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A Romantic Whistler Vacation – The Perfect Outdoor Adventure!
The Whistler resort area is one of the best ski destinations anywhere, and an accessible playground in the beautiful British Columbia outdoors.
If you haven’t already included Whistler in your plans for Vancouver, give it some serious thought. There are few places so close to a major city and airport which offer such a breathtaking alpine wilderness environment.
As with any world famous resort, prices for Whistler packages have crept up in recent years. But the Canadian dollar is still considerably lower than both the U.S. dollar and Euro, and with a little shopping around, you can still make a Whistler ski vacation or summer getaway an affordable trip.
If you’re pressed for time, it is possible to see Whistler on a full day trip from Vancouver. If you’re in the city already on vacation or an Alaska Cruise, just check the brochure racks for the different companies tours and rates. Travel to WhistlerFlights to Whistler - Vancouver International Airport is the closest major gateway, and the starting point for your Whistler vacation experience. There are direct flights here from all over Canada, as well as many U.S. cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Denver, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, New York, Washington and Miami.
From overseas, there are non-stops from London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Honolulu, Sydney and Mexico City just to name a few.
From Seattle, Washington - The distance from Seattle to Whistler is 349 km (216 miles). Driving time is about 5.5 hours.
Highway to Whistler - Highway 99 (also called the Sea-to-Sky Highway) is the road from Vancouver to Whistler, and it’s worth mentioning that you must be very careful on this roadway. It’s paved all the way and very scenic, but rather narrow in spots. Over the years, there have been a number of accidents around curves and even on straightaways – drivers going too fast, too tired, too much to drink, or hitting a patch of ice in the winter. If you’re at all unsure about mountain driving, take the bus instead.
Another interesting way of getting to your Whistler vacation is by helicopter. Helijet has flights from Vancouver to Whistler twice a day. The YVR-YWS flights depart from Vancouver International Airport’s South Terminal, which is accessible by shuttle bus from the main terminal.
The Sea to Sky HighwayIf you’re driving, you might want to give yourself some extra time to stop and enjoy some of the sights on the way up to Whistler. The sea-to sky highway is a beautiful mountain drive, and there’s some places where you can stop and appreciate the scenery and wilderness:
Things To Do On Your Whistler Vacation
Winter - The skiing of course, is fabulous. Whistler/Blackcomb is the largest ski area on the continent, with the greatest vertical rise of any mountain in North America. A huge selection of over 200 trails for every ability, advanced lift systems, tons of fresh snow, mild weather and the longest ski season anywhere in Canada.
The Whistler Resort, along with Blackcomb Mountain, have won numerous awards and accolades for superb skiing; one visit here and it’s easy to see why.
But a Whistler ski vacation doesn't have to be all downhill - they’ve also got some great cross-country trails too, especially in and around Lost Lake and through 3 of the resorts golf courses. Rentals for skis, snowboards and other equipment are available throughout the village area. If you’re in need of maximum mountain thrills, check out the heli-skiing companies around town.
And besides skiing and snowboarding, you’ll find opportunities for fun things like dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice skating, ice climbing, snowshoeing, sleigh rides, hiking and backcountry programs.
Summer- Whistler is becoming just as popular for it’s summer activities. The biggest attraction really, winter or summer, is the awesome scenery and fresh mountain air (fill your lungs with it during the day and you’ll sleep like a baby at night!) They keep some of the chairlifts and gondolas operating in the summer, which gives you access to some superb mountaintop sightseeing and hiking trails.
Romantic Whistler RestaurantsThere’s all sorts of places to eat and drink in Whistler. Dining choices include: Steaks, Pacific Northwest cuisine, Mexican, French, Mediterranean, German, Tapas, Bistros, Brew Pubs, and the regular chain and burger restaurants as well.
One tip we highly recommend is to try get some of the dining coupons for various different places to eat. For couples, these can reduce the cost of a romantic dinner in Whistler by about 25%. Many of them are the “order one entrée and get the second free” type.
You can find these coupons in several places: in the yellow pages section of the phone book, in local papers, and in the “Entertainment” book of coupons available in many major cities. They can also be found in the brochure stand at the hotel where you’re staying on your Whistler vacation. Whistler Accommodations
You'll find some of the most romantic mountain lodges and resorts in Whistler, British Columbia. From cozy cabins and chalets to luxury resorts, rentals and vacation homes, there is a huge selection of holiday accommodation for couples here.
For information on Whistler vacation condos, check out our Whistler Vacation Rental section, and stay tuned for our new page coming soon on Whistler Hotels.
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Whistler is a great romantic getaway from 
Vancouver - Whistler Driving Time - It takes about 2 hours to get to Whistler from downtown Vancouver, or 2&1/2 from the airport. Whistler is about 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver. There is shuttle service from both Vancouver International Airport and downtown Vancouver. Fares are around $65 per person/one-way.
You'll also find world-class golf courses, swimming, fishing, horseback riding, trails through ancient forests, and bungee jumping (no thanks!). Or, there's aerial sightseeing packages which include some great options like glacier tours and heli-picnics.