Whistler, British Columbia - A Year-Round Playground

Whistler, where you can ski, snowboard and toboggan in the winter and bike, hike and golf in the summer; where the village welcomes visitors with its arms outstretched while you enjoy the restaurants, boutiques and entertainment. Whistler is the place to go all year round.

Whistler is in the southern Pacific ranges of the Coastal Mountains and is 125 km north of Vancouver. We recently enjoyed a visit to this all-year playground while the snow lay light on the ground in the Village, Christmas lights twinkled and music set the ambiance for an enjoyable weekend getaway.

This mountain village is known world-wide for its skiing and snowboarding with more than 200 marked runs, 37 lifts, 16 alpine bowls and three glaciers. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and tobogganing can also be enjoyed.

There is also the heart-stopping Peak-to-Peak gondola ride that can be taken during both the summer and winter between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. On the Peak-to-Peak there are stunning views of Blackcomb's alpine, the surrounding peaks, Whistler Village and all the ski fields. For the price of one fare, unlimited crossings can be enjoyed between the two mountains. There is a distance of 1.88 miles between each tower and in most places it is about 436 meters above the ground. And once on top of the mountain, you can enjoy the vistas while you dine.

In the summer months there is hiking, mountain biking, walking, various day trips, horseback riding, camping, canoeing, kayaking, river rafting and fishing. There are also numerous lakes where one can swim and windsurf. There is the opportunity to go ATVing, ziplining and bungee jumping. And for those who are interested, there are treetop adventures and ecotours. Many people will also be happy to know that Whistler is a golfer's haven with several courses in the area.

Whistler is relatively new, not opening to the public until 1966. In recent years the area has become very popular and there have been many upgrades including on the Sea-to-Sky Highway which was completed for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Whistler Village is a pedestrian-only village offering fine dining, night life, boutiques, spas, entertainment and luxurious hotels.

While we were there we stayed in a beautiful two bedroom, two bathroom suite at the edge of the village but there are accommodations right in the village, even ones close to the ski lifts. Most hotels have swimming pools and hot tubs and many have complimentary coffee which one can partake of while sitting in the lobby in front of a roaring fireplace.

Whistler also hosts many events throughout the year, both winter and summer. This mountain community is not only very popular with tourists but also for those of us who live in the province of British Columbia. As a result there are times when accommodations must be booked considerably prior to the date you plan to be there.

Begin now to plan your trip to this incredible place. You will be glad you checked it out.