Spring Break in Whistler

One of my best friends, a school teacher from Toronto, decided to spend this year’s spring break with me in Vancouver. She played tourist in the city while I worked, but then, mid-week, we set off to Whistler for a mini-break.

One of the best things about living in Vancouver is how easy it is to get out of Vancouver. I often take my out-of-town guests to Whistler for the day. Lunching in Whistler, I call it.

Whistler is a beautiful two-hour drive from Vancouver along the Sea to Sky Highway ― perhaps one of the most scenic drives in Canada. A couple of years ago, one of the friends I took Lunching in Whistler was so overwhelmed by the beauty on the drive up, she was speechless. You’d recognize the scenery even if you’ve never been to British Columbia ― many a car commercial has been filmed on this highway dramatically juxtaposed between mountain and ocean.

This time, I suggested to my friend that we do some skiing and stay over. Although many of my friends drive up to the resort for a day’s skiing and return home the same night, I thought it would be nice if we were able to relax after a day on the mountain instead of driving back to Vancouver the same night.

And I’m so glad we did.

We arrived on a Tuesday afternoon in the middle of a snowstorm. We skied Wednesday, with snow lightly falling around us most of the day. A Texan we met on the gondola said it hadn’t stopped snowing since he arrived the previous Sunday. After our return to Vancouver on Thursday, we happened to catch a story on the local evening news in which another Texan (or the same one, perhaps??) told the reporter that he had come to Whistler as there was no snow at the American ski resorts this winter.

Whistler Village was a Winter Wonderland that met all our expectations. Here, take a look.

Photo op along the Sea to Sky Highway

Snow-covered trees along the Sea to Sky Highway

Mountain view from Whistler Village

Stream flowing through Whistler Village

Whistler Village

Snow-covered terraces in Whistler Village

Main thoroughfare in Whistler Village

Shops in Whistler Village

Olympic Rings

Blackcomb gondolas

On our way to the Blackcomb Gondola

Getting closer

About two-thirds of the way up the mountain ― this is where we started our descent

It was busy on the mountain …

… but still lots of room on the runs ― and hardly any wait at the lifts

At the Irish Pub ― where else would we go for our après-ski two days before St. Patrick’s Day?

Lots of fresh snow our last morning ― too bad we had to head home

… but that same afternoon, we were walking along the Stanley Park seawall in brilliant sunshine (which is why it’s called the Sea to Sky Highway)