Winter

TRAVEL | A Winter Weekend Getaway at Whistler by Jenn Chan

Whistler Gondola

Ahhhh… a weekend getaway into winter wonderland is exactly what was needed this holiday season! What better way to celebrate Christmas than to be whisked away to Whistler for a weekend, enjoying the slopes, adventures, restaurants, bars, and fireplace? I’m an avid snowboarder, so this was especially nice since the local mountains had a slow start, and I have been itching to shred since November!

The weekend started with a quick easy check in at Legends Creekside, located in the heart of Creekside Village and very convenient located beside the Creekside Gondola, perfect for ski-in, ski-out access. The building also happens to have one of the Whistler Blackcomb Guest Relations offices and Ticket Booth attached to it.

Legends Creekside

Once checked in, I was welcomed to one of the one bedroom suites on the top floor of this 6-floor hotel. The room comes complete with a King bed, a Queen sofa bed, a bathroom, a full kitchen, and features a gas fireplace, and an in suite washer/dryer. There was more than enough space for the 2 of us to wind down, cook some meals, and cozy up by the fire with some Christmas tunes. Being able to dry and warm up our wet snow gear at the end of the day by the fire is definitely an added luxury. There is also a ski/snowboard locker storage area located by the front desk to store your winter gear, conveniently located by Creekside Express Gondola. Legends also includes a fitness centre, pool table in the games room, a theratre, Nintendo Switch games room, and my favourite outdoor pool, complete with 2 hot tubs. There is nothing better than to relax in an outdoor hot tub with a warm beverage as the snow lightly falls onto your heads après-ski!

Legends Creekside One Bedroom Suite
Legends Creekside Kitchen
Legends Creekside Bedroom
Legends Living Room

Legends Living Room

Tourism Whistler set us up with some awesome Whistler merchandise, including Dark Hazelnut Chocolate, Whistler branded Goggle Socs & Some Gypsy Soul bath salts & coffee scrub!

Tourism Whistler set us up with some awesome Whistler merchandise, including Dark Hazelnut Chocolate, Whistler branded Goggle Socs & Some Gypsy Soul bath salts & coffee scrub!

Onto the fun stuff! Waking up the next morning to fresh snowfall outside the windows was just absolutely lovely! It set the tone for the day as we prepare ourselves for the day up on Whistler Blackcomb! CAN-SKI helped us out with some ski rentals, the knowledgeable staff were able to set us up with the best gear for our skill level and snow conditions! The lineups for the gondolas and lifts were surprisingly not bad, considering it was Christmas weekend. The lifties & staff worked efficiently to get all the skiiers and snowboarders up on the chairs. We were whisked up to the top where the Umbrella Bar is, which is also where you can take the Peak to Peak chair between Whistler and Blackcomb. The conditions of the snow was amazing to say the least, the runs were nice and wide and nicely groomed with fresh powder on top. We frequented the Cougar Park, Bobcat Park, Jolly Green Giant, Green Acres, Old Man, and Franz’s runs.

Whistler Chairlift Emerald 6
Whistler Blackcomb
Whistler Blackcomb Slope

The best part about snowboarding on Whistler Blackcomb is the accessibility from the mountains to the village and being able to après-ski properly. How absolutely amazing is it to be able to snowboard down to the restaurant right by the lift after a day on the mountains? That is exactly what we did, we made our way down Village Run right onto the covered patio of Garibaldi Lift Company to enjoy some food and drinks by the fire pit, all while watching people wander the village. It was the perfect way to wind down and warm up the toes!

Garibaldi Lift Co Patio
Whistler Village, Garibaldi Lift Company

 

Whistler Village this time of year is extremely festive. We went meandering through the Village and there were Christmas lights all over the Village Stroll. When we reached Whistler Olympic Plaza, it took my breath away! They had transformed the plaza into a skating rink and sledding area! It was absolutely beautiful to be in the middle of all of that and seeing couples and families enjoy the snow and ice under the warm glow of Christmas lights. There is something about this time of year that brings people together that I love seeing. It just warms my heart.

Whistler Village
Whistler Olympic Plaza

Whistler Olympic Plaza

We couldn’t end our trip without trying some amazing restaurants offered in the village. After checking out many different restaurants and menus online, we decided on Basalt Wine + Salumeria, conveniently located along the Village Stroll beside Crystal Lodge. I’ll try to keep this section short and sweet, but the dinner was amazing! We started off with a Beef Striploin Carpaccio (+ “a bag of chips”), and every bite was incredible. The texture and flavours come together so beautifully, I wish there was more of it, but alas we must move on to the main courses. As adventurous eaters, we decided on the more unique items on the menu. We chose the Cashew Crusted Rock Fish & the New Zealand Venison + Chorizo Ragu Cavatelli with its wine pairings, which paired beautifully with the meal. The rock fish with seaweek pesto and chilean crab stir fried red quinoa was an incredible flavour explosion in my mouth. The flavours & textures worked so well together, it leaves you wanting more, bite after bite. The Venison dish with Cavatelli is the definition of a savoury comfy food. It tastes like a warm hug after a cold day, telling you everything is going to be okay. We were already quite stuffed at this point, but felt we should try their dessert menu along with some boozy hot drinks to end our experience. We ordered their Apple + Butterscotch Crème Brulée, which to my surprise, was very delicious! Not that I was expecting it to be bad, but I’m just not a big dessert person!

Beef Striploin Carpaccio + “a bag of chips”

Beef Striploin Carpaccio + “a bag of chips”

Cashew Crusted Rock Fish & the New Zealand Venison + Chorizo Ragu Cavatelli

Cashew Crusted Rock Fish & the New Zealand Venison + Chorizo Ragu Cavatelli

Cashew Crusted Rock Fish with Daydreamer Riesling 2017

Cashew Crusted Rock Fish with Daydreamer Riesling 2017

New Zealand Venison + Chorizo Ragu Cavatelli with Moraine Estate Pinot Noir 2016

New Zealand Venison + Chorizo Ragu Cavatelli with Moraine Estate Pinot Noir 2016

Apple + Butterscotch Crème Brulée | maple almond tuile, ginger struesel

Apple + Butterscotch Crème Brulée | maple almond tuile, ginger struesel

Basalt Boozy Hot Chocolate | Frangelico, Jameson, whip cream Peanut Buttered Rum | Gosling's Black Rum, brown sugar, spice, peanut butter, steamed milk

Basalt Boozy Hot Chocolate | Frangelico, Jameson, whip cream
Peanut Buttered Rum | Gosling's Black Rum, brown sugar, spice, peanut butter, steamed milk

Our weekend drew to an end, as the fluffy snow fell outside our windows, we really didn’t want to have to pack up and leave. It’s been such a great way to start the Christmas holidays. I hope you’ll be able to make your way up to Whistler sometime this season! There is something for everyone to do, from Skiing & Snowboarding, to strolling in the village, to trying out different restaurants, to relaxing at a spa, to a wild night out in the bars & clubs.

Thank you Tania and the Tourism Whistler team for setting this nice little getaway up, I’ll definitely have to find another excuse to come back up later in the season!

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Whistler in the Spring by Jenn Chan

Whistler Blackcomb is the largest ski resort in North America and it isn't even close. Nearly 50% larger than their nearest competition with 39 different lifts and gondolas; 39! It's no wonder US Presidents, Canadian Prime Ministers, countless celebrities and even British Royalty have all been seen carving its massive terrain. Their lifts are capable of bringing up over 65,000 skiers and snowboarders every hour and they average 2,000,000 visitors per year yet it never seems overcrowded!

Originally 2 separate resorts their fierce competition during the 80's and 90's fuelled innovations and upgrades so by the time Whistler and Blackcomb resorts became Whistler Blackcomb in 2003 the result was a behemoth and mecca for powder hounds the world around.

Our spring visit started on a glaringly sunny morning. The line for the gondola was short and we were whisked up the mountain with a car all to ourselves. The snow was still deep and soft, even in April, and families, kids, seniors and pros alike were all enjoying the bounty of the final months of the season. Nearly all of the 200+ runs were still open and you could turn a corner and have an entire run to yourself. The runs were all well groomed, the parks still built for pro competition level and the terrain still as varied as in the middle of winter during a blizzard.

Creekside Chairlift

Creekside Chairlift

Still lots of snow up at Whistler

Still lots of snow up at Whistler

Looking down the Mountain from the Chairlift

Looking down the Mountain from the Chairlift

Looking up towards the Glacier

Looking up towards the Glacier

Majestic Northshore Mountains

Majestic Northshore Mountains

Whistler Mountain

Whistler Mountain

 

 

Your adventure with Superfly begins in the heart of the picturesque Whistler Village, a stone's throw to the main gondola up the mountain. A beaming Superfly staffer whisks you off to an awaiting shuttle for a quick, 12-minute ride to beautiful Cougar Mountain. 

Almost as enthralling as the 4 high-speed, high-adrenaline zip lines was the slow wind up the mountain to the first line in a tank tracked, customized 6-seater Polaris Ranger. As soon as you strap into Z1, the first zip line, 1 kilometre long and 500 feet off the valley floor you know you are in for a thrilling ride. Riding tandem, a mere 10 feet separating you and your zip line partner, you hit speeds of more than 100 kilometres an hour as you wiz past lush, green trees and and a meandering creek.

By the fourth zip line you feel as giddy as a second grader and the final line is only 5 feet apart so, with the help of the skilled guides, you can choose to hold hands as you descend; the perfect ending to a perfect day. Definitely the kind of adventure you would do again!

 

On our way up on the Polaris Ranger to the top with Superfly Zipline

On our way up on the Polaris Ranger to the top with Superfly Zipline

Superfly Zipline

Superfly Zipline

Superfly Zipline - Godzilla

Superfly Zipline - Godzilla

Coming in hot on the Zipline

Coming in hot on the Zipline

Beautiful Milky Way seen over Nita Lake, Whistler

Beautiful Milky Way seen over Nita Lake, Whistler

Thank you for having us Whistler & Superfly Zipline!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos & Videos: Jenn Chan