Whistler-Blackcomb
This was a wonderful trip. For those of you who didn’t make it, be sure to put it on your list. And, counterintuitive for us as a ski club, the only part of the trip that wasn’t perfect was the snow. This year, for some reason, the area had an accumulation about 10 feet below the historical average. But, at the higher elevations, there was enough snow for everyone (except the dog sledders… not enough snow to get rid of the dog poop!).
Flying into Vancouver on a crystal clear day gave us a good overview of the area-beautiful water to the south and west, green and snow-covered mountains rising on the north. The short drive from Vancouver to Whistler went through the downtown area. The city itself felt very different from the cities in the Midwest. The architecture was older, and the population much more diverse. Leaving the city, it was a short but scenic drive from Vancouver to Whistler. Even before getting to Whistler, the lakes and the mountains made it easy to see why people choose that area as a summer as well as winter vacation destination.
The town of Whistler seemed to be made for fun, both winter and summer. The base area for the lifts was easily walkable and accessible. Everything was within a 15 minute walk. Shopping had something for everyone, from beautiful hand-made pieces to luxury items. Summer activities included everything from hiking to flyfishing to kayaking, and about any other imaginable outdoor activity.
Which brings us to dining. Being both close to the Pacific as well as Canadian beef, Whistler had it all. We had everything from ceviche to Indian cuisine, and it was all super. In fact, I’ve told friends that I’d go back for just the food. It was that good!
Finally, given how warm the winters are getting in New Mexico and Colorado, Whistler is an ideal choice for about every reason, and season. Sincerely hope anybody gets there enjoys the area as much as we did.