Whistler, British Columbia, is Canada’s premier mountain destination with four-season adventures that are more accessible than you think. It’s also a place where love for its nature is equally as big as love for its visitors, no matter who they love.
Whistler welcomes you to be your authentic self 365 days a year - and in wintertime, it hosts one of the best festivals that celebrates diversity and pride.
Whistler Pride and Ski Festival
Whistler Pride and Ski Festival is an eight-day celebration of all things pride, winter, and mountain culture every year at the end of January. Events range from outdoor adventure activities to pool parties, mix and mingle après to trivia nights, as well as club and theme parties. The most gratifying and emotional sight of Whistler Pride is the parade. Starting on Whistler Mountain, skiers and riders surround a giant rainbow flag that seemingly takes up the entire ski run. Combined with colorful onesies, individual flags, and cheering from bystanders and participants, the parade winding down the mountain and continuing through the Village is a sight not to be missed.
Whistler Blackcomb Resort
Whistler’s famous attraction is Whistler Blackcomb, North America’s largest ski resort, which provides terrain and amenities for all ski and snowboard levels. On-hill dining is second to none, with endless mountain views and après ski (drinks after adventure) on the most scenic patios. From the Umbrella Bar on top of Whistler mountain to the ski-out bars at the bottom, this resort knows how to celebrate a day of adventure.
Other locals’ favorites include mountain biking and hiking in the warmer months, as well as sightseeing on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, alpine dining, and wildlife viewing.
Adventure outside the resort
In between ski or hiking days, join The Adventure Group for an off-the-beaten-path look at nature. Their offering ranges from soaring through the trees on a zipline to flying above the mountains on a heli sightseeing trip to riding to Rainbow Mountain on an ATV or snowmobile.
During the warmer months, rent a SUP, canoe, or kayak with Backroads Whistler or Whistler Eco Tours to paddle Whistler’s lakes which reflect the crisp snow-capped peaks. Summer activities around town are endless with guided adventures or self-guided hiking on the many trails near Whistler Village.
Rejuvenate and indulge
Whistler knows spas like the surrounding mountains know glaciers. Scandinave Spa takes advantage of towering cedars and surrounding natural greenery, immersing visitors in a quiet oasis of waterfalls, saunas, and hot and cold pools. If you’re looking for a ‘royal’ treatment, head to the Taman Sari Royal Heritage Spa for an authentic Javanese experience. And if you’re looking to treat tired and sun-dried skin, an RnR Feature Facial at the Whistler Day Spa will leave your skin glowing and your mind recharged.
Dining
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, be sure to explore the excellent dining scene. Westcoast seafood can be found at Rim Rock Cafe, Indigenous dishes (breakfast to late lunch) at the Squamish Lil'Wat Cultural Centre’s Thunderbird Café, farm-to-table at Alta Bistro, or famous West Coast sushi at Sushi Village. Bearfoot Bistro is all about the experience, offering champagne sabering while some of the best tapas and cocktails in town can be found at Bar Oso.
Arts + Culture
The history of Whistler goes deep, and it deserves your attention. Explore Indigenous history and culture at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre and see world-class collections of artwork from British Columbia at the Audain Art Museum. The Whistler Museum shows the history of the local mountain culture while Vallea Lumina takes you through an immersive light and sound experience through old-growth forest nightly most months of the year.
Planning your trip
Whistler is a 2-hour drive from Vancouver International Airport. This means you can leave New York City, Toronto, Los Angeles, and most other North American cities in the morning - and be relaxing in one of Canada’s top spas or getting your first ski turns in on the same day.
Whistler's accommodations are within walking distance from renowned bars, restaurants, clubs, ski runs, hiking trails and shops. Don’t have a car? Don’t worry... Whistler is extremely walkable and has public transit, with frequent shuttles from downtown Vancouver and Vancouver International Airport. For more trip-planning info, visit www.whistler.com.
