How do I get to Whistler?
- Hayley Bosch
- Forbes Travel Guide Editor
The closest things you’ll find to an airport in Whistler are seaports and heliports. You can’t very well land a seaplane in the middle of winter, when the lakes are frozen over, but helicopters are a good option year-round. If you fly into Vancouver International Airport, you’ll take a quick transfer shuttle to either the seaport or heliport to begin your journey.
Air travel isn’t the only way to get to Whistler; in fact, driving along the aptly named Sea-to-Sky Highway is absolutely beautiful. You can fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport or Vancouver and hit the road. Whistler is about four-and-a-half hours from Seattle, while Vancouver is about two hours. Keep in mind that winter and spring can be tricky for the roads; so be sure to check the driving conditions before you leave.
When all else fails, or you simply don’t feel like driving, hop aboard the Rocky Mountaineer Whistler Sea to Sky Climb train for a scenic ride along the oceanfront, through canyons and over mountains. The trip is about three and a half hours from Vancouver to Whistler, and is a great alternative to driving or flying.
-
On March 12Stéphane Mouttet answered the question:
What is the best way to see Whistler in one day?
Pacific Coachline provides a scheduled bus service which departs from many of the local hotels downtown. The closest departure point for our hotel is within a 5 minute walk from us. The cost for a one way transfer is $35.00 plus tax per adult. This coachline will drop you at many of the main hotels and condos in Whistler Village if requested at the time booking. www.pacificcoach.com for more information and departure times.
Landsea Tours www.vancouvertours.com. This a scheduled bus tour which departs daily for a full-day excursion to Whistler. It will stop along the sea-to-sky highway to explore many of the gorgeous sights along the highway and then leave you at your leisure in Whistler Village for approximately 3 hours before the return departure.
In the summer months, I would recommend Whistler Air www.whistlerair.ca which is a scheduled seaplane service departing twice per day from downtown Vancouver. The cost is $169.00 plus tax per person.
My number one recommendation on getting to Whistler is taking a journey on the Whistler/Rocky Mountaineer! Enjoy the breathtaking scenery on this Canadian train travel route between Vancouver and Whistler. During your comfortable and stress free three-hour train trip you’ll journey from the coastal city of Vancouver, through scenic Howe Sound and the spectacular Cheakamus Canyon, across a trestle bridge, past the jagged snow-capped peaks of the Tantalus Mountains and by an old extinct volcano, before finally arriving in the mountain landscape of world-renowned Whistler Village. www.rockymountaineer.com
-
On March 12Stéphane Mouttet answered the question:
What is the best way to see Whistler in one day?
Pacific Coachline provides a scheduled bus service which departs from many of the local hotels downtown. The closest departure point for our hotel is within a 5 minute walk from us. The cost for a one way transfer is $35.00 plus tax per adult. This coachline will drop you at many of the main hotels and condos in Whistler Village if requested at the time booking. www.pacificcoach.com for more information and departure times.
Landsea Tours www.vancouvertours.com– This is a scheduled bus tour which departs daily for a full-day excursion to Whistler. It will stop along the sea-to-sky highway to explore many of the gorgeous sights along the highway and then leave you at your leisure in Whistler Village for approximately 3 hours before the return departure.
In the summer months, I would recommend Whistler Air www.whistlerair.ca which is a scheduled seaplane service departing twice per day from downtown Vancouver. The cost is $169.00 plus tax per person.
My number one recommendation on getting to Whistler is taking a journey on the Whistler/Rocky Mountaineer! Enjoy the breathtaking scenery on this Canadian train travel route between Vancouver and Whistler. During your comfortable and stress free three-hour train trip you’ll journey from the coastal city of Vancouver, through scenic Howe Sound and the spectacular Cheakamus Canyon, across a trestle bridge, past the jagged snow-capped peaks of the Tantalus Mountains and by an old extinct volcano, before finally arriving in the mountain landscape of world-renowned Whistler Village. www.rockymountaineer.com
-
On March 12Stéphane Mouttet answered the question:
What are the best places to eat in Whistler?
My top recommendation for fine dining would be the Bearfoot Bistro (www.bearfootbistro.com) especially if it is a special occasion. If you purchase a bottle of sparkling or champagne, the sommelier will take you down to the wine cellar to "saber" the bottle (with an actual saber or sword) and talk about the history and tradition of sobering. The chef, Melissa Craig was crowned ‘Canada’s best chef’ at the Canadian Culinary Championship in 2008. Her menu is best described as Modern Canadian Cuisine with a blend of the West Coast ingredients. When dining here, you have the option of choosing from a set 3 or 5 course menu.
Another famous and well-known restaurant in Whistler is Araxi – the name may be familiar to you as it was the feature restaurant on Gordon Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen 2009 Season. Araxi enjoys a long-held international reputation for excellence in food, wine and hospitality, including the award for ‘Best Restaurant at Whistler’ from Vancouver magazine for an unprecedented nine consecutive years. The Executive Chef, James Walt collaborates with local farmers to provide a seasonally rotating menu which also features the freshest seafood catches from the Pacific Ocean. Lively ambiance with adjoining bar that is the known gathering place for drinks and the summer patio is people watching and mountain scenery.
Rim Rock Cafe (www.rimrockwhistler.com) seems to be the most popular restaurant in Whistler as they book up quite far in advance, the Chef features Pacific Northwest Cuisine focusing mainly on finest fish and game. My two favourite items on the menu would be the lobster mashed potatoes and baked oysters.
For Italian, I would certainly say Quattro! (www.quattrorestaurants.com) The pasta is amazing and prepared fresh daily by the Chef in the traditional North Italian style, and if you like Italian wine and grappa they have a very large selection on their wine list.
La Rua (www.larua-restaurante.com) is a magnifique French Restaurant featuring fish, seafood, steak and game with plenty of wonderful French wines to choose from.
Enjoy your dinning experience in this beautiful resort!
-
On March 12Stéphane Mouttet answered the question:
What are the best things to see and do in Whistler?
Whistler is a Canadian resort town in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in the province of British Columbia, Canada, approximately 125 kilometres (78 mi) north of Vancouver. It has a permanent population of approximately 9,965, plus a larger but rotating "transient" population of workers, typically younger people from beyond BC, notably from Australia and Europe. Over two million people visit Whistler annually, primarily for alpine skiing and mountain biking during the summer at Whistler-Blackcomb. Its pedestrian village has won numerous design awards and Whistler has been voted among the top destinations in North America by major ski magazines since the mid-1990s. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler hosted most of the alpine, nordic, luge, skeleton, and bobsled events, though freestyle skiing and all snowboarding events were hosted at Cypress Mountain near Vancouver. Below are a few suggestions on whistler activities you can explore while in Whistler:
- Peak to Peak Gondola This record breaking Gondola trip which connects Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. This journey is 4.4 kilometer Gondola trip in 11 minutes. www.whistlerblackcomb.com/todo/summer/p2padventure/index.htm
- Ziptrek This is an adventure based eco-tourism activities offered year-round. This 2.5 hour adventure is a combination of suspension bridges, treetop observation platforms, ground based trails and ziplines. Ziplines are suspended steel cables - some of which are over 15 stories high and 2000 feet long - that you ride from platform to platform. www.ziptrek.com
- Outdoor Adventure Whistler - If you are looking to experience the scenic back-country to Whistler, this is a leading outdoor adventure company offering atv, hummer, canoe, and rafting excursions. This company provides complete outerwear clothing to prepare you for all adventures.
-
On March 12Stéphane Mouttet answered the question:
What are the best things to see and do in Whistler?
below are a few suggestions on whistler activities you can explore while in Whistler:
- Peak to Peak Gondola This record breaking Gondola trip which connects Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. This journey is 4.4 kilometer Gondola trip in 11 minutes. www.whistlerblackcomb.com/todo/summer/p2padventure/index.htm
- Ziptrek This is an adventure based eco-tourism activities offered year-round. This 2.5 hour adventure is a combination of suspension bridges, treetop observation platforms, ground based trails and ziplines. Ziplines are suspended steel cables - some of which are over 15 stories high and 2000 feet long - that you ride from platform to platform. www.ziptrek.com
- Outdoor Adventure Whistler - If you are looking to experience the scenic back-country to Whistler, this is a leading outdoor adventure company offering atv, hummer, canoe, and rafting excursions. This company provides complete outerwear clothing to prepare you for all adventures. www.adventureswhistler.com
-
On July 5Hayley Bosch answered the question:
The closest things you’ll find to an airport in Whistler are seaports and heliports. You can’t very well land a seaplane in the middle of winter, when the lakes are frozen over, but helicopters are a good option year-round. If you fly into Vancouver International Airport, you’ll take a quick transfer shuttle to either the seaport or heliport to begin your journey.
Air travel isn’t the only way to get to Whistler; in fact, driving along the aptly named Sea-to-Sky Highway is absolutely beautiful. You can fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport or Vancouver and hit the road. Whistler is about four-and-a-half hours from Seattle, while Vancouver is about two hours. Keep in mind that winter and spring can be tricky for the roads; so be sure to check the driving conditions before you leave.
When all else fails, or you simply don’t feel like driving, hop aboard the Rocky Mountaineer Whistler Sea to Sky Climb train for a scenic ride along the oceanfront, through canyons and over mountains. The trip is about three and a half hours from Vancouver to Whistler, and is a great alternative to driving or flying. -
On July 5Hayley Bosch answered the question:
What is the best thing to bring home from Whistler?
As the largest mountain resort in North America, Whistler has plenty of shopping to go along with its top-notch skiing. Venture into Whistler Village and you’ll be greeted with more than 200 stores. Besides bragging rights that go along with skiing some of the best terrain in the world, you’ll want a little something to remember your trip.
While it may be a bit tough to carry home a new snowboard or pair of skis, you can find unique souvenirs. If you aren’t from Canada, investing in clothes by local brands Roots or Lululemon is a good bet, and both have Whistler boutiques. The town also has plenty of art galleries selling local photography and artwork; stop by the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Center to see crafts made by local First Nations artists. -
On July 5Hayley Bosch answered the question:
What are the best Whistler food experiences?
Whistler is home to some great restaurants, which range from casual to fine dining. No matter what time of year you are in this mountain village, there are plenty of food experiences to be had. Here are Forbes Travel Guide’s editors’ picks for the five best Whistler food experiences:
1. Whistler Farmer’s Market. Sundays and Wednesdays mean fresh food and local produce all summer long. Strolling through the farmer’s market in Whistler Village is a feast for your eyes and taste buds — there’s also live entertainment on most days.
2. Cornucopia. Each fall, this wine and food festival celebrates Whistler’s top restaurants. You can attend everything from wine seminars to chef luncheons. There are also cooking demonstrations and plenty of parties.
3. On-mountain dining. There’s nothing better than a hearty meal when you’re on the slopes. Whistler and Blackcomb are brimming with restaurants and they aren’t just cafeteria-style, either. Take Crystal Hut for example — this log cabin serves up Belgian waffles all-day long. When you’re done with lunch, grab your skis and continue to explore the mountain.
4. Garibaldi Lift Co. At the base of Whistler Mountain is the alpine resort’s best après-ski scene. In the summer, you can watch bikers flip tricks on the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. Order up a burger and a beer, and sit back and enjoy the live music.
5. Canadian National BBQ Championships. When you think of Whistler, barbecue probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, but this is one of the best food experiences in town. Each summer’s event comes with live entertainment, demos and piles of barbecue. -
On July 5Hayley Bosch answered the question:
Where is the best nightlife in Whistler?
The minute you step off the mountain at the end of the day, Whistler’s nightlife begins. This western ski resort’s legendary après-ski scene comes in the form of live music and pitchers of beer (try the microbrews made by Whistler Brewing Company) served at bars located close to the lifts and trail ends. The nightlife carries on deeper into Whistler Village at venues like Garfinkel’s, Maxx’s and Moe Joe’s. These are the places where you can burn off that extra energy by dancing the night away. Garfinkel’s attracts a young hipster crowd with its top hits soundtrack, and Maxx’s is where you’ll find some of Canada’s top DJs in residence. For a more intimate scene, shimmy over to Moe Joe’s — the crowd is similar to Garfinkel’s, but has a more laidback vibe. -
On July 5Hayley Bosch answered the question:
What is the best way to see Whistler in one day?
Depending on what time of year you visit Whistler, your one-day, jam-packed itinerary will differ. Being the largest mountain resort in North America, much of the activities throughout the year are nature-oriented.
During a winter visit, start off your day with a stop at the charming Crepe Montagne in Whistler Village. You’ll find options like the “Slalom”, which includes one egg, ham or Canadian bacon, three cheeses, fresh tomato and green onions.
Fortified for the day, plan to hit the slopes next. You can go back and forth via catwalks or traverses between Whistler and Blackcomb, but you’ll likely stay on one mountain for the day. Skiing and snowboarding can get exhausting, which is why you’ll want to take a midday break for lunch on the mountain. There are several restaurants scattered throughout both Whistler and Blackcomb, so there are plenty to choose from.
After wearing yourself out on the mountain, make your way down to the base to take in the après-ski scene. Locals and visitors alike gather at the restaurants and pubs to chow down on some snacks and throwback a few beers (try one by local microbrewery Whistler Brewing Company).
Your summer itinerary will be similar, minus the snow sports. Begin by hiking up the mountain for lunch and snap some great pictures from the top. If you’d rather bike, Whistler has some fantastic mountain biking — one of our favorite routes is the trail to Rainbow Lake, which is a lighter version of mountain biking. If you make it to the lake, you can take a dip to cool off.
At the end of the day, all year long, you’ll want to head to dinner at Araxi. It’s one of the best restaurants in Whistler — the West Coast-cuisine is fresh and local. -
On July 5Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the best places to eat in Whistler?
No matter what you’re in town for — be it skiing, hiking or mountain biking — you’ll work up an appetite in Whistler. With a cornucopia of restaurants, there’s a wide variety of cuisine to be tried in this alpine village. Here are Forbes Travel Guide’s editors’ picks for the five best places to eat in Whistler:
1. Araxi. This Whistler Village restaurant is consistently the best in town. Araxi serves up a delightful West Coast-focused menu with dishes like whole British Columbia Dungeness crab and Canada prime beef tartare.
2. Bearfoot Bistro. This fine dining restaurant within The Listel Hotel in Whistler Village has a massive wine cellar and a contemporary Canadian menu that’s heavy on upscale dishes made with local ingredients, including the Canadian buffalo with tomato marmalade and herb quinoa salad.
3. Christine’s Restaurant. Sitting atop Blackcomb Mountain within the Rendezvous Lodge, Christine’s Restaurant is the only full-service restaurant on either mountain. The food is delicious, but the setting is unbeatable. The summer menu features dishes like Salt Spring Island mussels and frites, while the winter menu has hearty dishes such as bouillabaisse.
4. Aura. Nita Lake Lodge’s signature restaurant, Aura, has a European menu with local ingredients. You can opt for a five- or ten-course tasting menu, as well a three-course prix fixe option. The menu has a good balance of offerings from both the land and sea.
5. Sidecut. This eatery at Four Seasons Resort Whistler offers a nice twist on fine dining. Sidecut is cozy and warm in the winter, while summertime brings dining on a refreshing outdoor patio. The menu features all things meat, as well as regional seafood like Chinook salmon. -
On July 5Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the best places to stay in Whistler?
Over the years, Whistler has grown to include some top-notch hotels. Some are located at the base of Whistler Mountain, while others are located in the quiet, yet convenient, area of Creekside Village. Here is Forbes Travel Guide’s take on the five best places to stay in Whistler:
1. Four Seasons Resort Whistler. This Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star resort sits at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, just a short walk away from the chairlifts. A cozy ski lodge with all the trappings of a luxury hotel, Four Seasons Resort Whistler has an equally as impressive spa.
2. The Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Fittingly, this hotel looks like a chateau sitting at the base of Blackcomb, with easy access to the mountain. The ski-in/ski-out property is fabulous no matter what time of year you visit. There’s even an onsite golf course to entertain you come summer.
3. Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre. This location is one of two Pan Pacific resorts in Whistler, and these private residence-like lodgings are convenient to everything. You’ll have your own full kitchen in your room and when you wake up, you’ll have the backdrop of the mountains and the bustling village.
4. Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside. The sister resort to the one in Whistler Village, this alpine-chic hotel has one of the best ski-in/ski-out locations. Adding to the luxurious accommodations is the unrivaled view of the enormous mountain resort.
5. Nita Lake Lodge. Though it’s not situated at the base of either of the mountains, Nita Lake Lodge lies on the shores of the tranquil Nita Lake. It’s just a short ride away from Creekside Village, which used to be the sole access point to the mountain resort. The hotel even has lockers at the base of Whistler Mountain where you can store your gear. -
On July 5Hayley Bosch answered the question:
Where is the best shopping in Whistler?
Though you wouldn’t expect it, Whistler is a great place to shop. With more than 200 shops located in Whistler Village alone, you’ll find everything from ski supplies to clothing more suited for nights out in the big city. From Roots (a classic Canadian brand) to Lululemon (headquartered in nearby Vancouver), there’s plenty of fashion to be found. And it doesn’t end there — Whistler Village is home to trendy shops, art galleries and a cornucopia of sporting goods stores. Whether you need a new snowboard or are looking for some hiking boots, a variety of shops in Whistler will fit the bill. There are also sweets shops to satisfy those cravings after a long day on the slopes — visit Cows for freshly made ice cream. Needless to say, the only problem you’ll have in Whistler is deciding which shop to go to first. -
On July 5Hayley Bosch answered the question:
What are the best things to do with kids in Whistler?
Being an all-season resort destination, Whistler offers a wealth of outdoor activities that kids will love. Whether its ski season and they’re learning to navigate the slopes, or summer and they’re swinging on zip lines, kids visiting Whistler will find there’s something for everyone. Here are Forbes Travel Guide’s picks for the five best things to do with kids in Whistler:
1. Tree trek. Hop from treetop to treetop on suspension bridges, boardwalks and platforms. This activity is not for the height-fearing crowd, as you’re way above the comfort of the hard ground. It’s fun for the whole family and it’s a cool way to see the mountain from a different point of view.
2. Ice skating. Let your little champion skate at Whistler Olympic Plaza, where victors of the 2010 Winter Games were crowned. Winter skating is free and rentals are available for just $5. Though you may enjoy the Olympic setting for different reasons, it’s a great activity for everyone.
3. Hit the slopes. If your kids are veteran skiers, then pile them on the chairlift and indulge in some of North America’s finest skiing. There’s a family zone that’s geared toward beginners and young kids, while the older ones will have a blast in the terrain park.
4. Coca-Cola Tube Park. When skiing gets old — we don’t think it will — or you just want to switch things up, head to Coca-Cola Tube Park for some fun. Located at the Base II Zone on Blackcomb Mountain, this tube park has eight lanes for you and your kids to slide down.
5. Adventure Camp. For those youngsters who are just learning to ski, join the Adventure Camp. It’s five days of fun and skiing — kids discover the Magic Castle and Tree Fort while learning the sport.
