Continuation of our amazing 3-day vacay in Whistler, British Columbia…

Getting to Whistler

Whistler is located a mere 2-hour drive away from Vancouver, BC.  We flew into Vancouver International Airport and made sure to rent a car with snow-driving capability.  While snow tires are mandatory to drive the highway from October-March, the drive is so beautifully scenic you forget you’re making the trek up to the mountains. Gorgeous hillsides with lush landscape and babbling waterfalls on one side and an incredible panoramic view of Horseshoe Bay on the other. Sun, sea, sky, air… nothing beats this view guys!

Whistler Village

First stop: Peaked Pies in Whistler Village for the most scrumptious meat-filled Australian Pies! You cannot come to Whistler without stopping by this tiny little spot on Main Street in Whistler Village. Load up on Pepper Steak meat pie and Chicken, Leek, Veggies pie (my faves) then walk through the huge village marketplace for some fun shopping, sightseeing, incredible photo ops and even groceries.  You can spend every day of your vacation in the village and still have TONS to do!

Where to Stay in Whistler

We got a condo in Whistler/ Blackcomb, the mountain adjacent to Whistler Mountain and a mere 5 minutes away from the village. There are tons of condos, cabins, air BNBs, luxury and mid-range hotels in the area so make sure to book ahead especially during the peak winter season. Since the US dollar is greater in value to the Canadian dollar, expect to pay around $150+ for a decent place per night. For those of you who regularly book snow trips to mountain resorts, this place is a STEAL! Compared to Vail, Aspen, Tahoe, Utah, even Mammoth Mountain here in California, Whistler is more affordable with better attractions in my opinion.

What to do in Whistler

Besides skiing and snowboarding Whistler/ Blackcomb Mountain, the area offers snowshoeing, tobogganing, ski jumping, heli-skiing/ boarding, tubing, and a super cute playground snow area for the kids at Olympic Park, the venue for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics located on the north end of the village square. At the base of the mountains is Whistler Village, my absolute favorite chalet-style pedestrian village perfect for apres-ski drinks and grub!

There’s also a BADASS tri-cable gondola Peak 2 Peak that will take you (and your gear) straight from Whistler Mountain to Blackcomb Mountain so you can ski/board 2 gargantuan terrains all on one trip! The trip takes 11 minutes, costs just $27CND and is the first lift to join the two side-by-side mountains raising you over 400 meters (1,430 feet) off the ground. This iconic attraction features 360 degree views of the spectacular mountain terrain and a glass bottom floor so you don’t miss a single sight! Absolute MUST-SEE if you’re ever in the area.

Whistler Nightlife

I can’t think of a better way to spend my winter vacation than boarding all day, enjoying ice cold beers on the mountain, soaking in a scalding hot tub before supper, and ending our night with tapas and cocktails in the village. Even though it was cold as F*ck this year (3deg Farenheit YIKES!) we still managed to make it out to Bar Oso, Whistler Village’s famed tapas hot spot for scrumptious Spanish-influenced small plates and cocktails.  There are bars and dance clubs littered throughout the village so there really is something for everyone here! Check out Bar Oso HERE.

Know Before You Go

While US dollars are certainly accepted (and much appreciated) in Canada, know that you will be losing out on the 20-25% lower conversion rate if you use US dollars to pay for goods. For example, if groceries cost 100 Canadian Dollars and you gave the cashier a $100 US bill, they will keep it and NOT give you change back.  As opposed to converting your cash and only spending 80USD instead of the full 100. You see the distinction?  Which is why I NEVER pay for anything using US dollars and much prefer to use my credit cards instead. I also rarely convert my money when traveling to Canada but may pull out $50 at the ATM for tips, etc.

MUST STOP by Purebread Bakery in Whistler Village before your drive back to Vancouver guys! The grilled cheese sandwich is to die for, the brownies and salted caramel s’mores are insane, and don’t even get me started on those delectable scones!!! OMG so heavenly and I don’t ever even order scones back home. No one takes their fresh-baked bread more seriously than this family-owned operation, I’m a total FAN! Check out Purebread Bakery HERE.

So have I peaked your interest for Whistler yet? (lol pun intended ;D) Have you been? What’d you think?

Catch up on my Whistler Winter Style HERE

Coming up on Wednesday: Vancouver Travel Diary!

How we spent the last 2 days of our trip including all the sights, shopping, and yummy eats! Stay tuned…

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