Visiting Whistler before the 2010 Olympics?
As a resident, business owner, and frequent skier in Whistler, I have come to realize that there are “secrets,” things to see and do that the average visitor to Whistler has NO idea about. I will try to pass on the knowledge to the locals, but know that Whistler is a paradise in itself – these secrets only add to the magic!
Hotels can cost $300 a night and up during ski season and peak summer season — but three ideas saved me money on lodging. First, there’s an apartment booking agency called ResortQuest that can offer off-season specials – I stayed in a lovely townhouse a block from the village square, with a hot tub, fireplace, kitchen, sleeps 4-6 for $100 in early fall – ask about similar deals!
If you’re gregarious and willing to both ENJOY and put up with the commons of a B&B – Chalet Beau Sejour had a B&B in a spectacular mountain view chalet for $90-125. Lots of social hosts and a mountain view dining table with a double sided fireplace and mulled wine while visitors from around the world discuss the snow and ski conditions just can’t be beat!
Finally, there are two hostels – the venerable Shoestring Lodge, just north of Whistler, maybe ten blocks away, and planned to be “developed” into townhouses before the Olympics, has beds for $25, as does the hostel across the lake from Whistler – you might be sharing a room with some interesting strangers, but that price leaves plenty of money for food and fun!
Whistler has an incredible array of high-end restaurants, but one that I found to be exceptional was the Edgewater Lodge, just north of Whistler, a few miles away. Check out the website photo combined with the Zagat quote “deer to die for” (they have their own deer farm) and you’ll be on your way!
On the other end of the spectrum, the mall next to the Whistler Conference Center hosts Shakespeare’s Pies – Aussie meat pies for under $4 that will have you coming back again and again, especially after hitting Whistler’s bars and nightclubs!
Three bars stand out among the best in Whistler and offer a unique experience. Tommy Africa’s will attract the early 20’s crowd with a glass DJ booth, the best local DJs and a zebra-striped door! The Savage Beagle is a split-level bar on the main strip, with a packed dance floor downstairs and a belly-to-the-bar section upstairs. The ‘cougar bar’ for the 30 and up crowd is Buffalo Bills, at the other end of the main strip – live bands, great DJs and comedians have put on a lot of great nights over the years.
Ski lift passes are often available at 7-11s in Squamish or Vancouver on the way to Whistler for a discount that can be $10-20 per lift ticket. The lift lines are shortest at the Whistler Creekside lift if you want to go fast, but I prefer skiing at Blackcomb, the other mountain (they connect at Whistler Village)
Whistler’s best-kept secrets are the summer activities—there’s a cluster of pristine lakes for swimming or canoeing, mountain bikes in full gear shoot up to the top of the mountain for fast or hard descents, and the ski hill has a summit glacier that stays open until August!
Oh yeah, some guys named Palmer and Nicholas have golf courses and there are ski camps, tennis camps, zip trek lines, heli hiking, rafting, fishing, horseback riding, ATVs – there are LOTS of great things to do, but bring cash!!
Enjoy it now before the Olympics – because 2 weeks of watching this on TV will make the world Whistler crazy!
#Visiting #Whistler #Olympics
