Whistler Hotels

Whistler Mountain Bike Park is the perfect place to break a few records or fracture some bones on the 200-plus kilometres of extremely challenging trail. You can also rent equipment and take some snowboard and ski lessons at Whistler Adventure Centreswhile you work up the nerve to try an exhilarating Blackcomb Glacial Safari via snowmobile. Next, challenge yourself to a Via Ferrataclimb to Whistler Peak. When you cannot possibly move another centimetre, you can treat your aching body to a massage at the Taman Sari Royal Heritage Spa.

Whistler Top 10

Whistler History

• Whistler Museum and Archives Society – This centrally located museum is home to a collection of memorabilia, documentation and artefacts from Whistler’s past.
• Britannia Mine Museum – This museum provides tourists with an insight into the mining world.
• The Whistler Inuit Gallery – This gallery allows tourists to explore Inuit life.
• Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre – A centre providing a glimpse into the joint history of the local Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations.
• Olympic Legacy Display – Located on Whistler Mountain, the Olympic Legacy Display exhibits highlights from the Olympic Games.

Whistler Art & Culture

• Whistler Village Art Gallery – This museum is split into two halves; some of its exhibitions are located in a venue at the Hilton Whistler Resort, and the remainder are found in a subsequent venue at the Four Seasons Resort.
• Black Tusk Gallery – Located on the Mountain Square Art Gallery Row, this museum showcases masks, sculptures, totem poles and much more.
• The Luminaura Whistler – One of the newest Whistler art galleries, this museum specialises in exhibiting modern art.
• The Path Gallery – Located in the town centre, this gallery is home to First Nations Native artwork.
• The Plaza Galleries – A much-visited museum and host to a fascinating collection of artwork.

Whistler Shopping

• Evolution – A store on the Village Green selling winter sports goods.
• Mountain Top Shop – Located on Blackcomb Mountain, this store sells everything tourists need for a pleasant skiing experience, from goggles to scarves.
• Whistler Marketplace – Located in the centre of Whistler Village, this busy shopping plaza is home to a selection of clothing boutiques.
• Franz's Trail Shopping Village – Found in the creekside area, this shopping village lets tourists shop to their heart’s content.
• Showcase Snowboards – Situated on Sundial Crescent, snowboards can be rented here.

Gay & Lesbian Whistler

• WinterPride Whistler – A gay skiing event that takes place in early February.
• Women’s Week – Held in early March, this event for lesbian and straight girls takes place across various central locations.
• Tommy’s Africa’s – The place to be for tourists who enjoy mingling on a crowded dance floor.
• Maxx Fish – This Village Square nightclub welcomes both gay and straight men.
• Buffalo Bills – This Whistler bar is at its most popular during WinterPride week.

Whistler Events

On the last day in July, the Rebagliati Park in Whistler becomes a gourmet extravaganza for the Feast in the Mountains.British Columbia's best chefs, brewers and winemakers roll out an enormous spread of delicacies for guests to sample during this annual fundraiser.

Whistler is the epitome of a winter wonderland, and thus it would be a shame to leave this resort area without a holiday sleigh ride. The experience is a Christmas card tableau, complete with cosy blankets, hot chocolate and sleigh bells.

Whistler's Winter PRIDE is a snowboarding and skiing event for the gay and lesbian community that takes place in late January/early February.

The Whistler Spirit Run & Festival is a charitable event in September where participants enjoy a cross-country run and a variety of other activities.

Jazz on the Mountain at Whistler is a new Canadian jazz festival that takes place in early September.

The August Whistler Children's Art Festival is a fun and creative carnival for the local children. This unique festival offers workshops to help kids build skills in the visual and performing arts.

The Canadian National BBQ Championships takes place every year in late July in Whistler, and this is no small-fry local cookout. The contestants are hard-core chefs on the professional BBQ circuit.

The Canadian Cheese Rolling Festival in Whistler is exactly what it sounds like. During the annual July race, participants roll a 22-kg wheel of cheese down a hill. There are plenty of other cheesy activities to enjoy such as a farmers market, children's games, cheese tasting and more.

The Billabong Ante Up snowboard tournament is the most prestigious sporting event in Whistler. It kicks off on Canada Day, 1 July.

Whistler celebrates Canada Day each year with celebrations and activities like cultural and artistic walking tours, morning community yoga sessions and several free concerts by local orchestras and bands.

When To Go

• Since Whistler is a ski resort area, you can expect cold and snow most of the year except for the summer, which is mild and warm. The ski mountains close in May or June when the weather starts to warm up, and they reopen in late November.
• The winter months in Whistler typically bring high temperatures in the 20s-30s F (-1 to -4°C). The summer highs are in the low 70s F (low 20s C).
• The months with the most snow are October through March. Lower areas will have a little rain during April through November, with an average of 6cm per month.

Getting There

Travellers going to Whistler by plane will arrive at Vancouver International Airport. There are shuttles and tour buses available at the airport that will take you to central Whistler.

If you prefer to drive to Whistler, you will have to take the adventurous and sometimes unnerving Highway 99, called the Sea To Sky Highway.

To get around in Whistler, you can walk or take a local bus or taxi. These are all cheap options, but your resort or hotel may offer free transportation, so be sure to find out when you book.

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