Whistler is a True Winter Wonderland

Written on Wednesday, March 29, 2023 by Emma Whiting Travel

Snow is falling over the cobblestoned village, streets are lined with wreaths and twinkling lights decorating trees.  Whistler really is a true winter wonderland.

To be honest an overseas winter holiday has never been at the top of my wish list, especially one that involves snow!  My partner on the other hand loves to ski and when our good friend went to live and work in Whistler, Canada for 2 years, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to visit him over the Christmas holidays.

Now I am never one to turn down a holiday, even if it does mean leaving during our Australian summer.  I have always wanted to travel to Canada and visit Whistler, looking back I am so glad we went during winter.

 

As soon as we crossed the bridge and walked into the Whistler village, I felt like I was in a real-life Christmas tale!  Thick snow covered the roofs of the stores and restaurants, the cobblestone streets were lined with decorated trees dotted with twinkling coloured lights, snow was falling, and the views of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains towered over the village in both directions.  It truly was a magical sight.   The village is pedestrian only and while large it is very easy to walk around, just make sure you are wearing the right shoes!

During the holiday season the village is bustling with visitors from all over the world and comes alive with music, entertainment, and celebration.  It is very important to pre book as much as you can before you arrive, especially dinner reservations or you will miss out.

 

The daylight hours are limited over winter, it become dark around 4:30pm.  So, make the most of your day and start your adventures early.  These were my favourite activities during our trip:

Snowmobiling in the Backcountry

We spent 3 incredible hours exploring the backcountry terrain of Whistler on snowmobiles, our guide led us up the mountain through thick snow-covered evergreens and over frozen lakes.  The scenery was just incredible, and the snowmobiles were a lot of fun to ride through these tracks.   It was a great way to explore more of this impressive landscape and get out into the snow and nature.

Ziplining

Who thought flying through the trees at over 100km/h could be so much fun!?  We went on the Twilight tour which included 6 ziplines with the last 2 in complete darkness.  The first zipline was the scariest by far as it was the highest and fastest, once you build up the courage to go down this one the rest are a breeze.

Professional Hockey match

We drove out to Vancouver for the day to watch the Vancouver Canucks vs Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.  The arena was full of support for their home team – The Canucks and we could not help but join in with the cheers.  Whenever I thought of hockey, I imagined a brutal game and a crowd to match, however I was pleasantly surprised by how polite and kind everyone in the arena was.  It was a great night out, and of course the Canucks won!

The Mountains

This is the reason why most people come to Whistler during winter, the mountains!  Whistler is the largest ski resort in North America and the ‘Peak 2 Peak’ gondola connects both Blackcomb and Whistler mountains, allowing you access to ski both without having to leave the village.

The terrain suits all skill levels, the runs are long, and the snow is epic!  I have never seen so much snow before and snow that is so deep, and so soft that you can simply disappear into it.

 

Whistler is one of those destinations you could visit every season, however there is something particularly magical about spending a winter in Whistler.

 

If you want to read more about our winter getaways, click here.