There are many reasons why Whistler is consistently rated the number-one ski area in North America by Skiing magazine. First and foremost, Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains are huge. Together, they make up the biggest ski domain this side of the Alps. With more than 5,000 vertical feet of skiing and a gigantic number of skiable chutes, bowls, and tree-lined cruisers, you are just beginning to know your way around these mountains after a week's stay. Add a mind-boggling panorama from the summit and a modern base village with excellent dining choices, and you get the full picture.
2010 marks the year the Winter Games head to British Columbia, with Whistler hosting all alpine skiing, Nordic, and sliding events. But, you don't have to hang with the rest of the world to appreciate that yearly average of 30 feet of powder. Don't expect a Podunk town in the middle of the boonies. Sure, bears hibernate in those backwoods. At the base of Whistler, however, pedestrian plazas are connected by cobblestone walkways with low-lying boutique shops and restaurants that don't obstruct the view of the twin peaks. Top-level hoteliers like the Fairmont and Four Seasons have found their way to the slippery slopes and will do almost anything to make sure your stay is a comfortable one.
Whistler is also home to one of the longest ski and snowboarding seasons in North America. The resort opens in mid-November and closes in mid-June. Not merely content to offer some 200-plus trails on more than 7,000 acres of terrain, Whistler has introduced backcountry skiing, beyond the boundaries of the ski area. Professional guides take intermediate and advanced skiers on full-day adventures through pristine powder.
With those snowcapped peaks brimming in the background, Whistler reigns supreme year-round. Summer activities include heli-hiking, mountain-biking, and paddling, often in the company of bears and bald eagles. The warm weather months are the only times of year you can take the glorious Whistler Mountaineer train ride from Vancouver and ditch the car altogether.
Whistler Family Vacations
Written by Stephen Jermanok
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Latest Whistler Trip Report
by JTatsuno
One of the prettiest places that you'd ever want to visit. The scenery is spectacular. They typically have snow at the top of the mountain all year ...
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