Whistler – September 2017
When weighing up the pro’s and con’s of moving to Vancouver, the ski Whistler was definitely high on the pro list. As one of largest ski resorts in North America and the home of the 2010 Winter Olympic events the town has a certain appeal that I never quite got with the likes of Val d’Isere or other high end resorts in the Alps. I was lucky enough to visit Whistler for the weekend during my first visit to Vancouver in 2015 (see here).
The weekend was a spur of the moment decision, one of the perks of not committing to a football team like I was in the UK. Sam’s sister and husband Jen and Navid were heading up to visit a spa and decided to make the night of it. With a pull out couch in the living room they invited Sam and I to join them. Sam had already said she was going to her friends party but I needed no second invitation to graciously accept their offer despite being a third wheel. I am not a spa kind of guy but I wanted to see town during the summer where the ski paths make way to hikers, fell runners and mountain bikers.
Whistler is about 90 minutes (traffic depending) north of Vancouver up the 99 highway aptly nicknamed the Sea to Sky Highway. We stayed in a great little AirBnb just down the road from the Fairmont Hotel (the posh one basically) a mere 15 minute walk from the main village. After a brief stop off at BC Liquor to stock up on supplies we arrived in Whistler at about 6.30pm. Time to hit the hot tub!
After 2 hours of soaking, and looking like a prune it was time to get dressed and head out for dinner although our appetites tapered by an influx of Canadians finest beers (PBR’s and Pilsners). We chose to eat at Stoneedge and I decided to choose a national delicacy in poutine (chips, cheese curds and gravy) but revamped using short rib. It was delicious. After dinner we headed into the main part of the village to a couple of bars.
For non-North Americans, Whistler has the same attraction I mentioned previously and it has resulted in an invasions of Aussies who seasonally live and work in the village. After watching one local (from Brisbane) bouncer get started on by another ‘local’ we decided our night was done and headed home.
The main reason for my visit wasn’t to watch the false bravado of Australian men but to visit some of the villages closer lakes, with time short on Saturday (due to my ‘mother-in-laws’ birthday party in the evening) I had 3 hours to kill whilst Jen and Navid headed to the Spa. I decided to visit Lost Lake (ironically the closest lake to the village so not lost) and Green Lake which are lakes you would tend to overlook if you had a car and head to those up the mountain.
Due to the time of the year the town was quiet which meant the trails (which double as cross-country ski runs in the winter) were also devoid of traffic which made for some excellent shots.
After a great 24 hours in Whistler we arrived back to a most wonderful sunset in Vancouver.
