FREE WINTER 2020 volume 14: issue 1
the insiders’ guide to whistler
ADVENTURE WITH US
SNOWMOBILE
ADVENTURES ADVENTUR S
BLACKCOMB & CALLAGHAN
604.938.1616 | CANADIANWILDERNESS.COM ADVENTURE DESK: CARLETON LODGE, 4280 MOUNTAIN SQUARE
Your adventure awaits Ziptrek Ecotours hosts a selection of breathtaking zipline tours. Our wilderness adventure area is located directly above Whistler Village, in the spectacular temperate rainforest valley between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains.
Discover eco-exhilarationÂŽ
ziptrek.com 604.935.0001
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FREE DELIVERY IN-ROOM FITTING SLOPESIDE SERVICE
#1 Ranked Ski & Board Rental Service "Service and Convenience That Can't be Beat!"
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T: 604-966-2122 W: whistler.blacktieskis.com E: info@blacktiewhistler.com
WHISTLER'S LARGEST SELECTION OF BRANDS
inside. 04 42 54 60 80
Welcome to Whistler
WELCOME TO WHISTLER
04
Welcome to the best mountain resort in North America. Find out why in FAQ.
EVENTS CALENDAR
10
ON THE MOUNTAINS
14
99 Things to Do These are just the highlights to get you started on your Whistler adventures.
Health, Fitness & Spas Recharge the body, the soul and the mind in this mountain Mecca.
Shop Bring home a little piece of Whistler in your suitcase. FAQ is your one-stop shopping guide.
Food & Drink Foodies rejoice! Whistler has it all from burgers to fine dining. Use FAQ to help you decide.
F.A.Q., The Insiders’ Guide is published by Whistler Publishing Limited Partnership, 103-1390 Alpha Lake Rd, Whistler, BC, V8E 0H9 Phone: 604.938.0202 Fax: 604.938.0201. ISSN 1911 6535. © Copyright 2019. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the publisher’s written permission.
20 HELISKIING 34 SNOWMOBILING 36 WINTER ADVENTURES 38 FAMILY 40 99 THINGS TO DO 42
ACTIVITIES
HEALTH, FITNESS & SPAS
54
SHOPPING & SERVICES
60
ART SCENE
74
FOOD & DRINK
80
APRÈS
94
F.A.Q.'S
102
MAPS
104
WELCOME TO WHISTLER
Read about Star Shooter, David McColm on page 74 PHOTO BY DAVID MCCOLM
T
here’s no doubt about it: Whistler is a charmed place. This magic is captured so perfectly by night sky photographer David McColm in the photo above —a star-studded sky, the enigmatic Milky Way, and the warm glow from the Village nestled in the valley. Stay here awhile and you’ll soon be enchanted too.
In the meantime, keep FAQ handy to make the most of your time here. This magazine is a window into our unique town, its mysteries revealed in the following pages. You’ll find helpful hints on how to get around, where to find the best shopping and the best dining, the fun things to do and the places to explore. There are local profiles too, the characters who live and work and play in these mountains. Get to know them and you’ll soon have an idea of the heart and soul of this extraordinary mountain playground. 4
WELCOME TO WHISTLER
thank you
TO OUR INSIDERS:
14 LOGAN Ski Pro
Pehota is always thinking about ways to push the boundaries in his sport.
20 KATHERINE Adventure Manager
“Ziptrek was built on a purpose— to get people to connect with nature...”
54 SARAH Smile Maker
“That’s the joy—helping people feel better and enjoy their lives more.”
60 LISA Savvy Shopper
“I moved here and I knew right away that I’m where I’m supposed to be.”
74 DAVID Star Shooter
“I don’t think I would have done any of this if it wasn’t for Whistler.” 6
The Coca-Cola® Tube Park offers tons of snow sliding fun! With multiple lanes ranging from snow and steady, to fast and furious, we’ve got an adventure that’s just your speed. Sliders must be minimum 3 years old and 36in / 91cm tall.
Visit whistlerblackcomb.com for up to date operations
LOCATED AT BASE II ON BLACKCOMB MOUNTAIN
WELCOME TO WHISTLER
thank you
TO OUR INSIDERS:
80 JEREMY Soul Searcher
“I’m just a simple guy, trying to bring something back to locals..”
94 WHITNEY It’s Always Après
“I want to catch people in the heart. I want them to be emotionally invested in it.” Sarah Strother
PUBLISHER
YEARS IN WHISTLER:
12 RAISED IN: Oakville, ON WHY WHISTLER: What a great place to raise two young boys. Alison Taylor EDITOR YEARS IN WHISTLER: 18 RAISED IN: Thornhill, ON WHY WHISTLER: To report the news from Canada’s best ski/bike resort. Karl Partington PRODUCTION MANAGER YEARS IN WHISTLER: 19 RAISED IN: Burlington, ON WHY WHISTLER: Snowboarding. Came for a night and never left. Catherine Power-Chartrand SALES MANAGER YEARS IN WHISTLER: 33 RAISED IN: Muskoka, ON WHY WHISTLER: Came for a winter, loved it and never left! TO ADVERTISE...
faq@piquenewsmagazine.com or call Catherine at 604.932.1672 8
COVER ILLUSTRATION
Cover art by Claire Ryan
FREE WINTER 2020 volume 14: issue 1
the insiders’ guide to whistler
A graphic designer and illustrator originally from Melbourne, Australia. Claire moved to Canada seeking a life where the lines between hobbies, passions and career are somewhat blurred, and now enjoys life surrounded by large hills, abundant nature and the possibility of snow each winter. INSIDER PHOTOGRAPHY
Logan Swayze loganswayze.com
12 Award-winning beers & Cider on tap Cold Beer to go, Growler fills, Kegs, Pub food, Wearables & Beeraphenalia! LIVE MUSIC EVERY FRIDAY 6-9PM HAPPY HOUR MON-THURS 4-7PM
Professionally Guided
Brewery Tours! TAP HOUSE HOURS:
7 days a week Sun- Thurs 12pm-8pm Fri & Sat 11am- 10pm
1045 Millar Creek Rd
Located in Function Junction whistlerbeer.com
604-962-8889
EVENT CALENDAR
FIRE & ICE SHOW Sunday nights. Skiers and snowboarders jump through blazing rings of fire at the base of Whistler Mountain.
NOV
DEC
November 28
December 4-8
WHISTLER BLACKCOMB OPENING DAY The long wait is finally over. Let the season begin. November 30December 1
FAMILY APRÈS Family-friendly fun après at Whistler Olympic Plaza from 3 to 6 pm. Mon and Wed afternoons.
KOKANEE VALLEY RACE SERIES Recreational race series open to all— skiers, telemarkers and snowboarders. Thursdays. TO MARCH 2020
AMBASSADORS
This temporary exhibit at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre celebrates the family and faces of the SLCC staff, highlighting their strong sense of connection to their land, their cultures and to each other. 10
ARTS WHISTLER HOLIDAY MARKET Get all your holiday presents and goodies at this annual artisan market that takes place over two days with live music and visits from Santa. New location this year at the Westin Resort & Spa. Entry by donation. November 30December 1 BRATZ BIZ Celebrating Whistler’s youngest artists in conjunction with established artisans, Bratz Biz is the perfect complement to the Holiday Market. Also held at the Westin Resort & Spa.
WHISTLER FILM FESTIVAL “Canada’s Coolest Film Festival” is back for its 19th year with more than 90 films, industry events and red carpet premières. December 12 HOLIDAY SINGAPALOOZA WITH BARBED CHOIR Rock choir leader Jeanette Bruce will lead the audience in some holiday favourites and then she’ll work with the group to learn a Christmas classic—with harmonies! At Maury Young Arts Centre. December 13 EMILY CARR’S BIRTHDAY PARTY Head to the Audain Art Museum throughout the day to celebrate Carr’s 148th year.
PHOTOS: Holiday Market & Film Festival: MIKE CRANE / TOURISM WHISTLER
Throughout the winter
EVENT CALENDAR
PHOTOS: Luge World Cup: JUSTA JESKOVA / TOURISM WHISTLER; Holiday Experience & New Years: MIKE CRANE / TOURISM WHISTLER
December 13-14
December 21January 5 (with some exceptions)
celebration which includes music by the Whistler Children’s Chorus and Whistler Singers as well as readings about the birth of Christ. December 31
VIESSMANN LUGE WORLD CUP AND BMW SPRINT WORLD CUP More than 100 of the world’s fastest luge athletes from more than 20 countries will be hurtling down one of the fastest sliding tracks at the Whistler Sliding Centre. December 15 WINTER LIGHTS WITH THE WHISTLER SINGERS Join the Whistler Singers at Our Lady of the Mountains Church as they celebrate the winter in song.
/faqwhistler
WHISTLER HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE A large indoor family zone that will keep kids entertained for hours with bouncy castles, a mini putt, table games and more. At the Whistler Conference Centre. Free for 15 days over the holiday season. December 24 CHRISTMAS EVE CAROL SERVICE Join the community at the Westin Resort & Spa for this interdenominational
NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATIONS Join in the festivities throughout the Village in this family-friendly outdoor party. The evening includes alcoholfree youth activities and fun-filled events throughout the Village.
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EVENT CALENDAR February 21-22
January 18
March 6-7
LOVE IN ALDERAAN PLACES Attention all Star Wars fans! Love in Alderaan Places celebrates your favourite stories and Star Wars characters with dancing, comedy and cheeky satire. At Maury Young Arts Centre. January 26-
February 2 WHISTLER PRIDE AND SKI FESTIVAL Canada’s biggest LGBTQ ski and snowboard week, full of parties and group ski days.
MAR
PEAK TO VALLEY RACE For 36 years, amateur racers have been taking on one of the longest and most legendary races in the world. It starts at the top of Whistler Mountain and ends at the bottom, with roughly 80 leg-burning gates in between.
TELUS WINTER CLASSIC Join in as Whistler takes part in one of its biggest fundraising weekends of the year with an annual ski race and the always-epic party at the Roundhouse. March 22
February 22
FEB February 5 ANDREW COLLINS TRIO Master of the mandolin, Andrew Collins hits the stage with Mike Mezzatesta and James McEleney showcasing different styles and instruments on stage. At Maury Young Arts Centre. 12
COAST OUTDOORS PAYAK 2020 The Coast Outdoors P’ayakentsut, or “Payak,” is an event for all ages and levels of cross country skiers.
ARTS WHISTLER LIVE! COMEDY DOUBLE-HEADER Two stars of Canadian comedy take the stage in Whistler—Charlie Demers and Ivan Decker, favourites from CBC’s The Debaters. At Maury Young Arts Centre.
PHOTOS: Whistler Pride & Peak to Valley Race: MIKE CRANE / TOURISM WHISTLER; Payak 2020: JUSTA JESKOVA / TOURISM WHISTLER; Winter Classic: KARL PARTINGTON; Comedy: TARA O’DOHERTY / TOURISM WHISTLER;
JAN
EVENT CALENDAR
APR
MAY
April 15-19
PHOTOS: WSSF & GoFest: JUSTA JESKOVA / TOURISM WHISTLER; Whistler Cup: MIKE CRANE / TOURISM WHISTLER
TBA
May 15-18
WORLD SKI AND SNOWBOARD FESTIVAL Whistler always caps off the ski season with a five-day party to end all parties in the mountains. WWW.PIQU ENEWSMA 26.26 JUNE 27, 2019 ISSUE
WHISTLER CUP Cheer on the next generation of ski racers as athletes ages 12 to 15 suit up and put their skills to the test. The Whistler Cup is the biggest race of its kind in North America.
GO (GREAT OUTDOORS) FESTIVAL
April 19
May 25
BLACKCOMB MOUNTAIN CLOSING DAY
WHISTLER MOUNTAIN CLOSING DAY
GAZINE.CO M
FREEE HEALTHCAR
OCTO BER
10, 2019
WWW.PIQU
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ISSUE 26.41
AZINE .COM
FR EE R NAP POWE
Fresh Food, Refreshing Prices!
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SOFI REPORT
Earnings and spending
at the RMOW for 2018
38
JOFFRE LAKES PLAN
The province
releases park plan
16
ality IST Municip WHA WAITL waitlist owners hip examin es
84
Catch The Tenors at 1 Olympic Plaza on July
CANADA DAY
28
CLIMATE TALK
Scienti sts
platform s election party
weigh in on
100
Whistler Gets It NEW EVERY THURSDAY /faqwhistler
eous S The Courag at The Point Ranger s are
GIVING THANK Mounta in
Local Live Music 7 Nights a Week
604.938.1081
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ON THE MOUNTAINS
D
on’t let the effortless grace of the backflip fool you; it was a heart-pumping, somewhat nerve-wracking ski through the forest, admits Logan Pehota, before launching into a backflip over a moving train. But, the photo was worth it.
Shared thousands of times on social media, the viral shot shows Pehota upside down against a moody sky, skis effortlessly extended and body relaxed, as a red CN train rounds the bend in the Pemberton. There’s something so daring, so cheeky, so original in the stunt that you can’t help but wonder about the 24-year-old skier behind it.
He’s travelled the world with his skis but nothing comes close to the surrounding Sea to Sky backcountry on a fresh powder day—Brandywine, Rutherford, Pemberton—and, more often than not, he’s with his brother and his dad. In fact, it was his dad who was behind the lens for that train shot last January, knowing that the jump had been practiced over and over again: repetition, concentration, risk calculation, execution. The hallmarks of any pro skier. Just like other young sponsored athletes making a name for themselves these days, Pehota is always thinking about ways to push the boundaries in his sport, to capture that next cool shot to get people talking. “That’s definitely always on my mind!” he says. Stay tuned. 14
PHOTO: LOGAN SWAYZE / LOGANSWAYZE.COM
As it turns out, pushing the boundaries in skiing runs deep in Pehota’s bones; his father Eric Pehota was a big mountain ski pioneer in the early 1990s, credited with more than 40 first descents. Like most kids who grow up in the shadow of North America’s largest ski resort, Logan Pehota has been skiing his whole life—ski school lessons starting at three years old, moving into racing with the Whistler Mountain Ski Club in his teenage years. It was a natural transition to then star in ski movies as well as compete in the Freeride World Tour where he podiumed several times in the last three years. He has decided not to do as many far-flung competitions this season, his reason simply: “So I can actually be around Whistler and Pemberton more and be where I like to ski and snowmobile the most.”
Logan Pehota Ski Pro
Insider
ON THE MOUNTAINS
15
ON THE MOUNTAINS
BLACKCOMB PEAK
2,284 M (7,494 FT)
HORSTMAN HUT
RENDEZVOUS LODGE GLACIER CREEK LODGE CRYSTAL HUT
Competition is king on Whistler Blackcomb, whether it’s the sickest tricks, the biggest air, or the fastest times. Here’s a little slice of the competition throughout the winter season. 16
UPPER VILLAGE THURSDAYS
WHISTLER VILLAGE
KOKANEE VALLEY RACE SERIES: Every Thursday throughout the season, amateur racers wax up their skis and snowboards and stand in the gates. No racing experience required. There are different gender and age divisions.
DECEMBER KING AND QUEEN OF THE RAIL CONTEST: This is a three-part series in a rail jam contest that culminates in the crowning of the King and Queen of the
ON THE MOUNTAINS
WHISTLER PEAK
2,182 M (7,160 FT) HARMONY HUT
ROUNDHOUSE UMBRELLA BAR CHIC PEA
RAVEN’S NEST
Rail on the final night. Contests take place on Dec. 20, 27 and Jan. 3 in the evenings beside the Fitzsimmons Chair at the base of Whistler Mountain.
FEBRUARY PEAK TO VALLEY RACE: As the name suggests, this long-standing race starts at the top of Whistler Mountain and does not let up until you get to the bottom, with roughly 80 punishing gates to burn past along the way. The Peak to Valley gives new meaning to “thighburning.” Feb. 21-22.
CREEKSIDE APRIL WHISTLER CUP: This international ski event brings some of the fastest racers in the world, aged 12-15. The Whistler Cup is one of the largest and most important ski races in North America. Check out the up and coming talent, April 15-19. WSSF: The heart of the World Ski and Snowboard Festival is its on-mountain competitions from the jaw-dropping Ski and Snowboard Big Air to the heart-pumping Saudan Couloir Race Extreme. 17
T
he mountains are calling but where should I go?
Q:
What are the Spearhead Huts?
Whistler’s winter visitors, looking for the inside scoop, often wonder: Which is better, Whistler Mountain or Blackcomb A: Mountain? If you have just one day to ski The first of three or snowboard, where should you go? backcountry huts in That’s not an easy question to answer. the nearby Spearhead Maybe the numbers can put things in Traverse is open for perspective. guests this winter season. It is called the Whistler Mountain is older…when it Kees and Claire Hut. comes to skiing. The first chairlift started When complete, this turning in the winter of 1966; Blackcomb project will offer the first opened in 1980. So, Whistler gets hut-to-hut experience, credibility for its longevity. in summer and winter, on the West Coast. They boast similar terrain and vertical: Whistler with 1,925 hectares (4,757 acres) of skiable terrain, Blackcomb with 18
PHOTO: Sky: ROBIN O’NEILL / TOURISM WHISTLER; Heli: KARINA ERHARDT / TOURISM WHISTLER
ON THE MOUNTAINS
PHOTO: Skiing: VINCE EMOND / TOURISM WHISTLER; Chairlift: JUSTA JESKOVA / TOURISM WHISTLER
ON THE MOUNTAINS
1,382 hectares (3,414 acres). Whistler’s terrain is 20 per cent beginner, 55 per cent intermediate, 25 per cent advanced. Blackcomb is similar, with slightly more advanced terrain. Both have more than 100 trails; both have four terrain parks. But those are just the numbers. Consider this: Whistler boasts the epic Peak to Creek run, an 11-kilometre descent and when you hit this on the right day, there is nothing better, even with the leg burn. Blackcomb is home to the Crystal zone and in there you’ll find the Crystal trees, an eerie zone of burned out, blackened trees, the remnants of a forest fire about a decade ago. It’s unlike anything you’ve ever skied before. Best of all, however, is the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, which allows you to easily explore Blackcomb and Whistler in one day. The gondola can ferry you from one mountain to the next, and back again, all within minutes. Both mountains are yours discover in one day. So go out and see for yourself. It’s not easy picking a favourite but you’ll have a moment of clarity that will come as you’re gliding off the chairlift or as you’re waiting to drop into a run, that will stop you in your tracks. “This is it,” you’ll think to yourself. “It doesn’t get any better than this.” Until the next day. /faqwhistler
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Insider
ACTIVITIES
Katherine
Tilley
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Adv t e M ag
ACTIVITIES
E
ven for the General Manager of Ziptrek Ecotours, that first step off the Sasquatch zipline platform, seemingly into the abyss, never gets easy. It’s a near free fall at the beginning and it never fails to take Katherine Tilley to the very edge of her boundaries. But what a rush when you start to fly!
PHOTO: LOGAN SWAYZE / LOGANSWAYZE.COM
In 2006 Tilley had her feet firmly planted on the ground in Whistler, a good job in management at a large hotel and solid, safe opportunities on the horizon. And then she went on her first tour with Ziptrek Ecotours and everything changed. After a three-hour adventure high in the trees of Whistler’s coastal temperate rainforest, Tilley was hooked. The small local business and the eco-experience resonated so deeply within; she couldn’t ignore it. “Ziptrek was built on a purpose—to get people to connect with nature in a fun way—and learn about the importance of the natural systems on which we all depend,” says Tilley. Tilley worked in human resources, operations, and business expansion and is now general manager, where she has been putting her commerce degree from McMaster University to good use. The summer before she started at Ziptrek, the company doubled in size by adding a second course in Whistler. New locations then opened in Queenstown, New Zealand and in Mont Tremblant, Quebec; temporary courses were erected for the Olympics, Super Bowls and Grey Cups; and then came the inimitable Sasquatch line—a hair-raising line that clocks in at the longest in Canada and the U.S. at more than two kilometres long. Tilley has been an integral part of this key expansion and growth phase for the organization. Growing up on a farm in Dixons Corners, a hamlet of 100 or so people south of Ottawa near the St. Lawrence River, a place as idyllic as it sounds, Tilley learned the value of hard work. She has seen is this pay off in Whistler where she is now raising her young family. This place has a small town feel intertwined with an urban vibe and international flair. And then there is that influx of fresh energy at the start of every winter when workers arrive for their first season. “Seeing their excitement to have made it to Whistler, even if just for a season…it’s always a reminder of how lucky I am to call it my home.” 21
ACTIVITIES
S
kiing has long been the lifeblood of this mountain town. It’s why people made the arduous journey into the mountains every weekend; in fact, skiing was pretty much the only reason why people came to Whistler in the winter in the sixties and seventies. There were four simple chairlifts on Whistler Mountain back in the day and a whole lot of mountain to explore. This place was not for the faint of heart. From those humble beginnings an international ski resort was born. In the ensuing years, as more and more people discovered Whistler, there was a subtle shift from old-school ski resort to four-season mountain playground. It wasn’t long until we were heli-skiing in the backcountry and cross country skiing in the valley. Then snowboarding arrived, making its mark with a bang. It’s been a steady stream of adventures ever since, from bungee jumping over the Cheakamus River to ziplining through the forest. While skiing is still Whistler’s raison d’etre, it’s no longer our sole passion. Far from it. So, don’t be afraid to think beyond the obvious when you’re in Whistler. You can do it all—from eagle watching in Squamish to wine tasting in Lillooet. Snowshoe in deep powder or narrow your sites at biathlon. Skate over frozen lakes or tour the backcountry. Fly high in the air or tour enchanted forests that come to life at night. There’s so much choice. See you in the mountains. 22
ACTIVITIES ACIVITIES Vallea Lumina Join an evening excursion to find two longago hikers. This 1 km trail will take visitors on a multimedia night walk in pursuit of hidden wonders. 1.833.800.8480 vallealumina.com AD PG5 MAP U12
ADVENTURE TOURS Canadian Wilderness Adventures Explore the stunning Callaghan backcountry and Blackcomb Mountain with Whistler’s premier year round activity operator. Canadian’s variety of tours are suitable for groups, single riders, couples and families. Choose from a thrilling snowmobile tour, snowshoe into a majestic old growth forest, take an exhilarating run with sled dogs, or journey by snowmobile or snowcat to the Crystal Hut, 6,000ft. atop Blackcomb Mountain for the famous mountain top fondue dinner. 604.938.1616 adventuredesk@canadian01.com canadianwilderness.com AD INSIDE COVER MAP T11, K12 Ziptrek Ecotours This is Whistler’s No.1 year-round activity! Choose between 3 exciting multi-line zipline tours or “go all in” for a mammoth adventure. Experience ziplines, suspension bridges and treetop platforms in the ancient rainforest between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains! Our unique Après 24
ACTIVITIES Tours are offered in winter season. 604.935.0001 or 1.866.935.0001 ziptrek.com AD PG1 MAP T11
CATSKIING
Blackcomb Catski Experience spectacular untracked powder every run! Full day cat ski, private charters AXE THROWING available and no lift lines! Hotel pick up, lunch included. At the Hilton Whistler Resort. Forged Axe Throwing 604.905.7002 Whistler’s No. 1 Rated Activity for Groups. blackcombcatski.com Don’t miss this exhilarating, uniquely MAP T12 Canadian experience. Reserve your axe throwing session today! CINEMAS 778.770.1439 events@forgedaxe.ca forgedaxe.ca AD PG32 MAP PG104 #2
BUNGEE JUMPING Whistler Bungee Whistler’s ultimate adrenaline rush provides a 160ft heart-pounding drop that no other activity can compare to. Booking location: 19-4314 Main Street, Whistler Village 604.938.9333 or 1.877.938.9333 whistlerbungee.com AD PG24 MAP L12
Imagine Cinemas Village 8 The Sea to Sky’s only movie theatre. Located underneath Mongolie Grill on Whistler’s Village Stroll. For tickets, visit imaginecinemas.com MAP P12
SNOWSHOE
ADVENTURES ADVENTUR DVENTURES DVENTUR VENTUR 604-938-1616 l CANADIANWILDERNESS.COM ADVENTURE DESK: CARLETON LODGE, MOUNTAIN SQUARE
/faqwhistler
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ACTIVITIES every hour, connecting visitors with ambassadors from both nations. Also on Cross Country Connection site is an indigenous-inspired café and Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe rentals, Whistler’s largest first nation gift shop. lessons, and trail passes in beautiful Lost 604.964.0990 Lake Park. Organically-minded café with slcc.ca deliciously hand-crafted food. AD PG30 MAP I5 604.905.0071 info@crosscountryconnection.ca DOGSLEDDING crosscountryconnection.ca Blackcomb Dog Sled AD PG37 MAP F6 Get whisked away on our dog sled tour Lost Lake Nordic Trails through the beautiful Callaghan Valley. Visit the dogs, learn about the sport Walking distance from Whistler Village, enjoy over 25km of cross country ski trails of dog sledding and try your hand at with incredible mountain views. Groomed mushing. The true Canadian Experience! Hilton Whistler Resort daily for classic and skate skiing. Open 604.932.6681 8am to 8pm daily. blackcombdogsled.com 604.935.PLAY(7529) parksrec@whistler.ca AD PG26 MAP T12 whistler.ca/nordic Canadian Wilderness Adventures AD PG23 MAP F6 A real CANADIAN experience. Your eager
CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
CULTURAL CENTRE Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) Whistler’s immersive indigenous cultural centre offers guided tours on the hour,
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& powerful dog team will lead you into the magnificent old growth forest of the Callaghan Valley. Join your professional musher in harnessing the dogs, learn about the sport of dog sledding and even try your hand at mushing.
ACTIVITIES 604.938.1616 adventuredesk@canadian01.com canadianwilderness.com AD PG31 MAP T11, K12
ECO TOURS
PHOTO: JUSTA JESKOVA / TOURISM WHISTLER
TreeTrek Canopy Walk Discover the secrets of the world’s most productive forest from suspension bridges and observation platforms up to 200ft in the treetops between Whistler and Blackcomb. 604.935.0001 or 1.866.935.0001 ziptrek.com AD PG1 MAP T11
FAMILY FUN FREE Fire and Ice Show An electric mix of music, dance and spinning fire. Watch world-class athletes flipping and twisting through a burning ring of fire, then finish the night off with a fireworks display. Free family event every Sunday evening from mid-Dec. to March, at the base of the Whistler Village Gondola MAP U10
Vallea Lumina Join an evening excursion to find two long-ago hikers. This 1 km trail will take visitors on a multimedia night walk in pursuit of hidden wonders. 1.833.800.8480 vallealumina.com AD PG5 MAP U12
FONDUE BACKCOUNTRY DINING Blackcomb Snowmobile Enjoy traditional fondue or West Coast cuisine at our exclusive and remote log cabin 604.932.8484 blackombsnowmobile.com AD PG40 MAP T12
HELI-ADVENTURES Blackcomb Helicopters Explore the Whistler/Blackcomb resort area by air with Blackcomb Helicopters. Choose your own adventure! Heli-picnics, glacier exploration, wedding proposals, backcountry ski drop-offs and more are available. 1.800.330.HELI(4354) blackcombhelicopters.com AD PG35 MAP U12
WHISTLER SNOWMOBILE RIDE LIKE A LOCAL Tours | Rentals
604-905-7002
Brandywine Valley, Whistler whistlersnowmobile.com
/faqwhistler
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ACTIVITIES HELI-ADVENTURES - cont’d Head-Line Mountain Holidays Specializing in exclusive, luxury-based holiday experiences in unique, otherworldly settings. Our inspiring, secluded destinations are blended with sensational service and comfort. Outdoor adventures from your imagination, brought to life! 604.902.6415 headlinemountainholidays.com AD PG39
HELI-SKIING Whistler Heli-Skiing A classic Canadian heli-skiing experience, featuring 432,000 acres of exclusive terrain with 173 glaciers and 475 runs. Multiple packages available utilizing 5 and
10 passenger helicopters. Visit us in the Carleton Lodge 604.905.DEEP or 1.888.HELI.SKI. whistlerheliskiing.com MAP U11
HORSE DRAWN SLEIGH RIDES Blackcomb Sleighrides It’s a Whistler tradition – horse drawn sleigh rides, covered sleighs, draft horses, scenic tours – fun for the whole family. 604.932.7631 blackcombsleighrides.com AD PG36 MAP T12
HILTON WHISTLER RESORT
604-932-8484
www.blackcombsnowmobile.com
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ACTIVITIES MOUNTAIN TOP DINING Canadian Wilderness Adventures Mountain Top Fondue Combine a snowmobile adventure with a three-course fondue dinner at the famous Crystal Hut, located 6,000ft atop Blackcomb Mountain. Includes live entertainment. 604.938.1616 adventuredesk@canadian01.com canadianwilderness.com AD PG87,93 MAP T11, K12
OUTDOOR ICE SKATING Whistler Olympic Plaza Located in the heart of Whistler Village. This skating experience is one you won’t soon forget. Admission is free, $7 skate
/faqwhistler
rentals. Free (limited supply) of helmets. 604.935.PLAY(7529) parksrec@whistler.ca whistler.ca/skating AD PG23 MAP I11
PRIVATE BACKCOUNTRY DINING Blackcomb Snowmobile Enjoy exclusive backcountry dining at its best. Private Snowcat available for groups of 10+ starting at $1,790. Enjoy traditional fondue or West Coast cuisine at our exclusive and remote log cabin. At the Hilton Whistler Resort, lobby level. 604.932.8484 blackombsnowmobile.com AD PG28 MAP T12
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ACTIVITIES SIGHTSEEING
SNOWMOBILING
Blackcomb Helicopters Get a bird’s eye view of the Whistler/ Blackcomb resort area by helicopter. These stunning tours include a backcountry glacier landing, mountain peaks, and frozen glacier-fed lakes that lie beyond the boundaries of the resort. 1.800.330.HELI(4354) blackcombhelicopters.com AD PG35 MAP U12
Blackcomb Snowmobiles Ltd. Explore Whistler’s Best Backcountry Terrain! From beginner to advanced riders. Fondue dinners, wilderness tours, family tours. We’ve got something for all ability levels. Experience what the beautiful Brandywine valley has to offer. Hilton Whistler Resort, lobby level. 604.932.8484 blackcombsnowmobile.com AD PG28 MAP T12
SKI AND BOARD RENTALS Black Tie Ski Rentals - Slopeside Come get fit for your ski and board equipment in a luxury fitting lounge at one of our convenient slopeside locations. Whistler Village - Sundial Boutique Hotel 7:30a.m. to 6:30p.m. Upper Village/Blackcomb Base - Le Chamois Hotel 7:30a.m to 7p.m. 604.966.2122 blacktieslopeside.com AD PG2 MAP N5
Canadian Wilderness Adventures Tours for all ability levels. Our skilled guides will thrill you with a true backcountry experience or a family friendly adventure in the spectacular Callaghan Valley, or treat you to exclusive night rides and fondue dinner on Blackcomb Mountain. 604.938.1616 adventuredesk@canadian01.com canadianwilderness.com AD INSIDE COVER MAP T11, K12
FIRST NATIONS WINTER FEAST Book Online: SLCC.CA/Feast 30
ACTIVITIES Whistler Snowmobile Whistler’s longest running snowmobile tour company. Spectacular backcountry tours for all ability levels. Snowmobile rentals and backcountry equipment also available. Ride like a local, with a local! Hotel pick up available 604.905.7002 whistlersnowmobile.com AD PG27 MAP T12
brief history of the area’s traditional use. 604.938.1616 adventuredesk@canadian01.com canadianwilderness.com AD PG25 MAP T11, K12
Cross Country Connection Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe rentals, lessons, and trail passes in beautiful Lost Lake Park. Organically-minded café with deliciously hand-crafted food. SNOWSHOEING 604.905.0071 Blackcomb Adventures info@crosscountryconnection.ca Discover Whistler’s history crosscountryconnection.ca one step at a time on our “Eagle Summit” AD PG37 MAP F6 or “Teepee” snowshoe tour. A great introduction to the sport of Snowshoeing. Lost Lake Nordic Trails 604.932.8484 Walking distance from Whistler Village, blackcombsnowmobile.com enjoy over 15km of snowshoe trails MAP T12 through the forest of Lost Lake Park. One of the most affordable outdoor activities in Canadian Wilderness Adventures town. Open 8am to 3pm daily. Explore the Callaghan backcountry and 604.935.PLAY(7529) majestic old growth forest as you trek along parksrec@whistler.ca the Medicine Trail. Let our guides introduce whistler.ca/nordic you to some philosophies of tree medicine that our great ancestors lived by along with a AD PG23 MAP F6
DOGSLED ADVENTURES
604-938-1616 l CANADIANWILDERNESS.COM ADVENTURE DESK: CARLETON LODGE, MOUNTAIN SQUARE
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ACTIVITIES backcountry Teepee for evening Charcuterie and mulled wine or hot cider Meadow Park Sports Centre Hilton Whistler Resort Affordable fun for the whole family. 604.932-8484 Meadow Park Sports Centre offers an NHL- whistlersnowshoe.com sized ice rink, a 4,500sq.ft. fitness centre, AD PG40 MAP T12 a fitness studio, two squash courts, a half basketball court, a 25-metre lap pool, a TUBING sauna, a hot-tub, a steam room and a kids Coca Cola® Tube Park pool. Located five minutes north of the Offers tons of snow sliding fun for the Village at 8625 Highway 99. whole family. There’s no skill or equipment 604.935.PLAY(7529) required - just a sense of adventure and parksrec@whistler.ca a desire for excitement. Open daily from whistler.ca/recreation early-December to mid-April. Located at AD PG23 MAP PG107 #6 Base II on Blackcomb Mountain, catch
SPORTS CENTRE
TEEPEE TOURS Whistler’s newest Après experience Snowshoe or Snowmobile to a
a free ride up from Whistler Village via Excalibur Gondola. 1.800.766.0449
the most fun you'll have off the mountain! throw axes today! 32
ACTIVITIES whistlerblackcomb.com AD PG7 MAP Y2
WALKABOUT TASTING TOURS Whistler Tasting Tours Whistler’s No. 1 dining experience! Daily tours that visit several amazing restaurants for a delicious multi-course lunch, dinner or dessert. Indulge your palate! 604.902.8687 info@whistlertastingtours.com whistlertastingtours.com MAP W13
Choose between 3 exciting multiline zipline tours or “go all in” for a mammoth adventure. Experience ziplines, suspension bridges and treetop platforms in the ancient rainforest between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains! Our unique Après Tours are offered in winter season. 604.935.0001 or 1.866.935.0001 ziptrek.com AD PG1 MAP T11
ZIPLINING Ziptrek Ecotours This is Whistler’s #1 year-round activity!
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HELI-SKIING
H
ow can you sum up a day spent heli-skiing in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia? Truth be told, it’s something you need to experience for yourself to truly understand the epic proportions of this adventure.
Heli-skiing has been part of the Whistler ski experience for four decades. That deep history brings a wealth of knowledge to the heli-ski adventure. You are in good, capable hands with the local guides when it comes to safely finding the best powder on any given day. The added bonus of course is the bird’s eye view of the Sea to Sky corridor along the way. There is truly no better way of understanding the natural majesty of “supernatural British Columbia” than seeing it from above. They say that every skier or snowboarder should experience the thrill of heli-skiing at least once in their lifetime. Your time is now.
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PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
When the snow is just right and the weather holds, heli-skiing is a bucket list experience that is hard to top. Doing it on the doorstep of North America’s largest ski resort is just the icing on the cake. Feel the thrill of flying away from the crowds to remote untouched glaciers, packed with powder where hundreds of big mountain runs rest at your disposal, not a lift line in sight. So, let’s put it this way: Heli-skiing is like flying first class; once you get a taste of it, you never want to go back to coach!
ADVENTURES POWERED BY
Proud to be a 100% carbon neutral company
Sightseeing Tours with Glacier Landings
W
histler and Blackcomb mountains are really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Sea to Sky corridor and all it has to offer. There is a vast playground just beyond the ski area boundaries, stretching out into the untamed wilderness. And one of the best ways to see what it’s all about is via snowmobile. Fast and fun, agile and nimble, snowmobiling is the perfect way to
Step back in time for an
unforgettable experience!
BLACKCOMB SLEIGHRIDES 604-932-7631
blackcombsleighrides.com
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PHOTO: BRETT HITCHINS / TOURISM WHISTLER
SNOWMOBILING
SNOWMOBILING
Q:
get deeper into the backcountry and experience “supernatural B.C.” Check What is the out the renowned Pemberton Ice Cap to north or the spectacular Brandywine Pemberton Ice the and Callaghan Valley areas to the south. Whistler snowmobiling tours offer Cap? something for everyone. There are Fresh Tracks tours for the early birds in the A: crisp morning mountain air or Night Rider The Pemberton Ice Cap tours for those who want to adventure by is a massive area of thick moonlight. And there’s the gamut of tours snow and ice, stretching in between from easy-going beginner more than 300 square rides around old-growth forests to the kilometres in the Sea to extreme side of things where you can Sky corridor. This is the work the snowmobile over powder fields in southernmost ice cap high alpine bowls. It’s a vast backcountry in Canada and it’s right playground and that means there’s on Whistler’s doorstep. something for everyone. Even kids get to It’s a winter playground experience the thrill of snowmobiling too full of peaks and valleys with Mini-Z snowmobiles on a specially with powder perfect for designed track. snowmobilers. And you thought Whistler was all about skiing!
cross country connection
Rentals Skills Tours
whistler • 604.905.0071 • crosscountryconnection.ca 37
I
t would be easy to pigeon-hole Whistler into a ski town in the winter and a bike town in the summer. The truth is, there’s a whole world of activities beyond the obvious. Perhaps it would be more accurate to call this an adventure-lover’s paradise with year-round options to fuel your adrenalin. BUNGEE JUMPING , for example, isn’t what immediately springs to mind when you think about a Whistler vacation. It turns out this is one of the most popular adventures, winter or summer, rain or shine. The bungee bridge is set into the forest on the southern edge of Whistler. The jump takes place over the rushing Cheakamus River, a quiet magical spot whether blanketed in snow or under the summer sun. Whistler is also home to two ZIPLINE companies offering unique tours up high. At Superfly Ziplines you can try out the longest tandem ziplines in Canada. At Ziptrek Ecotours you can do the Sasquatch, more than 2 kilometres, making it the longest zipline in Canada and the United States (this line is open only in the summer but Ziptrek has many other tours year-round). And let’s not forget about the fastest ice track in the world at the Whistler Sliding Centre, home of the sliding events for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. In the winter you can try your hand in the BOBSLEIGH or SKELETON . In the summer it becomes Rolling Thunder, a bobsleigh on wheels with guests tucked behind a professional bobsleigh pilot. No excuses then for not getting your heart pumping while in Whistler. 38
PHOTOS: Zipline: BRETT HITCHINS / TOURISM WHISTLER; Bobsleigh: BLAKE JORGENSON / TOURISM WHISTLER
WINTER ADVENTURES
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FAMILY
MOUNTAIN
Fondue
Wh i s t l e r ’ s B e s t
BACKCOUNTRY DINING
Apres
SNOWSHOE
604-932-8484
Hilton Resort Whistler
blackcombnowmobile.com
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W
histler can be all things to all people. It’s a playground for the rich and famous; it’s a thrill zone for adventure seekers; and, it’s a mountain playground for families where kids can enjoy the snow and the scene as much as adults. Here are just a few family-fun suggestions to make the most of your time in Whistler. SKI SCHOOL is filled with eager young groms linking their first turns on their snowboards or switching from “pizza” (snowplow) to “French fries” (skis straight) on their skis. Let the pros handle the beginner turns. It’s also not a bad way for parents to get some tips too. One or two lessons with a ski instructor can set you up for some great days on the mountains. Of course, there’s more than one way to slide on the snow in Whistler. Families can toboggan at WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK in the Callaghan Valley, home of the Olympic Nordic venue. Or find their thrills at the TUBE PARK
FAMILY on Blackcomb Mountain. There are mini-tubes and a mini lane for kids ages 3 and older to get a little taste of the action. Lanes 2-7 are for older kids and adults. While on the subject of sliding on snow, don’t forget about sliding on ice at the OUTDOOR SKATING PARK in the heart of the Village at Whistler Olympic Plaza. Rent skates here and glide on ice under the disco ball. Families can also head indoors to THE ESCAPE ROOM and put their minds to the test by combining the family brain power to figure out the challenges within. NEW THIS WINTER: When the sun goes down, Whistler’s forests come alive with VALLEA LUMINA , the multi-media night walk at Cougar Mountain, north of the Village. With two successful summer seasons under its belt, Vallea Lumina is now open throughout winters. This is an activity the whole family can enjoy with talking trees and shooting stars. You goal is to find the hidden wonders of the forest.
YUKON BREAKFAST
SNOWMOBILE OWMOBILE ADVENTURE O ADVENTURE D
604-938-1616 CANADIANWILDERNESS.COM CARLETON LODGE, LODGE MOUNTAIN SQUARE
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99 THINGS TO DO If you’re wondering what to do during your time in Whistler, here’s a list of 99 things to get you started. It’s by no means a complete list. But, it’ll whet your appetite to start exploring and adventuring and making the most of your time here. Go forth and have fun!
THE TOP 1.
10
TEST YOUR BOUNDARIES
Try something way out of your comfort zone. It’s not difficult to find something that’s going to push your boundaries in Whistler.
2.
GET SKINNY Skis, that is. Get
3.
HELI-ANTYHING Heli-ski, -snowboard, -sightsee, -picnic, -ice cave. Find a way to get up in a helicopter and check out Whistler from the best vantage point.
4.
5.
into the glide. There are so many options for cross country skiing in Whistler.
EMBRACE CANADA Do
something truly Canadian. Play shinny on the lakes. Build a snowman. Go dogsledding. Buy a new toque. Use the word “toque” in a sentence. Be polite.
TAKE A COLD PLUNGE At the Scandinave Spa. Many people
swear by the healing benefits of hydrotherapy—steamy sauna to cold plunge to hot tub. It’s really just a matter of braving the plunge!
6.
GET COZY Find a roaring fire and
7.
LOOK UP Enjoy the alpenglow,
8.
THE 360 VIEW If you think the views are good from the valley, try the 11-minute journey on the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. This engineering marvel runs between Whistler and Blackcomb. Find the glass-bottomed gondola for an extra thrill!
9.
rest those ski-weary legs.
that magical moment as day gives way to night and the sun sets behind the mountains bathing the sky in pinks, reds and yellows.
PARTY IN YOUR SKI BOOTS The
beer tastes better.
10. BE A BOY SCOUT And be
prepared. There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices. Words to live by on the West Coast. All the best gear is here—waterproof outer wear, woolen inner layers, heated socks. 43
99 THINGS TO DO
Top
10
Logan’s ON THE MOUNTAIN INSIDER PG 14
11.
POWDER DAYS Going
snowmobiling with my dad and friends in the powder-plentiful backcountry.
12. RENDEZVOUS WITH FRIENDS
Going to Christine’s in the Rendezvous on New Year’s Day to celebrate my mom’s birthday with long time family friends.
seem like much but one of the best feelings for me is taking my boots off after a long cold day skiing on the hill.
17.
BLACKCOMB BLACK PARK
Always a good thing for me to do at the start of the season is to spend a day lapping the Blackcomb terrain park getting all my tricks and air awareness back.
13. GLACIER LAPS Lapping Glacier 18. MILE ONE Eating House in Chair over and over with my friends. Pemberton, after a day in the 14. PEAK 2 PEAK One of the game mountains. changers for me is being able to swap mountains in less than 15 19. SHINNY Play pond-hockey with minutes, thanks to the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola.
15.
DUSTY’S I don’t après that much but when I do I make sure I hit Dusty’s for nachos and a Caesar.
16. BOOTS OFF AT TRUCK It doesn’t 44
a couple pairs of boots as goal posts on whichever Whistler lake has the best ice.
20. SNOW DRIFTS Might be a little
reckless but I love drifting in my truck on the snow-covered backroads...whenever it’s safe of course!
99 THINGS TO DO
Top
10
Katherine’s ACTIVITY INSIDER PG 20
21. FAMILY FUN Hit the slopes with your family.
22. GAMING Enjoy a hot beverage PHOTO: JUSTA JESKOVA / TOURISM WHISTLER
and some board games at Pangea Pod Hotel.
23. SNOWSHOE Explore anywhere off the beaten path.
24. APRÈS IN THE AIR Try the Ziptrek après Tour between a day on the slopes and dinner.
25. DOGSLED In the Callaghan
Valley with Canadian Wilderness Adventures.
28. BREAK OUT Mix it up and try an Escape Room.
29. HEAVENLY HYDROTHERAPY
Rejuvenate after a day on the slopes with hydrotherapy at the Scandinave Spa.
26. STRETCH with Emily at Yogacara. 27. GET FIREY Treat yourself to Après 30. GLIDE ON ICE Skate on one of our at the FireRock Lounge in the Westin Hotel.
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frozen lakes for a truly Canadian experience. 45
99 THINGS TO DO
Top
10
sarah’s HEALTH INSIDER PG 54
for some sledding with family.
36. EARLY NIGHTS Healthy sleep.
46
activity zone over the holidays.
PHOTO: MIKE CRANE / TOURISM WHISTLER
31. FAMILY DAY Ski with the kids. 37. SNOW SHOE There are lots of places to explore on snow shoes. 32. ICE SKATING Head out to the 38. FRIENDSHIP Find the time to local lakes for some skating. hang out with friends. 33. FOR THE DOGS Take my three 39. SWIMMING Enjoy the pool at the dogs for their regular walks. Meadow Park Sports Centre. 34. ENERGY BLAST A regular 40. HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE The immune busting IV. Conference Centre 35. SLEDDING Head to Olympic Plaza Whistler transforms into a family fun
99 THINGS TO DO
Top
10
Lisa’s
SHOPPING INSIDER PG 60
41. VALLEY TRAIL Walking down the 46. FESTIVAL FUN Taking in all Valley Trail right after a big snowfall. The trees are all covered in snow and the trail looks magical.
42. SKIING! Whether it’s with my
daughter, best friend or partner, a day on the hill is time well spent.
43. SCANDINAVE By day or by
evening, the Scandinave Spa is always a hit. Book a massage and take your time in the pools, saunas and steam rooms. It’s just what you need after a day on the mountain.
44. GLC FOR APRÈS You see all
of your friends and everyone’s cheeks are rosy from the day’s adventures.
45. LIGHTS ON Strolling through
the Village in the evening when the Christmas lights are on and everything is covered in snow.
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the festivals: The Whistler Film Festival, 72 hour Filmmaker Showdown, Deep Photo Challenge, Cornucopia, to name a few.
47. MALLARD LOUNGE Going to
meet friends for drinks at the Fairmont Mallard Lounge.
48. PUZZLE IT OUT Grab a Liberty
Puzzle from Get The Goods and spend an evening in front of the fire putting it together.
49. DINE OUT Treat yourself to one
of the many amazing restaurants in Whistler. Dinner with friends is always a good time.
50. PRODUCT TESTING Games
Night! I typically have a house full of teenagers and I’ve been collecting a bunch of new games from the store. 47
99 THINGS TO DO
Top
10
david’s ARTS INSIDER PG 80
51.
WATCH THE UNIVERSE UNFOLD
away from Whistler’s lights, and watch the universe unfold before your eyes.
checking out the local arts & cultural scene including the Audain Art Museum, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre & the Whistler Museum.
YOUR INTEREST Pick up 52. NIGHTTIME AT LOST LAKE Head 57. aPIQUE copy of our local newspaper, to the PassivHaus and get set up to cross country ski or snowshoe.
53. MID-WEEK FUN Wednesday
nights at Whistler Olympic Park for an evening of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and/or tobogganing!
54. FIRST RUN OF THE DAY Try
Fresh Tracks and head up to the Roundhouse for a buffet breakfast before official opening hours.
55. LAST RUN OF THE DAY Catch the
last run as well as the last light of the day on Whistler or Blackcomb Mountains.
56. CULTURE SHOCK Spend a day 48
Pique Newsmagazine to check out what’s happening.
58. KIDS PLAY When the snow is
falling, walk through the Village and catch a snowflake or two on your tongue. And, if the snow is sticky, of course it’s time to make the perfect snowman!
59. FASTEST TRACK IN THE WORLD
Spectators can access the public areas of the Olympic sliding track free of charge during operating hours.
60. SAY CHEESE Take photos, lot of
photos (especially at night) under the Village lights.
99 THINGS TO DO
Top
10
jeremy’s FOOD INSIDER PG 80
61. SPA DAY Soak in and enjoy the 64. GREEN ACRES For some cruisey PHOTO: COURTESY STINKY’S
moment in Whistler.
62. NIGHTCAP Enjoy a cheeky
nightcap at the Beacon Pub where you’re guaranteed to find some Whistler legends like bartender George Skoupas.
63. DART LEAGUE With the Dart
Vader’s Wednesday or Thursday nights at Roland’s or Tapley’s.
groomer runs.
65. HANGING AT HOME With Rasta the Cat at Stinky’s Fortress of Solitude.
66. STANDING LUNCH PLANS Friday lunches with Big Rich.
67. A CANADIAN TRADITION Head to Seppos at the Roundhouse for a refreshing Caesar.
68. 4:20 69. EAR BUDS Listening to Floyd and going for a stroll to…take your pick of amazing walks.
70. STINKY’S Working, or drinking
and socializing at Stinky’s on the Stroll.
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99 THINGS TO DO
Top
10
Whitney’s APRÈS INSIDER PG 94
71.
FUNKY TOWN Have a beer after work at Coast Mountain Brewery in Function Junction.
72. CHARCUTERIE POTLUCK
Everyone bring an item for the charcoots board.
75. PERFECT SKI DAY A few laps, a
Seppos Caesar, après at the GLC and then a hot tub hang with friends.
76. INDULGE Cocktails & dinner at The Raven Room.
73. BASALT BRUNCH Hit up Basalt 77. BRAIN POWER Test your problem 74. GREEN LAKE Skate or stroll on a frozen Green Lake followed by a tasty adult beverage at Cranked Espresso Bar in Rainbow.
solving skills in the escape rooms at Escape! Whistler.
78. CALLAGHAN SKI Cross Country
skiing at the Callaghan, followed by a glass of wine in the Day Lodge.
79. HEAD NORTH Go to Pemberton to have a big, juicy, black and blue burger at The Pony.
80. COZY UP With my cat and binge watch a good Netflix series on a rainy day.
50
PHOTO: MIKE CRANE / TOURISM WHISTLER
for brunch on the weekend.
99 THINGS TO DO
TOP 10
WEATHERPROOF
81. CLIMB THE WALLS If ice
climbing outdoors isn’t your thing, try your hand at the indoor climbing walls at The Core.
82. SNOWCAT TO DINNER
Stay warm and snug in a 19-passenger snowcat while ferried to a candlelit fondue dinner high in the mountains. Adventurers can go by snowmobile with Canadian Wilderness.
83. SILVER SCREEN Go to the
movies. Village 8 Cinemas has all the latest releases, located underground by Mongolie Grill.
PHOTO: MIKE CRANE / TOURISM WHISTLER
84. REC CENTRE The Meadow Park
Sports Centre is one of the best spots in town for locals and tourists: ice rink, squash courts, kids pool, big pool, hot tubs, sauna, gym, tons of classes.
on Whistler or Christine’s on Blackcomb. This is how to dine in the alpine.
87. SHOP Find some local treasures to take home with you.
88. LOCAL WINERY It’s worth the
drive to Lillooet to visit Fort Berens Estate Winery. The tasting room is open year-round. One taste and you too will be a VIP member.
89. GET CRAFTY Sample some of the delicious craft beer brewed right in town.
90. PROGRESSIVE DINNER Whistler
Tasting Tours features four local restaurants with a mountain feast to enjoy along the way.
85. GET ICY INDOORS Sample vodka
in the Ketel One Ice Room in the Bearfoot Bistro—the coldest vodka tasting room in the world.
86. DINE IN THE ALPINE Rest those
weary ski legs mid-day at Steeps
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IF THAT’S NOT ENOUGH… 91. EMILY CARR Learn about this
famed B.C. artist and soak in her work at the Audain Art Museum, which houses the largest private collection of Carr’s work, among many other celebrated artists.
92. BASIC BACKCOUNTRY Take an
intro to backcountry skiing/riding with a professional ski guide and learn the basics.
93. HIKE FLUTE On the edge of the
ski area boundaries, this hike up
52
to the top of Flute is worth every step.
94. BURNING RING OF FIRE Watch
skiers and snowboarders perform tricks at the Fire and Ice show at the base of Whistler Mountain every Sunday night.
95. CAT SKIING The oft-forgotten
cousin to heli-skiing. An amazing adventure in style.
PHOTOS: Fire & Ice, Après, Skiing: MIKE CRANE / TOURISM WHISTLER
99 THINGS TO DO
99 THINGS TO DO
SOME FINAL THINGS TO DO /faqwhistler
96. GET AIR You don’t have to hit the
highest level terrain park to get air. In fact, we suggest you leave that to the pros. But check out the Big Easy Terrain Garden and feel that sensation of your skis leaving the snow. It may only be an inch; it still feels like you’re flying.
97. SEIZE THE DAY Make the most of your time here.
98. BEFRIEND A LOCAL We’re a
friendly bunch and we’ll give you the inside scoop. We love talking about this place we call home.
99. PLAN A COMEBACK Winter may be epic in Whistler but it goes off in the summer too. Mountain biking, swimming, camping, hiking. In other words, there are 99 more things to do. Plan your comeback while you’re here.
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HEALTH, FITNESS & SPA'S
D
r. Sarah Kennea considers it a job well done if no one can tell she’s actually been at work. And that, she says, is the key to good medical aesthetics—making people look and feel younger and more refreshed, all while making it look effortless and natural.
“Fear of unnatural outcomes is one of the biggest barriers,” she says of why people shy away from medical aesthetics. But, with the cutting edge techniques Dr. Kennea is known for, it can be done. And it can make a huge difference to a person’s mental health and wellbeing. Dr. Kennea understands that relationship between looking good and feeling good all too well. When she was 25 years old, Dr. Kennea knew how she wanted to spend her first real paycheque. Always feeling as though she had lost out on the genetic lottery when it came to a toned tummy, she took matters into her own hands. That decision changed everything. “It was a bit of a turning point for me,” she admits, of fixing something that had always bothered her. Now, she helps others do the same.
Dr. Kennea opened the doors to Whistler Medical Aesthetics just one year ago. It has been a very busy and rewarding 12 months. The success of her business also comes with the certainty that she made right choice in setting down roots in Whistler five years ago with her husband and two young children. It has been an interesting journey to get here—serving in the British Army for five years including time in Iraq as a junior doctor; working as a forensic police doctor in the U.K., a gruelling and often unforgiving job; and now honing her talents on the latest techniques in the field of medical aesthetics. You can see the pride in her work as she talks about recently correcting an asymmetrical smile on a patient. “It’s a different dimension to health and wellness,” explains Dr. Kennea. And that new smile on her patient’s face says it all. 54
PHOTO: LOGAN SWAYZE / LOGANSWAYZE.COM
And, like her own metamorphosis, she sees the changes—inside and out— first hand. “We’ve been known to jump up and down (with the results),” she says of her team at the clinic. “That’s the joy—helping people feel better and enjoy their lives more.”
Sarah
Dr.
KEnnea Kennea Sm e Mak
Insider
HEALTH, FITNESS & SPA'S
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HEALTH, FITNESS & SPA'S
T
The Japanese have a word for this particular practice of going into the forest; they call it “Shinrin-yoku.” Translated, it means “forest bathing.” It’s this idea that being in the forest, surrounded by trees and nature, is a form of relaxation therapy. Quite simply, the forest makes you feel better. Try it while you’re here. Go skiing in the trees and discover this magic. Or, rent snowshoes and explore the beauty of Lost Lake Park just five minutes from the Village. Get further into the backcountry at Whistler Olympic Park in the Callaghan Valley and cross country ski through the forest. You can even walk high among the trees on canopy tours, learning about the splendor of the forest along the way. Or even try walking through an enchanted forest at night with the multimedia night-walk Vallea Lumina. The forest is a quintessential part of life in Whistler. Once you get a taste of it, you’ll soon see why. 56
PHOTO: MIKE CRANE / TOURISM WHISTLER
alk to any Whistlerite and you’ll soon learn just how important our surrounding forest is to the way we live. For many, it’s our lifeblood—the source of our mental and physical wellbeing. The beauty of where we live is that we can be in the heart of our coastal rainforest within steps from our front doors.
HEALTH, FITNESS & SPA'S ACUPUNCTURE
(604)-905-9468 Whistler Healing Hands Dr. Michelle Kaminski. Registered doctor of traditional Chinese medicine. Specializing in: acupuncture, massage and herbal medicine for acute & chronic injuries, preventative medicine & relaxation! 604.905.9468 healinghandswhistler.com MAP W13
DENTAL Creekside Dental New patients and emergencies welcome. We are conveniently located steps away from Creekside Gondola, next to Creekside Market. Voted “Best Dental Clinic for 2018” by Pique Newsmagazine readers! 604.938.1550 smilewhistler.com AD PG59 MAP PG105 #2 Whistler Smiles Dental Clinic Offering general and cosmetic dentistry including implant restorations, Botox, Invisalign, teeth whitening. 3D Imaging Available, locally owned and operated! 604.966.4500 whistlersmiles.com MAP J14 /faqwhistler
Whistler’s Premier Publication SINCE 1980 Available in more than 5,000 hotel rooms and over 100 tourist outlets!
whistlermagazine.com WINTER/SP 2019/2020
RING
PREMIER WHISTLER’S S I N C E 1980 P U B L I C AT I O N
M AG A Z I N E VEG OUT HEAVY METAL SCULPTURES HOLLYWOOD HOTBED
SWEET SHOTS COMPLIMENTARY MAGAZINE
Please Take One
age of Whistler has no short rops picture-perfect backd ries for making memo IES | HOMES | PEOPLE STYLE | ACTIVIT
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HEALTH, FITNESS & SPA'S
MASSAGE
SALONS
Avello Spa Where health and luxury meet. Signature treatments include: sports, hot rock and Thai massage; European facials; manicures and pedicures in our state of the art pedicure lounge. Located at the Westin Resort & Spa hotel. 604.935.3444 whistlerspa.com MAP W13
Be Beauty Spa & Tanning Lounge Locals worst kept secret for waxing, tanning, nails and lashes. Featuring both hard and strip wax, OPI polish and both acrylic and gel nail extensions. Weddings and parties available. Whistler Marketplace. 604.962.6900 bebeautywhistler.com AD PG57 MAP I14
Blue Highways Our Canadian & Internationally licensed therapists have served Whistler for over 25 years. Implementing advanced therapy techniques in a calm and cozy atmosphere, we tailor our treatments to meet your specific needs. 206-4368 Main Street. 604.938.0777 bookings@bluehighways.ca bluehighways.ca AD PG58 MAP I14
The Loft Salon Award-winning cutting stylists, makeover specialists, and skilled colourists for both men and women. Convenient village location. Street parking, bus & shuttles right outside our door. 604.935.0044 theloftsalon.com MAP J14
SERVING WHISTLER FOR OVER 25 YEARS
massage clinic & spa
Deep Tissue Massage, Relaxation, Acupressure, Therapeutic Massage, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, & Hot Stone Massage. Registered Massage Therapy, Counselling, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Advanced Environ Skin Care and Micro Needling InnoPen are available on request. www.bluehighways.ca
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604-938-0777
#206-4368 Main St, Market Pavilion
HEALTH, FITNESS & SPA'S
SPAS
TANNING
Avello Spa Where health and luxury meet. Signature treatments include: sports, hot rock and Thai massage; European facials; manicures and pedicures in our state of the art pedicure lounge. Located at the Westin Resort & Spa hotel. 604.935.3444 whistlerspa.com MAP W13
Be Beauty Spa & Tanning Lounge Whistler’s No. 1 spa & tanning lounge. Four stand-up super tanning beds and custom spray tans. Lotions, Jewellery and Swimwear. Whistler Marketplace. 604.962.6900 bebeautywhistler.com AD PG57 MAP I14
YOGA Yogacara Studios Yoga and wellness services in the heart of the village! Promoting community, wellness & authentic yoga in a peaceful environment. Small class sizes (15 student cap). 604.935.2020 whistleryogacara.com MAP Q12
Voted Best Dental Clinic
2018
New Patients & Emergencies Welcome For appointments call: 604-938-1550
/faqwhistler
#317 – 2063 Lake Placid Rd., Whistler (next to Creekside Market) www.smilewhistler.com 59
INSIDER
SHOPS & SERVICES
Lisa
Morrison
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Savvy Shopp
SHOPS & SERVICES
I
magine if your job was to find gifts and gadgets designed to get people off their ever-present devices. Or find things to make people laugh, or to think, or to create. That sums up Lisa Morrison’s job in a nutshell. For the past year, Morrison has been buyer and manager of Get the Goods, the Creekside emporium that has something to tempt everyone from greeting cards and funky speakers to glossy coffee table books, cool chess sets, puzzles, and a growing eclectic kids section. “I love the things in our store,” says Morrison with a smile, pointing to the sign over some sassy socks declaring: 1 per cent of sales supports the humanitarian work of Doctors Without Borders. It’s a world away from Morrison’s former life, spent travelling around North America for equestrian show jumping.
PHOTO: LOGAN SWAYZE / LOGANSWAYZE.COM
“I moved here and I knew right away that I’m where I’m supposed to be,” she says of her decision to move to the mountains. Five years ago Morrison made the decision to upend her life—new home, new career path, new adventures. With four children (two grown and two still at home at that time), she decided to settle in Whistler, where her best friend lived. “Every time I came to visit it was always hard to leave.” Her Whistler life came with a new mantra—try everything. And so she began skiing, kicking off her first season with some Max4 lessons at Whistler Blackcomb and always saying “Yes!” to the offer to go skiing. The same was true of mountain biking in the summertime. In five years, Morrison has become that quintessential Whistler local, making the most of living just steps away from the forest and the mountains. Fear, she says, can hold people back; the key is to take the first step and the rest will fall into place. The same goes for her work life, which comes with a lot of freedom to try new things and expand the store’s horizons. “I feel super empowered,” she says of her role. “There’s lot of room for growth here.” Not to mention the fact: “Shopping for the store is incredibly fun.” Check out Get the Goods in Creekside. 61
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f there’s one trick to navigating Whistler’s shopping scene, it’s this: explore, explore explore. Whistler Village can be a little confusing and you wouldn’t be the first to get lost along the meandering pedestrian streets. But take heart: there are treats and treasures out there once you find your way.
Ski and snowboard shops are king in Whistler and they carry everything you need for a day on the mountains, from the latest ski boots and skis to the trendiest jackets and goggles. This is where you’ll find your GoreTex waterproof and windproof gear to keep you comfy on the slopes. If it’s chilly, you can always add some layers—a good base layer to wick away moisture, a perfect mid layer, or two, to trap that body heat. What you have on can make the difference between success and failure on the mountains! As we’re fond of telling people in Whistler: There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices. Indeed. Once you’re fully geared up for success on the slopes, the rest of the Village awaits. A top-notch book store in Armchair Books; a fun-filled gem store at Rocks and Gems Canada; a sweet candy store in The Great Glass Elevator; and a chocolate emporium at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, just to name a few. Once you get into the groove of exploring, you’ll be hard-pressed to come away empty-handed. Check out our Shopping Guide for some more ideas. 62
SHOPS & SERVICES
CAR RENTAL Avis Rent a Car - Whistler Wide variety of mid and full size cars for exploring Whistler plus a full range of mini vans, 4x4’s, 10 passenger vans, cargo and 16’ cube vans for moving! One way rentals available to Vancouver or from airport and downtown to Whistler. After-hours key drop! Open 8:30am to 5:30pm - 7 days a week. 364 days a year! 4315 Northlands Blvd. Cascade Lodge Lobby. 604.932.1236 sheri.warm@abglocalmarket.ca MAP M15
ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHOCOLATE
Located at the base of the Whistler Village Gondola 604.932.4100 O P E N
L A T E
Music
Restaurants
CANDY STORES The Great Glass Elevator Candy Shop Whistler’s Candy shop is 1,000sq.ft. of sweet located in Marketplace. Featuring bulk candy, Jelly Belly’s, British, nostalgic candy, gourmet popcorn and a great selection of cards, party supplies and balloons. Visit today and make all your candy dreams come true! 115-4350 Lorimer Road 604.935.1076 whistlercandyshop.com AD PG66 MAP H13 /faqwhistler
On the Mountains
BROWSE BY
CATEGORY FILLER NEARBY NEIGHBOURHOOD MENUS
What To Do?
Events
Classifieds
Pique in your pants m.piquenewsmagazine.com 63
SHOPS & SERVICES in accessories, outerwear and boots for women and men. Incredible collection of Cool As A Moose capes, wraps, gloves and hats. Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Upper Village. Whistler’s largest and finest selection of souvenirs and resort-wear, with a wide 604.938.2019 range of gifts for the whole family and free snowflakecanada.com balloons for the kiddies! 11-4308 Main AD PG68 MAP N5 Street (Village Stroll across from Cows) 604.962.0099 FUEL STATIONS 001@cudmoregroup.com Green Lake Station AD PG69 MAP N12 Café, shop and gas. Drive just minutes
CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES
Showcase Snowboard, Surf & Skate Shop The most recognizable retail brand in Whistler, Showcase continues to be the focal point of the local snowboard and skate community. Featuring the best in equipment and clothing, Showcase is the place for your winter rides and style. Located in the Sundial Hotel off Mountain Square 604.905.2022 MAP S11
north of Whistler Village to the best breakfast sandwich in town. Enjoy our grilled panini’s and artisan pizza on our patio with beautiful mountain views. Amazing gift selection too at the hippest little gas station you ever did see. 8110 Crazy Canuck Drive. 604.962.2090 @greenlakestation AD PG65 MAP PG106 #15
Snowflake Showcasing the best in great Canadian design, Snowflake carries a stunning selection of cashmere, fur and shearling
Coast Mountain Brewing Boutique craft beer in Whistler’s Function Junction neighbourhood. Our tasting room is where you will find a comfortable,
GIFTS
Visitors A Favourite of Locals and Since 1994
WHISTLER KITCHEN WORKS
Located in Whistler’s Marketplace
604-938-1110 64
SHOPS & SERVICES relaxed atmosphere built for the mountainside local and enjoyed by all. 2-1212 Alpha Lake Road 604.962.3230 coastmountainbrewing.com @coastmountainbeer AD PG33 MAP PG104 #3
GOURMET CHOCOLATE Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Breathe in the sweet aromas and see fudge, caramel apples, peanut brittle and sponge toffee made before your very eyes. Be sure to try our delicious ice cream! Open late. Located at the base of the Whistler Village Gondola. 604.932.4100 AD PG63 MAP U12
GROCERY STORES Fresh Street Market Fresh St. Market is a place to shop, to explore, to discover and more than that - it is a community-gathering place. Discover and try out what’s amazing and delicious in a place where everyone’s invited in on great fresh foods. Where
Fresh Meets Everyday. 604.938.2850 freshstmarket.com AD PG71 MAP H13 Nesters Market & Wellness Centre “Where the Locals Shop.” Great fresh seafood and meat, deli, pharmacy, produce & wellness centre, bakery and groceries. We deliver. Located 1km north of the village. 604.932.3545 to order nestersmarket.com AD PG108 MAP PG106 #7
LIQUOR STORES Blackcomb Liquor Store Home of the finest in local and international beers, wines, and spirits! Coldest beer in town and best selection of premium BC wines. Located on the base of Blackcomb in the Upper Village. Delivery available. Locally owned and operated since 1996. 1-4573 Chateau Blvd. 604.932.9795 MAP M5
#100 THING TO DO:
Green Lake Station STOP at Whistler Chevron, Café & Store
Just a fewSTATION minutes north of the Village GREEN LAKE Best
Breakfast Sandwich /faqwhistler
Hippest little gas station you ever did see
Artisan Pizza 65
SHOPS & SERVICES LIQUOR STORES - cont’d
Roland’s Creekside Beer & Wine Store Open 11am -11pm 7 days a week, including holidays. 2129 Lake Placid Road. 604.932.5926 AD PG88 MAP PG105#1
MARKETPLACE Whistler’s Marketplace Experience Whistler’s premier shopping centre located next to Whistler Olympic Plaza. Offering a variety of specialty boutiques, restaurants and professional services. Owned and Managed by headwaterprojects.com AD PG70 MAP H13
PHARMACY
Shoppers Drug Mart With a prestigious beauty boutique and a full-service pharmacy offering travel vaccinations, medication reviews, prescription deliveries and much more, Shoppers Drug Mart has everything you need for your health, beauty, and convenience. 604.905.5666 shoppersdrugmart.ca MAP P11
RETAIL Cool As A Moose Whistler’s largest and finest selection of souvenirs and resort-wear, with a wide range of gifts for the whole family and free balloons for the kiddies! 11-4308 Main Street (Village Stroll across from Cows) 604.962.0099 001@cudmoregroup.com AD PG69 MAP N12
GREAT GLASS ELEVATOR
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WHISTLER'S OUTDOOR STORE FOR KIDS & TEENS
MOUNTAIN KID OUTFITTERS
We've got
ING EVERYTneHed for
your kids e an awesome tim r! le st hi W in
FIND US IN MOUNTAIN SQUARE, JUST STEPS FROM LULULEMON WWW.MOUNTAINKIDS.CA | 604 932 2115
SHOPS & SERVICES women and men. Incredible collection of capes, wraps, gloves and hats. Fairmont Mountain Kids Outfitters Chateau Whistler, Upper Village. Whistler’s outdoor store for kids and 604.938.2019 teenagers. Jackets, pants, helmets, snowflakecanada.com goggles, gloves, base layers and much more from all the top brands. Conveniently AD PG68 MAP N5 Whistler Kitchen Works located in Mountain Square near Lululemon. 207-4293 Mountain Square A Charming & Unique Selection of Gifts 604.932.2115 & Kitchenware. Dinnerware - Linens Gadgets - Candles - Glassware info@mountainkids.ca Practical kitchen accessories & more. A mountainkids.ca favourite of locals & visitors since 1994. AD PG67 MAP T12 Located in Whistler’s Marketplace Snowflake 604.938.1110 Showcasing the best in great Canadian AD PG64 MAP H13 design, Snowflake carries a stunning selection of cashmere, fur and shearling in accessories, outerwear and boots for
RETAIL - cont’d
SNOWFLAKE
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SHOPS & SERVICES
COOL AS A MOOSE
SHOPS & SERVICES late until 10pm. 604 966 2122 Affinity Sports Rentals whistler.blacktieskis.com Great selection of high quality equipment, AD PG2 MAP N5 MAP T15 switch equipment anytime, and free storage are just a few reasons to choose Whistler Blackcomb Rentals Affinity Sports. We are also conveniently Conveniently located at every mountain open until 10pm so that you can pick up base, Whistler Blackcomb rentals offer equipment to suit any level of skier or rider. your gear the night before. Get the best gear for the whole family, all at 604.932.6007 one convenient location. Visit our boutique affinityrentals.com rental location in the Blackcomb Daylodge, AD BACK COVER the RDL Store, featuring equipment from Black Tie Ski Rentals Rossignol, Dynastar and Lange. Avoid line-ups and hassles! Call Whistler’s 1.800.766.0449 Original Ski and Board Rental Delivery whistlerblackcomb.com/rentals Service. We bring the best new equipment White Glove Ski Rentals from the top brands and fit you in the The official rental delivery partner of comfort of your accommodations. Open
SKI & BOARD RENTALS
Whistler’s Premier Shopping Centre OLYMPIC PLAZA LOCATED NEXT TO WHISTLER
HEADWATER
Whistler Kitche Kitchen Work Wo rks rks COAST MEDICAL
EXPERIENCE WHISTLER’S PREMIER SHOPPING CENTRE. OFFERING A VARIETY OF SPECIALTY BOUTIQUES, RESTAURANTS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. Owned and Managed by
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www.headwaterprojects.ca
SHOPS & SERVICES nestersmarket.com Whistler Blackcomb. New equipment, perfectly tuned, brought to you in the AD PG108 MAP PG106 #7 comfort of your own home, condo or hotel TRANSPORTATION suite. Expert technicians will ensure a perfect fit and advise you on any aspect of the village or mountain. 604.938.7721 whitegloverental.com Luxury Transport AD MAP COVER FOLD Celebrating over 20 years of SHOPPING growth and success in Whistler and Vancouver transfers and tours. Nesters Market & Wellness Centre Your safety, our team, fleet, and “Where the Locals Shop.” Great fresh exceptional customer service are at seafood and meat, deli, pharmacy, the forefront of our success. produce & wellness centre, bakery and 1.877.425.4692 groceries. We deliver. Located 1km north inquiry@luxbus.com of the village. luxbus.com 604.932.3545 to order
ALWAYS IN SEASON. E FRESH ID E R IDESH T L FR KE l of d l & GO AR fu an ly
STREET MARKET
T nd u s ud d IN T. Mal a at’s pro d an to d S loc Th ’re ne lled oo e
h, s. e ow ri f nc r. e s i s e . W y t h e w rie t l e Fr p r me m i l e l y a n pe h is r o a t g x u s n s f olu in g e W e B C b s b r i n to p th a p o sh 4330 Northlands Blvd, Whistler, BC
/faqwhistler
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SHOPS & SERVICES
F.A.Q.
SHOPPING GUIDE ADELE CAMPBELL FINE ART GALLERY
stand out puzzles Premium, high-quality jigsaw puzzles featuring artist Angela Morgan, whose work celebrates humanity through the playful use of colour, pattern and line.
$34
MOUNTAIN GALLERIES AT THE FAIRMONT & SKITCH
Sock Art
Canadian handmade stuffed animals. Socks…. Re-imagined!
$40 72
SHOPS & SERVICES
THE BEACH
Wildflower Dana the Delinquent bikini The Beach, Whistler has you covered (literally) with a wide assortment of the trendiest and highest-quality swimwear brands, including California-based brand Boys + Arrows, all year round. TOP $146
|
BOTTOM $146
ECOLOGYST
The Cashmere toque As environmentally-responsible as it is luxurious, this toque from Vancouver Island-based brand Ecologyst (formerly named Sitka) is made in Canada using recycled cashmere.
$55
COOL AS A MOOSE
Whistler Geo Seal Long Sleeve T-Shirt Perfect for wearing under a hoodie in the winter or as an over the top layer when it gets warmer. 100 per cent pre-shrunk cotton
$40
/faqwhistler
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ART SCENE
D
avid McColm can remember exactly how he felt as he stared through his camera lens, poised to capture what would ultimately become one of his favourite shots. He was perched beside the Emerald Express chairlift on Whistler Mountain. Most of Whistler was tucked into bed in the valley below. But high above him, the night sky was a hive of activity. Stars abounded as the bright Northern Lights danced in their pinks and purples, greens and blues. A meteor shot into view. Click: The moment, the feeling, the mysteries of nature were captured forever on McColm’s camera. “I was in awe of what I was watching,” he recalls, of the photo that became one of his 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles. “An experience like that gets inside of you.” After photographing the night sky for the last decade, McColm has a unique perspective on life. “If anything it makes me feel smaller yet I feel how fortunate I am to be a part of this universe… It just blows my mind.”
McColm has been to Chile to watch and shoot the total solar eclipse, an experience so visceral “it gets inside your soul”; he’s travelled to Iceland several times to get as close as he can to the Northern Lights; he’s searched out favourite peaks in the Sea to Sky corridor to capture the nuances of the Milky Way. “All you people that sleep!” he jokes. All kidding aside, it’s a giddy, wonderful, serene feeling watching the nightly sky show unfold. “I don’t think I would have done any of this if it wasn’t for Whistler,” he adds, with a nod to the creative people that live here, the energy of the place and the inspirational natural world. “You put it together, cool things happen.” Check out www.davidmccolm.com 74
PHOTO: LOGAN SWAYZE / LOGANSWAYZE.COM
Twenty-five years ago McColm, a qualified structural engineer, packed up everything and moved west, his heart set on Whistler. Photography was a side passion as he worked, skied and raised his family here. After Whistler won the bid to host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, he got his break: documenting the construction of Whistler’s Olympic venues. His true passion, however, is the night sky.
David McColm St Shoot
Insider
ART SCENE
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ART SCENE
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histler is home to the one of the largest private collections of Canadian artist Emily Carr, housed at the Audain Art Museum (AAM). This winter season, the museum is shedding new light on the B.C. artist with an exhibit which will focus on Carr’s time in France over a period of three years from 1910 to 1912. The exhibit, Emily Carr: Fresh Seeing—French Modernism and the West Coast, will examine how this period of time changed Carr’s art. It will be the AAM’s largest exhibit to date, on display until January 19. Visitors will be able to view more than 50 paintings, watercolours and drawings by Carr, as well as a selection of works from instructors who influenced her artistic development. Another temporary winter exhibit is also on display at the nearby Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC). Called Ambassadors, this exhibit celebrates the family and faces of the SLCC staff, highlighting their strong sense of connection to their land, their cultures and to each other. It will be on display until March. Make the most of your time in Whistler by delving deeper into its arts and culture scene. Discover it in the local art galleries and experience it at the long-running festivals like the Whistler Film Festival and the Whistler Ski and Snowboard Festival. Or soak in some of the cool public art pieces around town. come experience Whistler’s unique history!
Whistler Museum Open daily, year-round Fri- Wed: 11am-5pm, Thurs: 11am-9pm 4333 Main Street, 604 932 2019
www.whistlermuseum.org 76
Come see the whole picture
Located between Day Parking Lots 3 & 4 in the centre of Whistler Village
Emily Carr, The Crazy Stair (The Crooked Staircase) (detail) c. 1928-30
ART SCENE UPPER VILLAGE GALLERIES 1 2 3
Mountain Galleries at the Fairmont Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre Whistler Contemporary Gallery
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PHOTO: MIKE CRANE / TOURISM WHISTLER
MUSEUMS Audain Art Museum Experience the art of B.C. including an important collection of First Nations masks and works by some of Canada’s most celebrated artists including Emily Carr. The Museum also hosts visiting exhibitions from Canada and around the world. 4350 Blackcomb Way. 604.962.0413 audainartmuseum.com AD PG77 MAP PG78 #4 Whistler Museum Telling Whistler’s stories from fun loving pioneers, to the creation of Whistler Blackcomb, to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Open by donation. 4333 Main Street. 604.932.2019 whistlermuseum.org AD PG76 MAP PG78 #9 /faqwhistler
Mountain Galleries Celebrating over 28 years in Canadian fine art. The exhibitions range from abstract expressionism to magic realism, contemporary clay, glass, bronze and stone sculptures. Worldwide shipping. Located in the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. 604.935.1862 mountaingalleries.com MAP PG78 #1
VILLAGE GALLERIES
Arts Whistler at Maury Young Art Centre. Fall for Arts. Autumn is arts season in the Sea to Sky! Festivals, classes, exhibits and creative events. Check our calendar to see what’s coming up this week. 604.935.8410 info@artswhistler.com artswhistler.com MAP PG78 #6 79
Insider
FOOD & DRINK
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Jeremy
‘Stinky’ Peterson S Se ch
FOOD & DRINK
J
eremy “Stinky” Peterson is searching for Whistler’s soul—that old-school, down-to-earth, ski bum soul. It’s missing of late, he says, and he aims to nurture it back to life. “I’m just a simple guy, trying to bring something back to locals,” he says, sitting in Whistler’s newest restaurant, his own Stinky’s on the Stroll.
PHOTO: LOGAN SWAYZE / LOGANSWAYZE.COM
That’s not to say the new Stinky’s is exclusively for locals. Rather, it’s a place where tourists can go too and get a feel for the “real” Whistler. That authentic vibe is built right into the cozy restaurant; it’s in the skis and snowboards against the back wall, some of which come with their own local story, and it’s in the characters you can find there, chief of which is Peterson himself. The Ottawa native arrived in Whistler at the start of the summer 24 years ago. The town was less than half its size and summer was nothing much to talk about. Peterson loved everything about it—the small town vibe, the tight-knit community, the absolute love for life in the mountains. And so began his storied journey in Whistler’s food and beverage sector, his first job as bagel chef at the now defunct Bagel Street Café, his most renowned job tending the bar at the legendary Citta’, also now closed. So, when Peterson had the chance at making a piece of Whistler his own, he grabbed it. That was just over a year ago and he hasn’t looked back since. “This place is a little bit everything of me,” he says proudly, pointing to the Habs memorabilia on the walls, the Tragically Hip and Pink Floyd references throughout Stinky’s. The food is simple: “It’s hangover comfort food at a decent value,” explains Peterson. And, what about that long-standing nickname? Peterson explains it comes from a character called Stinky Peterson on the Canadian sketch comedy The Red Green Show. And so, he has embraced it, made it his own—the Stinky Shuffle, for example, is his dance, and then there’s his own national holiday, Stinky de Mayo, held on the same day as the Mexican Cinco de Mayo. Look no further than Stinky’s on the Stroll for a place full of character and original Whistler soul. 81
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Q:
What is Fresh Tracks Breakfast? A: If you can get out of bed early enough, Fresh Tracks is the breakfast of choice, at least once during your time in Whistler! Grab the Whistler Gondola at 7:15 a.m., before anyone else is allowed on the mountains, and enjoy the all-you-can-eat buffet at the Roundhouse Lodge. Book tickets in advance—only 650 people are allowed up and it often sells out. Listen for the “Runs are open” call and then get first crack at fresh powder!
PHOTO: JUSTA JESKOVA / TOURISM WHISTLER
W
histler has long set the standards for one-of-a-kind experiential dining. Just take the white tablecloth experience at Christine’s and Steeps Grill (the Rendezvous on Blackcomb and the Roundhouse on Whistler respectively). Both offer amazing service and dining…in your ski boots! And the view isn’t too bad either when you’re dining at 1,850 metres (6,069 feet).
European Comfort Locally Sourced
Wood fired pizza, steak, pasta and seafood. Lunch Friday - Sunday. Dinner Nightly Town Plaza
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(604) 938-1879
carambarestaurant.com
FOOD & DRINK
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 82
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INSIDERS’ TIP: If some of Whistler’s choicest restaurants seem a little pricey, don’t despair. Whistler still has what we call “shoulder seasons,” that period of time in between our two main seasons—ski season and bike season. Shoulder seasons come with great deals at the local restaurants. Grab the local newspaper Pique Newsmagazine to check out the dining specials.
PHOTO: Icecave: COURTESY HEAD-LINE MOUNTAIN HOLIDAYS; Fondue: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Beyond the mountains, Whistler is full of extraordinary dining adventures. You can snowmobile deep into the backcountry and have breakfast (the Canadian Yukon breakfast) at a rustic cabin on Sproatt Mountain with Canadian Wildness Adventures; you can travel via helicopter to a five-star meal in a secret ice cave with Head-Line Mountain Holidays, blue ice walls shimmering all around you as you eat; you can picnic on ancient glaciers with Blackcomb Helicopters; you can sit at sushi bars and watch the chefs prepare their tasty works of art; you can travel via snowcat after the sun goes down and enjoy fondue dinner at the Crystal Hut. Food is the fuel for your mountain adventures after all. So, why not have fun and make memories while you’re at it?
FOOD & DRINK There are so many options to choose from when it comes to dining out in Whistler that it’s difficult to know where to begin. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, check out this dining guide for options on price and locations.
CASUAL & FUN Reservations Advised
R
Breakfast
B
Lunch
L
Après
A
Dinner
D
Cinnamon Bear Bar & Grille AT THE HILTON
R6+ L D $$ 604.932.3330 2nd floor Sundial Hotel
R B L A D $$ 604.932.1982 4050 Whistler Way
EAST INDIAN
Mongolie Grill
Tandoori Grill Indian Cuisine
WHISTLER RESORT & SPA
AD PG91 MAP U13
L A D $$ 604.938.9416 201-4295 Blackcomb Way
AD PG86 MAP P12
$5 — $20
$
$15 — $30
$$
$25 — $50
$$$
$50+
Winner 2014-2019
$$$$
Sushi Village
Roland’s Creekside Pub L A D $ 604.932.5940 2129 Lake Placid Road Creekside
AD PG88 MAP PG105 #1
AD PG11 AD PG89 MAP S11
R L D $$ 604.905.4900 #201- 4368 Main Street (Corner of Northlands Blvd.)
AD PG85 MAP I15
FAMILY & KID FRIENDLY Caramba! R L D $$ 604.938.1879 #12-4314 Main Street
AD PG83 MAP L12
4368 Main St., #201 UPSTAIRS
604.905.4900 Entrees from $16 | Lunch Specials Great Vegetarian/Vegan Selection Featuring Fraser Valley Farm-Raised Free Run Chicken Dishes ONLINE OPTIONS: Go to TandooriWhistler.com for Reservations and Pick-up orders. Go to WhistlerDineIn.com for Dinner Delivery Vancouver Venue: originaltandoorikitchens.com /faqwhistler
Tandoor Oven The meat is first marinated in a blend of Royal spices and then BBQed in the Tandoor on skewers at high temperature
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FOOD & DRINK
Mongolie Grill $$ 604.938.9416 201-4295 Blackcomb Way
FONDUE
Old Spaghetti Factory
R D $$$$ 604.938.1616 4282 Mountain Square (Below the Carleton Lodge)
L A D
AD PG86 MAP P12
R L D $ 604.938.1081 4154 Village Green
AD PG13 MAP S12
Mountain Top Fondue
WITH CANADIAN WILDERNESS ADVENTURES
AD PG87 MAP T11, K12
FINE DINING
JAPANESE
Tandoori Grill Indian Cuisine
Sushi Village
R L D $$ 604.905.4900 #201- 4368 Main Street (Corner of Northlands Blvd.)
AD PG85 MAP I15
86
R6+ L D $$ 604.932.3330 2nd floor Sundial Hotel
AD PG89 AD PG11 MAP S11
MEDITERRAINEAN Caramba! R L D $$ 604.938.1879 #12-4314 Main Street
AD PG83 MAP L12
PASTA Pasta Lupino Gourmet L D $ 604.905.0400 #121-4368 Main Street
MAP I14
PIZZA Domino’s Pizza L D $$ 604.932.0410 4368 Main Street
AD PG90 MAP I14
FOOD & DRINK
PUBS
STEAK & SEAFOOD
Roland’s Pub
Coast Mountain Brewing $ 604.962.3230 #2-1212 Alpha Lake Road (Function Junction) A
AD PG33 MAP PG104 #3
Caramba!
L A D $ 604.932.5940 2129 Lake Placid Road (Creekside)
R L D $$ 604.938.1879 #12-4314 Main Street
AD PG83 MAP L12
AD PG88 MAP PG105 #1
Keg Steakhouse & Bar
Stinky’s On The Stroll
A D
$$ 604.962.6679 21-4314 Main Street
AD PG100 MAP M5
Whistler Brewing Company’s Tap House
A D
Fitzsimmons Pub $$ 604.935.3489 #3-4573 Chateau Blvd
AD PG92 MAP Q11
AD PG99 MAP K12
Keg Spirits
$ 604.962.8889 ext.105 1045 Millar Creek Road L A
L A D $$ 604.932.5151 4429 Sundial Place
AD PG9 MAP PG104 #1
AD PG92 MAP Q11
CRYSTAL CRY C RYS RY Y T TAL AL HUT
FONDUE
L A D $$$ 604.932.5151 4429 Sundial Place
Mountain Top Steak
WITH CANADIAN WILDERNESS ADVENTURES
R D $$$$ 604.938.1616 4282 Mountain Square (Below the Carleton Lodge)
AD PG93 MAP T11, K12
BY SNOWMOBILE & SNOWCAT BLACKCOMB BLACKC K OMB MTN KC
604-938-1616 CANADIANWILDERNESS.COM CARLETON LODGE, LODGE MOUNTAIN SQUARE
/faqwhistler
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FOOD & DRINK
Mountain Fondue
WITH BLACKCOMB SNOWMOBILE
Journey deep into the Whistler backcountry via Snowmobile or Snowcat and experience a taste of true Canadian winter!
Caramba! Restaurant
Wood-fired pizza, steak, pasta and seafood. European comfort food prepared with a local flare. Take out. Our winter hours are lunch 604.932.8484 Friday - Sunday from Noon blackcombsnowmobile.com and dinner nightly from 5:00p.m.
604.938.1879
carambarestaurant.com
Cinnamon Bear Bar & Grille Unwind with a cool beverage around the cozy fireplace in one of Whistler’s iconic après bars, catch the game on the big screen, fuel up for your day with breakfast from 7a.m. or enjoy a delicious Pacific Northwest dinner. Located at Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa
604-932-1982
hiltonwhistler.com
the locals ’ hangout DELICIOUS PUB FARE!
Burgers, sandwiches, fish & chips, nachos, chicken wings, pulled pork, tacos, salads, kids’ menu and more!
SPORTS!
9 Flatscreens, HD TV’s
BEER & WINE STORE
W
IFI
11-11 Every Day!
G FRE E PARKIN
ROLANDSWHISTLER.COM 604-932-5940 2129 LAKE PLACID, CREEKSIDE 88
+
FOOD & DRINK
Coast Mountain Brewing Boutique craft beer in Whistler’s Function Junction neighbourhood. Our tasting room is where you will find a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere built for the mountainside local and enjoyed by all. 2-1212 Alpha Lake Road
604.962.3230
coastmountainbrewing.com
/faqwhistler
Domino’s Pizza Pizza Delivery and Takeout 4368 Main Street.
604.932.0410
dominos.ca
Gibbons Hospitality Group Gibbons offers 6 iconic Whistler venues open 7 days/week for food, drinks, dancing and more. Join us at the Longhorn, Buffalo Bills, Tapley’s, Stonesedge and the FireRock. Or #hoponit with our Bar Hop program, which tours several of our venues!
604.938.0225
gibbonswhistler.com
89
FOOD & DRINK
Keg Spirits
Keg Steakhouse & Bar
Mongolie Grill
Après, Sports, Lounge, Late Night 4229 Sundial Place
The Keg Steakhouse & Bar’s reputation has been built on great steaks, slow roasted Prime Rib, and succulent seafood. The Keg’s unmatched guest service sets them apart. 4229 Sundial Place
Combine your favourite ingredients with our gourmet sauces, then watch as our chefs theatrically grill your creation before your eyes! Join us for 20% off lunch before 4p.m.! 201-4295 Blackcomb Way
604.932.5151
604.932.5151
604.938.9416
mongoliegrill.com
99 things to do the insiders’ guide to whistler
Winter 2019 volume 13: issue 1
OPEN LATE Mon. to Sat. till 3 a.m.
99 th in gs Summer
volume
2018
12: issue
2
to do the insiders’ guide to whistler
To advertise in this spot, Contact
Sun. till 2 a.m.
FREE Summer 2019
volume 13: issue 2
the insiders’ guide to whistler
Catherine Power-Chartrand 604.932.1672
(604) 932-0410 4368 Main Street
90
FREE WINTER 2020
volume 14: issue 1
the insiders’ guide to whistler
Fit it in your pocket. Take it everywhere. Free.
FOOD & DRINK
Mountain Top Fondue
Old Spaghetti Factory
Roland’s Creekside Pub
Combine a snowmobile adventure with a threecourse fondue dinner at the famous Crystal Hut, located 6,000ft atop Blackcomb Mountain. Includes live entertainment.
Whistler’s best dining value. All meals include hot sourdough bread, soup or salad, coffee or tea and our signature ice cream. Reservations of any size. Don’t forget to join us in the Crystal Lounge for Whistler’s most memorable après.
The locals’ favourite in Creekside. Watch all the sports on our 9 flat screen TVs with volume! Great summertime patio.
WITH CANADIAN WILDERNESS ADVENTURES
604.938.1616
canadianwilderness.com
604.938.1081
oldspaghettifactory.ca
604.932.5940
rolandswhistler.com
LOCALS’ FAVOURITE SINCE 1982!
Join us for après at Whistler’s most iconic bar, just steps from the Whistler Village Gondola Crowd around the cozy fireplace, taking in the mountain views while enjoying Daily Happy Hour Specials to start your après off right! Amazing Appetizers, Big Screen TVs & Pool Tables Breakfast, Lunch, Après & Dinner
t: 1 604 932 1982
|
4050 Whistler Way
hiltonwhistler.com /faqwhistler
91
FOOD & DRINK
Stinky’s On The Stroll
Sushi Village
Authentic Whistler Vibe with Sports on the Big Screens. Home of Tacos, Tater Tots and Iincredible Sandwiches. Locally owned and operated and supporting local breweries. 21-4314 Main St – just up from the Olympic Rings. Follow us @ stinkyswhistler
Discover Sushi Village and find out why Whistler locals and guests have been coming back for more than 30 years! Second floor of the Sundial Hotel
604.962.6679
604.932.3330
sushivillage.com
Tandoori Grill Indian Cuisine Great vegetation selection. Gluten-free menu. Chicken dishes are prepared from fresh free-run Fraser Valley farm chicken and lamb is grassfed. Seafood is sustainably harvested. Operation hours: 11:30-3p.m and 5-10p.m. Pickup ordering at 604.905.4900 or tandooriwhistler.com. Dinner direct delivery at WhistlerDineIn.com or 604.906.6866.
WH Y N OT
TONIGHT?
4429 Sundial Place | 604.932.5151 | kegsteakhouse.com
92
FOOD & DRINK
Yukon Breakfast
WITH CANADIAN WILDERNESS ADVENTURES
TAKE A TASTE OF WHISTLER HOME
$24.95 Available at Armchair Books, Nesters Market, Whistler Kitchen Works and Pique Newsmagazine.
Whistler Brewing Company
Professionally guided brewery tours will explain the brewing process with our use of 100% all natural ingredients and brewing techniques plus four samples of our award winning craft beer. $15.95 tours begin at 4 p.m. Mon-Fri and 2:30 p.m. Sat & Sun. 604.938.1616 1045 Millar Creek Rd, canadianwilderness.com Function Junction. Explore fresh tracks on a thrilling snowmobile adventure in the Callaghan backcountry to our rustic cabin on Sproatt Mountain for a full Yukon style breakfast cooked on an old fashioned, wood fired stove.
604.962.8889 ext 105
STEAK NIGHT BY SNOWMOBILE SPROATT CABIN, CALLAGHAN VALLEY
604-938-1616 CANADIANWILDERNESS.COM CARLETON LODGE, LODGE MOUNTAIN SQUARE
/faqwhistler
93
APRÈS & NIGHTLIFE
S
ome DJs aim to play all-night raves; others are looking for weeklong festivals to showcase their skills. DJ Whitness, a.k.a. Whitney Sobool, thinks the Whistler après gig is one of the best DJ gigs in the world—that mid-afternoon, dancing in your ski boots, living life large after a day in the mountains, celebration.
“It’s that unique party experience,” she says of the ski town party tradition, that Whistler celebrates year-round. Sobool is more than happy to set the mood behind the decks. After more than a decade, she knows how to read a crowd, catch the mood, and if she sees the party fading, she knows how to reel them back in. “I want to catch people in the heart. I want them to be emotionally invested in it.”
She was welcomed into Vancouver-based DJ crew “The Suave Assassins,” the only female in the five-member collective. That was a bit of added pressure, she says. Sobool remembers doing complicated mixes just to prove herself in the male-dominated industry, playing a lot of “drum and bass,” a branch of electronic music with fast breakbeats and deep basslines. Seven years ago she made the decision to come to Whistler—a move that expanded her horizons in all aspects. Musically, there was so much more demand for other genres and Sobool was encouraged to expand her repertoire. By day she worked front desk gigs to help pay the bills until landing a job as a graphic designer at Pique Newsmagazine. That offered another outlet to fuel her creative fire. She wasn’t sure how the move to Whistler would turn out but she knows this: “I have never questioned being here since.” These days she finds herself listening and playing a lot of funk and soul, hip hop and house, and “anything loungey.” And still there’s nothing better than having a crowd right there in the palm of your hands. 94
PHOTO: LOGAN SWAYZE / LOGANSWAYZE.COM
Sobool, who grew up in the Okanagan, went to her first rave in 2000. She decided from that moment that she wanted to DJ and set out on a mission to learn. That was before the age of the computer, when records were king and turntables were the club standard.
Whitney Sobool I Always A ès
Insider
APRÈS & NIGHTLIFE
95
APRÈS & NIGHTLIFE
T
he secret to a good après lies not in the cold pitchers of beer, nor in hearty food or the stellar service. It’s not even in the live music. Though all those parts add to the whole experience, the heart of a true après lies in something intangible.
Whistler has long taken top spot for its après scene when it comes to this age-old tradition at ski resorts the world over. With three different ski bases, there’s a plethora of choice. Two clicks and you’re out of your skis, sitting under a heated patio lamp, ski buckles loosened, blood flowing back into your boots. Choices range from the table-dancing shenanigans at the Longhorn to the craft beer at Handlebar to the always-reliable, steady vibe at the Crystal to the sweet spot overlooking the mountains and the Village at the GLC patio. And that’s just to name a few. When in Whistler, keep true to the après tradition and raise a glass, or two, in your ski boots. 96
PHOTO: MIKE CRANE / TOURISM WHISTLER
The secret is simply this: après is all about embracing an epic day spent living large in the mountains with like-minded people. It’s about being with friends, new or old. It’s about celebrating that feeling of being a part of something bigger than yourself. The beer, the food, the music, and inevitable shot ski, are all just the icing on the après cake.
LLOOOO KK II N N GG TTOO
CELEBRATE CELEBRATE I INN WW HH I S TT LL EERR? ?
CONTACTTHE THEWHISTLER WHISTLER PARTY CONTACT PARTYPLANNERS PLANNERS Stags • Stagettes • Birthdays • Corporate Events
Stags • Stagettes • Birthdays • Corporate Events e: groups@gibbonswhistler.com
e:w: groups@gibbonswhistler.com gibbonswhistler.com/groups w: gibbonswhistler.com/groups All six locations open 7 days a week
All six locations open 7 days a week K I TC H E N
W E T BA R
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Sundial Hotel
Listel Best Western Hotel
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Public Library
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Aava Hotel
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APRÈS & NIGHTLIFE
Map Locations 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
21 Steps Bar & The Attic Amsterdam Pub Bar Oso Basalt Beacon Pub Bearfoot Bistro Champagne Lounge Buffalo Bills Black’s Pub The Keg Brewhouse Brickworks Public House Cinnamon Bear Bar & Grille Crystal Lounge Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub
15 Earls 16 El Furniture Warehouse 17 FireRock Lounge 18 Garfinkels 19 Garibaldi Lift Company 20 La Brasserie / La Bocca 21 Longhorn Saloon 22 Maxx Fish 23 Moe Joe’s 24 Pangea Pod Hotel 25 Raven Room 26 Stinky’s on the Stroll 27 Stonesedge 28 Tapley’s Sports Bar 29 Three Below
Gibbons Hospitality Group Gibbons offers 6 iconic Whistler venues open 7 days/week for drinks, dancing and more. Join us at the Longhorn 21 , Buffalo Bills 7 , Tapley’s 28 , Garfinkel’s 18 , Stonesedge 27 and the FireRock 17 . Or #hoponit with our Bar Hop program. 604.938.0225 gibbonswhistler.com AD PG29, 97 /faqwhistler
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APRÈS & NIGHTLIFE Upper Village Après
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Sidecut Bar Fitzsimmons Pub Leggs Diamond The Mallard Lounge Merlins Milestones Handlebar Café & Après Rocky Mountain Underground
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
H
ere’s the scoop on some essential, and some not so essential, things you need to know while you’re in Whistler.
We’ve included a little history, some geography, and some good dinner party tidbits to keep the conversation going.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q: IS THERE REALLY SKIING IN THE SUMMER? A: There really is! WB has one of the
longest ski seasons out there. From June 8-July 15, expert and advanced skiers and riders can head to the Horstman Glacier where they can work on their tans while perfecting their skills on their boards.
Q: HOW OLD IS WHISTLER? A: Whistler—so called for the
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sound of the whistling marmots in the mountains—was officially incorporated more than 40 years ago in 1975. Whistler Mountain opened for skiing in 1966, a decade before the resort municipality was officially born. To
get a true sense of the history of this area, head to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.
Q: WHAT IS WHISTLER’S ELEVATION? A: The Village sits at 675 metres
(2,214 feet). Whistler Mountain’s top elevation is 2,182 metres (7,160 feet). Blackcomb Mountain is slightly higher at 2,284 metres (7,494 feet). What that translates into is: A lot of vertical for your skiing and snowboarding pleasure.
Q: WHAT IS THE BIG BLACK STONE COLUMN RISING OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS ON THE DRIVE TO WHISTLER? A: That’s Black Tusk; it’s a large
pinnacle of volcanic rock sticking up on the east side of the highway. For the best view of the tusk, head up the Peak Chair on Whistler Mountain. Black Tusk is located in Garibaldi Provincial Park which borders Whistler Blackcomb’s ski area boundaries.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: WHERE DO ALL THE LOCALS LIVE? Q: HOW DO I KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON A: Whistler is spread out to the north IN TOWN? and south of the Village. There are A: Your go-to guide is our awardneighbourhoods on each side of the highway, stretching to Emerald Estates in the north and Function Junction/Cheakamus Crossing to the south. More than 12,000 people call Whistler home full time. Add in a few more thousand seasonal workers every season and that’s Whistler. And, not to forget the roughly 3 million visitors that come every year too!
Q: WHAT IS THE 20 CM RULE? A: This is the only rule to live by in the
winter. When the snow flies, and 20 cm of fresh powder falls, it’s time to get out there and enjoy it. Once you get a taste of floating over fresh West Coast powder, it’s easy to see why this is Whistler’s golden rule.
Q: HOW DO I KNOW IF IT HAS SNOWED 20 CM? A: Whistler is weather obsessed. It
is arguably the biggest topic of winter conversations. The best way to get the 411 on the weather and the current snow conditions is to check out the web cams at whistlerblackcomb.com, call the Snow Phone 604-932-4211, and follow #wbops on the official Whistler Blackcomb Twitter for daily operational updates.
/faqwhistler
winning sister publication Pique Newsmagazine. Out every Thursday, you’ll find Whistler’s free newspaper in stands around town. This is your source for all news, entertainment, sports and more.
Q: WHAT IS THE MADE IN WHISTLER MARKET? A: The name says it all! More than
a dozen vendors will display their wares at this boutique market on select Sundays throughout the winter season. The market is held on the ground-level foyer of the Westin Resort & Spa from noon til 5 p.m. You can find some awesome locally made treasures here from jewelry and art to delectable food treats and candles.
Q: WHY WOULD I COME TO A SKI RESORT IN THE SUMMER? A: Believe it or not, Whistler is now
officially busier in the summer than the winter! That’s what happens when you have the biggest mountain bike park in the world and world-class trails throughout the Sea to Sky corridor. But it’s not all about biking. There’s hiking, swimming, the outdoor concerts, the summer nightlife scene. Need we say more. 103
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hile Whistler Village is the hub of resort life, there are places to explore beyond. Function Junction is an eclectic mix of shops and services and worth the trip to the south end of town to browse the art gallery, pick up groceries at the organic store, stop in for a sweet bakery treat, or quench your thirst with a locally made brew. Between the Village and Function is Creekside. This is Whistler’s original ski base, the spot where the first chairlift began moving skiers up the mountain in 1966. You’ll find restaurants, bars, and a mix of retail shops in this area. Function Merchants 1 2 3 4
Whistler Brewing Company Forged Axe Throwing Coast Mountain Brewing Whistler Publishing. Home of Pique Newsmagazine, FAQ, Whistler Magazine, Crank’d and more.
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Lakeside Park Spruce Grove Park Fairmont Chateau Golf Club Harbour Air Lost Lake Park Meadow Park Sports Centre Nesters Market Nicklaus North Golf Club Rainbow Park Rebagliati Park Scandinave Spa Wayside Park Whistler Golf Club Alpha Lake Park Rainbow Plaza Alpine Market
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Fresh Produce Fresh Bakery Organic Food Delicous Seafood Specialty Meats
Bulk Foods Delivery Service Friendly Pharmacist Nutritional Advisors Health Foods
Where the Locals Shop! Located 1km north of Whistler Village at 7019 Nesters Rd. Phone: 604-932-3545 Pharmacy: 604-905-0429 Save time by shopping online:
www.nestersmarket.com
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Open Every Day 8am – 10pm (Pharmacy 9am –7pm)
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T15 R13 J14 J10 M12 Q6 O6 Q12 O13 T11 M15 Y2 S13 K12 M13 J4 L12 S12 M3 N11 R12 G1 I2 R7 L5 T9 P13 U13 M6 S13 I14 H14 G12 K11 O5 R11 S11 O11 R12 F6 L14 M11 R12 Q13 P15 I5 Q12 I16 H16 L15 J13 S11 P13 L12 F15 J12 K4 E16 O12 W13 K11 J12 Q14 V11 F12 O12 Z2 Q11 P12
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SNOWSHOE THE MEDICINE TRAIL
604-938-1616 CANADIANWILDERNESS.COM CARLETON LODGE, MOUNTAIN SQUARE
P: Blake Jorgenson
THE OFFICIAL RENTAL DELIVERY PARTNER OF WHISTLER BLACKCOMB ON-SNOW VALET | BEST PRODUCT SELECTION | ON-MOUNTAIN EXCHANGE To reserve your next in-room fitting, visit rentskis.com/whistlerdelivery Reserve today to save up to 20% off your rental
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Discover eco-exhilaration®
ziptrek.com 604.935.0001
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Adventure seekers delight – After your day on the mountain, or exploring the village, come zip in the old growth forest before your other evening activities begin. An exhilarating experience that provides the opportunity to catch the magical alpenglow, or zip in the pristine tranquility of a snow fall.
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Spectacular All Day, or Après
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The Insiders’ Guide
WINTER 2020
FREE