Whistler is part of the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort in British Colombia, Canada. It is located just 219 miles from Seattle, Washington, which makes for a 4-hour road trip across the border. A number of cheap flights, bus and train options are also very popular. Altogether, the ski complex incorporates two mountains – Whistler and Blackcomb – and thousands of acres of skiable terrain. There are 200 marked runs serviced by 38 lifts catering to everyone from novices to advanced skiers and snowboarders.
The months of March and April which coincide with Spring Break are ideal for a skiing holiday here. The lengthening days allow for extend periods in the outdoors and mid-mountain patios let you have a break from the action to lay back and enjoy the singularly spectacular views.
If views are your thing, try the Peak 22 Peak Gondola ride. Connecting the span of 2.7 miles between the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, the longest and highest lift in the world takes 11 minutes to cover the distance.
The Village below has a wide variety of accommodation and entertainment options to cater for families, single spring breakers and everyone in between. Every April, The World Ski and Snowboard Festival sees the world’s best performers try their hand at the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
In 1996, Whistler was the first resort to ever top the annual rankings by Si, Skiing and Snow Country magazines. But however great a ski resort Whistler is, it is more than simply a ski resort. The Cultural Connector leads to the Whistler Museum and the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. The galleries here are a wonderful introduction to local artists producing traditional art and fine art. Join a workshop and try your own hand at the techniques they employ. The Audain Art Museum is also a great getaway if you have had a fill of the slopes. Permanent works by prominent Canadian artists are accompanied by temporary exhibitions so no two visits here will be alike.
If you prefer the outdoors but without skiing, you have the option of ziplining 200 feet above the soft, white snow and forests that are home to cougars and almost 100 black bears. There are five separate ziplines to provide a variety of experiences; the most intense is 2,400 feet and descends 30 storeys.
When you are all done with your adventures, the Scandinave Spa just two minutes from Whistler Village might be the perfect way to end your day. It is a 20,000-foot complex of several outdoor pools and tubs, and a sauna, solarium and steam room indoors. Quiet is paramount and you will have to leave your phone locked away.
