A trip to British Columbia is incomplete without visiting North America’s second-largest ski resort, Whistler. This world-renowned resort town is known for its breathtaking natural beauty and thrilling outdoor recreational opportunities, making it one of the premier sites for skiing and snowboarding.
We visited Whistler during our trip to Vancouver in 2023. In this blog post, I will share my complete itinerary, details about our resort, things to do for a non-skier, and many more. So get ready to discover and fall in love with the city through our Ultimate Whistler Travel Guide tailor-made for non-skiers like us! 😉
How to reach Whistler?
Vancouver is the closest city to reach Whistler. You can rent a car or take a shuttle bus to this ski resort. Epic Rides offers the fastest and cheapest transportation to Whistler and costs $44 round trip per individual. It’s the best option if you’re traveling solo or don’t have a permit to drive in Canada.
We decided to rent a car from Avis as it was cheaper for us. Moreover, we wanted to explore the famous Sea to Sky Highway, which stretches from Vancouver to Whistler. It’s a part of Highway 99, which spans from the U.S.-Canada border in Blaine (Washington) to Cache Creek (British Columbia). The highway has numerous viewpoints and pull-off areas, allowing travelers to stop and soak in the scenery.
Where to stay?
We stayed at the Tantalus Resort Lodge in Whistler Village. The resort offers a range of accommodations, from cozy suites to spacious condominiums. Moreover, it’s walkable from the Olympic Plaza and not outrageously expensive.
We booked a suite that came with a fully equipped kitchen, a fireplace, large rooms, and other amenities for a comfortable stay. And not to mention the gorgeous view from the patio. 😍
The resort also offers outdoor facilities like a heated pool, jacuzzi, and fitness center, along with convenient access to various recreational activities, such as skiing, snowboarding, or hiking (in the warmer months).
Other budget resorts that we were considering for our stay:
- Whistler Village Inn & Suites – Located centrally to shops and restaurants | Close to several popular ski lifts
- Blackcomb Lodge – Close to ski lifts and convention center | Indoor pool
- Evolution Whistler – Close to Creekside market and Creekside Gondola | Great forest view
Day 1
Sea to Sky Highway
We began our journey from West Vancouver, where the highway connects with the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1). From there, the road meandered its way north, treating us to picturesque communities like Horseshoe Bay, Lions Bay, and Britannia Beach.
Our first stop was Horseshoe Bay, where we stopped for breakfast. Not many shops were open, but we found a local cafe named Seaside Village Cafe, where we grabbed some freshly brewed coffee. For breakfast, we opted for a Subway sandwich.
As we ventured farther, we stopped at two viewpoints, Tunnel Point and Porteau Cove Road Lookout. It was drizzling the entire time, but the view of the Howe Sound and Vancouver Islands was pretty good.
As we ventured farther, we stumbled upon captivating attractions such as Shannon Falls Provincial Park, one of British Columbia’s highest waterfalls in all its glory.
Squamish
As we gradually ascended into the mountains, a whole new world of panoramic vistas opened up before our eyes. Howe Sound, a scenic body of water nestled amidst forested mountains, provided an awe-inspiring backdrop. Soon enough, we reached the town of Squamish, rightfully known as the “Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada.”
Squamish offers an array of thrilling outdoor activities, from hiking and rock climbing to mountain biking. Here are some more spots we couldn’t resist pulling over and taking it all in on our way to Whistler.
- Tunnel Point pullout – offered a unique perspective of the Howe Sound. If you have time, you can also hike to the lookout point near the Tunnel Point Bluff for a better view. The trail is steep and rocky through old-growth fir and arbutus forest, but the view is totally worth it.
- Porteau Cove Road Lookout – got us almost the same view as the Tunnel Point Lookout. Nonetheless, we walked around a bit and stumbled upon a small waterfall next to the road, which made the whole stop more enjoyable. In addition, you can visit the Porteau Cove beach park to have a picnic and watch the playful seal pups.
- Murrin Provincial Park – a popular spot for swimming and climbing, but we weren’t interested in either activity. Instead, we opted for a short walk around Browning Lake before continuing to our second-to-last destination before reaching Whistler Village.
- Brandywine Falls – this was our last stop before reaching Whistler Village. It’s a spectacular waterfall that drops from a height of 230 feet. The view was stunning, even on a gloomy day. Imagine how beautiful it would be on a bright and sunny day!
If you’re short on time, worry not! You can still experience the wonders of the Sea to Sky Highway by hopping on the Sea to Sky Gondola. Sit back, relax, and let the gondola transport you to awe-inspiring vistas. The views are simply out of this world.
Whistler Village
From Squamish, the Sea to Sky Highway led us even higher into the mountains, straight to the pinnacle of our journey, Whistler Village, a world-renowned mountain resort that hosted several events during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
It is a haven for thrill-seekers, from exhilarating ski slopes to mountain biking trails, from picturesque golf courses to a vibrant plaza. Even if you’re not hitting the slopes (like us), there’s an abundance of fun and exciting activities for everyone.
On reaching Whistler Village, we headed straight to the Olympic Plaza, a state-of-the-art community space offering a variety of restaurants and shops to keep you entertained. The panoramic vistas surrounding the village took our breath away. It was like being on top of the world! The beauty of Whistler’s natural landscape is truly mesmerizing.
Imagine sipping hot cocoa while ogling at this view. Cool right?
We planned to indulge in the delightful culinary scene, and boy, was it a treat! From cozy cafes to lively restaurants, there’s a wide range of options to satisfy any craving. Here’s a list of spots we tried in Whistler Village.
Mongolie Grill
We had our first meal at Mongolie Grill. They have both ‘make your meal’ and À la carte. We decided to go with the first one and headed straight to the bar to select our ingredients and sauces. We then handed it over to the chef, who grilled the dishes live in front of us. It was a fun and interactive meal experience and tasted great. Moreover, it’s excellent for people with dietary restrictions, like my vegan friend, as you have more power to pick your ingredients.
Post lunch, we were ready for some retail therapy. We walked around the charming Whistler Village, meandering through the pedestrian-friendly streets, hopping from one shop to another. The village is home to an array of unique and adorable shops offering everything from local crafts to stylish clothing.
Cows Ice Cream
Cows Ice Cream is a popular Canadian creamery known for their traditional recipes and unique names involving cows. All their ice creams are handmade using only the finest ingredients and contain 16% butterfat. We stumbled upon this shop while strolling in the village. The long queue caught our attention, and we decided to try it. After a 15-minute wait, we finally got our hands on their famous Cowie Wowie, and it was worth the wait!
Fat Tony’s Pizza
For dinner, we had pizza from Fat Tony’s Pizza, a hole-in-the-wall restaurant offering classic, vegetarian & vegan pizzas. The best part is that they are open until 3 AM and offer Free delivery. Hence, if you have late-night cravings in Whistler, you know what and where to order. We tried the Classic Veggie pizza loaded with toppings and it was simply delicious.
Day 2
We started our second day in Whistler with a slow morning, enjoying a hot cup of coffee on the patio. I went out with my camera for a birdwalk. It’s been a ritual for me during every trip. Although it wasn’t the right time of the day for bird watching, I ended up finding a few species within the resort complex.
It was also the day we were returning to Seattle, so we decided to check out early and have breakfast on the way to Vancouver. It was not the best day to drive the scenic highway as it was raining cats and dogs, and the visibility was poor. Yet we ended up enjoying our drive back to the city.
During our departure from Whistler, we made a slight detour to visit Alta Lake, which happens to be one of the largest lakes in the area. The lake was entirely frozen, but the view was breathtaking, with mist-covered trees and the tiny bright houses encircling the lake. We clicked a few pictures and were back on our way to Vancouver.
Overall Experience
Whistler truly exceeded my expectations. Even as a non-skier, there was so much to do. We soaked up breathtaking mountain views, dined at fantastic restaurants, and explored the vibrant village while indulging in tasty treats. Don’t let the lack of skiing skills hold you back! Whistler is a fun-filled mountain getaway that has it all!
So head here to create unforgettable memories. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
