Whistler, Canada: Planning Your Way to an Unforgettable Experience
When to Visit Whistler
We have visited Whistler in the summer, fall and winter and it is a beautiful spot no matter the season. There is so much to do in every season, no one in your family will be bored. If you aren’t into skiing, visiting Whistler during the summer or shoulder seasons is a great alternative, especially for families. With lakes, parks, mountain-biking and all the outdoor activities you can imagine at your fingertips. Accommodations during these times are also very affordable.
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Getting There
Getting to Whistler is certainly one of my favourite parts of the visit. It isn’t far from Vancouver so it is something that can easily be done on a long-weekend or for a short stay. The drive is about 125 km and usually takes about two hours. You get to travel on one of the most beautiful highways. The Sea to Sky Highway has some of the best ocean and mountain views of anywhere we’ve travelled. Be sure to check out GuideAlong as it is our favourite companion on road trips and they have a great guide from Vancouver to Whistler. The audio tour highlights all of our favourite stops along the highway: Shannon Falls, the Sea to Sky Gondola, Squamish, and Brandywine Falls. The tour also includes lots of local history and information on the 2010 Olympic games.
While it is likely you will be travelling to Whistler by car, there are plenty of shuttle options from Vancouver as well. We prefer having a vehicle to get around to some of the local hikes, lakes and parks, but it does come with an additional parking cost. Whistler Village is a pedestrian only village, so you will need to park in one of the outdoor lots that surround the village or at your accommodation. Overnight public parking is also available at the Whistler Conference Centre and Whistler Public Library. You should be able to find parking for about $20/day. For more information on road trips, check out this post.
Location, Location, Location
Each time we visit Whistler we stay in a different spot in the village. We typically find something through Airbnb or on the Tourism Whistler site, which often has good packages and specials. Most of the vacation rentals come with a kitchen and usually have great amenities like pools, hot tubs and gyms. We have stayed in both the upper and lower villages, so we are never more than a 15-minute walk away from anything we need.
Day Trips
Since we are usually only in Whistler for a few nights we don’t go too far. For more on our favourite activities in Whistler, check out this post. We are hoping to get to Joffre Lake on our next visit to check out the turquoise lakes. This park requires a free day-use pass to visit from May to October.
