If you’re like me and are NOT a big fan of wintry weather, you should consider exploring a ski resort location in the summer or fall. It’s one of my favorite types of vacations! It’s a great escape from our seemingly never-ending summers in Arizona. The weather is cool, the views are amazing, and there’s a ton you can do to experience the mountains without skis or a snowboard. And what’s better than playing in the snow without the bulky winter clothes or driving on slippery, snow-covered roads?! For this trip it was just my husband and me, but everything we did (with the exception of the spa which is for 18+ only) would be great with kids or teens as well.
Here’s a sample itinerary based on our 3-day trip to Whistler in June:
DAY 1: SEA-TO-SKY HIGHWAY FROM VANCOUVER TO WHISTLER
The best way to get to Whistler is to fly into Vancouver, BC, rent a car at the airport, and drive the ultra-scenic 1.5-hour drive along the Sea-to-Sky Highway (note that you will need a passport to get in to Canada for this trip). On day one, we landed in Vancouver late morning and took the better part of the afternoon to make our way up to Whistler. There are a number of places to stop along the way to soak in the views, experience waterfalls, hikes, and more! Our first stop was in the small village of Squamish at the Howe Sound Inn & Brew Pub. This was the perfect place to get in to the Canadian mood…poutine and local beer samples in this rustic A-frame pub, with beautiful views of the mountains right outside!
We took a walk along the water to stretch our legs and snap a few pictures, and then we were back on the road. We made one more stop, this time at Brandywine Falls. It was just a short, 15-minute walk (0.6 miles) on mostly flat terrain to this viewing platform where you can watch the falls below. It’s hard to tell from my novice photo, but the falls are quite impressive, measuring over 200 feet (70 m) tall. There are several other stops that you can make along the way to do a longer hike and see more, but we were anxious to get to Whistler!
We made it to Whistler late afternoon, and settled in to the Delta Hotel by Marriott right in the heart of Whistler Village. I highly recommend staying in this area, as you can park your car and leave it parked; you can walk or bike everywhere for the rest of your time in Whistler. There are restaurants, shopping, bike rentals, and the Gondolas for the mountains all within a 10-15 minute walk. We walked from our hotel to Elements Urban Tapas (great spot for drinks and Tapas) for dinner and went to bed early…Day 2 was going to be a busy one, and we wanted to be well-rested!
DAY 2: WHISTLER BLACKCOMB MOUNTAIN HIKES, GONDOLAS, AND THE SCANDINAVE SPA
Day 2 was our only full day in Whistler, so we packed a lot in! We grabbed an early breakfast at a local cafe, and then walked to the Blackcomb Gondola. We bought the Sightsee tickets that included the Peak 2 Peak Gondola which takes you between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains as well. Be sure to get all of the latest information for that day, as options change depending on weather and time of year.
We started by taking the gondola up Whistler mountain, where there are several options for hikes. If you’re feeling less adventurous, take in the views, snap some fabulous photos, play in the snow, and grab lunch at Roundhouse on Whistler, or take the Peak2Peak across to Blackcomb and try one of the restaurants there. Weather-dependent, if you want to get to the top of the mountain to see the Inukshuk (featured in my first photo above) and/or experience the Cloudraker Sky Bridge, you can take the Peak Chair Chairlift (after a brief hike along the Peak Express Traverse). It’s easy to spend several hours between the two mountains.
Now for those that are looking to get your heart racing and break a sweat…let’s get back to those hikes! There are a number of ways you can get around the top of Whistler. We chose to take the Pike’s Traverse Road (distance 1.4 miles / 2.3 km; elevation gain of 892 ft / 272 m) to Mathew’s Traverse Road (distance 0.6 miles / 0.9 km; elevation gain of 269 ft / 82 m), which led us to the Inukshuk and the Cloudraker Sky Bridge. The bridge was closed on the day we were there, but I’m not sure if I could’ve gotten up the nerve to walk it anyway! There’s a lot to see along the way (look at all this snow in late June!), including some small lakes, breathtaking views, and this Alpine Safety Station. We hiked back down to the Peak 2 Peak gondola and took the 20 minute ride there and back. In total, we spent about 3-4 hours on our mountain exploration, and it was well worth it.
One of the things my husband and I enjoy on vacation is to visit some of the higher-end hotel bars to grab a couple drinks and a snack. This day, when we got off of the Whistler gondola, we stopped in to The Mallard Lounge at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler and sat on the terrace. It was the perfect place to sit and relax after a busy morning…and there are lawn games there for the kids too!
Before our final activity that evening, we had dinner at what ended up being our favorite restaurant in Whistler, Pizzeria Antico. We had salad, a margarita pizza, and more beer (I’m not normally a beer drinker, but when in Rome…). We sat on the patio outside and had a fabulous meal!
Finally, one of the highlights of the trip, was something we almost didn’t do. I had read mixed reviews and really wasn’t sure if I would like it, but we decided to go for it and headed to the Scandinave Spa. It’s a Thermal Spa (there are three other Scandinave Spa locations in Canada); essentially all outside in the most beautiful forest setting, and seriously one of the most unique experiences I’ve had. Their website describes the health benefits of this routine in more detail, but you do a 30-minute cycle through a hot environment (steam room, sauna), then a brief cold environment (cold pool, water fall), followed by relaxing environment (hammocks, Adirondack chairs around a fire). We tried them all, and stayed almost 3 hours. The hardest part is there are no phones allowed and no talking (books are allowed)! Also, it is for ages 18 and up only. Reservations are recommended, particularly if you want to pay extra for a massage, but we called ahead and were told we could just walk up that evening (it’s less expensive if you walk up too). It’s not cheap, but once you’re in you can stay all day long if you’d like! I wasn’t able to take pictures inside, but here are a couple photos of the entrance to give you an idea of the setting. Ahhh….
If you’re traveling with kids or teens that are too young for the spa, you could spend the evening in the souvenir and t-shirt shops, get some ice cream, and check out The Great Glass Elevator Candy Shop.
DAY 3: BIKING AROUND THE LAKES
This was our last day in Whistler, and we only stayed for a half day before heading back to Vancouver. We rented bikes just down the road from our hotel; it was fairly inexpensive, and you can rent by the hour or by the day. There are bike trails everywhere with several lakes, beaches, parks, etc. to stop at along the way. The trails are fairly flat, and suitable for all ages. We biked around Green Lake (you can watch the sea planes take off and land from this lake, which is really cool), as well as Lost Lake (this one has a popular beach along the route that would be perfect for a little picnic if you plan ahead). We were short on time, so we had a quick lunch in town and then headed back down the Sea-to-Sky Highway to Vancouver for the remainder of our trip. See my post on 3 Days in Vancouver, BC for that itinerary!
