Overview

Whistler gains its impressive British Columbia scenery from coastal mountains that jut from salt water right up to touch the sky. Glaciers drape the peaks, even in the heat of summer, shimmering with pink alpenglow at sunset. Wildflower fields strewn with red, yellow, and purple blooms bounce with the shrill call of marmots, giving Whistler its name.

The resort of Whistler nestles in a narrow valley that is home to black bears and plenty of other wildlife. Hiking, rock climbing, fishing, horseback riding, ATV and hot rod backcountry touring, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, and golf lure visitors for summer, but at the same time, skiers and snowboarders rack up laps on Blackcomb Mountain. The countdown to the 2010 Winter Olympics adds even more to do.

Sightseers can feast on the rugged scenery via unique means. The new Peak 2 Peak Gondola that connects Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains flies1,427 feet above Fitzsimmons Creek for an 11-minute ride. Helicopter and airplane tours yield eagle eye views of the summits and neighboring Garibaldi Provincial Park. Soar through old growth forest on a zipline, or tour the Mt. Currie meadows by horseback.

Whistler Blackcomb runs one of the longest ski seasons in North America. Lifts on Blackcomb haul skiers and snowboarders up to the snow until mid-June. Then, the Horstman Glacier T-bar runs for three hours mid-day through July.

Golf Digest rated Whistler as Canada's number one golf destination. You might just have to book tee times at all four championship golf courses to experience the designs by Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones Jr., Robert Cupp, and Arnold Palmer.

Award-winning restaurants and abundant nightlife top off every day in Whistler. Wine cellars with over 1,000 labels cater to the most discriminating palate, while pizza pleases the family with picky kids. Live music, martini bars, and dancing continue late into the night.

Shoppers find a wide array of outdoor shops specializing in gear for winter and summer sports. Browse small boutiques and art galleries in between. Find accommodations that span the dollar spectrum from camping and hostels to high-end splurge.

Summer visitors to Whistler can tour sites for the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The new Whistler Sliding Centre plans to host the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton competitons while the Whistler Olympic Park features three separate stadiums for cross-country skiing, biathlon, and ski jumping. Alpine skiing events are scheduled for the Dave Murray Downhill at Whistler Creekside.

Getting to Whistler is now easier thanks to the Olympics,. Most major airlines connect into Vancouver, where you can rent a car or catch a bus for the 125-kilometer (76-mile) trip to Whistler. The Whistler Mountaineer Train also cruises the oceanfront into the Coast Mountains from downtown or North Vancouver in three hours.

The Sea to Sky Highway, leading from Vancouver to Whistler, received more than a mere facelift for the Olympic Games. What once was a white-knuckled drive on a narrow, cliff-ridden road with no barrier between the pavement and a plunge into Howe Sound now is mostly a smooth four-lane divided highway.