Whistler, BC is a little town with a big reputation. Once the site of a quiet fishing lodge, the valley at the top of two watersheds is now an international tourist destination.
But beyond the resort, there is a community of people dedicating their lives to the pursuit of “whee” and “YEEEW!” as much as possible.
It’s easy to see why the vibe attracts so many. It’s close to an abundance of nature. It’s easy to get around, even with micro-humans. And visitors have their pick of world-class hotels and restaurants to suit any budget.
As a 16 year local (and a visitor since I was a kid), I have been fortunate to explore the ins and outs of the area for most of my life. And the more I travel to other places, the more I realize how special Whistler really is. Now that we have two small children, we are rediscovering the valley in a whole new light.
This guide is packed with insider tips, family-tested activities, and flexible options for every season and every budget.
Table of Contents
Why Whistler Is Great For Families
Picking a good vacation isn’t easy. This rings even more true when you’re an active family looking for more than just a passive vacation. If you’re anything like us, you want to do more than just take pictures and eat. We want to fully experience an area, get dirty, and laugh until you cry.
Whistler has all of that, with the added bonus of being one of the most stunningly beautiful places on the planet. And as a resort municipality, Whistler was purpose-built from inception to host visitors. Here are a few reasons we think it makes the ideal family outdoors vacation:
Car-Free Village
The village was purpose-built in the early 80’s to resemble an old-time European village. When you have kids, it means safety and the freedom for the kids to be a bit more free-range than otherwise.
Nature Everywhere You Look
There’s a reason people come from all over the world. Whistler sits in a temperate rainforest in the Coast Mountains, a range that extends all the way to Alaska. Being at the top of a mountain pass, numerous lakes take residence in the valley. Just in town there are five lakes within a 10-15 minute bike ride of the village. And if you have a car you can access dozens more in under a half hour.
You will find trees that are over 800 years old, wildlife big and small, and countless fresh smells in the air that will make you want to breath deep. For the nature lover you’d be hard-pressed to find such incredible biodiversity next to so many amenities.
Year-Round Adventure
Whistler truly is a four-season destination, and I’m not talking about the hotel (although there is, in fact, a Four Seasons here). But you can find something to do here no matter what time of year. This is great for budget-minded travellers, because there is definitely a busy season and a quiet season, so you can plan accordingly if you want to save money and avoid the crowds.
Spring and fall are ideal for families who want a quieter experience and better accommodation deals. And if it’s raining (Spoiler alert: It’s in a rainforest), there are plenty of things to do when it rains.
Activities for All Ages
There are things to do here for everyone from babies to grandparents (and great-grandparents, for that matter). Whistler has arts and cultural museums, golf courses, shopping, mountain biking, and one of the world’s best ski resorts. All of it is easily accessible from the village, either by a short bike ride or a few minutes by car. At the risk of sounding cliché, there is truly something for everyone here.
Getting Here
Whistler sits roughly 2.5 hours from Vancouver International Airport (YVR). There are several ways that you can get here:
By Car
Driving from Vancouver to Whistler is easily one of the most beautiful stretches of road on the planet. Once you leave Vancouver, the highway traverses the Coast Mountains along Howe Sound toward Squamish. From there, it’s roughly 40 minutes uphill, past Nch’Kay and Black Tusk mountains to the Whistler valley. You’ll want to be awake for this.
You can easily rent a car from YVR airport or downtown, or if you’re driving from somewhere in the USA or Canada, just set it on your map and go!
Another route is from the north through the Duffey Lake Road, and extension of Highway 99 that goes through some of the most epic mountain scenery you’ll see. It can be treacherous in the winter or during a rainstorm with avalanches and mudslides, but if you’re travelling in fair weather, it’s well worth the detour.
By Bus
Skylynx is the most common transport option from YVR to Whistler, and has numerous trips every day. It is more frequent during busy times, so make sure you pre-book to ensure you’re not waiting all day at the airport. Trips are $32 one-way or $42 return.
Epic Rides goes from downtown Vancouver if you’re staying there on either end of the trip. The trip is pretty affordable; at the time of publishing it was $44 for a round-trip ticket.
Ride Sharing
Poparide is an app that started on a local Facebook group called, “Hitching the Sea to Sky”. Nowadays, it operates all across Canada with thousands of happy users. It helps drivers get some extra gas money while giving passengers affordable transportation.
You can usually find a ride daily, with costs averaging about $20 per person. It’s not suitable for large families or those with a lot of luggage, but it’s certainly the most affordable option.
Where to Stay In Whistler
Best Family Accommodations By Budget
Smaller Budgets
The most affordable hotel-style accommodation would be to get a private room at the HI Whistler where they have a family room ensuite for a reasonable price. It’s about 15 minutes south of the village in Cheakamus Crossing, a village originally built as the Athlete’s Village for the 2010 winter Olympics. It would best suit families who like to pedal, as it’s right next to some excellent mountain bike trails for those who prefer pedaling over the bike park.
Just north of the village is Riverside RV Park and Campground, which offers more than the name suggests. Within the campground is a small group of cabins and yurts serve as a sheltered basecamp for those who would be out most of the day.
You also have the benefit of being right next to the Scandinave Spa and the Lost Lake Trails. The village is less than 10 minutes by bike along the valley trail. Much of this route follows next to Fitzsimmons creek, which in summer reflects the glacial runoff into a beautiful aquamarine blue.
Moderate Budgets
If you have a bit of a budget for the next tier, your options get fairly good but can be astronomical during the peak times (Christmas/New Years and mid summer). So booking outside of the peak sessions (I.E. when the kids are out of school) and you’re set. Our favourite in the winter is Blackcomb Springs, which offers ski-in, ski-out access on Blackcomb.
Budget? What Budget?
Nita Lake Lodge
If you like nice amenities but aren’t a fan of the busyness of the village, Nita Lake Lodge in Creekside is one of our favourites. The rooms are excellent, with some of the best bathtubs anywhere. The restaurant and lounge offers quality without extravagant prices. And the location is as good as it gets: close to nature and the Creekside gondola, for the perfect blend of comfort and excitement.
It’s hard to go wrong with the Four Seasons. There’s a reason they are regarded as one of the finest hotel chains in the world. Aside from top notch furnishings in the rooms and incredible food, the staff really go above and beyond here to make sure you have a memorable stay. It’s fairly close to Blackcomb’s upper village, and a short walk to Lost Lake park and the Chateau Whistler golf course.
When to Book
The highest prices of the year coincide with school breaks, wouldn’t you know? So if you have the flexibility to pull the kids out of school for a bit instead of the usuals, you’ll be happy to not visit when it’s absolutely slammed. So avoiding Christmas New/Years or July/August will be less stress and less expense.
The best time to book for the winter is late January to early February. Snow-wise, Whistler has been having several seasons of “March Madness” where the snow is hitting hard for two weeks in March. But just when in the month it’ll hit is tough to call.
September is the best month to book for summer activities. You usually have tacky dirt for biking, the lakes are still warm, and most of the crowds are gone after labour day. Later in the month is the start of mushroom season, which is a whole other side of the Coast Mountain experience that we recommend nature lovers experience.
Top Family Activities by Season
Winter
- Skiing and Snowboarding: This is Whistler’s most famous winter activity, and for good reason. It’s the biggest resort in North America and consistently ranks among the best resorts on the planet. We might be biased but we find it hard to go anywhere else when we have this in our backyard.
- Tube Park: The Tube Park is easily accessible from Blackcomb’s Excalibur gondola from the village. Here you can ride a number of different runs that vary in difficulty. It’s a bit pricey for what you get, but you’re on vacation, right?
- Ice Skating: The Olympic Plaza in the village offers free skating in the winter, with cheap rentals to balance it out. It can get busy, so try for mid-afternoon to avoid the crowds. If it’s too packed, you can also go skating at the Meadow Park Sports Centre, 6km north of the village.
Spring/Fall
- Valley Trail: Whistler’s paved trail network is perfect for riding bikes between the five lakes, and get access to the surrounding forest trails. If you don’t have your own bike there are numerous e-bikes you can take out and return elsewhere through the Evolve Bike Share program.
- Rainy Day Fun: It rains here, especially in the shoulder seasons… there’s no dancing around that fact. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Enjoy some of Whistler’s indoor fun at the library or Meadow Park to balance out the soggy weather.
- Nature Walks: There are plenty of walks that will help you connect to nature when the water is moving, arguably the best time to see nature in action. Our favourites are the Train Wreck trail and the Cheakamus Lake trail. You’ll see the forest come alive and water moving with incredible power (at a safe distance, of course).
Summer
Long days, warm nights, and some of the most stunning views of the stars you’ll see without going too far off the grid. Summer really is a great time to be in Whistler, and more people are finding that out. Here are some highlights:
- Lost Lake Park: In the summer you can get a free shuttle from the village, but it’s only 2km out anyway on a nice trail network. The biking here can suit beginners and intermediate riders with a great progression system that will prepare riders of all ages for bigger rides around the valley. The lake is also the warmest of the major lakes in Whistler with a large, grassy park at the south end.
- Hiking: There are a multitude of hikes around Whistler, and a good number that are suitable for children. See the section below for more on family-friendly hikes in Whistler.
- Ziptrek Ecotours: One of the most popular activities for all ages, this network of ziplines zooms between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains in old-growth rainforest. There are smaller routes, or the massive Sasquatch line that is suspended high in the air. If that’s a bit too much adrenaline, TreeTrek keeps your feet on the ground while still being able to explore the rainforest.
- River of Golden Dreams: Whistler’s very own “Lazy River” takes you on the scenic route between Alta Lake and Green Lake via your vessel of choice. It’s easy enough to bring your own watercraft, or you can also rent or hire a guide through Whistler Eco Tours.
Best Family-Friendly Hikes in Whistler
Hiking in the summer is one of the best things to do for families who like to get outside. Whistler has more hiking trails than there is time in the day, so the following is designed to help you plan things a bit better based on your needs and expectations.
Here is a rundown on some of our favourite hikes for families to enjoy the most of Whistler.
Cheakamus Lake
In our opinion, this is the best hike for families in Whistler. It is a fairly gentle, out and back trail that takes you into an ancient forest, with trees that are over 800 years old. The trail winds up at Cheakamus Lake, a glacier-fed beauty that can be seen from the top of Whistler Mountain.
It lies about 15 minutes from Function Junction/Cheakamus at the south end of town, 8km up a dirt road. If you don’t have a car you can hire a taxi to take you there, but make sure you pre-book a return trip as there isn’t cell coverage at the parking lot.
Train Wreck Trail
This trail is easily accessible from the south end of town, at the far end of Bayly Park in Cheakamus.
The trail winds through a beautiful forest near the Cheakamus river, ending up at the site of an old train wreck. Since then, people have sprayed graffiti all over the train cars to give a unique look in the green forest by the river. Kids love it, making for some truly unique photo opportunities.
Whistler Interpretive Forest / Logger's Lake
Also on the south end of town, the Whistler Interpretive Forest offers several different multi-use trails for both biking and hiking that can suit most ability levels.
The big highlight we like here is the short 400m hike from the parking lot to Loggers Lake, an old volcanic crater that still has a warm spring feeding it, meaning it’s one of the warmest lakes in Whistler.
There is also a can’t-miss suspension bridge that kids love. Just always keep supervision, the fence does have some holes in it that could be hazardous. An accident is not likely, but still a major hazard!
Emerald Forest
The Emerald Forest is just north of Alta Lake, easily accessible from the Valley Trail. The forests here are still relatively young, but it’s still fun to explore and see birds and squirrels hard at work. Plus, it’s a short distance by bike to both Rainbow Park and Meadow Park, depending on which way you want to go.
Where To Eat
Being a World-Class resort, Whistler has no shortage of dining options. However, some are better suited to families with kids than others. Here are some of our top picks:
El Furniture Warehouse
Located in the Village North, this restaurant/pub is known for it’s low-priced menu. Most meals are only $6 (yes, you heard that right). Because of that, it can get really busy, so be sure to go at off-peak times if you don’t want to wait too long for a table.
Pasta Lupino
This Main Street establishment has been a local favourite for decades. Their meals are delicious, filling, and affordable. Their Chicken Parm is excellent, and you can never go wrong with their spaghetti.
Splitz Grill
Whistler’s famous burger joint. We can almost guarantee that no one will leave here hungry. It’s not exactly cheap, but it’s a whole lot better than most fast food. While the burgers are excellent, we are partial to their banana split for something special.
Splitz is also on Main Street, just across from Pasta Lupino in the Alpenglow building. Wait times can get long here, so be sure to get here around 5pm to beat the rush.
Creekbread
Creekbread is one of the best family friendly restaurants out there. The pizza uses mostly organic ingredients, cooked by a brick-oven wood fire.
It has a warm and cozy atmosphere, and will fill up pretty fast on weekends. It’s one of the few options in Creekside so be sure to plan ahead if you want to dine in. If not, you can always do take out, but you’ll miss out on the inviting ambiance.
The “Green Mo” is the go-to for healthy, fresh food that feels good. It’s a bit pricey, but we love the buddha bowls and Kitchari/salad combo. Kids love the smoothies. You’ll feel great after eating there, we can almost guarantee that.
Like many other spots on this list, you can find the Green Moustache on Main Street, or at their other location in Function Junction.
Local Tips For Visiting Whistler
There’s so much to do and see around Whistler that goes far beyond what the tourist information booths offer. There are also ways to navigate the busy season to make sure you’re spending the majority of the day standing in line. Here are some of our best local tips:
- Shoulder Season Deals: May-June and October-November offer huge savings on both food and accommodation. Restaurants usually offer multi-course offerings and accommodation can be 50% (or greater) than what it costs in the busy season. Our favourite restaurant deal is probably at the Rim Rock Cafe in Creekside. Hotel deals vary, but be sure to shop around.
- Last-minute activity deals: Many of the activity providers will offer a standby booking at a reduced rate, so if you’re not in the height of the busy season, it might be worth asking for a standby rate.
- Dealing with crowds: Yes, it gets crowded, but one secret, no matter the time of the year is that most of the crowds don’t go out before 10AM. So if you get a head start and are out the door by 8 AM, you’ll be well ahead of the masses in the mountains or trails.
- The Weather Talk: All the tourist photos usually show nice weather, but the reality is that Whistler is in a temperate rainforest, so you need to plan accordingly. But rain brings the forest alive. Remember, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear. Check out our Gear Reviews page for some of our favourite recommendations.
Day Trips from Whistler
If you have a car, there are a multitude of things to do within a relatively short (less than 1 hour) drive from the village. Here are some of our top picks:
Brandywine Falls
Brandywine Falls provincial park offers an easily accessible viewpoint of the waterfall, just a short 10 minute walk from the highway. In the winter months the waterfall can freeze up for a really spectacular display. The catch is that the parking lot is closed in the winter, and you’ll have to fight for a spot off the highway to get there and trudge through the snow. It’s worth it, though!
In the summer you can bike to Brandywine falls from Whistler along the Sea to Sky Trail.
Pemberton
Just a half hour north of Whistler is the once-sleepy village of Pemberton that is growing faster than anyone can keep up with. However despite the gentrification, it still holds onto its wild-west charm with hitching posts for horses in town, and an old-timey core. Bring your appetite to Mile One Eating House for one of the best burgers you’ll be able to stomach in one go.
The farms are what make Pemberton truly stand out. June is all about strawberry picking at North Arm Farm. Later in the summer you can pick blueberries from any number of farms or buy them fresh at the farmer’s market. Later in summer you can meander through the sunflower maze at the Beer Farmers.
Callaghan Valley
The Callaghan is just 15 minutes south of Whistler and opens up a world of options in both summer and winter.
In the wintertime, check out the Whistler Olympic Park which was home to the nordic events for the 2010 winter olympics. They have dog-friendly cross-country skiing, a great launchpad for backcountry skiing at Hanging Lake, and you can even try your (steady) hand at Biathlon.
In the summer, it’s all about the lake. Callaghan Lake Provincial Park is a gem for camping, boating, fishing, and hiking. Just make sure you bring some bug spray.
Joffre Lakes
Just a half hour past Pemberton on the Duffey Lake Road is Joffre Lakes Provincial Park. This iconic spot is home to the Instagram-famous log that nobody with a smartphone can resist.
It has become so popular that you need to reserve a day use pass, and they go quickly in the busy season. The local First Nations also close the area several times a year for cultural practices. But get there early and enjoy the beauty, and try to go a bit further than the masses. It’s not too hard.
The Best Playgrounds in Whistler
Besides the fact that nature is the best playground of all, there’s nothing like a good play structure to wear your kids out. And Whistler has a few excellent choices for great playgrounds. Here are our top picks.
Olympic Plaza
The Olympic Plaza at the far north end of the village has free ice skating in the winter, a “great lawn” in the summer, and a fantastic, natural-style playground that is open year-round. The other bonus of this playground is that there are numerous shops and cafés nearby, so kids can play and make new friends while parents sip coffee and try to stay off their phones.
Alpha Lake Park
The playground at Alpha Lake Park offers a unique treehouse like structure, with real metal slides instead of the usual plastic slow ones. It also has a small climbing wall and a large swingset. Not to mention a great beach, a dog park, and some of the best tennis courts in Whistler.
Meadow Park
The playground here is quite large, with a decent play structure and a huge grassy area to run around in. It’s a great pull out spot for the River of Golden Dreams and is right next to the Meadow Park Sports Centre with an ice rink and swimming pool.
The big standout feature of the playground at Meadow Park is all the water features, which kids love, and is a great way to have some fun in the short window we call summer.
To Wrap it All Up...
Whistler really is an ideal place for active families who love nature, yet have a hassle-free vacation with a few creature comforts. It can be pricey, but it’s also safe, easy to get around, and has too many adventure options to count.
We will keep this page updated with the latest and greatest things to do, offers, and deals to help you have the best trip possible.
We have given you a ton of information to digest here, and are happy to share more if you want to reach out. And don’t forget to join our mailing list to get all the best activities, destinations, and reviews straight to your inbox.
We hope to see you out there one of these days!
