers state-of-the-art strength and conditioning equipment, along with affordable accommodation options. Located in the Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood, the Whistler High Performance Centre is also home to the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program, a not-for-profit society that offers recreational programs for people with disabilities, as well as the Whistler Gymnastics Club.
Sea to Sky Highway
The drive to Whistler is now better than ever with the upgrade to the Sea to Sky Highway. Prior to being awarded the 2010 Winter Games, it was identified that the scenic highway that links Vancouver with Whistler needed major upgrades. The $600 million improvement project included widening and straightening the highway to improve safety and travel times to Whistler. The end result: a more enjoyable journey for the more than two million annual visitors who cruise the Sea to Sky en route to Whistler each year.
Lost Lake Passivhaus
Designed as an ultra-low energy building, the Lost Lake Passivhaus was the headquarters for the Austrian Olympic Committee and Austrian Public Broadcasting Corporation during the Winter Olympics. Post-Games, the building was generously donated to the community and currently serves as a day lodge for Lost Lake cross-country skiers as well as the new home for the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association (WORCA) and the Whistler Nordics Ski Club. Located at the main entrance to Lost Lake Park, between the Upper and Lower Village, the Passivhaus’s interior climate is maintained without active heating or cooling systems using a combination of super insulation, thick walls and windows and other technology.
- Golf
Few resorts can boast such an impressive selection of world-class, championship golf courses as Whistler. Most people recognize Whistler, first and foremost, as one of the world’s premier skiing and snowboarding destinations, but the resort has now earned an international reputation as a golfer’s paradise with no less than four award-winning courses: Whistler Golf Club, Nicklaus North Golf Course, Fairmont Whistler Golf Course, and Big Sky Golf Club.
With Whistler’s average summer temperatures ranging from 9 to 23 degrees Celsius (48 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit) and many daylight hours each day from May through August, it’s not uncommon for golfers to play from dawn to dusk and log up to three rounds daily.
Of course, being a true all-season resort, Whistler sets itself apart from other golf destinations with an unmatched choice of off-course options – from kayaking and glacier hiking to award-winning dining and a renowned nightlife scene. For the more adventurous, Whistler is an opportunity to experience what’s become known as the “Whistler triathlon” – 18 holes of golf, summer glacier skiing atop Blackcomb Mountain and then mountain biking in Whistler’s world-famous Bike Park – all in one day. All this, plus a vast range of hotels, restaurants, spas and shopping lets Whistler give new meaning to those seeking a truly unique 19th hole experience.
As part of Whistler’s Junior Golf Program, which aims to build interest for youth and opportunities for families to enjoy the game together, junior tees are provided at each of the four signature courses. As well, each of the three village-based courses have introduced a Kids Play Free program which allows youth 10 to 18 years of age to play free all season long if accompanied by a paying adult.
Each of Whistler’s signature courses is an impeccable example of thoughtful design that utilizes while simultaneously stays in harmony with the pristine natural surroundings of the area. Golf in Whistler is as much about the mountain experience as it is about playing the game.
Whistler Golf Club
Built in 1983, the Whistler Golf Club was the first golf course in Whistler and Arnold Palmer’s first Canadian design. Located just steps away from Whistler Village, this 6700 yard, par 71, 18-hole course is set amongst ancient cedars, majestic fir trees, winding streams and nine lakes. The course also affords spectacular views of the region’s snow-capped mountains and glaciers, including Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. The naturalized areas of the golf course provide food and habitat for local wildlife such as black bears, coyote, beaver, birds and more. In 2008, the course completed a $1.2 million course improvement investment, and in 2010, the driving range underwent a $1 million upgrade. Visitors to the Whistler Golf Club can brush up on their skills at the completely reconstructed practice facility that includes an expanded driving range with five target greens, a new putting and chipping greens along with a short game area including a practice bunker. In May 2012, the Whistler Golf Club opened the season with brand new greens on all 18 holes. The course underwent a complete renewal of all green surfaces in the spring 2012. The new and improved Bent grass greens provide a smoother putting surface, increased durability and greater resistance to snow and ice damage. In 2017 the course introduced a new fleet of golf carts and launched a brand new app to enhance the player experience. Whistler Golf Club is also home to an award-winning Golf Shop and Palmer's Gallery Bar & Grill, boasting one of the best patios in town.
Nicklaus North Golf Course
The Nicklaus North Golf Course is located alongside the shores of Whistler's magnificent glacier-fed Green Lake. Set at a championship par 71, the award-winning Jack Nicklaus-designed course boasts 18 holes of impeccably manicured greens, challenging par threes, and distinctive bunkering. This course played host to the 2005 TELUS Skins Game with many of the world’s greatest players in attendance including Jack Nicklaus himself, John Daly, Vijay Singh and Stephen Ames just to name a few. This was the second time the course hosted the prestigious event – the first repeat for any course in the event’s history. Nicklaus North is just the second Canadian course designed by Jack Nicklaus and, of the more than 280 courses he has personally designed worldwide, it was the first course to which Nicklaus agreed to add his name. Nicklaus North is also home to Table Nineteen Lakeside Eatery which specializes in traditional West Coast cuisine and boasts Whistler’s largest lakeside patio.
Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club
Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club’s spectacular mountain setting features more than 400 feet of elevation gain, rushing glacier streams, and a comprehensive Practice and Learning Centre. The par 72, 18-hole course was designed by noted course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., and is practically carved into the flank of Blackcomb Mountain. Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club is one of only a select number of courses in Canada to achieve certification by Audubon International as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Cooperative Sanctuary System – a program designed to recognize and support golf courses that display exceptional environmental stewardship by enhancing and protecting wildlife habitats and conserving natural resources.
Big Sky Golf Club
Located a 30-minute drive north of Whistler in the Pemberton Valley, Big Sky Golf Club is nestled in the shadow of majestic Mount Currie. The longest of the four championship courses that comprise the Whistler golf community, Big Sky was designed by award-winning golf course designer Robert Cupp. Featuring bent grass from tee to green and Ravensdale sand bunkers, Cupp used the broad valley's wide-open spaces and ample sunshine to design a par 72, 6,025 yard long-ball hitter’s dream course. After the round join them at Fescues Restaurant on their award winning misted patio for something to eat, the menu and experience is definitely worth the drive.
Big Sky also offers a unique 19th hole heli-golf experience where guests can be flown by chopper to the top of Mount Currie where they warm up their swing by driving eco-friendly biodegradable golf balls from the mountaintop - giving new meaning to the term ‘longest drive’.
- Accommodation
Whistler has a range of accommodations for visitors. There are some 150 hotels condos, pensions, B&Bs and chalet facilities offering more than 10,000 rooms. The selection ranges from top-of-the-line luxury suites to rustic mountain cabins, to ultra-modern chic apartments, to full-service condos, to small and basic studio suites.
With a total capacity for more than 30,000 overnight visitors, Whistler also boasts a large number of ski-in, ski-out properties. With Whistler Village located directly at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, guests can literally ski into and out of their accommodation.
Whistler Village is pedestrian-friendly, meaning you don’t need a car – everything you need is close by. If you’re staying outside Whistler Village, many hotels also offer free shuttle services and the municipality operates a free bus service which travels to the main Village centre and into the Upper Village – providing guests with easy access to many of Whistler’s shops, restaurants and bars.
Whistler is home to several AAA Four-Diamond properties, as well as a number of five-star hotels and resort properties offering ultimate mountainside luxury with amenities and services such as ski concierge, day spas, meeting and fitness facilities, pools and hot tubs, tennis courts, lounge areas with cozy fireplaces, and much more. Many self-catering properties also offer a service that lets you pre-place a grocery order so that your cupboards and refrigerator are well-stocked before you arrive.
Numerous Whistler properties offer ski and snowboard storage facilities in winter and bike storage facilities or a bike concierge in summer.
For those seeking a longer stay, whether in winter or summer, Whistler has wide range of multi-room condo options that offer full kitchen and laundry facilities, hot tubs, fireplaces, storage facilities and home entertainment systems.
Single and budget-conscious travelers
There are a number of properties suited to single or budget-conscious travelers in Whistler, including the new Pange Pod Hotel and Hostelling International’s HI Whistler. HI Whistler is located at what was the site of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Athletes’ Village in Cheakamus Crossing. The hostel has 180-beds, along with a café, outdoor decks, storage for sports equipment, games rooms and a media room.
Pangea Pod Hotel is Canada’s first boutique pod accommodation located in the heart of Whistler Village. Pangea offers a total of 88 independent sleeping pods, unique bathroom design, secure storage for sporting equipment and main floor café and rooftop patio.
Riverside RV Resort & Campground offers serviced RV and multi-use campsites in the heart of nature, surrounded by spectacular views and fresh mountain breezes. The resort also offers yurts that are nestled in the woods overlooking Whistler Valley.
In total, visitors can find 118 campsites and a total of 230 hostel beds.
Bring the
kids along
Whistler prides itself on being a great destination for kids. Accommodation options for families include condo units, townhomes, private homes and hotel suites with ample living space and kitchens, ideal for longer stays. A number of hotels also offer kids’ programs and playrooms during the Christmas holiday break with play options such as bouncy castles, video games, arts and crafts and more.
Learn what it's like to be a local
Whistler has a number of bed & breakfast properties spread around the valley. Many of these businesses are owned and operated by long-time Whistler locals, and many of those locals have come to Whistler from all corners of the world. Staying at a B&B gives visitors an insider’s view of life in Whistler and lets you discover why so many people have chosen to call Whistler home.
Whistler is
accessible
Whistler prides itself on being an international resort accessible to all people, including travelers with disabilities. Whistler is home to the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program, a not-for-profit society that provides year-around, recreational programs for people of all ages with disabilities. Whistler Adaptive is a centre for learning and sports excellence that has a local, regional, national and international clientele and encourages independence, self-confidence and self-motivation for all athletes and participants through outdoor activity. Their programs are available to all locals, visitors from across Canada and anyone travelling to Whistler from across the globe.
Whistler is dog-friendly
Whistler prides itself on being a dog-friendly destination. Numerous resort hotels are dog-friendly and offer a range of pet amenities and services. Guests can request doggy beds and bowls, and some hotels also offer dog-sitting and dog-walking services. One hotel even has an annual doggy weekend with competitions and prizes for the dogs with the best tricks.
Whistler Peaks Rating
System
Tourism Whistler developed a Whistler-specific accommodation rating system, the Star Rating System, after identifying that Whistler has unique tourism offerings that are different from other destinations. The star rating system is designed to give visitors consistent and reliable information on what to expect from Whistler accommodation. Each property is rated on a number of criteria such as proximity to slopes, proximity to the Village, and whether the property has hot tubs, kitchenettes, concierge service, fitness facilities and so on. All properties are rated on a scale from two to five using the star rating system.
- Biking
Biking is the activity of choice come summertime in Whistler. Riding in Whistler offers an incredible variety of terrain to explore, from high alpine single-track to the world's best mountain bike park. Whistler's mountain biking experience isn't just for extreme and advanced riders. A variety of easy trails are suited to beginner riders both on the mountain and throughout the Whistler area, including the paved Valley Trail system that runs the full length of the valley.
Whistler’s Valley Trail
Biking is an eco-friendly way to discover Whistler’s natural beauty. The Valley Trail system is perfect for families, stretching for 40 paved kilometres and meandering past five picturesque lakes, numerous beaches, and through tranquil forested areas framed by mountain peaks.
Cross Country Mountain Biking
More experienced riders can choose from over 200 kilometres of networked cross-country trails and technical single-tracks such as local favourites River Runs Through It and the challenging Comfortably Numb – a trail which helped establish Whistler’s reputation as a mountain biking mecca. Comfortably Numb has been named by the IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association) as an “Epic” ride – one of only a select number of trails around the world that demonstrate the "best in mountain biking".
Guided Tours
Guided bike tours are also available, catering for all ages and levels of ability. Whistler Village is home to many bike retail and rental stores that carry cruiser, cross-country and downhill mountain bikes. For people seeking an option that’s a little easier on the legs, electric bikes are also available to rent. Complimentary mountain bike trail maps detailing the many trails around Whistler are readily available throughout the Village.
Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association
The Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association (WORCA) is a volunteer organization overseeing mountain biking trails in the Whistler Valley. Serving over 1,000 local members, WORCA is one of the largest bicycle clubs in North America. As well as helping to maintain trails, WORCA holds weekly events throughout summer and fosters the evolution of the sport through its youth programs and clinics, teaching safety, etiquette and technique to cyclists.
Whistler Mountain Bike Park
The Whistler Mountain Bike Park is widely considered to be the top downhill bike park in the world, attracting riders from far and wide. First established in 1998, the Bike Park now offers 100+ lift-serviced trails with 80+ kilometres of trail to explore, four skills centres designed for all abilities, a slopestyle course in the boneyard (the area close to the village base), and a pumptrack. The popularity of the sport is growing fast, largely due to the popularity and quality of the bike park, which provides 1,500 metres (5,000 feet) of self-guided vertical trails. Summer 2018 saw the opening of Creek Zone, offering new access to the bike park via the Creekside Gondola and 15 km of additional trail.
Trails are labeled by level of difficulty from green runs for beginners to blue, black and double black diamond trails for intermediate and advanced riders. Specially designed trails range from gentle banked cruisers through the Coastal forest to tight and twisty single track - perfect for intermediate and all-mountain riders. For more advanced gravity junkies, there are steep rock faces, gnarly root-strewn lines, drop-offs of all descriptions and more. Whistler Mountain Bike Park also offers a range of coaching and skill improvement courses for adults and children, including women-only camps. A popular choice is the daily clinic Bike Park 101, offering the completely novice mountain biker a chance to learn downhill technical riding skills while exploring the bike park with a qualified guide.
One of the fastest growing demographics for downhill mountain biking is women. To foster this growth, Whistler Blackcomb offers women-only clinics which provide the opportunity for women riders of any ability to experience lift-accessed downhill riding with friends in a relaxed environment. GT Women's Nights run every Monday and Wednesday evenings and tickets include rentals, lift tickets and bike guides (or any combination of these).
Mountain Bike Trails Database
The Mountain Bike Trails Database is a new feature now available on Whistler.com. This database was built to showcase the extensive cross-country and on-mountain trail network equaling more than 450 km of intertwined single-track in and around Whistler. This interactive map is intended to provide an overview of trails, their locations and degree of difficulty allowing users to click on individual trails to access more detailed GPS information.
Riding on ‘Top of the World’
Whistler Mountain Bike Park opened their first alpine-specific single-track trail in summer of 2012. The trail – offering 360 degree views of the surrounding glaciers, lakes and peaks – increases the park’s vertical by 1,091 feet. Starting from the summit of Whistler Mountain and descending through some of the most stunning alpine landscapes, Top of the World is the Whistler Mountain Bike Park's pinnacle experience that is unlike any other trail in North America. With a 5,000 vertical foot descent back to Whistler Village, Top of the World is on the bucket list for all advanced mountain bikers. Due to the sensitivity of the area, a limit of 150 riders per day is permitted on the trail.
Road Cycling
Long recognized as a mecca for mountain biking, an increasing amount of road cyclists are discovering the beautiful riding in the Whistler area. Highway upgrades south of Whistler and on the Duffey Lake road provide a smooth tarmac on which to ride. As always, caution is advised when riding on the highway.
Heli biking
Heli biking allows the extreme mountain biker to experience some of the best single track in Whistler. Journey via helicopter to your drop off point, some 6,000 feet up in the mountains, and take in the breathtaking views of the Coast Mountain Range and Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Suitable for daring intermediate to advanced riders, this is the ultimate freeride mountain biking experience and definitely something to brag about over après.
Bike-friendly accommodation
Travelling with bikes is trouble-free in Whistler, with numerous hotels offering services that cater specifically to mountain bikers. To make sure bikes are protected, many accommodation providers have secure storage areas, security cameras and motion detectors. Bike wash and tuning stations are also common. Visitors can rest easy after a hard day’s riding knowing their bike is comfortable and safe.
Biking events
Gravity mountain biking action reaches its peak each summer when the Crankworx World Tour returns to its hometown of Whistler. Featuring 10 days of gravity-mountain biking competitions, kids events, women’s programming, filmmaking and photography—not to mention an expo area with fleets of demo bikes to borrow—this festival is not to be missed. Crankworx is the largest mountain biking festival in the world and is a homegrown, Whistler success story. Established at the base of Whistler Mountain in 2004, it’s grown to include three other international stops and is broadcast live on several action sports networks and online platforms, including Red Bull TV. With disciplines like slopestyle, dual and giant slalom, enduro, whip-off and four separate downhill events, it is a great way to experience everything this sport has to offer.
For road cyclists, the RBC GranFondo in Whistler sees over 7,000 riders take to the pavement and make their way along the amazing Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler. Other notable events include Bici Gusti Gourmet Ride, a 70 km cycling event through the Whistler and Callaghan Valleys with gourmet food stops and an exquisite post-ride dinner.
In July, there is the BC Bike Race, a seven-day staged series from North Vancouver, across to Vancouver Island, then back to the mainland, along the Sunshine Coast, with the finish line in Whistler.
On a more relaxed note, Slow Food Cycle Sunday, which takes place annually in August, is the Sea to Sky’s signature agritourism event, where cyclists take a pedal-powered trip through the Pemberton Meadows farmland, stopping along the way to meet local growers and sample produce fresh from the field.
The resort also hosts numerous community events such as the bi-weekly Ladies Night in the Whistler Bike Park, each Monday and Wednesday nights, and Toonie Race, sponsored by WORCA (Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association). This summer-long race series, held every Thursday evening, offers local hardcore and recreational riders the chance to socialize and ride with and compete against friends. Each week a local business sponsors the race and is responsible for setting the course, marshalling, and supplying the post-race refreshments. Regular race goers include the mayor, local business people and many of Whistler’s top and emerging biking talent, including some riders who are establishing themselves on the world stage of downhill and cross-country mountain biking. WORCA also teams up with the Whistler Mountain Bike Park for the Phat Wednesday presented by Kokanee Downhill Series, a downhill mountain bike race held on Wednesday evenings during summer.
- Sustainability
Inspired by its natural surroundings and heritage, Whistler, BC has a long tradition of visionary and thoughtful commitment to sustainability. As the first community in the country to receive the designation of a ‘resort municipality’ in 1975, Whistler was a pioneer in the evolution of a new era in planned development. The entire Whistler community has embraced the opportunity to become world leaders in innovative sustainability initiatives. In 2015, Whistler was the first Canadian destination to achieve Level 1 APEX/ASTM sustainability certification. Whistler continues to look to adjust our tourism practices to protect and manage the vital ecosystems, cultural wonders, and community life that attracted residents and visitors to our destination in the first place, build environmental and social resilience, while simultaneously achieving economic recovery.
Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE)
AWARE is a member-driven charity that works to protect the natural environment in Whistler and the Sea to Sky through advocacy and empowerment of others with science-based research, education and programming. They are committed to protecting Whistler’s natural environment by speaking up and acting on environmental issues, while encouraging the community to do the same. They work to safeguard habitats and species to maintain connectivity of ecosystems, supporting wildlife and human health, and engage with the community about making smart choices, consuming mindfully and considering impacts on the environment and the climate.
Blackcomb Helicopters Carbon Neutral Tourism Flights
Beginning in 2018, Blackcomb Helicopters offers guests carbon neutral tourism flights. To do this, Blackcomb Helicopters measure the greenhouse gases emitted during each hour of flight and mitigate the emissions from these flights by purchasing the equivalent amount of carbon offsets for the Quadra Island Forestland Conservation Project. The program sequesters the equivalent amount of greenhouse gases emitted and ensures that 418 hectares of forestland along the coastline—previously designated to be logged or converted to vacation homes—becomes protected parkland instead. Learn more about Blackcomb Helicopters’ carbon offset program.
Evo E-Bike Share
From August to October 2022, The RMOW partnered with the British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA), operators of the Evo car share program, for a demonstration e-bike share program. The project was implemented to help assess the feasibility of a future e-bike share program in Whistler and wrapped up on October 16. Learn more about this project.
The Fitzsimmons Renewable Energy Project
The Fitzsimmons River is situated between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains under the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola and is the largest watercourse and best option for renewable energy inside the ski area. Due to the abundance of water and significant vertical drop, micro hydro provided the greatest opportunity to produce renewable energy inside Whistler Blackcomb’s operating footprint. With abundant water flows, no power lines required and over 70% of project footprint layered onto existing disturbed areas, this project was ideal. The primary motivation for this project was that it would return back onto the grid an estimated 32-gigawatt hours of electricity annually, the equivalent of energizing 3,000 to 4,000 homes and also equal to Whistler Blackcomb's annual energy consumption. Seven years of persistence and finding exceptional partners made this project happen. Learn more about this project and other Whistler Blackcomb energy initiatives.
Harbour Air Seaplanes Carbon Neutral Tourism Flights
This year Harbour Air celebrates 40 years of operation. In 2007, they made history by becoming North America’s first fully carbon neutral airline. Harbour Air is strongly committed to being an industry leader on sustainable initiatives and in 2019 announced a partnership with magniX, the company powering the electric aviation revolution, to transform Harbour Air seaplanes into an all-electric commercial fleet powered by the magni500, a 750 horsepower all-electric motor. Operating 12 routes between hubs like Seattle and Vancouver and across the Pacific Northwest, Harbour Air welcomes more than 500,000 passengers on 30,000 commercial flights each year. Through this partnership, both companies are furthering the vision to someday connect communities with clean, efficient and affordable electric air travel. To learn more, visit magniX and Harbour Air.
Protect Our Winters (POW) Canada
Whistler filmmaker and freeskier Mike Douglas was an ambassador for Protect Our Winters in the US before deciding to help launch a Canadian version of the climate advocacy group in 2018. POW Canada is a passionate community of enthusiasts, professional athletes and industry brands uniting the outdoor community to advocate for policy solutions to climate change. Their love of adventure in nature demands their participation in the fight to save and protect it. In 2022, after establishing chapters in 12 different cities and towns since its inception in 2018, POW travelled to Ottawa for a Climate Change and Sport Summit.
Sea to Sky Destination Management Council (S2S DMC)
Tourism Whistler is part of the Sea to Sky Destination Management Council created in 2020 with representation from communities up and down the Sea to Sky corridor and Destination British Columbia. Together the communities engaged in developing a long-term strategy for destination development and destination education was deemed a priority. The Sea to Sky Destination Education Initiative aims to develop and deliver corridor-wide communications that encourage responsible visitor and local behaviour and sustainable travel practices that can be shared throughout the Sea to Sky Corridor and province. The Sea-to-Sky Destination Management Council has prioritized key themes that will guide the messaging:
- Respect
- Outdoor Conduct
- Know Before You Go
- Protect Our Planet
- Responsible social media
The Sea to Sky Don't Love it to Death Campaign
In mid-July 2022, The Sea to Sky Destination Management Council launched Don’t Love it to Death, an education and awareness campaign to address challenges within the region. The first iteration of the campaign is focusing on mitigating litter and wildlife conflict. The campaign uses thought-provoking messages displayed through signage in visitor centres, signage at parks and trailheads and social media posts, encouraging residents and visitors to behave responsibly when enjoying the outdoors. Follow Don’t Love it to Death on Facebook and Instagram.
Vail Resorts Epicpromise
Whistler Blackcomb and Vail Resorts are aggressively pursuing a comprehensive sustainability commitment with the Vail Resorts Epic Promise Commitment to Zero. Started at Whistler Blackcomb, this ambitious undertaking commits to net zero emissions, net zero waste to landfill, and net zero operating impact to forests and habitat on which the resorts operate for the entire Vail Resorts network by 2030. Whistler Blackcomb’s sustainability efforts have led to their 10th win as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers. Learn more about Whistler Blackcomb’s Top 10 Environmental Strategy.
Whistler Blackcomb’s 2016 The Big Picture Documentaries examined some of today’s most pertinent environmental questions.
Whistler Centre for Sustainability (WCS) Engagement & Planning
The WCS is a non-profit organisation created from the Whistler2020 vision to accelerate the journey toward a sustainable future within Whistler and beyond. Focusing on sustainability practices for communities and the tourism sector, the organisation takes the expertise and leadership from Whistler’s experience, combined with global best practices, to deliver consulting services and learning opportunities for interested local governments and the tourism industry around the world.
Whistler's Weird and Wonderful Trees Tour
Tourism Whistler has a brand-new tour available on the Go Whistler Self-Guided Tours App which invites you to discover some of Whistler’s oldest locals – the trees! Join local nature-lover, Ross Reid of Nerdy About Nature, on a two-kilometre stroll around Whistler Village, discovering the area in a new way as you activate your curiosity and appreciate Whistler’s incredible variety of trees. The tour uses a combination of engaging text, audio, video and images to share fascinating information and stories about the trees along the way.
Conscious Travel Tips
- Travel midweek and off-peak. Have the best Whistler experience and help lessen the impact on highways and businesses when you travel midweek and during non-holiday periods. Also receive the best deals!
- Make reservations. To help manage capacity limits, many businesses rely on online reservation systems. Plan ahead with restaurant reservations and activity bookings for a smooth Whistler experience.
- Stay longer or work remotely. Take time for yourself and enjoy all there is to do. Stay longer, explore deeper and work remotely in the mountains. Your mind, body and soul will thank you.
- Be AdventureSmart. Before heading into Whistler's vast terrain, be sure to know before you go so that you can enjoy your activities safely and responsibly.
- Minimize your footprint. Be a part of Whistler’s efforts to minimize our environmental impact and preserve the area's natural beauty.
- Support Local. Buying locally from shops and services enhances our community, connects us socially, creates jobs and boosts the economy.
- Accommodation
Whistler has a range of accommodations for visitors. There are some 150 hotels condos, pensions, B&Bs and chalet facilities offering more than 10,000 rooms. The selection ranges from top-of-the-line luxury suites to rustic mountain cabins, to ultra-modern chic apartments, to full-service condos, to small and basic studio suites.
With a total capacity for more than 30,000 overnight visitors, Whistler also boasts a large number of ski-in, ski-out properties. With Whistler Village located directly at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, guests can literally ski into and out of their accommodation.
Whistler Village is pedestrian-friendly, meaning you don’t need a car – everything you need is close by. If you’re staying outside Whistler Village, many hotels also offer free shuttle services and the municipality operates a free bus service which travels to the main Village centre and into the Upper Village – providing guests with easy access to many of Whistler’s shops, restaurants and bars.
Whistler is home to several AAA Four-Diamond properties, as well as a number of five-star hotels and resort properties offering ultimate mountainside luxury with amenities and services such as ski concierge, day spas, meeting and fitness facilities, pools and hot tubs, tennis courts, lounge areas with cozy fireplaces, and much more. Many self-catering properties also offer a service that lets you pre-place a grocery order so that your cupboards and refrigerator are well-stocked before you arrive.
Numerous Whistler properties offer ski and snowboard storage facilities in winter and bike storage facilities or a bike concierge in summer.
For those seeking a longer stay, whether in winter or summer, Whistler has wide range of multi-room condo options that offer full kitchen and laundry facilities, hot tubs, fireplaces, storage facilities and home entertainment systems.
Single and budget-conscious travelers
There are a number of properties suited to single or budget-conscious travelers in Whistler, including the new Pange Pod Hotel and Hostelling International’s HI Whistler. HI Whistler is located at what was the site of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Athletes’ Village in Cheakamus Crossing. The hostel has 180-beds, along with a café, outdoor decks, storage for sports equipment, games rooms and a media room.
Pangea Pod Hotel is Canada’s first boutique pod accommodation located in the heart of Whistler Village. Pangea offers a total of 88 independent sleeping pods, unique bathroom design, secure storage for sporting equipment and main floor café and rooftop patio.
Riverside RV Resort & Campground offers serviced RV and multi-use campsites in the heart of nature, surrounded by spectacular views and fresh mountain breezes. The resort also offers yurts that are nestled in the woods overlooking Whistler Valley.
In total, visitors can find 118 campsites and a total of 230 hostel beds.
Bring the
kids along
Whistler prides itself on being a great destination for kids. Accommodation options for families include condo units, townhomes, private homes and hotel suites with ample living space and kitchens, ideal for longer stays. A number of hotels also offer kids’ programs and playrooms during the Christmas holiday break with play options such as bouncy castles, video games, arts and crafts and more.
Learn what it's like to be a local
Whistler has a number of bed & breakfast properties spread around the valley. Many of these businesses are owned and operated by long-time Whistler locals, and many of those locals have come to Whistler from all corners of the world. Staying at a B&B gives visitors an insider’s view of life in Whistler and lets you discover why so many people have chosen to call Whistler home.
Whistler is
accessible
Whistler prides itself on being an international resort accessible to all people, including travelers with disabilities. Whistler is home to the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program, a not-for-profit society that provides year-around, recreational programs for people of all ages with disabilities. Whistler Adaptive is a centre for learning and sports excellence that has a local, regional, national and international clientele and encourages independence, self-confidence and self-motivation for all athletes and participants through outdoor activity. Their programs are available to all locals, visitors from across Canada and anyone travelling to Whistler from across the globe.
Whistler is dog-friendly
Whistler prides itself on being a dog-friendly destination. Numerous resort hotels are dog-friendly and offer a range of pet amenities and services. Guests can request doggy beds and bowls, and some hotels also offer dog-sitting and dog-walking services. One hotel even has an annual doggy weekend with competitions and prizes for the dogs with the best tricks.
Whistler Peaks Rating
System
Tourism Whistler developed a Whistler-specific accommodation rating system, the Star Rating System, after identifying that Whistler has unique tourism offerings that are different from other destinations. The star rating system is designed to give visitors consistent and reliable information on what to expect from Whistler accommodation. Each property is rated on a number of criteria such as proximity to slopes, proximity to the Village, and whether the property has hot tubs, kitchenettes, concierge service, fitness facilities and so on. All properties are rated on a scale from two to five using the star rating system.
- Arts & Culture
Whistler is home to a vibrant and diverse arts and culture scene. Perhaps it is a combination of a relaxed lifestyle and inspirational natural surroundings, but Whistler attracts more than its share of highly creative artists and artisans, writers, musicians, filmmakers, photographers and fashion designers. The resort is home to numerous art galleries, studios and eclectic events that celebrate Whistler's unique local talents.
Philanthropists Michael Audain and Yoshiko Karasawa chose Whistler to be the home for part of their incredible and extensive art collection. In March 2016, The Audain Art Museum opened and houses a 200 piece permanent collection showcasing the art of British Columbia from the late 18th century to present. Anchoring the collection is James Hart’s The Dance Screen (The Scream Too), the most significant contemporary carved cedar Dance Screen in the world. Other highlights include an important collection of 19th and 20th century First Nations masks and works by some of Canada’s most celebrated artists including Emily Carr, E.J. Hughes and the internationally renowned photo-conceptualists Jeff Wall and Stan Douglas. In addition, the Museum has visiting exhibitions of art from Canada and around the world. This 56,000 square-foot museum designed by Patkau Architects was built into the existing landscape and features a park like setting for outdoor art and sculptures.
Whistler’s art galleries are world class and the scene grows stronger with each passing year. Whistler boasts over a dozen art galleries exhibiting work from around the globe. From sculpture to photography, and paintings to First Nations carvings, the Whistler art scene is as diverse as it is established.
Arts Whistler focuses on a collaborative approach to the arts, culture, and heritage sector (ACH) with an emphasis on efforts that integrate arts into the fabric of the community, including the Cultural Connector, Whistler Children's Festival, Fall for Arts, annual performance series, theatre and street entertainment. Arts Whistler’s mandate is to coordinate, stimulate and promote the growth of performing, literary and visual arts in the Whistler area through ongoing music, dance, theatre, festivals and other events for locals and visitors.
Opened in summer 2008, the impressive Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre showcases and celebrates the joint history of the local Squamish and Lil'wat First Nations, both past and present, by offering a unique glimpse into their histories and creative works.
The Whistler Film Festival Society (WFFS) is a not-for-profit organization that operates the annual Whistler Film Festival and its various offshoot programs. It also provides support and education for local filmmakers and film enthusiasts. Whistler Film Festival is five days of innovative film-making featuring 90-plus films, special guests, Canadian and international independent film screenings, industry summits, workshops and special cinematic events.
The Whistler Museum and Archives educates visitors about the area's rich and entertaining cultural history. The Hosting the World exhibit was designed to celebrate Whistler's road to the 2010 Winter Games and chronicles the story and artifacts of Whistler's passionate visionaries that dreamed big and worked together as a community to make it all happen. The museum also provides insight into what makes Whistler the place it is today, tracing the journey from its grassroots beginnings to one of the world's leading year-round destinations. From pioneers, fishing resort developers, artists, and ski bums to the many tourists and visitors, everyone had a hand in creating Whistler.
The Cultural Connector is a scenic pathway and bikeway that links six significant cultural institutions in Whistler and identifies noteworthy points and anecdotes. You can walk or bike and learn more about the region’s First Nations at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre; discover the Pioneer History and building of the resort at the Whistler Museum; see the growth of a community at the Whistler Public Library; discover local artwork at the Maury Young Arts Centre; experience the vision of the 2010 Winter Games at Lost Lake PassivHaus built using state-of-the-art energy efficiency systems; and enjoy the expression of artistic excellence at the Audain Art Museum. Follow the diamond shaped, yellow and grey walkways, lamppost flags, and loungers that mark the Cultural Connector pathway and discover the stories that enrich Whistler’s culture, the venues that celebrate it and the milestones achieved along the way.
Beyond the natural beauty of its surroundings, Whistler also boasts an array of public art pieces scattered throughout the Valley. The Resort Municipality of Whistler's Public Art Program Committee – founded in 1996 – regularly commissions pieces by local, regional and national artists with the help of other resort partners to be constructed and built into Whistler environment. So far, over 55 pieces have been installed including everything from metal sculptures and woodcarvings to murals and collaborative ceramics.
- Biking
Biking is the activity of choice come summertime in Whistler. Riding in Whistler offers an incredible variety of terrain to explore, from high alpine single-track to the world's best mountain bike park. Whistler's mountain biking experience isn't just for extreme and advanced riders. A variety of easy trails are suited to beginner riders both on the mountain and throughout the Whistler area, including the paved Valley Trail system that runs the full length of the valley.
Whistler’s Valley Trail
Biking is an eco-friendly way to discover Whistler’s natural beauty. The Valley Trail system is perfect for families, stretching for 40 paved kilometres and meandering past five picturesque lakes, numerous beaches, and through tranquil forested areas framed by mountain peaks.
Cross Country Mountain Biking
More experienced riders can choose from over 200 kilometres of networked cross-country trails and technical single-tracks such as local favourites River Runs Through It and the challenging Comfortably Numb – a trail which helped establish Whistler’s reputation as a mountain biking mecca. Comfortably Numb has been named by the IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association) as an “Epic” ride – one of only a select number of trails around the world that demonstrate the "best in mountain biking".
Guided Tours
Guided bike tours are also available, catering for all ages and levels of ability. Whistler Village is home to many bike retail and rental stores that carry cruiser, cross-country and downhill mountain bikes. For people seeking an option that’s a little easier on the legs, electric bikes are also available to rent. Complimentary mountain bike trail maps detailing the many trails around Whistler are readily available throughout the Village.
Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association
The Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association (WORCA) is a volunteer organization overseeing mountain biking trails in the Whistler Valley. Serving over 1,000 local members, WORCA is one of the largest bicycle clubs in North America. As well as helping to maintain trails, WORCA holds weekly events throughout summer and fosters the evolution of the sport through its youth programs and clinics, teaching safety, etiquette and technique to cyclists.
Whistler Mountain Bike Park
The Whistler Mountain Bike Park is widely considered to be the top downhill bike park in the world, attracting riders from far and wide. First established in 1998, the Bike Park now offers 100+ lift-serviced trails with 80+ kilometres of trail to explore, four skills centres designed for all abilities, a slopestyle course in the boneyard (the area close to the village base), and a pumptrack. The popularity of the sport is growing fast, largely due to the popularity and quality of the bike park, which provides 1,500 metres (5,000 feet) of self-guided vertical trails. Summer 2018 saw the opening of Creek Zone, offering new access to the bike park via the Creekside Gondola and 15 km of additional trail.
Trails are labeled by level of difficulty from green runs for beginners to blue, black and double black diamond trails for intermediate and advanced riders. Specially designed trails range from gentle banked cruisers through the Coastal forest to tight and twisty single track - perfect for intermediate and all-mountain riders. For more advanced gravity junkies, there are steep rock faces, gnarly root-strewn lines, drop-offs of all descriptions and more. Whistler Mountain Bike Park also offers a range of coaching and skill improvement courses for adults and children, including women-only camps. A popular choice is the daily clinic Bike Park 101, offering the completely novice mountain biker a chance to learn downhill technical riding skills while exploring the bike park with a qualified guide.
One of the fastest growing demographics for downhill mountain biking is women. To foster this growth, Whistler Blackcomb offers women-only clinics which provide the opportunity for women riders of any ability to experience lift-accessed downhill riding with friends in a relaxed environment. GT Women's Nights run every Monday and Wednesday evenings and tickets include rentals, lift tickets and bike guides (or any combination of these).
Mountain Bike Trails Database
The Mountain Bike Trails Database is a new feature now available on Whistler.com. This database was built to showcase the extensive cross-country and on-mountain trail network equaling more than 450 km of intertwined single-track in and around Whistler. This interactive map is intended to provide an overview of trails, their locations and degree of difficulty allowing users to click on individual trails to access more detailed GPS information.
Riding on ‘Top of the World’
Whistler Mountain Bike Park opened their first alpine-specific single-track trail in summer of 2012. The trail – offering 360 degree views of the surrounding glaciers, lakes and peaks – increases the park’s vertical by 1,091 feet. Starting from the summit of Whistler Mountain and descending through some of the most stunning alpine landscapes, Top of the World is the Whistler Mountain Bike Park's pinnacle experience that is unlike any other trail in North America. With a 5,000 vertical foot descent back to Whistler Village, Top of the World is on the bucket list for all advanced mountain bikers. Due to the sensitivity of the area, a limit of 150 riders per day is permitted on the trail.
Road Cycling
Long recognized as a mecca for mountain biking, an increasing amount of road cyclists are discovering the beautiful riding in the Whistler area. Highway upgrades south of Whistler and on the Duffey Lake road provide a smooth tarmac on which to ride. As always, caution is advised when riding on the highway.
Heli biking
Heli biking allows the extreme mountain biker to experience some of the best single track in Whistler. Journey via helicopter to your drop off point, some 6,000 feet up in the mountains, and take in the breathtaking views of the Coast Mountain Range and Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Suitable for daring intermediate to advanced riders, this is the ultimate freeride mountain biking experience and definitely something to brag about over après.
Bike-friendly accommodation
Travelling with bikes is trouble-free in Whistler, with numerous hotels offering services that cater specifically to mountain bikers. To make sure bikes are protected, many accommodation providers have secure storage areas, security cameras and motion detectors. Bike wash and tuning stations are also common. Visitors can rest easy after a hard day’s riding knowing their bike is comfortable and safe.
Biking events
Gravity mountain biking action reaches its peak each summer when the Crankworx World Tour returns to its hometown of Whistler. Featuring 10 days of gravity-mountain biking competitions, kids events, women’s programming, filmmaking and photography—not to mention an expo area with fleets of demo bikes to borrow—this festival is not to be missed. Crankworx is the largest mountain biking festival in the world and is a homegrown, Whistler success story. Established at the base of Whistler Mountain in 2004, it’s grown to include three other international stops and is broadcast live on several action sports networks and online platforms, including Red Bull TV. With disciplines like slopestyle, dual and giant slalom, enduro, whip-off and four separate downhill events, it is a great way to experience everything this sport has to offer.
For road cyclists, the RBC GranFondo in Whistler sees over 7,000 riders take to the pavement and make their way along the amazing Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler. Other notable events include Bici Gusti Gourmet Ride, a 70 km cycling event through the Whistler and Callaghan Valleys with gourmet food stops and an exquisite post-ride dinner.
In July, there is the BC Bike Race, a seven-day staged series from North Vancouver, across to Vancouver Island, then back to the mainland, along the Sunshine Coast, with the finish line in Whistler.
On a more relaxed note, Slow Food Cycle Sunday, which takes place annually in August, is the Sea to Sky’s signature agritourism event, where cyclists take a pedal-powered trip through the Pemberton Meadows farmland, stopping along the way to meet local growers and sample produce fresh from the field.
The resort also hosts numerous community events such as the bi-weekly Ladies Night in the Whistler Bike Park, each Monday and Wednesday nights, and Toonie Race, sponsored by WORCA (Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association). This summer-long race series, held every Thursday evening, offers local hardcore and recreational riders the chance to socialize and ride with and compete against friends. Each week a local business sponsors the race and is responsible for setting the course, marshalling, and supplying the post-race refreshments. Regular race goers include the mayor, local business people and many of Whistler’s top and emerging biking talent, including some riders who are establishing themselves on the world stage of downhill and cross-country mountain biking. WORCA also teams up with the Whistler Mountain Bike Park for the Phat Wednesday presented by Kokanee Downhill Series, a downhill mountain bike race held on Wednesday evenings during summer.
- Family Fun
Whistler has a range of year-round family-friendly events and activities the whole family will enjoy. Experience everything from free Fire and Ice shows every Sunday night, kids ski free, Whistler Presents: Family Après and the Whistler Presents: Holiday Experience in the winter season to weekly street entertainment, free golf for kids and endless biking trails, beaches, and hikes in the summer season. Whistler is a fun year-round family destination with plenty of options to keep everyone entertained.
Family Experiences
Kids' Programs
Kids have as much fun in Whistler as their parents do. The resort offers plenty of programs designed with children’s needs in mind, from biking and golf clinics, to arts & crafts classes. The programs feature activities that build skills, self-confidence, and friendships. With licensed childcare staff leading a range of programs, parents can relax and enjoy some quality time in the resort on their own.
Meadow Park Sports Centre
Located north of the Village, Whistler’s Meadow Park Sports Centre is a hub of fun activity. The facility is home to an indoor kid’s pool, lap pool, hot tub, steam room, fitness studio, weight room, squash courts and ice-skating rink.
Winter Family Experiences
Whistler Presents: Family Après
Family Après takes place every Monday and Wednesday evening from December until end of March at Whistler Olympic Plaza. Designed for families with kids of all ages, kids can enjoy Canadian-themed activities and entertainment. This adds to the already popular free outdoor skating available at Whistler Olympic Plaza.
Whistler Presents: Holiday Experience
This free family fun zone is unparalleled for indoor entertainment and fun. Operating daily during the Christmas holiday season at the Whistler Conference Centre, enjoy mini-golf, bouncy castles, kids’ movies, and video games for the whole family.
Fire and Ice Show
Who can resist fireworks and fire spinners – especially when snowflakes fill the air? Whistler's best skiers and riders, including Whistler Blackcomb Snow School's finest, hit a big air jump through a blazing ring of fire every Sunday night. Catch all the action for free at Skiers Plaza at the base of Whistler Mountain.
Coca-Cola Tube Park
Whistler Blackcomb’s Coca-Cola Tube Park at Base II on Blackcomb Mountain provides a thrilling snow-sliding experience all day and into the evening. There's no skill or equipment required – just a sense of adventure and a desire for excitement. The Coca-Cola Tube Park has six to eight lanes varying in difficulty and speed, and is open throughout winter.
Family areas on Whistler Blackcomb
Magic Castle on Blackcomb and Tree Fort on Whistler
This is great for families of little ones to check out while exploring the mountain. Take your skies or boards off and come explore one or both of these great outdoor adventure play lands. The Magic Castle and Tree Fort are free and fun for all ages.
Family-friendly Chic Pea Hut on Whiskey Jack
Located in the Family Zone on Whistler Mountain at the bottom of Upper Whisky Jack, the Chic Pea cabin has a huge sun deck and serves world-renowned cinnamon buns. This is the perfect meeting spot for a mid-afternoon family snack, slice of pizza, or hot chocolate.
Family Zone
Whistler Blackcomb's Family Zone on Whistler Mountain is the perfect place for families and beginners. Traffic flow is designed to move slower to provide a comfortable environment, while access to the terrain park and the Family Zone is separated, ensuring that everyone can head to their own favourite spots safely.
Summer Family Experiences
Kids Play Free Golf
Whistler’s three village-based championship golf courses have introduced a Kids Play Free program which allows youth 10 -18 years of age to play free all season long if accompanied by a paying adult. The program aims to build interest for youth and opportunities for families to enjoy the game together.
Whistler Street Entertainment
Whistler Street Entertainment presents free family-friendly events, attractions and performers from mid-May through September. Whistler Street Entertainment animates the walkways of Whistler Village and provides interactive entertainment by performers from the Sea to Sky corridor and touring artists from across Canada. Entertainment includes juggling acts, circus performers, musicians, bike stunt riders, dancers and acrobats.
Whistler Children’s Festival
The Whistler Children’s Festival is the longest running festival in Whistler. The festival takes over Whistler Olympic Plaza for a whole weekend each July, and boasts endless activities, popular children’s performers, wandering musicians and characters, and hands-on workshops in fine arts, crafts, theatre, multi-media, dance and music.
Family Adventure Zone
If hiking, biking or exploring doesn't tire the kids out, the Adventure Zone located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain certainly will. It's fun for both big and little folk alike. Open throughout summer, activities range in price and include the ever-popular Westcoaster Luge, mini-golf, bungee trampoline, human gyroscope, climbing web, bouncy castle, and more.
Free (or almost free) and FUN!
- Take a free* tour at Prior – Whistler’s only manufacturer of hand-crafted snowboards and skis – and watch how snowboards and skis are made. *designated times
- Whistler Museum & Archives is a real treasure and entry is by donation (suggested donation is $5)
- Youth and children 18 and under enjoy free admission to the Audain Art Museum.
- The Whistler Public Library hosts a variety of children’s programs including arts and crafts workshops, story time, and rhyme and song sessions. There is also a Teen Lounge featuring wide range of current fiction, non-fiction, and graphic novels.
Stay Indoors
Head indoors for more fun, entertainment, educational activities or some chill time.
- Audain Art Museum
- Indoor Rock Climbing at The Core
- Meadow Park Sports Centre
- Village 8 movie theatre
- Whistler Public Library
- Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre
- Whistler Museum
- Escape rooms at Escape! Whistler
- Forged Axe Throwing
Accommodation
- Many of the hotels, condos, chalets and townhomes have full-sized, fully equipped kitchens or kitchenettes', so eating in is a breeze.
- There are two grocery stores right in Whistler Village that stock everything you need to create a home-cooked meal.
- Most one-bedroom or two-bedroom suites will have an in-suite washer, dryer and dishwasher for your convenience.
Family services in Whistler
- Whistler has two babysitting services available, Nannies on Call and Babysitting Whistler. Both offer hourly rates and flexible care.
- Babysitting Whistler also rents toys, games, cribs, high chairs, strollers and baby backpacks. Baby's On The Go has cribs, strollers, high chairs and car seats for rent along with indoor and outdoor toys. They feature two Mountain Baby packages and can deliver and install the equipment to your accommodation before your arrival.
- Whistler Blackcomb offers fully licensed childcare programs, catering to children aged 18 months to five years old.
Whistler for Teens
How do you keep teens and tweens stimulated? Bring them to Whistler! They will love the fresh outdoors and adventure activities available to them all year round. From mountain biking, indoor rock climbing, and skiing/riding to community events, movies and an awesome skateboard park, Whistler has it all.
Whistler Blackcomb's Ride Tribe
Whistler Blackcomb's Ride Tribe is a ski and snowboarding school designed just for 8 to 18 year olds. Students love Ride Tribe because it is no ordinary ski school, it's a culture. They get to ski and ride with young professional coaches who know the mountains inside out, top to bottom.
- Food & Wine
Whistler offers more than 200 restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars, and is a mecca for food and wine lovers. Some of the country's best restaurants and chefs marry B.C. food with B.C. wines, spirits, craft beers - as well as food and wine from around the world - to create unique epicurean experiences.
Whistler's Restaurants Feature Locally-Grown Ingredients
Whistler restaurants take pride in featuring fresh, local, organic produce and Canadian specialties, including B.C. wild salmon, halibut and shellfish, B.C.-raised venison, BC-produced wines, Pemberton fingerling potatoes, and produce and cheeses from organic producers on Salt Spring Island, to name just a few.
Whistler's Chefs and Farmers Collaborate
Whistler's proximity to Pemberton, a fertile farming valley 25 minutes north, makes it easy for chefs to work with local farmers to create dishes that feature fresh local ingredients. Executive chef James Walt of Araxi and Il Caminetto restaurants lives in Pemberton and stops by North Arm Farm on most workdays in the spring/summer to pick up fresh produce.
Indigenous Cuisine Showcased at Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Center
Located on six forested acres along Fitzsimmons Creek, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) provides visitors with the unique opportunity to explore the heritage and living culture of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation. Using the finest local ingredients, many of them inspired by traditional Squamish and Lil'wat foods, the culinary team creates a spectacular dining experience. Some menu items include: Bannock, Wild Boar Prosciutto, Oolichan, Venison Chili, Caribou Terrine, Soapallallie Berry Juice, House Smoked Salmon, bison carpaccio, Pemmichan, Lil’wat Honey, Sturgeon Caviar and Okanagan Elk.
Whistler's Famed Après Scene
The nightlife in Whistler is almost as famous as the skiing and snowboarding. There's plenty of entertainment in town, with top DJs in the nightclubs and a vibrant live music scene. One of the best things about skiing and boarding is gathering with friends over a drink when the day is done. When the sun goes down, some people go into party mode, put on their dancing shoes and head for the nightclubs. For others in search of something more laid back, Whistler is dotted with lounges and pubs serving local craft beers and wines from BC's rapidly growing wine regions.
In summer, après ski gives way to après bike at the many sunny outdoor village patios. The Whistler après bike scene is lively, with people who have spent the day either downhill mountain biking, cross country riding or cruising the valley trail all converging on one of the many outdoor patios along Whistler’s pedestrian stroll to enjoy a cold beverage and a tasty appetizer.
Bred Organic Sourdough Made by Ed
Originally from Kent in the UK, Ed has always worked in fine dining kitchens around the world and has been making sourdough since 2008. Ed and Natasha moved to Canada in 2013 to snowboard for a season. They both worked in hospitality and Ed worked in farm-to-table restaurant Alta Bistro in Whistler, BC. While taking some shoulder-season leave and working on Vancouver Island farms in the summer of 2014, Ed started a sourdough culture that he took with him back to Alta Bistro and implemented a bread programme for the restaurant. Back in 2016, Ed rented the bistro’s kitchen once a week to make bread for his friends, who subsequently told their friends, and before long demand had increased to a point where Ed had outgrown the equipment. That’s when Ed and his wife, Natasha, decided to team up and start planning to open an 100% plant-based organic sourdough bread shop in Creekside, Whistler. Natasha admired Ed’s dedication to making tasty artisan loaves and Ed knew that Natasha’s background as an English teacher and examiner, as well as a string of hospitality jobs over the years would come in useful for starting a food and beverage business. Being vegan for the past five years, it was important for Ed and Natasha to bring that into their business. They both believe that you shouldn’t make food for other people that you wouldn’t eat yourself. The bread shop and plant-based bakery sells loaves for pick-up in-store and a selection of small baked items and espresso-based coffees are available in the bread shop. Direct-trade, Australian-inspired Canadian roasted smooth, rich and balanced deep chocolate syrupy sweetness and cherry-like fruitiness espresso coffees matched with oat, almond, soy or coconut alternatives to cow’s milk. edsbred.com
Craft Beer
With three breweries and dozens of pubs serving delicious craft liquid, Whistler is a must-stop for any craft beer enthusiast exploring BC’s Ale Trail. Function Junction, Whistler’s 'industrial zone' 10 minutes south of the Village, is home to two breweries—one old and one new. Whistler Brewing Company, founded in 1989 (though not in this location) has a strong, stable presence in the community and throughout BC. The brewery has a tasting room and offers tours. Nearby is Coast Mountain Brewing, a new addition to the scene since 2016 that offers its own unique range of beers in its tasting room. Head to the Village and visit High Mountain Brewing Co - Brewhouse, located right beside the Olympic Plaza that only sells its beer on-site, allowing them to brew smaller batches and experiment with seasonal offerings. Beers include the award-winning 5 Rings IPA, which was named BC’s Beer of the Year in 2012. If you’ve timed your visit well, you can also experience the Whistler Village Beer Festival, which takes over Whistler Olympic Plaza and other venues in the Village in mid-September each year. Or head out to Pemberton and visit The Beer Farmers which comes by its rural charm honestly — the Miller family has owned and farmed the land it’s on since 1911, and brewing is just the most recent activity it’s taken on. https://bcaletrail.ca
First Nations Feast
For a truly unique First Nations experience, enjoy a delicious indigenous inspired feast and tour of the award-winning Squamish Líl’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC). This culinary evening blends traditional ingredients in modern plates while Spo7ez Performers in regalia share songs and stories Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation. https://slcc.ca/feast/
Montis Distilling Custom Gin Program
Montis Distilling is a locally crafted small batch distillery in Function Junction, Whistler, B.C. Creating crafted spirits using malted barley sourced from the province of British Columbia, Montis Distilling opened its doors in the summer of 2019, and distills gin, vodka, and whiskey. Montis Distilling offers customized programs for custom batches of gin and whiskey. The custom gin program allows you to create your very own custom flavoured gin. During your gin consultation, they will develop your tasting profile and then create your custom gin recipe from the botanicals you have chosen. It is a 12-bottle minimum requirement to create a custom gin batch. Or enjoy a guided tour of the distillery with tastings included in their tasting room. The tasting tour is 1 hour and includes a taster of each spirit distilled at Montis Distilling.
Pemberton Distillery's Single Malt Whisky
Renowned for their Schramm Organic Potato Vodka and Schramm Organic Gin, Pemberton Distillery, a boutique family owned and operated craft distillery, also releases limited edition organic single malt whisky and brandy. Water, 100% organic malted barley and yeast are the only ingredients, making it the first single malt whisky made in British Columbia and the only organic single malt whisky in North America. The Distillery also creates cask-aged Apple Brandy from locally sourced organic apples in the Sea to Sky, organic Absinthe from Pemberton potato spirits and Grande Wormwood grown in their distillery garden and an Organic Ceylon Cinnamon Extract made from a slow, cold processed blend of high quality certified organic Ceylon Cinnamon, hand harvested in Costa Rica, and their own locally distilled organic potato spirits.
Purebread
A family bakery established in Whistler with one simple mission: to bake delicious bread, savouries, cakes & treats that bring a smile to peoples' faces. They started off by baking bread at home for family & friends and to the owners, it is still like that...just their family's a little bigger! After plucking up the courage to share their baking at a Christmas market in Whistler some years ago, they enjoyed fantastic local support & have grown to do many more regular markets throughout the Sea to Sky region, in addition to opening five bakeries - two in Whistler & three in Vancouver: Gastown, Mount Pleasant & Kitsilano. Purebread uses real, quality ingredients that help to make the goodies delicious served up with warm & welcoming customer service, and great coffee.
Whistler Chocolate
Whistler chocolate bars are 100% certified organic and are made from the finest organic ingredients. Whistler Chocolate was founded in November 2006 by adventure and chocolate loving Whistlerites. The goal was to combine their love of chocolate with their love for the Whistler lifestyle. They launched new eco-friendly packaging May 2009. The inner wrap is now 100% compostable and made from wood fibre. The box is 100% recyclable and is made from 35-75% post consumer waste - so as long as you eat the chocolate (we know you will) there is absolutely no waste!
Ranger Teacrafters - Namasthé® Tea
Handcrafted in Whistler since 2006, Namasthé® Teas features Pemberton whole leaf Thérroir™ Tisanes in a wide selection of premium quality, certified organic and fair-trade loose-leaf teas. As dedicated Tea Artisans, they blend sustainabilitea in every tea pouch using Manila hemp tea pouches, 100% home compostable clear overwrap and 100% solar & wind power at the farm & Teacrafting Temple. Namasthé Tea`s TEO Isabelle Ranger is a Consultant Herbalist offering over a decade of service to the Sea to Sky communities custom blending & wildcrafting organic wellness & medicinal teas.
Whistler's Food and Wine Events
One of Whistler's most popular and anticipated events is Cornucopia, Whistler's Celebration of food and drink. Cornucopia has expanded to an exciting eleven days of seminars, tastings, winery dinners, and a series of fabulous after-parties, brunches and Chefs lunches that takes place every November!
The dining options in Whistler are vast and varied with an array of establishments with menu options just waiting to take guests – and their taste buds – on a culinary excursion. Discover Spring, Whistler's unlimited season. Spring brings together everything amazing about Whistler, from outdoor adventure to deep relaxation. Add in a festival or two, dining specials and great deals on accommodation and you've got a cure for spring fever. Spring is the time to experience it all. https://www.whistler.com/spring-thing/
The Whistler's Farmer's Market will be held at the Whistler Racket Club this year and runs every Sunday from mid-June through to mid-October. It is part of the B.C. Farmers' Market Association and all participants are required to make, bake or grow their wares. From humble beginnings of one farm and a couple of crafters in the summer of 1994, the market now hosts an average of 90 vendors showcasing fresh fruit, produce, artisan crafts and food products.
Slow Food Cycle Sunday is a scenic and flat 40km/25 mile bike ride through the heart of Pemberton's farmland, just 35km north of Whistler. Held over a day in August, cyclists take a pedal-powered trip through the natural buffet that is Pemberton Meadows farmland to meet local growers and sample produce fresh from the field such as organic blueberries, hazelnuts, garlic, potatoes, greens, beef, and more, as participating farms, chefs and artists offer their produce for sale during the ride.
Araxi Longtable is a series of outdoor dining experiences that takes place in Pemberton at North Arm Farm with Mount Currie as its picturesque backdrop. From Chef James Walt’s outdoor kitchen, diners enjoy a four-course menu featuring the valley’s freshest local produce, beef from its pastures, day-boat catches from our coastal fisheries and wines from leading producers. More details here:
Held over summer evenings at the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain, the Mountain Top Summer Feast offers an incredible, mountain top dining experience with live music. Just ride up the Whistler Village Gondola and enjoy mouth-watering mains, fresh salads and delicious desserts at 6,000ft. Whether you dine inside or on the scenic patio it is great for the whole family.
Winemaker Après Series
Special afternoons featuring BC's best wines paired with locally sourced culinary delights. Perched atop Whistler Mountain with stunning views from Steeps Grill & Wine Bar, a full-course luncheon complete with wine pairings is guaranteed to be a feast for your senses.
Salmon Bake ATV Tour
For a unique dining experience, journey by ATV to the Crystal Hut, perched atop Blackcomb Mountain at 6,000ft and enjoy a West Coast meal. From the deck of the rustic cabin enjoy the rich array of alpine colours and panoramic views of the surrounding Coastal Mountain Range. Relax and enjoy live entertainment as your chef prepares a sampling of West Coast Fare including cedar planked, maple glazed wild BC salmon, salads and dessert.
Sproatt Steak Night by Snowmobile
Explore the Callaghan backcountry at dusk by snowmobile as you venture up to a rustic cabin on Sproatt Mountain for an intimate, gourmet 3 course steak dinner. Cooked on an old-fashioned wood stove and grill, this mountain-sized meal includes the Chef’s daily inspiration soup, house baked bread, Angus beef sirloin served with garlic mashed potatoes & seasonal vegetables and a feature dessert prepared by the Bearfoot Bistro. Vegetarian option available.
Whistler's Culinary Wizards
Nick Cassettari is a third-generation chef, born and culinary trained in Australia. He has worked in Sydney’s finest restaurants where he refined his skills and fuelled his passion for creating new and exciting cuisine with a classic approach. The love of cuisine and travel has taken him all over the world before settling in Whistler, British Columbia. Whistler has proven to be the perfect environment for Nick - cooking with fresh Pacific seafood, game, locally grown produce while allowing him to explore his outdoor passions which include snowboarding and fishing. Nick’s dedication to creating a memorable culinary experience for his guests is what makes him stand apart. His love of cuisine can be seen in a passing glance by observing his attention to every detail in the Alta Bistro kitchen.
In a profession traditionally dominated by men, Melissa Craig, the award-winning executive chef of the Bearfoot Bistro, is a rarity. In 2008 she was named the winner of the Gold Medal Plates' Canadian Culinary Championships - arguably the most prestigious culinary event in Canada. Passionate, driven, and undeniably talented, Craig is a B.C. girl whose career began in the Culinary Arts Program of Malaspina University College on Vancouver Island. Her menu features the very finest wild and cultivated products paired with wines from the Bearfoot's 20,000 bottle wine cellar.
Recognized by Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper as ‘one of the top seven chefs in the country shaping the nation,' James Walt is executive chef at Araxi and Il Caminetto. Walt creates compelling regional cuisine based on local, sustainable ingredients. His impressive culinary career includes stints at some of British Columbia's leading restaurants, as well as an appointment as executive chef to the Canadian Embassy in Rome, a post that significantly influenced the way he cooks today. He has also been invited to cook at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City three times, the first and only chef in Whistler to receive such an invitation.
After nearly four years with Four Seasons Resort Whistler, previously as Executive Sous Chef, Executive Chef Sajish Kumar Das is now bringing his unique and impeccable skill set to lead the culinary experience at Braidwood Tavern and SIDECUT Steakhouse. Developing an interest in cooking for others from an early age, Chef Kumar transformed a passion into a profession. He brings more than two decades of dining expertise to his new position with time spent in India, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Canada with acclaimed luxury properties including Taj, Grand Hyatt, Ritz Carlton, and Four Seasons. Internationally regarded for his comprehensive knowledge of cuisine presented with contemporary flair, Chef Kumar looks to highlight Whistler’s supernatural beauty through each and every dish.
Chef/owner of the Rimrock Café, Rolf Gunther is a long-time Whistlerite. His formal training includes hotel and restaurant management in Heidelberg, Germany as well as culinary training in Germany's Black Forest region. His experience has taken him from Switzerland to Holland to various leading establishments in Canada. Specializing in fish and game, Gunther and his team at the Rimrock have cemented themselves as firm favourites with locals and visitors to Whistler.
Executive Chef Cliff Crawford, a passionate food enthusiast joined Fairmont Chateau Whistler with over 20 years of professional culinary experience. Cliff joined Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in 2002 at Fairmont Southampton. In 2011, Cliff transferred to Fairmont Vancouver Airport as an Executive Sous Chef and has since worked at Fairmont San Francisco and Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Cliff is joining Fairmont Chateau Whistler from his most recent role as Executive Chef at Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile.
Growing up in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, in the quaint town of Canmore, Alberta, Executive Chef Elliot Brass, Westin Resort and Spa, Whistler started working in local restaurants at age 14. After high school, Elliot began his professional cooking career working at the Rimrock Hotel, Banff National Park. At 23, Brass continued his culinary career in the United Kingdom, working at the world-renowned health resort Champneys at Tring. Returning to Canada, Brass moved to Whistler in the fall of 2003. Brass spent time working at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, running a restaurant in Squamish, before starting at the Westin Resort and Spa, Whistler in 2011 and in 2022 he was promoted to the role of Executive Chef.
Executive Chef Steve Faucho and Lil’wat Nation Sous-Chef Maggie Wallace, are the team behind the kitchen at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC). Fecho got his first taste of working in a kitchen during his time with the navy. He went onto apprenticeship at the Westin Bayshore, then Lumiere in Vancouver, where he worked with Chef Robert Feenie. Maggie started in the Indigenous Youth Ambassador (IYA) program at the SLCC, where she was drawn to the kitchen, and she started her apprenticeship in 2019. This path has led her in search of her Indigenous roots through food and recently passed her Level 3 Red Seal Chef exams at Camuson College, with Awards of Distinction, and is currently building the requisite hours needed for full certification.
- Free & Fun
Free services and activities in Whistler
Many people don't realize Whistler has a huge range of free events, activities, and services. Year-round you will find some amazing freebies in and around the Village, such as the free shuttle bus and WiFi throughout the Village, arts and crafts and storytime sessions at the Library, free weekly local papers with all your entertainment listings, free yoga at Lululemon, and numerous free art displays to explore.
In the winter months, visitors enjoy a free Fire and Ice show every Sunday night at Skiers Plaza at Whistler Blackcomb’s base. Families can enjoy free Whistler Presents: Family Après at Whistler Olympic Plaza every Monday and Wednesday evening. Children six and under ski and access the mountain for free. Dress up as Santa Claus on the closest Saturday to Christmas and you will ski or ride for free, or take advantage of Whistler Presents: Holiday Experience held over Christmas and New Year, which offers a free family fun zone with indoor games, bouncy castles, kids’ movies and more.
When the weather warms up the free activities keep coming, with free street entertainment every weekend during summer, a free 27-hole Frisbee disc golf course in Lost Lake Park, and free golf for kids when accompanied by a paying adult at select courses. And don't forget all of the trails, parks, lakes, docks and hikes in and around the village - which are all free!
Fire and Ice Show
Who can resist fireworks and fire spinners – especially when snowflakes fill the air? Whistler's best skiers and riders, including Whistler Blackcomb Snow School's finest, hit a big air jump through a blazing ring of fire every Sunday night. Catch all the action for free at Skiers Plaza at the base of Whistler Mountain.
Whistler Presents: Family Après
Family Après takes place every Monday and Wednesday evening from December until end of March at Whistler Olympic Plaza. Designed for families with kids of all ages, kids can enjoy Canadian-themed activities and entertainment. This adds to the already popular outdoor skating available at Whistler Olympic Plaza.
Whistler Presents: Holiday Experience
This free family fun zone is unparalleled for indoor entertainment and fun. Operating daily during the Christmas holiday season at the Whistler Conference Centre, enjoy mini-golf, bouncy castles, kids’ movies, and video games for the whole family.
Whistler Presents: Outdoor Concert Series
Each summer from June through till September, Whistler Presents a range of free outdoor concerts on the great lawn at Whistler Olympic Plaza, with everything from the sweet sounds of classical music to chilled out beats and folk bands.
Kids Play Free
Whistler’s three village-based championship golf courses have introduced a Kids Play Free program which allows youth 10 - 18 years of age to play free all season long if accompanied by a paying adult. The program aims to build interest for youth and opportunities for families to enjoy the game together.
Street Entertainment
Whistler Street Entertainment presents free family-friendly events, attractions and performers every weekend from mid-May through September. Whistler Street Entertainment animates the walkways of Whistler Village and provides interactive entertainment by performers from the Sea to Sky corridor and touring artists from across Canada. Entertainment includes juggling acts, circus performers, musicians, bike stunt riders, dancers and acrobats.
Fun things to do in Whistler
It is no secret that there is a lot of fun to be had in Whistler at any time of the year. The list of great activities is endless with the choices in winter ranging from skiing and snowboarding, to snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, heli-skiing, dog sledding, ice skating, tubing and more. As summer comes, a whole new list of fun options becomes available, such as ATV tours, canoeing, kayaking, whitewater rafter, biking, rock climbing, horse riding – the list goes on! And don’t forget the fun year-round fun stuff like ziplining, fishing, axe throwing and bungee jumping.
Kids’ Programs
Kids have as much fun in Whistler as their parents do. The resort offers plenty of programs designed with children’s needs in mind, from biking and golf clinics, to arts & crafts classes. The programs feature activities that build skills, self-confidence, and friendships. With licensed childcare staff leading a range of programs, parents can relax and enjoy some quality time in the resort on their own.
Ice Skating at Whistler Olympic Plaza
There are few experiences more classically Canadian than outdoor ice skating. Everyone should experience the joy of watching your breath fog in the crisp winter air while gliding across a pond or backyard rink with friends or family. And each winter, visitors can enjoy free skating at the outdoor rink at Whistler Olympic Plaza.
Magic Castle and Treefort
The Magic Castle on Blackcomb and Tree Fort on Whistler are great for families of little ones to check out while exploring the mountains. Take off your skis or board and explore one (or both!) of these great outdoor adventure playlands. Free and fun for all ages.
Family Adventure Zone
If hiking, biking or exploring doesn't tire the kids out, the Adventure Zone located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain certainly will. It's fun for both big and little folk. Open throughout summer, activities range in price and include the ever-popular Westcoaster Luge, mini-golf, bungee trampoline, climbing web, bouncy castle, slide and more.
Coca-Cola Tube Park
Whistler Blackcomb’s Coca-Cola Tube Park at Base II on Blackcomb Mountain provides a thrilling snow-sliding experience all day and into the evening. There's no skill or equipment required – just a sense of adventure and a desire for excitement. The Coca-Cola Tube Park has six to eight lanes varying in difficulty and speed, and is open throughout winter.
Meadow Park Sports Centre
Located north of the Village, Whistler’s Meadow Park Sports Centre is a hub of fun activity. The facility is home to an indoor kid’s pool, lap pool, hot tub, steam room, fitness studio, weight room, squash courts and ice-skating rink.
Vallea Lumina
Explore an old-growth forest through an enchanted, multimedia night walk with The Adventure Group. Perfect as a family activity after dinner or date night under the stars, this 1.5km illuminated walk on Cougar Mountains takes about an hour to complete.
- Golf
Few resorts can boast such an impressive selection of world-class, championship golf courses as Whistler. Most people recognize Whistler, first and foremost, as one of the world’s premier skiing and snowboarding destinations, but the resort has now earned an international reputation as a golfer’s paradise with no less than four award-winning courses: Whistler Golf Club, Nicklaus North Golf Course, Fairmont Whistler Golf Course, and Big Sky Golf Club.
With Whistler’s average summer temperatures ranging from 9 to 23 degrees Celsius (48 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit) and many daylight hours each day from May through August, it’s not uncommon for golfers to play from dawn to dusk and log up to three rounds daily.
Of course, being a true all-season resort, Whistler sets itself apart from other golf destinations with an unmatched choice of off-course options – from kayaking and glacier hiking to award-winning dining and a renowned nightlife scene. For the more adventurous, Whistler is an opportunity to experience what’s become known as the “Whistler triathlon” – 18 holes of golf, summer glacier skiing atop Blackcomb Mountain and then mountain biking in Whistler’s world-famous Bike Park – all in one day. All this, plus a vast range of hotels, restaurants, spas and shopping lets Whistler give new meaning to those seeking a truly unique 19th hole experience.
As part of Whistler’s Junior Golf Program, which aims to build interest for youth and opportunities for families to enjoy the game together, junior tees are provided at each of the four signature courses. As well, each of the three village-based courses have introduced a Kids Play Free program which allows youth 10 to 18 years of age to play free all season long if accompanied by a paying adult.
Each of Whistler’s signature courses is an impeccable example of thoughtful design that utilizes while simultaneously stays in harmony with the pristine natural surroundings of the area. Golf in Whistler is as much about the mountain experience as it is about playing the game.
Whistler Golf Club
Built in 1983, the Whistler Golf Club was the first golf course in Whistler and Arnold Palmer’s first Canadian design. Located just steps away from Whistler Village, this 6700 yard, par 71, 18-hole course is set amongst ancient cedars, majestic fir trees, winding streams and nine lakes. The course also affords spectacular views of the region’s snow-capped mountains and glaciers, including Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. The naturalized areas of the golf course provide food and habitat for local wildlife such as black bears, coyote, beaver, birds and more. In 2008, the course completed a $1.2 million course improvement investment, and in 2010, the driving range underwent a $1 million upgrade. Visitors to the Whistler Golf Club can brush up on their skills at the completely reconstructed practice facility that includes an expanded driving range with five target greens, a new putting and chipping greens along with a short game area including a practice bunker. In May 2012, the Whistler Golf Club opened the season with brand new greens on all 18 holes. The course underwent a complete renewal of all green surfaces in the spring 2012. The new and improved Bent grass greens provide a smoother putting surface, increased durability and greater resistance to snow and ice damage. In 2017 the course introduced a new fleet of golf carts and launched a brand new app to enhance the player experience. Whistler Golf Club is also home to an award-winning Golf Shop and Palmer's Gallery Bar & Grill, boasting one of the best patios in town.
Nicklaus North Golf Course
The Nicklaus North Golf Course is located alongside the shores of Whistler's magnificent glacier-fed Green Lake. Set at a championship par 71, the award-winning Jack Nicklaus-designed course boasts 18 holes of impeccably manicured greens, challenging par threes, and distinctive bunkering. This course played host to the 2005 TELUS Skins Game with many of the world’s greatest players in attendance including Jack Nicklaus himself, John Daly, Vijay Singh and Stephen Ames just to name a few. This was the second time the course hosted the prestigious event – the first repeat for any course in the event’s history. Nicklaus North is just the second Canadian course designed by Jack Nicklaus and, of the more than 280 courses he has personally designed worldwide, it was the first course to which Nicklaus agreed to add his name. Nicklaus North is also home to Table Nineteen Lakeside Eatery which specializes in traditional West Coast cuisine and boasts Whistler’s largest lakeside patio.
Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club
Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club’s spectacular mountain setting features more than 400 feet of elevation gain, rushing glacier streams, and a comprehensive Practice and Learning Centre. The par 72, 18-hole course was designed by noted course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., and is practically carved into the flank of Blackcomb Mountain. Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club is one of only a select number of courses in Canada to achieve certification by Audubon International as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Cooperative Sanctuary System – a program designed to recognize and support golf courses that display exceptional environmental stewardship by enhancing and protecting wildlife habitats and conserving natural resources.
Big Sky Golf Club
Located a 30-minute drive north of Whistler in the Pemberton Valley, Big Sky Golf Club is nestled in the shadow of majestic Mount Currie. The longest of the four championship courses that comprise the Whistler golf community, Big Sky was designed by award-winning golf course designer Robert Cupp. Featuring bent grass from tee to green and Ravensdale sand bunkers, Cupp used the broad valley's wide-open spaces and ample sunshine to design a par 72, 6,025 yard long-ball hitter’s dream course. After the round join them at Fescues Restaurant on their award winning misted patio for something to eat, the menu and experience is definitely worth the drive.
Big Sky also offers a unique 19th hole heli-golf experience where guests can be flown by chopper to the top of Mount Currie where they warm up their swing by driving eco-friendly biodegradable golf balls from the mountaintop - giving new meaning to the term ‘longest drive’.
- History
Whistler is a place where mountains, rivers and First Nations people have met
for millennia. The Coast Salish First Nations people inhabited the land around
Whistler for many thousands of years, hunting,gathering and trading long before
European settlers arrived.
At one time, tens of thousands of Coast Salish
First Nations people lived, traded and thrived between the Vancouver, Howe Sound
and the Lillooet areas. In fact, some of the hiking routes between Howe
Sound
and Deep Cove (on the north shore of Burrard Inlet, near Vancouver) are
the same routes traveled on by the Coast Salish First Nations
peoples.
The Whistler valley was an isolated wilderness frequented by two
First Nations: the Lil'wat Nation from the Mount Currie area (north of Whistler,
near Pemberton), and the Squamish Nation who lived in an area stretching from
present-day North Vancouver to the Squamish River watershed and the northern
part of what is now called Howe Sound.
Whistler was often a waypoint for
trading routes between the Squamish and Lil'wat Nations because it was rich with
wildlife and resources.
Whistler's European history owes much to the
pioneering spirit of Myrtle Philip. As a visionary of the early 1900s she set
about to establish Whistler as one of the most popular summer resorts in western
Canada.
Chronology of Whistler's European
history:
1860s
British naval officers survey the area and give
modern-day Whistler Mountain its first European name: London
Mountain.
1877
The Pemberton Trail is completed, linking the Pemberton
valley to the Pacific coast north of Vancouver.
1900
Trappers and
prospectors settle in the area, then known as Alta Lake. They use the informal
name 'Whistler' because of the shrill whistle made by the Western Hoary Marmots
that live in the alpine rocks.
1910
Myrtle and Alex Philip arrive in
Vancouver from Maine.
1911
Myrtle and Alex make the three-day journey
to Whistler: a steamer ship from Vancouver to Squamish, overnight in
Brackendale, and a two-day horse trek to Whistler.
1913
Myrtle and
Alex buy ten acres of land and build the Rainbow Lodge on the shores of Alta
Lake.
1914
The Great Pacific Eastern Railway (now BC Rail) is built to
Alta Lake and links the valley to the outside world. Whistler becomes a base for
logging and mining. Myrtle and Alex's Rainbow Lodge is opened and by 1918 could
boast of being the most popular resort destination west of Banff and
Jasper.
1940s and 50s
Other lodges open throughout the valley. The
abundant fish stocks make Whistler a summer resort destination long before it is
considered a winter one. Winter travel becomes possible when a gravel road to
Squamish is carved from the cliffs of Howe Sound.
1960
Returning from
the Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, a group of Vancouver businessmen search for
a site to hold the Games in BC. They select what is now Whistler Mountain,
form the Garibaldi Olympic
Development Association, and in 1961 they submit a
bid to be Canada's candidate for the 1968 Winter Olympics. Banff is chosen,
but the bid process spurs development of the new ski area.
1965
London
Mountain's named is officially changed to Whistler Mountain. A four-person
gondola, a double chairlift, two T-bars, and a day lodge are constructed. A
two-lane gravel road from Squamish to Whistler is completed. The trip from
Vancouver to Whistler takes five to six hours.
1966
Whistler
officially opens for skiing. The gravel road to Whistler is
paved.
1975
The Resort Municipality of Whistler is established - the
first resort municipality in Canada.
1978
Construction begins on the
new town centre that will eventually become Whistler
Village.
1980
Blackcomb Mountain opens, creating one of the largest
ski areas in North America.
1985
Blackcomb Mountain expands its
terrain and becomes the only "Mile High Mountain" in North
America.
1992
Snow Country Magazine votes Whistler the "Number One Ski
Resort in North America" - just the beginning of many more accolades over the
coming years.
1996
Operations of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains
merge under Intrawest Corporation.
2002
The International Olympic
Committee (IOC) shortlists Whistler/ Vancouver as a Candidate City for hosting
the 2010 Olympic Winter and Paralympic Winter Games.
2003
Whistler and
Vancouver wins the bid to host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter
Games.
2005
Whistler introduces groundbreaking vision and
sustainability plan, Whistler2020 - Moving Toward a Sustainable Future. Whistler
is declared one of the most liveable communities in the world - and the best in
the world in planning for the future - at the UN-endorsed International Awards
for Liveable Communities (LivCom) in La Coruna, Spain.
2007
Whistler
is one of seven communities selected as recipient of the provincial government's
inaugural Green City Awards for demonstrating leadership and action in a range
of sustainability initiatives. Whistler is recognized as the first community in
Canada to have achieved the fifth and final milestone within the Partners for
Climate Protection (PCP) Program developed by the Federation of Canadian
Municipalities and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives
(ICLEI).
2008
Whistler Blackcomb opens the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola on 12
December. Spanning the distance between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, this
engineering marvel offers a breathtaking, 11-minute 4.4-kilometre journey
providing unprecedented access to the resort's renowned alpine terrain - both
summer and winter.
2009
Whistler Blackcomb remains the top ski resort in
North America for the 13th year in a row, upholding its No. 1 ranking on SKIING
Magazine's "Top 25 Resorts in North America" list.
February 12,
2010
17 days of Winter Olympic Games begin.
March 12, 2010
10 days
of Winter Paralympic Games begin.
Whistler's Olympic Journey exhibit -
Whistler Museum
A new exhibit, Whistler's Olympic Journey, is now open at the recently refurbished Whistler Museum. The rich and varied history of Whistler comes alive in this new and dynamic interactive exhibit - specially designed to celebrate Whistler's journey to the 2010 Winter Games. Whistler's Olympic Journey chronicles the story and artifacts of Whistler's passionate visionaries that dreamed big - and worked together as a community to make it all happen. The museum also provides an insight into what makes Whistler the place it is today, chronicling its journey from its grassroots beginnings to one of the world's leading year-round destinations. The museum is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2012
Whistler welcomes its first Tough Mudder event - a team-oriented 10-12 mile (18-20 km) obstacle course designed to test physical strength and mental grit.
2013
Whistler hosts the inaugural Subaru IRONMAN® Canada in the scenic Sea to Sky region.
2015
Whistler is the first Canadian destination to achieve the prestigious APEX/ASTM sustainability certification, recognized in four areas. Tourism Whistler led the certification process with Whistler achieving level 1 certification in the following four standards:
• Meeting Venue – Whistler Conference Centre (operated by Tourism Whistler)
• Food and Beverage – Centerplate (F&B provider for the Whistler Conference Centre)
• Destination – Whistler
• Audio Visual – Freeman Audio Visual Whistler (A/V provider for the Whistler Conference Centre)
2015/16
Whistler Blackcomb - 50 Years of Going Beyond
The winter of 2015.2016 marks Whistler Blackcomb’s 50th anniversary. Originally opening for skiing in the winter of 1965-66 and founded on the dream of one day hosting the Olympic Winter Games, Whistler Blackcomb has been going beyond to leave its mark on the ski and snowboard industry since day one. This will be a celebratory winter season with a number of activations lined up to give Whistler Blackcomb the acknowledgment it deserves for 50 years of striving to be the best.
Whistler Blackcomb voted No. 1 Ski Resort in North America in SKI Magazine’s 28th Annual Reader’s Poll (2nd year in a row.)
2016
Audain Art Museum celebrates its opening and is home to a permanent collection of British Columbia art, providing a visual journey through the history of art from coastal British Columbia from the 18th century through to present day. The iconic 56,000-square-foot museum will be a pillar of the cultural tourism experience in Whistler, British Columbia and beyond.
August, 2016
Vail Resorts announced its purchase of Whistler Blackcomb.
- Legacies from the 2010 Winter Olympic Games
The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games left a lasting mark on Whistler in terms of new sports venues, facilities and housing for locals. These legacies serve as reminders of the Games as well as enrich Whistler’s vibrant community and guest experiences.
Official Venues
Whistler Sliding Centre
Test your nerves with the latest addition to the Whistler Sliding Centre – bobsleigh and skeleton rides for the public. Visitors and locals can now ride down this fast and technical track head first, reaching speeds of up to 100 km/hr with the skeleton experience. Visitors will get up to 130 km/hr on a piloted four-man sled with the bobsleigh experience. Don’t worry: visitors have their own special starting gate lower down the course!
During the 2010 Winter Games, the Whistler Sliding Centre was the official venue for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. Today, the 1450 metre facility remains open for athlete training and youth recruitment into the sport. One of only two sliding tracks in Canada, the facility sits on the southeast slope of Blackcomb Mountain, minutes away from Whistler Village, with a top elevation of 938 metres and a bottom elevation of 786 metres.
Whistler Olympic Park
Take aim at the biathlon shooting range used by athletes during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games with the guidance of a certified instructor. Visitors can now combine skate skiing with target shooting in the winter, or mix biathlon with bike riding in the summer. No experience necessary – just a willingness to test your marksmanship with a traditional 0.22-calibre rifle.
Whistler Olympic Park was the first venue to include all three traditional Nordic sport stadiums in one site: cross-country, ski jumping and biathlon. Today, the venue is a legacy for the enjoyment of residents, visitors and athletes. The area has more than 90 kilometres of both snowshoe and cross-country ski trails, expertly groomed for both classic and skate skiing in the winter, and the trails range from beginner to Olympic calibre.
Whistler Athletes’ Centre
The Whistler Athletes’ Centre is a high performance training and accommodation facility for all levels of sport, educational groups, and art & culture organizations. Built for the athletes of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, competitors continue to utilize the Whistler Athletes’ Centre for short- and long-term lodging and dryland conditioning. A total of 165 beds is available for nightly rentals, as well as additional longterm accommodation options. No other venue in Whistler provides the level of accessibility and amenities for athletes like the Whistler Athletes’ Centre.
Whistler Mountain
Skiers and boarders to Whistler Blackcomb can now earn bragging rights by descending the men’s and women’s 2010 Winter Games alpine ski courses. The Official Alpine Skiing Venue, which includes the Dave Murray Downhill and Franz’s Run, are open to the public for skiing and snowboarding. The area is also used for international competitions and Canadian team training. During the Games, these runs saw some of the world’s best athletes compete at super G, giant slalom, slalom, and combined.
Community Legacies
Whistler Olympic Plaza
Over the course of a year, a $14 million investment project converted Whistler Medals Plaza (home of nightly medals ceremonies and concerts during the 2010 Winter Games) into Whistler Olympic Plaza. The plaza rivals other entertainment sites in Canada and is capable of accommodating 650 people sitting or 3,000 people standing. To commemorate the Games, the revamped landscaped area also includes the Olympic Rings and Paralympic Agitos, a children's playground, terraced seating and public art (summer) and an outdoor skating ice rink (winter). There are sculptures, information plaques and the Olympic Legacy Cauldron to serve as an ongoing reminder to locals and visitors of the Winter Games hosted in Whistler.
Cheakamus
Crossing
Cheakamus Crossing was the site of the Athletes’ Village during the 2010 Winter Games. After the Games wrapped up, the buildings were turned into affordable and environmentally-sustainable housing for Whistler locals. Eight hundred residents moved into their new homes in September 2010, and Cheakamus Crossing is now a vibrant community with a diverse housing mix and front-door access to beautiful walking, hiking and mountain biking trails. Along with 220 resident-restricted townhomes and units, the mixed-use neighbourhood also contains a 55-bed youth hostel run by Hostelling International, 55 rental units managed by Whistler Housing Authority and a high-performance training centre with athlete accommodation. Cheakamus Crossing is also one of only a handful of Canadian developments designated with the new LEED-ND (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design - Neighbourhood Development).”
High Performance Centre
Built as part of the Athletes’ Village, the Whistler High Performance Centre caters to the development of sport groups looking to train year-round. The facility offers state-of-the-art strength and conditioning equipment, along with affordable accommodation options. Located in the Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood, the Whistler High Performance Centre is also home to the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program, a not-for-profit society that offers recreational programs for people with disabilities, as well as the Whistler Gymnastics Club.
Sea to Sky Highway
The drive to Whistler is now better than ever with the upgrade to the Sea to Sky Highway. Prior to being awarded the 2010 Winter Games, it was identified that the scenic highway that links Vancouver with Whistler needed major upgrades. The $600 million improvement project included widening and straightening the highway to improve safety and travel times to Whistler. The end result: a more enjoyable journey for the more than two million annual visitors who cruise the Sea to Sky en route to Whistler each year.
Lost Lake Passivhaus
Designed as an ultra-low energy building, the Lost Lake Passivhaus was the headquarters for the Austrian Olympic Committee and Austrian Public Broadcasting Corporation during the Winter Olympics. Post-Games, the building was generously donated to the community and currently serves as a day lodge for Lost Lake cross-country skiers as well as the new home for the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association (WORCA) and the Whistler Nordics Ski Club. Located at the main entrance to Lost Lake Park, between the Upper and Lower Village, the Passivhaus’s interior climate is maintained without active heating or cooling systems using a combination of super insulation, thick walls and windows and other technology.
- LGBTQI in Whistler
Whistler is the premier year-round vacation destination for adventure-seeking
gays and lesbians and is often considered "the largest gay-friendly mountain
resort in North America." Whistler is a cosmopolitan and accepting community
that welcomes all guests, and it is that open and welcoming attitude that makes
Whistler so popular with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender travelers.
Whistler Pride + Ski Festival - Whistler's annual gay and lesbian ski week
Whistler's history as a gay-friendly destination was established largely through Whistler’s annual Gay Ski Week event. 2019 will mark the 27th annual Gay & Lesbian Ski Week in Whistler, one of the largest and most anticipated ski weeks of its kind in the world, attracting thousands of attendees to the resort each year. Until 2015, Whistler's Gay & Lesbian Ski Week was known as WinterPRIDE and is produced by GayWhistler, which also operates WhistlerPride.com, a year-round resource for gay and lesbian travellers to Whistler.
The eight-day festival features more than 60 events, including skiing and winter sports, après ski events, shows and parties. Whistler Pride + Ski Festival also brings international talent to Whistler with DJs from all over the world spinning at daily après ski events and late-night parties. Over the past few years, Whistler Pride + Ski Festival has evolved from what was once a party-centric event to a well-rounded festival that caters to men and women alike.
PRIDE House in
Whistler - an Olympic first
Following the success of the annual Whistler Pride + Ski Festival celebrations, it made sense that the first-ever Games-time PRIDE House was established in Whistler during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Located at the Pan Pacific Whistler Village hotel, the facility was open to gay and lesbian athletes, their families, friends and fans, free of charge, during February and March, 2010.
PRIDE House was designed with the core values of celebrating authenticity, diversity and inclusiveness. Visitors to PRIDE House Whistler were greeted by Slapshotolus, a sculpture of a nude hockey player created by Canadian artist Edmund Haakonson. Also on display was the Fearless Exhibition, an inspiring work of photos and stories of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Canadian amateur athletes at the high school and college levels.
WhistlerPride.com
WhistlerPride.com, launched in 2004, is a year-round promoter of Whistler to the gay and lesbian community, and produces and promotes Whistler Pride + Ski Festival. Alpenglow Productions is a gay and lesbian travel and event company creating gay-welcoming destinations and events at partner resorts. The GayWhistler/Alpenglow team is dedicated to bringing alternative vacation options to the gay and lesbian community worldwide. Visit their website to find out more about GLBT tourism in Whistler.
Same-sex
weddings
Since British Columbia made same-sex marriage legal in 2003, the welcome sign has been out for gays and lesbians to exchange vows and begin their lives together in an open environment. The number of same-sex weddings in Whistler has steadily increased over the years. Whistler’s picture-perfect mountain setting offers a variety of wedding venues – from churches to outdoor settings – as well as services, from wedding planner to florists.
- Maps & Access
Getting to Whistler is easy. The 127-kilometre (79 miles) trip from Vancouver along the aptly-named Sea to Sky Highway is so beautiful that visitors consider the drive as a vital part of their vacation. The memorable route to Whistler hugs the dramatic Pacific coastline past rushing waterfalls and mountainous islands, then winds through lush, forested canyons on a gradual climb into the spectacular Coast Mountains of British Columbia.
The Sea to Sky Highway completed a $600 million upgrade in 2009 to increase the road's safety, reliability and capacity, as well as shorten travel times. A feat of engineering marvel, project workers excavated enough rock along the highway between Vancouver and Whistler to fill BC Stadium to the roof (all the while not a pebble was taken from the highway – instead it was repurposed as material for widening the road). The end result: a quicker and more enjoyable journey for the more than two million annual visitors who cruise the Sea to Sky en route to Whistler.
The majority of visitors to Whistler arrive by private vehicle or rental car, although many other transport options exist. A direct daily bus service is available from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and downtown Vancouver, and several companies provide chauffeured limousine or SUV transfers. In addition, a floatplane (summer only) or helicopter flight from Vancouver to Whistler provides a breathtaking bird's-eye view of the Sea to Sky corridor.
Distances and approximate travel times by
car:
Whistler to downtown Vancouver: 127 km (79 miles), 2 hours
Whistler
to Vancouver International Airport: 140 km (85 miles), 2.5 hours
Whistler to
Seattle: 354 km (218 miles), 5 hours
Bus/Coach
Pacific Coach
Lines
1.800.661.1725 - www.pacificcoach.com
Whistler Shuttle
1.866.923.0516 - www.whistlershuttle.com
Epic Rides
1.604.349.1234 - www.epicrides.ca
Air
Blackcomb Helicopters
1.604.273.5311
- www.blackcombhelicopters.com
Harbour Air Services
1.800.665.0212 - www.harbourair.com
Private Transfers
Avis Rental Car
1.800.879.2847
- www.avis.ca
Luxury Limobus Charters
1.604.932.8481 -
www.luxbus.com
VIP Whistler
1.866.335.2299 -
www.vipwhistler.com
Whistler
Connection
1.604.938.9711 - www.whistlerconnectiontravel.com
Visit the Maps & Access page to download maps of Whistler
- Skiing & Snowboarding
Visitors flock to Whistler each winter to experience world-famous skiing and boarding. With 37 lifts and gondolas and all types of terrain on Whistler Blackcomb – including steeps, alpine bowls, easy cruisers and terrain parks – the two mountains have developed a reputation as a premier skiing and snowboarding destination.
Whistler Blackcomb consistently receives awards and accolades recognizing it as a premier ski destination by outlets including Luxury Travel Magazine Australia, Condé Nast Traveler and SKI Magazine.
Whistler Blackcomb boasts 8,171 acres (3,307 hectares) of skiable terrain and an immense backcountry, giving skiers and riders access to powder-filled bowls along with expertly-groomed corduroy. Varied terrain, spectacular snow conditions and pristine scenery have all contributed to the area’s outstanding reputation.
2018 saw a number of lift upgrades at Whistler Blackcomb, including a new 10-passenger gondola on Blackcomb Mountain (replacing Wizard Express and Solar Coaster), the upgrade of Blackcomb Mountain’s Catskinner to a four-passenger, high-speed lift, and the upgrade of the Emerald Express chair on Whistler Mountain to a six-passenger, high-speed lift.
Fast facts about skiing and snowboarding in Whistler
• Huge vertical – Whistler and Blackcomb mountains each offer over 1,500 vertical metres.
• Terrain – 8,171 acres (3,307 hectares) of skiable terrain – the most in North America. ‘Peak to Creek’ is the longest run at 11 kilometres (7 miles), starting at the Peak of Whistler mountain and finishing in Creekside Village.
• Glacier skiing – The only resort in North America where you can ski or ride on a glacier
• Average snowfall – Whistler Blackcomb is blessed with an average of 1,181 cm (38.8 ft) per year (average based on the previous 10 years).
• Longest ski season in North America – Whistler Blackcomb’s regular ski season runs November until May, with summer glacier skiing also offered in June and July.
• Dining – There are a total of 17 mountain restaurants
• Après ski – Whistler Blackcomb's ski runs reach right to the edges of Whistler's pedestrian village, Upper Village and Creekside Village, where the lively après scene awaits.
PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola
Whistler and Blackcomb mountains are united by the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, which sets world records for length and height while providing an unmatched experience for skiers and snowboarders. The gondola transports guests from Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain to the Rendezvous Lodge on Blackcomb Mountain in just 11 minutes, travelling a distance of 4.4 kilometres (2.7 miles). Other engineering feats include the fact that the unsupported cable span between its two middle towers is the world's longest at 3.02 kilometres (1.88 miles). The PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola also gives guests unprecedented access to both mountains and spectacular vistas.
Whistler Blackcomb terrain parks
For guests with jibs and jumps in their blood, Whistler Blackcomb offers 99 acres of terrain parks, sprinkled with over 100 rails, countless tabletops and wall rides. Blackcomb Mountain sports three parks of varying difficulty, from the welcoming Big Easy Terrain Garden, to the popular Nintendo Terrain Park and the awe-inspiring Highest Level Park. On Whistler, the two sections of the Habitat Terrain Park give skiers and riders an opportunity to hit features inspired by nature, including tree jibs and bonks. Blackcomb Mountain also features two half-pipes, the new 22-foot Olympic-sized super-pipe and the 15-foot mini-pipe.
Ski and snowboard school
Whistler attracts some of North America’s top instructors, coaches and guides. Whistler Blackcomb’s Ski and Snowboard School is the largest in the world, with 1,350 employees, and offers unique programs for all ages and levels including lessons for beginners as well as specialized clinics and camps for intermediate and advanced skiers and riders. Whistler Blackcomb Ski and Snowboard School has taught as many as 240,000 lesson days in a single season.
Whistler Kids and Ride Tribe programs use the FLAIK GPS tracking system. The real-time tracking unit is comprised of a GPS tag worn by skiers and riders that allow guests to track their day on the mountains. Data include which runs guests skied and how much vertical they achieved.
The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program also runs skiing and snowboarding lessons to make snow sports accessible to people of all abilities. Throughout the year this non-profit organization gives hundreds of people with a range of disabilities the chance to take part in sports and recreation programs in Whistler.
Heli-skiing and heli-boarding
The Coast Mountain range is the alpine setting for the great heli-skiing and boarding around Whistler. Suitable for those with intermediate to advanced abilities, heli-skiing and boarding trips allow skiers and boarders to descend through endless untouched powder accessible only by helicopter.
Cat skiing and boarding
Quickly becoming recognized as a quality alternative to heli-skiing, cat skiing and boarding are a great option because the snow cats run every day regardless of weather conditions while still providing untouched powder runs in the backcountry. Tours are conducted on nearby Powder Mountain, and typically involve 12 guests per tour and an average of six to 10 runs in a day.
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country (or Nordic) skiing is one of Whistler's most invigorating activities, offering guests more than 160 kilometres of groomed trails for all abilities at cross-country skiing venues, including Lost Lake Park and the official Nordic venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The official Nordic venue, located at Whistler Olympic Park, has already earned accolades for its superb trails that target both classic and skate skiing, and also offers night skiing and biathlon.
Backcountry tours
Skiing and riding in Whistler doesn’t end when you move out-of-bounds, thanks to touring skis, skins and splitboards. Guided winter adventures in Whistler include backcountry skiing and snowboarding tours, ski mountaineering, ice climbing and snowshoeing and offer bowls, glaciers and gladed runs. Conditions are almost always favourable with lots of powder, although an expert knowledge of backcountry conditions and avalanche training is required.
Glacier skiing and snowboarding
Even when the sun is shining and the alpine lakes are warm, skiers and riders can experience the mountains. While the majority of the resort’s ski area closes in May, Blackcomb Mountain’s Horstman Glacier lets intermediate to advanced skiers and riders improve their park skills while working on their tans. The Glacier is open for skiing and snowboarding in June and July and has an elevation of 2,000 metres (7,000 feet.)
- Squamish & Lil'wat First Nations
The Li´l?wat7ul (Lil’wat Nation) to the north and Skw_xw_ú7mesh (Squamish Nation) to the south have stewarded this shared territory that we now call Whistler since time immemorial. The village of Spo7ez, where Rubble Creek meets the Cheakamus River (16 kilometres south of Whistler), was a communal gathering place for peaceful trade and commerce. Today, the two First Nations continue their partnership and influence on Whistler and the Sea to Sky through a shared cultural centre and land stewardship.
Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre (SLCC)
The SLCC is the first centre of its kind in Canada, located on the shared, traditional territories of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation. Two nations came together to celebrate and share their cultures with the world while creating meaningful employment opportunities for members of both the Sk_wxwu´7mesh U´xwumixw (Squamish Nation, Coast Salish) and Li´l?wat7ul (Lil’wat Nation, Interior Salish) Nations. Designed to evoke the form of a Squamish Longhouse and Lil’wat Istken (earthen dwelling), the SLCC embodies the spirit of partnership between two unique Nations who wish to preserve, grow, and share their traditional cultures.
Community Reconciliation Canoe
Over the summer of 2022, The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) hosted Master Carver Chief Ray Natraoro (Ses Siyam) of Skw_xw_ú7mesh (Squamish Nation), who led SLCC Apprentices on the carving of the Community Reconciliation Canoe. The Canoe aims to bridge distance between all the hearts travelling to this land, those living in appreciation on it, and the original peoples who steward the landscape. It is a vessel to bridge Nations, residents, and visitors together – reminding us of a common thread between us – a connection, appreciation and reverence for the land and beauty that is Cwítima (‘Whistler’ – Lil’wat Nation), Sk_wik_w (‘Whistler’ – Squamish Nation).
Visitors to the SLCC were invited to watch the carvers in action, take a special curated Canoe Tour and listen to the songs of these river and ocean vessels. Guests were able to take their own turn at thoughtfully carving the fallen cedar and being part of giving it a new life, continuing our journey towards reconciliation. Following this, guests were gifted with the cedar shavings of their efforts and invited to bring it as an offering to the place they connect with most in Whistler.
Framework Agreement
The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), Lil’wat Nation, Squamish Nation, Province of British Columbia and Vail Resorts have signed a Framework Agreement (Framework) that furthers reconciliation and shared goals between the parties. The Framework Agreement builds on several other Agreements between the parties including a 2017 Memorandum of Understanding, and 2018 government to government Protocol Agreement between RMOW, Lil’wat Nation and the Squamish Nation. The Framework furthers Whistler’s reconciliation path with the Lil’wat Nation and Squamish Nation through greater participation in economic and cultural opportunities in Whistler.
Arts Whistler Indigenous Programming
Arts Whistler is the lead agency for arts and culture in Whistler and strives to make creativity a part of everyone’s Whistler experience. They program, promote and advocate for the arts and local artists, while providing residents and visitors with access to bold, inspiring, and engaging experiences in the arts. Working closely with community cultural partners and the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Arts Whistler operates the Maury Young Arts Centre.
Example of Programming:
emhám - Celebrating Indigenous arts and knowledge, September 2022
/emhám/ to be smart at something, knowledgeable. Adjective.
Every Thursday in September 2022, Arts Whistler and the Lil’wat Nation’s Ts’zil Learning Centre offered Indigenous performances, music, knowledge sharing, and storytelling at the Maury Young Arts Centre. This weekly gathering was an opportunity to build stronger relationships, share in Indigenous knowledge, and foster greater understanding leading up to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.
emhám highlighted Indigenous artistry through storytelling, cultural performances, and traditional workshops, all led by Indigenous practitioners, and built upon Arts Whistler’s past and future Indigenous arts presentations including:
- The Art and Culture of Líl?wat Nation – Maury Young Arts Centre gallery exhibition
- Útszan - the World Premiere of a New Canadian Indigenous play
- After the Blast – The Art of Levi Nelson Arts Centre gallery exhibition
- Raven Spirit Dance – contemporary dance performance rooted in Indigenous worldviews
Indigenous Artist DJ Shub Featured in Whistler Summer Concert Series
This summer (2022), Indigenous electronic music artist DJ Shub took the stage at the Whistler Olympic Plaza for an incredible concert, presenting War Club Live – a live performance of his critically acclaimed Indigenous electronic album. DJ Shub is a Mohawk, turtle clan of the Six Nations of the Grand River, from Ontario. He won the 2022 Juno award for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year, and is considered to be the Godfather of PowWowStep, pioneering a growing genre of electronic music. DJ Shub’s concert was preceded by a cultural performance by local Indigenous group, Native Thunder.
Two Indigneous Youth Artists Featured in “Every Child Matters” Banner
The Ted Nebbeling Bridge on Whistler’s Village Gate Boulevard features a new orange banner to honour the survivors and victims of the residential school system for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The moving artwork displayed on the banner is a collaborative piece created by Skw_xw_ú7mesh (Squamish Nation) artist and SLCC Indigenous Youth Ambassador, Courtney Williams, and Li´l?wat7ul (Lil’wat Nation) artist and SLCC Cultural Ambassador, Jordana Abraham.
The Centre Heart by Courtney Williams incorporates symbolic elements, including baby frogs to represent the children who were found at residential schools, along with a dragonfly, which symbolises spiritual transformation and guidance into the afterlife. A pair of eyes above these symbols are there for guidance and wisdom, watching over the children’s journey to the afterlife.
Two Panels, and the Dragonfly Takes Her Home by Jordana Abraham includes two depictions of the same girl. In one image, she is given a number (39) and has no face because everything has been taken from her – her hair is cut short and she is unable to speak her name or her language. In the other image, the same girl has found peace and guidance as the dragonfly guides her into the spirit world to be with her ancestors who show her their culture.
Whistler Blackcomb Honours First Nations with Peak Signs Created By Local Artist, James Harry
Whistler Blackcomb worked on a project to rightfully encompass the First Nations in the Peak signage, that is now coming to fruition with the signs in their final places. The resort commissioned James Harry, a local Skw_xw_ú7mesh (Squamish Nation) artist to do the Salish artwork displayed on the signs. James’ design inspiration landed on three animals from the ocean, the land and the sky – Trout, Bear and the Thunderbird.
James is a local Squamish artist and the son of another local First Nations artist, Rick Harry. Both have played a pivotal role in art pieces around Whistler, including the welcome figure for the PEAK 2 PEAK and the aluminum totem at the Audain Art Museum.
How to Experience Indigenous Culture in and Around Whistler
- Take a Cultural Journey along the Sea to Sky Highway through the Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations, learning about First Nations oral history, supernatural beings and place names along the way.
- Learn the stories about Whistler’s culturally significant landmarks, like the iconic volcano cone we now call the Black Tusk which marks the beginning of the Squamish and Lil’wat shared territory.
- Discover cultural exhibitions and Indigenous cuisine at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.
- Visit the Audain Art Museum, which houses a large collection of traditional and contemporary Indigenous art.
- Take a self-guided tour of the Indigenous outdoor public art installations sprinkled throughout Whistler, each with meaningful stories behind them including totems, carvings and statues.
- Summer Activities
People come to Whistler at all times of the year because there is so much to do, no matter the season. Winter made Whistler famous, but summer sees just as many visitors. Families, couples, adventure travelers, luxury seekers – they flock here to get super-active, to kick back completely, or to enjoy something in between. These are the top summer activities:
Summer Activities
Aerial Sightseeing
The Coast Mountains of western Canada are on some of the most glaciated regions in the world, and scenic flights take you on a journey of discover to these timeless places. Aerial sightseeing tours provide a birds-eye view of Whistler and the area’s mountain ranges, glaciers, valleys, rivers and lakes. Helicopter or floatplane tours offer spectacular aerial experiences and can be extended to include stops at alpine lakes, glaciers, ice caves or for hiking excursions or picnic lunches. By seeing the Whistler area from the air, visitors get a new and memorable perspective on the amazing landscape.
ATV and UTV Tours
Guided ATV and side-by-side UTV tours are a popular activity in the summer that allows visitors to get out of the resort and explore the beautiful backcountry. Follow trails up Whistler, Blackcomb or Cougar mountains, navigate remote logging roads or join a “ride ‘n dine” excursion – including a superb salmon bake BBQ at the Crystal Hut, which offers views from 6,000 feet.
Barbeque – Mountaintop Dining Series
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening, from late June until early September, Whistler Blackcomb hosts an incredible alpine dining experience at the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain. Diners enjoy casual but mouth-watering fare while enjoying live music and taking in famous Whistler views at 4,000 ft. above the Village.
Beaches and Lakes
Some of Whistler’s hidden gems are the beautiful beaches dotted around crystal clear mountain lakes. No tides, no currents or sharp rocks here – just fresh, clean water. Many of the lakes have sandy beaches for outdoor swimming and include activities such as beach volleyball, children’s play areas and canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals. All of the parks and beaches are connected by the Valley Trail.
Bear Viewing
Whistler’s famous black bears awake in April/May, with the warmer temperatures of late spring. Travel in comfort in a 4x4 vehicle to either Whistler and Blackcomb mountains or Whistler Olympic Park, where experienced guides and researchers take you to the best spots to learn about Whistlers resident bears and view them in their natural their habitats.
Biking
Mountain biking is quickly rivaling skiing and snowboarding as the play of choice in Whistler. Riding offers an incredible variety of terrain to explore, from high alpine singletrack to the world’s best mountain bike park. Whistler’s mountain biking experience isn’t just for the experts and extreme riders. There are a variety of easy trails suited to beginner riders on the mountain and throughout the area, not to mention the 40-kilometre paved Valley Trail that runs the full length of the valley. E-bikes are also a popular way to explore.
Summer Bobsleigh
Test your nerves with the Whistler Sliding Centre’s summer bobsleigh rides for
the public. Visitors and locals will get up to 90 km/hr on a piloted four-man
bobsleigh on wheels. Don’t worry: visitors have their own special starting gate
lower down the course!
Cloudraker Skybridge & Raven’s Eye Cliff Walk
For the thrill seekers, summer 2018 saw the opening of the Cloudraker Skybridge – a 130-metre suspension bridge spanning from Whistler Peak to the West Ridge, crossing high over Whistler Bowl. At the end of the bridge lies the Raven’s Eye Cliff Walk, a cantilevered walkway extending 12.5 metres out from West Ridge offering 360-degree views of the Coast Mountains, including Whistler’s iconic Black Tusk. The experience is available to hikers and sightseers in the summer.
Canoeing, Kayaking and Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)
From gentle paddles on calm lakes and meandering rivers, to longer excursions on Whistler's waterways, canoeing, kayaking and SUP offer a unique way to experience the area's natural beauty. Absorb magnificent mountain views and watch for abundant wildlife as you paddle on Alta Lake, Green Lake, The River of Golden Dreams and more. Take a tour or rent equipment for your own adventure.
Family Adventure Zone
If hiking, biking or exploring doesn't tire them, take your family for a ride at the Family Adventure Zone located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain; it's fun for both big and little folk. Activities range in price and include the ever-popular Westcoaster Luge, mini golf, climbing wall, bungee trampoline, human gyroscope, climbing web, and jumping castle.
Glacier Skiing and Snowboarding
Even when the sun is shining and the alpine lakes are warm, skiers and riders can experience the mountains. While the majority of the resort’s ski area closes in May, Blackcomb Mountain’s Horstman Glacier, with an elevation of 2,000 metres (7,000 feet), offers the ideal location for intermediate to advanced skiers and riders to improve their park and bump skills while working on their tans at the same time. The Glacier is open for skiing and snowboarding until late July.
Golfing
Whistler is a golfing mecca with four professionally designed championship courses. Golf in Whistler is almost as much about being surrounded by mountains as it is about playing the game. While all Whistler golf courses offer fresh alpine air, stunning views and a variety of indigenous wildlife spectators, each course stands on its own. Unique mountain settings and distinctive designer features mean four different golf experiences: the towering cedars and mountain views of Arnold Palmer-designed Whistler Golf Club; the spectacularly scenic slopes of The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.; the impeccably groomed Jack Nicklaus-designed Nicklaus North Golf Course alongside the shores of tranquil Green Lake; and the dramatic setting of the Big Sky Golf and Country Club, designed by Robert Cupp at the base of Pemberton's awe-inspiring Mount Currie. Driving ranges are also available at each course.
Hiking and Walking
The Whistler area is crisscrossed with trails, hikes and climbs of varying levels of difficulty that take nature lovers into a mountain and forest wonderland. Some of the well-maintained trails stay close to Whistler Village, while others take hikers and climbers up to the peaks of snow-capped mountains, old-growth cedar forests, alpine meadows painted with seasonal wildflowers and glacial ice 10,000 years old. Whistler Blackcomb offers Alpine hiking for all ability levels, with over 50 kilometres of hiking trails to choose from. Visitors can enjoy hiking an ancient glacier, viewing an abundance of wildlife or enjoying a unique mountain-top dining experience.
Horseback Riding
People who want to explore the Whistler area cowboy-style can do so while sitting high in the saddle. From short and gentle trips along forested trails, to more extensive rides through grassy meadows and up mountain paths, horseback tours are offered for people of all riding abilities. There are pony rides for children and carriage rides for people who prefer horse-drawn to horseback.
Jeep 4x4 Tours
Another option to discover Whistler’s backcountry is by riding in the rugged comfort of a Jeep 4x4. Few vehicles can match a Jeep 4x4 when it comes to tackling tough terrain, and these tours let visitors experience what ‘all-terrain’ really means, from climbing mountainsides to view glaciers, to wilderness excursions and sunset barbecues on Blackcomb Mountain.
Jet Boating
Feel the exhilaration of glacial waterways on a twin-engine jet boat that maneuvers Whistler’s whitewater rivers. Fully-guided jet boat trips range from a few hours to all day long and are great for the whole family. Just make sure you are in for an adrenaline rush – your jet boat tour will take you through braided channels, tight canyons and glacier rapids at breathtaking speeds.
Rock Climbing
In the summer, Whistler and surrounding areas have some of the best rock climbing in the world. Most famous are the long, multi-pitch routes on the 650 metre (2,145 foot) granite massif called The Chief, located in Squamish. There are also plenty of rock climbing routes in both Whistler and Squamish with half and full-day sessions available. Learn a variety of skills and techniques including rope management, anchor building, rappelling and safety.
Sightseeing in Whistler
Surrounded by stunning snow-capped mountain vistas and majestic old-growth forests, Whistler is truly a sightseeing paradise. You haven't really seen Whistler until you've explored the area and discovered for yourself the spectacular scenery and beautiful natural surroundings it has to offer.
Via Ferrata
Via Ferrata in Italian translates to ‘Iron Way’ in English. This activity consists of following an engineered vertical pathway of permanently fixed cables for safety and metal rung ladders to ease your movement over rock faces on Whistler Mountain. Whistler’s Via Ferrata’s offers stunning views and a vertical perspective you never thought possible.
Whistler Farmers’ Market
The Whistler Farmers' Market takes over the pedestrian streets of the Upper Village every Sunday from May till October, featuring local produce from the Pemberton Valley and beyond, tasty artisan foods and live music. The market offers a selection of crafts, organic and local produce, jams, honey, baked goods, jewellery and much more.
Whitewater Rafting
When the snow melts, the rivers around Whistler run white and fast. Catch all the thrills of whitewater rafting, from mild to wild, on the Green, Lower Cheakamus, Elaho and Squamish rivers.
Jeep 4x4 Tours
For a memorable and exhilarating family friendly adventure, leave paved roads behind and head for Whistler’s backcountry in a rugged yet comfortable 4x4 vehicle. Tours take you up mountains, offering alpine views and wildlife spotting, with sunset BBQ tours on top of Blackcomb Mountain also available.
Vallea Lumina
Explore an old-growth forest through an enchanted, multimedia night walk with The Adventure Group. Perfect as a family activity after dinner or date night under the stars, this 1.5km illuminated walk on Cougar Mountains brings the old growth forest to life in a unique and wondrous way.
Year-round Activities
PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola
Whistler Blackcomb's world record-setting PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola transforms the high alpine experience. Traveling a span of 4.4 kilometres (2.73 miles), the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola gives sightseers, skiers and snowboarders views of awe-inspiring vistas, mountain peaks, lakes, glaciers and forests as it crosses high above Fitzsimmons Creek between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.
Axe Throwing
Aim for the bullseye at Whistler’s only indoor axe throwing facility, Forged Axe Throwing. A truly Canadian experience that is perfect for fist timers, families and timber veterans alike, axe throwing is a fun and action packed activity offered year-round in Whistler’s Function Junction neighbourhood.
Audain Art Museum
The Audain Art Museum opened in March 2016 and houses a 200 piece permanent collection that includes a visual journey through the history of art from coastal British Columbia from the 18th century through to present day. This 56,000 square-foot museum designed by Patkau Architects was built into the existing landscape and features a park like setting for outdoor art and sculptures and free to children 16 and under.
Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre
Opened in summer 2008, the impressive Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre showcases and celebrates the joint history of the local Squamish and Lil'wat First Nations, past and present, by offering a unique glimpse into their histories and creative works. Free and family-friendly tours are offered regularly, featuring a welcome song, film and craft activity.
Bungee Jumping
Whistler Bungee is British Columbia’s highest year-round bungee jumping site, located 15 minutes south of Whistler Village. Nestled between old-growth forests and rugged basalt column-cliffs, the 49-metre (160-foot) high bridge spans 91-metres (300 feet) over the glacier-fed Cheakamus River.
Fishing
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, Whistler offers an incomparable fishing experience, year-round. Travel with knowledgeable guides to local rivers, remote alpine lakes or hidden fishing holes for full-, half- or multi-day excursions to fly fish or spin cast for steelhead (rainbow) trout, char, or salmon. Alternately, bring your own equipment or rent from a local fishing store and fish at your own pace.
Indoor Rock Climbing
Experience indoor rock climbing at The Core, located in the heart of Whistler Village. The 5,500 square-foot indoor rock climbing wall has everything from easy, kid-friendly routes to crack climbing, steep overhangs and sticky slabs. If you are new to the sport, choose from a belay lesson or climbing course. Those more experienced can choose from over 20 different routes or find a challenge in the Boulder Zone.
Shopping
Shopping in Whistler satisfies both the browser and the shopaholic, with more than 200 shops, boutiques and galleries in Whistler Village, Upper Village and Whistler Creekside. Shops offer everything from vacation mementos to local art to everyday essentials and, of course, skiing, snowboarding, cycling and adventure gear.
Spas
Whistler is the ultimate wellness retreat: fresh mountain air, award-winning cuisine, plenty of outdoor activities – and a wide range of distinctive spa treatments to refresh and revitalize. Whistler’s many spas offer treatments from ancient methods to modern services, including acupuncture, reflexology, aromatherapy, massage, esthetic treatments, skin care, yoga and Pilates.
TreeTrek Ecotour
A TreeTrek tour encompasses a network of suspension bridges, boardwalks, trails and treetop lookouts that connect you all the way from the forest floor to the upper reaches of the tree canopy. Guests will learn about the coastal temperate rainforest and what Whistler is doing to protect and maintain its ecosystems. Tours run 365 days a year and give guests exclusive access to areas of rare unique ancient coastal temperate rainforest.
Ziplining
Ziplining is a great family activity that is thrilling and safe. Tour guides take people on an interpretive adventure through the treetops between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains or in the forests on nearby Cougar Mountain. Guests ride in a comfortable harness reaching speeds of up to 100 kilometers an hour.
- Sustainability
Inspired by its natural surroundings and heritage, Whistler, BC has a long tradition of visionary and thoughtful commitment to sustainability. As the first community in the country to receive the designation of a ‘resort municipality’ in 1975, Whistler was a pioneer in the evolution of a new era in planned development. The entire Whistler community has embraced the opportunity to become world leaders in innovative sustainability initiatives. In 2015, Whistler was the first Canadian destination to achieve Level 1 APEX/ASTM sustainability certification. Whistler continues to look to adjust our tourism practices to protect and manage the vital ecosystems, cultural wonders, and community life that attracted residents and visitors to our destination in the first place, build environmental and social resilience, while simultaneously achieving economic recovery.
Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE)
AWARE is a member-driven charity that works to protect the natural environment in Whistler and the Sea to Sky through advocacy and empowerment of others with science-based research, education and programming. They are committed to protecting Whistler’s natural environment by speaking up and acting on environmental issues, while encouraging the community to do the same. They work to safeguard habitats and species to maintain connectivity of ecosystems, supporting wildlife and human health, and engage with the community about making smart choices, consuming mindfully and considering impacts on the environment and the climate.
Blackcomb Helicopters Carbon Neutral Tourism Flights
Beginning in 2018, Blackcomb Helicopters offers guests carbon neutral tourism flights. To do this, Blackcomb Helicopters measure the greenhouse gases emitted during each hour of flight and mitigate the emissions from these flights by purchasing the equivalent amount of carbon offsets for the Quadra Island Forestland Conservation Project. The program sequesters the equivalent amount of greenhouse gases emitted and ensures that 418 hectares of forestland along the coastline—previously designated to be logged or converted to vacation homes—becomes protected parkland instead. Learn more about Blackcomb Helicopters’ carbon offset program.
Evo E-Bike Share
From August to October 2022, The RMOW partnered with the British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA), operators of the Evo car share program, for a demonstration e-bike share program. The project was implemented to help assess the feasibility of a future e-bike share program in Whistler and wrapped up on October 16. Learn more about this project.
The Fitzsimmons Renewable Energy Project
The Fitzsimmons River is situated between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains under the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola and is the largest watercourse and best option for renewable energy inside the ski area. Due to the abundance of water and significant vertical drop, micro hydro provided the greatest opportunity to produce renewable energy inside Whistler Blackcomb’s operating footprint. With abundant water flows, no power lines required and over 70% of project footprint layered onto existing disturbed areas, this project was ideal. The primary motivation for this project was that it would return back onto the grid an estimated 32-gigawatt hours of electricity annually, the equivalent of energizing 3,000 to 4,000 homes and also equal to Whistler Blackcomb's annual energy consumption. Seven years of persistence and finding exceptional partners made this project happen. Learn more about this project and other Whistler Blackcomb energy initiatives.
Harbour Air Seaplanes Carbon Neutral Tourism Flights
This year Harbour Air celebrates 40 years of operation. In 2007, they made history by becoming North America’s first fully carbon neutral airline. Harbour Air is strongly committed to being an industry leader on sustainable initiatives and in 2019 announced a partnership with magniX, the company powering the electric aviation revolution, to transform Harbour Air seaplanes into an all-electric commercial fleet powered by the magni500, a 750 horsepower all-electric motor. Operating 12 routes between hubs like Seattle and Vancouver and across the Pacific Northwest, Harbour Air welcomes more than 500,000 passengers on 30,000 commercial flights each year. Through this partnership, both companies are furthering the vision to someday connect communities with clean, efficient and affordable electric air travel. To learn more, visit magniX and Harbour Air.
Protect Our Winters (POW) Canada
Whistler filmmaker and freeskier Mike Douglas was an ambassador for Protect Our Winters in the US before deciding to help launch a Canadian version of the climate advocacy group in 2018. POW Canada is a passionate community of enthusiasts, professional athletes and industry brands uniting the outdoor community to advocate for policy solutions to climate change. Their love of adventure in nature demands their participation in the fight to save and protect it. In 2022, after establishing chapters in 12 different cities and towns since its inception in 2018, POW travelled to Ottawa for a Climate Change and Sport Summit.
Sea to Sky Destination Management Council (S2S DMC)
Tourism Whistler is part of the Sea to Sky Destination Management Council created in 2020 with representation from communities up and down the Sea to Sky corridor and Destination British Columbia. Together the communities engaged in developing a long-term strategy for destination development and destination education was deemed a priority. The Sea to Sky Destination Education Initiative aims to develop and deliver corridor-wide communications that encourage responsible visitor and local behaviour and sustainable travel practices that can be shared throughout the Sea to Sky Corridor and province. The Sea-to-Sky Destination Management Council has prioritized key themes that will guide the messaging:
- Respect
- Outdoor Conduct
- Know Before You Go
- Protect Our Planet
- Responsible social media
The Sea to Sky Don't Love it to Death Campaign
In mid-July 2022, The Sea to Sky Destination Management Council launched Don’t Love it to Death, an education and awareness campaign to address challenges within the region. The first iteration of the campaign is focusing on mitigating litter and wildlife conflict. The campaign uses thought-provoking messages displayed through signage in visitor centres, signage at parks and trailheads and social media posts, encouraging residents and visitors to behave responsibly when enjoying the outdoors. Follow Don’t Love it to Death on Facebook and Instagram.
Vail Resorts Epicpromise
Whistler Blackcomb and Vail Resorts are aggressively pursuing a comprehensive sustainability commitment with the Vail Resorts Epic Promise Commitment to Zero. Started at Whistler Blackcomb, this ambitious undertaking commits to net zero emissions, net zero waste to landfill, and net zero operating impact to forests and habitat on which the resorts operate for the entire Vail Resorts network by 2030. Whistler Blackcomb’s sustainability efforts have led to their 10th win as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers. Learn more about Whistler Blackcomb’s Top 10 Environmental Strategy.
Whistler Blackcomb’s 2016 The Big Picture Documentaries examined some of today’s most pertinent environmental questions.
Whistler Centre for Sustainability (WCS) Engagement & Planning
The WCS is a non-profit organisation created from the Whistler2020 vision to accelerate the journey toward a sustainable future within Whistler and beyond. Focusing on sustainability practices for communities and the tourism sector, the organisation takes the expertise and leadership from Whistler’s experience, combined with global best practices, to deliver consulting services and learning opportunities for interested local governments and the tourism industry around the world.
Whistler's Weird and Wonderful Trees Tour
Tourism Whistler has a brand-new tour available on the Go Whistler Self-Guided Tours App which invites you to discover some of Whistler’s oldest locals – the trees! Join local nature-lover, Ross Reid of Nerdy About Nature, on a two-kilometre stroll around Whistler Village, discovering the area in a new way as you activate your curiosity and appreciate Whistler’s incredible variety of trees. The tour uses a combination of engaging text, audio, video and images to share fascinating information and stories about the trees along the way.
Conscious Travel Tips
- Travel midweek and off-peak. Have the best Whistler experience and help lessen the impact on highways and businesses when you travel midweek and during non-holiday periods. Also receive the best deals!
- Make reservations. To help manage capacity limits, many businesses rely on online reservation systems. Plan ahead with restaurant reservations and activity bookings for a smooth Whistler experience.
- Stay longer or work remotely. Take time for yourself and enjoy all there is to do. Stay longer, explore deeper and work remotely in the mountains. Your mind, body and soul will thank you.
- Be AdventureSmart. Before heading into Whistler's vast terrain, be sure to know before you go so that you can enjoy your activities safely and responsibly.
- Minimize your footprint. Be a part of Whistler’s efforts to minimize our environmental impact and preserve the area's natural beauty.
- Support Local. Buying locally from shops and services enhances our community, connects us socially, creates jobs and boosts the economy.
- Top 5 Festivals & Events
It’s no secret that Whistler knows how to throw a heck of a bash. Set into the sky-scraping mountains of the Coast Mountain range, the town has always had an irrepressible spirit that matches its surroundings. Sure, things have changed a bit since the days of skiers drinking beer out of their boots, but Whistler still offers an exceptional blend of natural and social energy. The last few decades have been marked by the town’s artistic and cultural evolution, and there’s no better way to experience contemporary Whistler than to take in one of its many festivals and events.
Here are five of our annual favourites.
World Ski & Snowboard Festival
An annual gathering at the end of the snow season, the World Ski & Snowboard Festival is a celebration and exhibition of modern mountain culture. There’s plenty of action on the slopes, but what really sets the festival apart is its focus on the arts. With theatre and storytelling events, film and photo shows, and live music from big-name bands, it’s a week-long party that’s not to be missed. Among the highlights is ART + Soul, a curated exhibit of alternative visual arts exposing the underbelly of mountain culture. All in all, it’s a chance to experience the stoke and energy of alpine culture—with some epic spring lines thrown in as the icing on the cake.
Crankworx Whistler
When the snow melts, Whistler’s adrenaline fiends stash their boards and haul out their bikes as the world-famous Whistler Mountain Bike Park opens for the season. Crankworx Whistler bills itself as a “ground-breaking gravity-fueled mountain bike festival,” and that description is right on the mark. Boasting a wide range of amateur and professional events, Crankworx is a window into the brash world of downhill mountain bike riding. Some of the essentials include the Canadian Open Enduro, Kidsworx, and the all-out downhill races—not to mention the Red Bull Joyride that has pro riders hucking themselves off huge booters in front of 20,000 fans. Crankworx is always a blast, and it’s also an ideal time to get out and ride Whistler’s many features and trails.
Cornucopia, Whistler’s Celebration of Food + Drink
The festival to indulge in, Cornucopia presented by BlueShore Financial, is Whistler’s annual feast of all things food + drink. The 11 day festival brings together chefs, vintners and legions of food fans; it’s certainly the best representation of the ever-evolving foodie scene in Sea to Sky country. From delicious food seminars to chef table luncheons, and fine wine tastings, Cornucopia has become a favourite of famous critics and local foragers alike. Highlights of the festival include the CRUSH Gala Grand Tasting, Bubbles & Brunch and assorted winery dinners. Come to Cornucopia with an appetite and a few fancy shirts, and you’ll find that it’s a series of events that you’ll never forget.
Whistler Pride + Ski Festival
One of the world’s best gay ski events, Whistler Pride + Ski Festival is a testament to Whistler’s diversity and inclusiveness. The festival combines days on the mountains with exuberant après life that includes DJs, comedy nights, fashion shows, and the fabled Snowball dance party. If you’re looking for a bit of winter fun—or something that brings a bit of glam to the slopes—the welcoming energy of Whistler and Whistler Pride + Ski Festival won’t let you down.
Whistler Film Festival
A five-day fête, the Whistler Film Festival is a showcase of some of the best new films from Canada and around the world. As one of North America’s best small festivals, it has an open and intimate nature than some of the bigger festivals throughout the year. The focus is on progressive and cutting-edge film, and each year close to a hundred features, shorts, and documentaries are presented to the public. With premieres, speakers, and open sessions, it’s chance for film fans to mix and mingle with actors, directors, and cinema enthusiasts from all over the globe. The Whistler Film Festival also presents a variety of juried and audience awards, including Best New Canadian Feature and Best Mountain Culture Film.
- Whistler Chefs
Executive Chef Nick Cassettari, Alta Bistro
Executive Chef Nick Cassettari is a third generation chef, born and culinary trained in Australia. Having worked in Sydney’s finest restaurants, Chef Cassettari refined his skills and fueled a passion for creating new and exciting cuisine with a classic French approach. The love of cuisine and travel has taken him all over the world bringing him to settle in Whistler which has proven to be the perfect environment for Chef Cassettari. Whistler has allowed Chef Cassettari to cook with fresh Pacific seafood and game, source locally grown produce while exploring his outdoor passions which include snowboarding and fishing. Chef Nick’s dedication to creating a memorable culinary experience for his guests is what makes him stand apart.
Executive Chef Joel Labute, Araxi
Chef Joel Labute brings over 20 years of fine dining experience to the Araxi team. Since the beginning of his culinary training, Chef Joel has focused on sustainable and local food sources as his inspiration, a passion he brings to his current role as Executive Chef.
Prior to joining Araxi, Chef Joel spent a year reimagining the menu at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Grill Room, Mallard Lounge and Portobello Café. With a family background in farming, Chef Joel proudly maintains a network of local suppliers to bring only the freshest ingredients to our farm-to-table inspired menu at Araxi.
Executive Chef Cliff Crawford, Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Chef Cliff Crawford is a passionate food enthusiast joining Fairmont Chateau Whistler with over 20 years of professional culinary experience. Cliff joined Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in 2002 at Fairmont Southampton. In 2011, Cliff transferred to Fairmont Vancouver Airport as an Executive Sous Chef, and has since worked at Fairmont San Francisco and Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Cliff is joining Fairmont Chateau Whistler from his most recent role as Executive Chef at Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile.
Executive Chef Sajish Kumar Das, Four Seasons Resort Whistler
After nearly four years with Four Seasons Resort Whistler, previously as Executive Sous Chef, Chef Kumar is now bringing his unique and impeccable skill set to lead the culinary experience at Braidwood Tavern and SIDECUT Steakhouse.
Developing an interest in cooking for others from an early age, Chef Kumar transformed a passion into a profession. He brings more than two decades of dining expertise to his new position with time spent in India, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Canada with acclaimed luxury properties including Taj, Grand Hyatt, Ritz Carlton, and Four Seasons.
Internationally regarded for his comprehensive knowledge of cuisine presented with contemporary flair, Chef Kumar looks to highlight Whistler’s supernatural beauty through each and every dish.
“The Sea to Sky bounty is really the inspiration behind each dish here,” says Chef Kumar. “For me, it’s the quality of ingredients – mainly sourced from local producers and farmers – that is of the utmost importance in providing an exceptional culinary experience.”
Managing all aspects of full-service kitchen and banquet facility, developing lunch, dinner, and dessert menus, Chef Kumar not only brings a distinctive culinary philosophy but trusted leadership to all aspects of the property’s epicurean service, together with the rest of the culinary team.
Chef Kumar is thrilled to be bringing one-of-a-kind culinary events and offerings to the Resort, each designed to celebrate the food and culture unique to Whistler. The entire team at Four Seasons Whistler anticipates many seasons of excellence from Chef Kumar.
Executive Chef James Walt, Culinary Director, Il Caminetto, Araxi, The Cellar by Araxi, Bar Oso
One of the country’s leading chefs, a cookbook author and a “farm-to-table” pioneer, James Walt continues to inspire his guests, creating compelling regional cuisine based on local, sustainable ingredients. A graduate of the Stratford Chefs School, his impressive culinary career spans across several of British Columbia’s leading restaurants including a four-year tenure at Sooke Harbour House and as opening chef to sister restaurant Blue Water Cafe in Vancouver. James was also Executive Chef to the Canadian Embassy in Rome, Italy; an experience that helped shape the way he cooks today.
James is Whistler’s only chef to cook at the celebrated James Beard House in New York City where he has performed on three separate occasions. He has been voted best chef in Whistler by Pique Newsmagazine and was inducted into the British Columbia Restaurant Association Hall of Fame in 2011.
James continues to oversee the kitchens of Araxi, The Cellar by Araxi and Bar Oso in addition to his new duties at Il Caminetto.
James lives in nearby Squamish where he works closely with local farmers and producers and personally selects the freshest ingredients featured on the Il Caminetto menu.
Executive Chef Mark Mcloughlin, Il Caminetto
Chef Mark discovered his passion for food at a young age by cooking for family and friends. He entered the hospitality industry at the age of fifteen and has never looked back.
After graduating from the Chef Training Program at George Brown College in Toronto, Chef Mark began his fine dining journey in notable kitchens across Canada. On the east coast, he honed his culinary skills at Pickering’s Port Restaurant, Blue Mountain’s Oliver & Bonacini, Montreal’s Barroco and the Inn at Bay Fortune in P.E.I.
In 2013, Chef Mark made his way to the west coast to join Chef James Walt’s award-winning team as Sous Chef at Araxi Restaurant. After earning the title of Executive Sous Chef at Araxi, Chef Mark transitioned to Il Caminetto and took on the role of Chef de Cuisine in 2019. Today as Executive Chef, Mark continues to work closely with Chef Walt crafting Il Caminetto’s dynamic menu of Italian-local fare featuring the season’s best.
Chef Mark finds inspiration at every turn, from extraordinary ingredients, Whistler’s local producers, his culinary community and most importantly our guests’ experience.
When Chef Mark is not in the kitchen developing his team or experimenting with a new dish, he can be found enjoying Whistler life to the fullest – from snowboarding to fishing to foraging in the forest.
Executive Chef Elliot Brass, The Westin Resort & Spa
Growing up in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, in the quaint town of Canmore, Alberta, Executive Chef Elliot Brass, started working in local restaurants at age 14. After high school, Elliot began his professional cooking career working at the Rimrock Hotel under the snow-capped peaks of Banff National Park. .
At 23, Brass continued his culinary career in the United Kingdom, working at the world-renowned health resort Champneys at Tring. He was also fortunate to work under chef Raymond Blanc during his time overseas.
Returning to Canada, Brass traded the Rockies of Alberta for the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, moving to Whistler in the fall of 2003. Brass spent time working at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, running a restaurant in Squamish, before starting at the Westin Resort and Spa, Whistler in 2011, working under Chef Bradley Cumming. In 2022 he was promoted to the role of Executive Chef.
Brass lives in Squamish with his wife Gabriella, and his dog Eina, and balances his culinary career with his passion for fly fishing and spending time in the British Columbia wilderness.
Executive Chef Derek Bendig, Wild Blue
Chef Bendig's prestigious awards include four gold medal placings for Food Day Canada and a Best Whistler Restaurant Award from Vancouver Magazine. Food and wine enthusiasts will recognize Chef Bendig’s name from his time representing Canada at James Beard House in New York City and for his work at a two Michelin star restaurant in France. Known for marrying his innovative approach to hyper-local, seasonal ingredients and his passion for wine, Chef Bendig has recently completed his WSET level 4 exams, one of the highest levels of wine and spirit education.
- Winter Activities
People come to Whistler at all times of the year because there is so much to do, no matter the season. Winter made Whistler famous, but summer sees just as many visitors. Families, couples, adventure travelers, luxury seekers – they flock here to get super-active, to kick back completely, or to enjoy something in between. These are the top winter activities:
Winter Activities
Skiing and Snowboarding
In winter, visitors flock to Whistler to experience world-famous skiing and boarding. Whistler Blackcomb boasts 8,171 acres (3,307 hectares) of skiable terrain and an immense backcountry, from vast powder-filled bowls to expertly groomed corduroy. With lots of lifts and all types of terrain – steeps, alpine bowls, easy cruisers, terrain parks – Whistler Blackcomb has the variety, the snow conditions and the scenery that attract people from nearby and from around the world.
Backcountry Tours
Guided winter adventures in the area include backcountry skiing and snowboarding tours, ski mountaineering, ice climbing and snowshoeing on either single- or multi-day excursions. There is an abundance of quality ice-climbing routes in the Whistler area, from gentle, single-pitch climbs suited for beginners to harder, multi-pitch routes for the more seasoned ice climber. Ski mountaineering is the act of climbing a mountain before you ski it and can be achieved in a variety of ways. For some ascents, you may be able to skin to the top (with touring skis and splitboards), and for others, you may have to strap your skis on your pack and climb the slope you are going to ski.
Biathlon
Take aim at the biathlon shooting range used by athletes during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games with the guidance of a certified instructor. Visitors can now combine skate skiing with target shooting in the winter, or mix biathlon with bike riding in the summer. No experience necessary – just a willingness to test your marksmanship with a traditional 0.22-calibre rifle.
Bobsleigh and Skeleton
Test your nerves with the Whistler Sliding Centre’s bobsleigh and skeleton rides for the public. Guests can ride down this fast and technical track head first, reaching speeds of up to 100 km/hr with the skeleton experience, or can get up to 130 km/hr on a piloted four-man sled with the bobsleigh experience. Don’t worry: guests have their own special starting gate lower down the course!
Cat Skiing and Snowboarding
Quickly becoming recognized as a quality alternative to heli-skiing, cat skiing and boarding are a great option because the snow cats can run every day, regardless of the weather conditions. Tours are conducted on nearby Powder Mountain and involve riding up in a comfortable snow cat to your next run. With 12 guests per tour and an average of six to 10 runs in a day, there are no lift lines – just lots of runs in untracked powder all day.
Cross-country Skiing
Cross-country (or Nordic) skiing is one of Whistler's most invigorating activities, offering guests more than 160 kilometres of groomed trails for all abilities at cross-country skiing venues, including Lost Lake Park and the official Nordic venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The official Nordic venue, located at Whistler Olympic Park, has already earned accolades for its superb trails that target both classic and skate skiing, and also offers night skiing and biathlon.
Dog Sledding
Dog sledding is one of the Canada’s oldest official sports and a uniquely Canadian experience. Guides, or mushers, introduce you to each dog, show you how to harness them and teach you how to drive a sled. Some people want to stand on the runners and experience dog sledding from the driver’s perspective. Others would rather snuggle under the blankets on the sled and let the musher do the driving.
Eagle Viewing
During the winter season, the area known as Brackendale, south of Whistler, is renowned for having the highest concentration of bald eagles in the world. From late November to mid-February, hundreds of eagles can be seen feeding along river sandbars or perching in the treetops. Visitors can join an eagle viewing tour that allows them to see these magnificent birds in their natural habitat of the West Coast.
Heli-skiing and Heli-boarding
The Coast Mountain range is the alpine setting for the great heli-skiing and boarding around Whistler. Suitable for those with intermediate to advanced abilities, heli-skiing and boarding trips allow skiers and boarders to descend through endless untouched powder accessible only by helicopter.
Ski and Snowboard School
Whistler attracts some of the world’s top instructors, coaches and guides. Whistler Blackcomb’s Ski and Snowboard School is regarded as one of the best ski and snowboard schools in North America and offers unique programs for all ages and levels including lessons for beginners as well as specialized clinics and camps for intermediate and advanced skiers and riders.
Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling is a quintessential Canadian activity that’s fun for all ages and abilities. Let professional, friendly tour guides take you through the backcountry areas, along hidden, snow-covered pathways and into beautiful winter landscapes. Choose from early morning fresh tracks, day or evening tours, some event offer gourmet meals served in a backcountry cabin or yurt. Tours are designed for beginner to experienced riders, with private and family tours also available.
Snowshoeing
Follow trails deep into the forest to experience a winter wonderland, snow-covered old growth trees and spot birds and animals. Rent modern snowshoes and explore by yourself, or take a guided tour around the shores of Green Lake, Lost Lake or on Whistler Mountain. Routes range from beginner to challenging.
Tube Park
Whistler Blackcomb’s bubly Tube Park at Base II on Blackcomb Mountain provides a thrilling snow-sliding experience all day and into the evening. There's no skill or equipment required – just a sense of adventure and a desire for excitement. The bubly Tube Park has six to eight lanes varying in difficulty and speed, and is open throughout winter.
Year-round Activities
PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola
Whistler Blackcomb's world record-setting PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola transforms the high alpine experience. Traveling a span of 4.4 kilometres (2.73 miles), the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola gives sightseers, skiers and snowboarders views of awe-inspiring vistas, mountain peaks, lakes, glaciers and forests as it crosses high above Fitzsimmons Creek between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.
Axe Throwing
Aim for the bullseye at Whistler’s only indoor axe throwing facility, Forged Axe Throwing. A truly Canadian experience that is perfect for fist timers, families and timber veterans alike, axe throwing is a fun and action packed activity offered year-round in Whistler’s Function Junction neighbourhood.
Audain Art Museum
The Audain Art Museum opened in March 2016 and houses a 200 piece permanent collection that includes a visual journey through the history of art from coastal British Columbia from the 18th century through to present day. This 56,000 square-foot museum designed by Patkau Architects was built into the existing landscape and features a park like setting for outdoor art and sculptures and free to children 16 and under.
Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre
Opened in summer 2008, the impressive Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre showcases and celebrates the joint history of the local Squamish and Lil'wat First Nations, past and present, by offering a unique glimpse into their histories and creative works. Free and family-friendly tours are offered regularly, featuring a welcome song, film and craft activity.
Bungee Jumping
Whistler Bungee is British Columbia’s highest year-round bungee jumping site, located 15 minutes south of Whistler Village. Nestled between old-growth forests and rugged basalt column-cliffs, the 49-metre (160-foot) high bridge spans 91-metres (300 feet) over the glacier-fed Cheakamus River.
Fishing
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, Whistler offers an incomparable fishing experience, year-round. Travel with knowledgeable guides to local rivers, remote alpine lakes or hidden fishing holes for full-, half- or multi-day excursions to fly fish or spin cast for steelhead (rainbow) trout, char, or salmon. Alternately, bring your own equipment or rent from a local fishing store and fish at your own pace.
Indoor Rock Climbing
Experience indoor rock climbing at The Core, located in the heart of Whistler Village. The 5,500 square-foot indoor rock climbing wall has everything from easy, kid-friendly routes to crack climbing, steep overhangs and sticky slabs. If you are new to the sport, choose from a belay lesson or climbing course. Those more experienced can choose from over 20 different routes or find a challenge in the Boulder Zone.
Shopping
Shopping in Whistler satisfies both the browser and the shopaholic, with more than 200 shops, boutiques and galleries in Whistler Village, Upper Village and Whistler Creekside. Shops offer everything from vacation mementos to local art to everyday essentials and, of course, skiing, snowboarding, cycling and adventure gear.
Spas
Whistler is the ultimate wellness retreat: fresh mountain air, award-winning cuisine, plenty of outdoor activities – and a wide range of distinctive spa treatments to refresh and revitalize. Whistler’s many spas offer treatments from ancient methods to modern services, including acupuncture, reflexology, aromatherapy, massage, esthetic treatments, skin care, yoga and Pilates.
TreeTrek Ecotour
A TreeTrek tour encompasses a network of suspension bridges, boardwalks, trails and treetop lookouts that connect you all the way from the forest floor to the upper reaches of the tree canopy. Guests will learn about the coastal temperate rainforest and what Whistler is doing to protect and maintain its ecosystems. Tours run 365 days a year and give guests exclusive access to areas of rare unique ancient coastal temperate rainforest.
Ziplining
Ziplining is a great family activity that is thrilling and safe. Tour guides take people on an interpretive adventure through the treetops between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains or in the forests on nearby Cougar Mountain. Guests ride in a comfortable harness reaching speeds of up to 100 kilometers an hour.