I have confession to make: I didn’t watch the Olympics this year. OK, there was the Men’s Curling event that I half-caught on TV one afternoon at the gym one day last week. (And, I must admit; I kinda liked it. Curling is geeky. It involves physics. And the Canadians were pretty yummy.) But because I don’t have television, and because these past two weeks sorta sucker-punched me, time-wise, I missed the whole dang thing.
What I also missed, and continue to miss, is the beauty of Whistler. I’ve never seen it in person in the winter, but if you fell in love with it on TV this week, know that summer is an equally gorgeous time to visit the area. Especially if you like to take active vacations. Here’s the proof of Whistler’s splendiferousness, plus a few tips:
Beautiful, beautiful Whistler
If you decide to make the drive from Vancouver to Whistler, consider the following:
1) The middle to end of September is a great time to visit: it’s affordable, less crowded and still quite beautiful, even though you’ll miss the peak of the wildflower season.
Plan to stay for at least a week. I’d pick up some groceries in Vancouver first, as we found the organic stuff and the trail mixes to be cheaper there. (I recommend the Capers Community Market on Robson, which I believe is now owned by Whole Foods.) There are farmer’s markets near Whistler as well, if you’re so inclined, plus some decent little grocery stores in town.
2) Do not snooze (as I did) during the drive. The Sea to Sky Highway is probably the most beautiful one in the world, showcasing verdant mountain after mountain punching majestically out of the azure waters.
3) The construction workers in Canada will actually smile and wave at you. No, they are not playing you. If you’re still trying to relax into your vacation, take a cue from them. Or ask them where they bought their weed. ;)
4) Stay at the Sundial Hotel. You’re just seconds away from the mountain, and right smack dab at the entrance to one of the loveliest walking villages I’ve seen. (I understand it was modeled after Vail. It’s even nicer, as it’s nowhere near a highway.)
Unpacking groceries for the week, just before I bowed to the fireplace at the Sundial.
5) My husband is part mountain goat, so we hiked and hiked and hiked, all over Whistler and Blackcomb (made easier to reach now because of the Peak 2 Peak Gondola) and Garibaldi Park. Summertime’s the perfect opportunity for it. It’s great for biking around lakes, too.
If you’re up for it, try mountain biking. But be sure to wear body armor. I’m serious; you’d think Imperial Rome was back in style, with all the gladiators we saw sauntering (and hobbling) by.
Gladiator/mountain biker on the left. He was much more intact than some of the other ones we saw.
6) On the way back to Vancouver, stop and climb Grouse Mountain. Although be prepared: nothing spells humiliation like a 14-year-old zipping past you – straight uphill.
Taking a break while climbing Grouse Mountain. I think I was watching a toddler scamper on by, saying "NanananaNA-NA!" What can I say? Elevation training does not exist in Miami. Unless you're climbing on top of some surgically enhanced shemale.
Mike Simpson = Superhuman
7) Looking for reading material? Don’t miss the Whistler Library: it’s solar-powered! There’s also a great little bookstore in town.
A great book for understanding the wonder that is our planet: Reading the Rocks.
I’ll be adding healthy restaurants in the area to the international version of Healthy Eats Here! In the meantime, know that you WILL eat well here. Ditto for the beer.
9) Traveling with kids? If you want a date with your spouse, drop the kidlets off at the nightly Climb & Dime event over at the Core gym. They get three hours of supervised climbing, plus pizza.
Whistler is full of gorgeous flowers in the summer. Grab a guide to the flora and fauna here to maximize your experience.
10) Whistler is so beautiful, you really don’t need a tenth tip. Drink it in. Breathe it in. And make your reservations now; maybe we’ll be able to elbow our way back in sometime before 2035.
Happy travels!
Holly
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Or come enjoy a different area of the great Northwest . . .come explore the Olympic Peninsula and visit us! Same beauty for less $$, in a grittier setting with more diversity (of people and landscape) The peninsula has the only temperate rain forest in the continental U.S, miles of Pacific beach littered with huge snags and incredible rocks, mountain wonderlands to rival The Sound of Music, and, of course, Forks, the home of Twilight. We’ll even show you a good restaurant or two (though the best food is on Whale Song, natch)
Seriously, though, you make me want to run away and explore these places you write about. Shame on you, tempting a dedicated mom away from her family . . .
The best food most certainly IS on Whale Song! (Folks, that’s Justine’s houseboat. She is amazing.)
Miami misses you, beautiful one!