Whistler, British Columbia is known worldwide as the site of choice for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. As one of the best year-round ski resorts in North America, Whistler attracts travelers from around the world with experiences ski, snow and vacations of a lifetime. This season, the snow conditions were truly the best they have ever been: more than 15 feet (4.6 m) fell in January 2006, making it the snowiest month in the resort’s recorded history. .
Whistler offers world-class skiing at the largest ski area in North America and boasts 37 lifts, over 200 marked trails, three glaciers and 13 alpine bowls. Riders can try tricks at award-winning terrain parks. Adults and children of all ages can take ski or snowboard lessons from the professionals. You can also enjoy heli-skiing, cross-country skiing, sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sleigh riding, ice climbing, and winter fishing. Also new this year, experience the Coca-Cola Family Tube Park, a six- to eight-lane adventure accessed via a new subway-capable carpet-style elevator. You’ll probably run out of power before you run out of things to do!
The pedestrian-friendly Whistler Village bustles with excitement year-round: dining, spas, shopping, and entertainment ranging from luxurious five-star to comfortably affordable. The resort features 115 hotels, condominiums, and bed & breakfasts, as well as many apartments, stand-alone cabins, and motels. Some accommodations offer ski-in/ski-out access. A free shuttle service operates between Village North, Whistler Village, and the Upper Village.
There’s even a babysitting service, which means everyone can share in the excitement. Caring for families is a Whistler specialty. Whistler Kids offers ski and snowboard lessons for the little ones. The Nanny Network offers reliable babysitting and even dog walking and babysitting services. Teens can enjoy the Ride Tribe program and learn to free-ride, park ski, and snowboard. The LUNA teen program offers non-alcoholic evening events, from pool parties to movie nights.
You can drive the Sea to Sky Highway, Highway 99, from Vancouver, BC to Whistler in two hours. Flights to Vancouver are available from almost any major city. Scheduled bus services from Vancouver and connecting communities arrive in Whistler daily. Whistler and Valley Express (WAVE) provides year-round public bus service in Whistler and between Whistler and Pemberton.
You can also choose to discover the spectacular beauty of British Columbia’s Sea-to-Sky Corridor from a unique perspective while relaxing in comfort and style aboard the new Whistler Mountaineer train. This is the first three-hour train ride from Vancouver to Whistler, BC. As the train skirts the ocean, winds through canyons, and climbs the steep slopes of British Columbia’s Coast Mountains, you’ll have front-row seats to the endless array of breathtaking views in one of its modern dome cars. An exciting addition to your Whistler vacation.
Some relevant facts about the Whistler-Blackcomb Ski Resort:
Vertical: Whistler – 1,530 m (5,020 ft); Blackcomb – 5,280 ft (1,609 m) Terrain: Whistler and Blackcomb combined – 8,171 ac (3,307 ha) Racing: Whistler and Blackcomb combined – 200 runs Whistler: 100 runs – 20% novice; 55% intermediate; 25% Expert Blackcomb: 100 runs – 15% Beginner; 55% intermediate; 30% Expert Elevators: Whistler and Blackcomb Combined – 37 Elevators Whistler: 20 Elevators – 2 High Speed Gondolas; 6 high speed quads; 2 triple chairs; 1 double meat; 9 surface elevators. Blackcomb: 17 elevators – 1 high-speed gondola; 6 high speed quads; 3 triple chairs; 7 surface elevators. Operating season: Whistler: late November to early June; Blackcomb – late November to late April
Renowned for scenic views and apres-ski delights and with 30 feet (9 m) of annual snowfall along with North America’s largest vertical drop of 5,280 feet (1,609 m), Whistler Blackcomb offers an exciting winter vacation for skiing and snowboarding.
