WHISTLERS CHARM

Whistler is the most charming, pleasant, fairytale village in Canada. Whistler Village is a place to relax after a long day on the slopes, mountain peaks, forests and rivers. It has a quaint feel to it, whilst still being bustling with people at all times of the day.

Most people come to Whistler for the snow sports in the winter, nature hikes and incredible scenery, that I think the beauty and uniqueness of the village may be forgotten. Walking around the ‘village stroll’ feels like you’re walking around Disney Land… But at the base of an unbelievable mountain. It really is picture perfect!

There are two parts of the village to explore. The main part of Whistler Village and the Upper Village.

To make things a little easier: Whistler Village is at the base of Whistler Mountain / Upper Village is at the base of Blackcomb Mountain. Easy!

Whistler Village is what I would call the main centre. This is the place where you will find cafes, shops, restaurants, hotels and more. The interesting thing about this part of town is that the slopes literally finish in the bustling centre of the village.

I was here at the end of summer, so there was, unfortunately, no snow… But fret not! If you love mountain biking, this is what you can do instead. Travel to the very top of Whistler Mountain and cruise down on your bike whilst clearing some big jumps and taking in some serious views. Honestly, if you love mountain biking, there is no better place.

What makes this village so great is simply how accessible everything is. A chairlift or gondola to the top of the mountain is right in the centre of town. There is no struggling for transportation, it’s right outside your hotel doorstep!

Depending on which mountain you are looking at travelling up, you will need to walk to the corresponding lift in the correct village. But don’t be fooled… Access to each of the peaks is very simple, as the walk between the two villages is only around 5 minutes. They’re just around the corner!

Once you’re at the top of your desired mountain, there is always another way to get to the other peak… This gondola is called ‘the Peak 2 Peak’ and for a very valid reason. This mammoth gondola will take you from Blackcomb to Whistler peak in about 10 minutes. It is definitely the easiest way to see all the sights in one day, it saves you a lot of time!

The gondola itself is big and spacious, there are even a couple that has a glass bottom floor. If you’re lucky enough, you may even see some bears in the valley below. Unfortunately for us, that was not the case. Nonetheless, it was an amazing ride.

What I found very interesting about Whistler, is the thick amount of Aussies that are here. The locals literally call it “Whistralia” as it is the place that has the strongest Australian culture in Canada. There were so many bogans here I just couldn’t believe it – haha.

I guess the significant amount of Aussies is all because of the epic activities you can do here, I don’t blame them really. Life would be pretty great if you get to tackle the Sasquatch every day.

From the time you step out of your hotel in the village, you could be at the top of the mountain in 15-20 minutes. It’s that quick!

You could be mountain biking, skiing or hiking down the mountain at the same time it would take to drink your coffee at Starbucks. That’s what makes this place so great. Australian’s are smart I guess.

Not only is the entirety of Whistler incredibly accessible, but the views and walks are also stunning. If you have good weather, you will see the whole of Whistler from the peak of the mountain. Honestly, one minute you’re walking through the forest, next your looking at a glacier. Who would want to miss out on that!

One last amazing thing to add is that the centre of the town has no roads! The inside of the village is entirely taken by foot or bike. No dodging traffic or waiting for traffic lights… This place is basically heaven. It’s not a completely road free place, there are roads around the outside and almost all of the hotels have parking. But the important part of the village is completely car-free.

Whistler village and the surrounding mountains really are places I will treasure forever. I had amazing experiences with extreme activities, stunning views, lovely people and delicious food. There is not a thing I can fault.

This is my first time in Canada and so far… I am very very impressed.
Bye bye Whistler, until next time!