Whistler isn’t just a winter resort. Whistler Village offers over 200 shops and restaurants that are open year round. If golf is your thing you will find four golf courses ready to challenge your ability to swing a golf club.

Whistler has a population of around 10,000 year-round residents. However, this is no town of 10,000. Over two million people visit Whistler annually. Therefore you have abundant facilities for the mass of tourists that visit the area, the demand is heavy.

Where is Whistler?

Whistler is about 78 miles (125 Km) north of Vancouver, BC, Canada. You travel west on Trans-Canada Highway-1 to the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal and turn right where BC Highway-99 heads north and goes up the east shore of Howe Sound on the Scenic Sea to Sky Highway. When you reach Squamish at the head of Howe Sound you then continue on BC-99 for 36 mi. (58 Km) into the Coastal Mountain Range to Whistler.

Whistler Attractions

Obviously the main attraction at Whistler is winter sports. Some of the best World Class alpine skiing and snowboarding in North America can be found at Whistler. You will find two mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb, and a wide variety of lifts at the Resort.

Hiking

You will find Whistler a dream come true if you are a hiker. In the summer you can ride the Whistler Village Gondola to the top and walk the Paleface Trail with its unparalleled views of Black Tusk’s summit. At the lower levels you can hike the Valley Trail as it winds past lakes, creeks, golf courses, and parks. On Whistler Mountain you will find some of North America’s best walking trails.

Biking

Bikers will find Whistler Mountain Bike Park a favorite destination at Whistler. Bikers will also enjoy some of the most challenging single track tucked in the forest behind the Lost Lake ticket booth in Whistler Village. For more information see the Whistler Bike Park under Recommended Parks below.

A little Whistler History

The original name of Whistler was Alta Lake. The time was the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Trappers and prospectors were the only inhabitants. In 1910 Myrtle and Alex Philip arrive in Vancouver from Maine. They are looking for a place to build a hunting and fishing lodge. In 1911 they decide to take the Steam Ship from Vancouver to Squamish spending the first night of their trip in Brackendale. On the second day they rented horses and traveled for two days to reach Alta Lake.

In 1914 the Philips bought 10 acres on the shores of Alta Lake and build a lodge they name Rainbow Lodge. Trappers and miners living in the area have named it Whistler after the shrill whistle sound made by the western hoary marmots that live in the area.

In 1910 the Great Pacific Eastern Railway built a rail line to Lata Lake. The area booms with logging and mining with the advantage of this new rail link. The Philip’s Rainbow Lodge becomes a destination resort and is the most popular lodge west of Banff and Jasper. During these early years the area was a summer resort destination. It wasn’t until

Until the 1950’s access to the area was limited by the railroad. In the 1950’s a one way gravel road was completed along the eastern cliffs of Howe Sound from Vancouver to Squamish. In 1964 the single lane gravel road is extended to Whistler because of the development of the ski area. By 1965 the Garibaldi Whistler Mountain ski resort was formed and constructions begins on a 4 person gondola, a double chair lift, 2 T-bars, and a day lodge. It opens in 1966.

In 1965 the gravel road is widened to 2-lanes and paved making travel to the ski lodge much faster. And in 1977 the new municipality was given 53 acres of Crown land to develop a city. In 1978 construction begins on Whistler Village. In 1998 Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains merge under one ownership. From 1978 to the 2010 Olympics Wistler is on the fast track for development. In 1992 Snow Country Magazine declared Whistler the best ski resort in North America.

Recommended Attractions in Whistler

Skiing

Art Galleries
Black Tusk Gallery Gallery Row at the Hilton Hotel #108 – 4293 Mountain Square Whistler, BC, Canada V0N 1B4 604-905-5540 or 1-877-905-5540 http://www.blacktusk.ca/ The gallery features a variety of works of art by First Nations artists that reflect on the ancient history of the coastal people.
Attractions
Whistler Mountain Bike Park http://www.whistlerbike.com/
Museums
Whistler Museum & Archives 4329 Main Street Whistler, BC, Canada V0N 1B0 604-932-2019 http://www.whistlermuseum.org/
Parks
Resort Municipality of Whistler Parks Page http://www.whistler.ca/content/view/10/22/
Visitor Information
Tourism Whistler 4010 Whistler Way Whistler, BC, Canada V0N 1B4 604-932-3928 or 1-888-869-2777 http://www.tourismwhistler.com/ Snow Report 1-604-687-7507 Whistler Visitor Center 4230 Gateway Drive Whistler, BC, Canada V0N 1B4 Whistler Activity Information Center 4010 Whistler Way Whistler, BC, Canada V0N 1B4	Resort Municipality of Whistler 4325 Blackcomb Way Whistler, BC, Canada V0N 1B4 604-932-5535 http://www.whistler.ca/

Listed Attractions at Whistler

Art Galleries

Black Tusk Gallery – See Recommended Galleries

Mountain Galleries at Chateau Whistler – 604-935-1862

http://www.mountaingalleries.com/

4599 Chateau Boulevard, Whistler, BC, Canada V0N 1B4

Established in 1992. The gallery represents major and mid-career artists. They have galleries in Jasper, Banff, and Whistler Resort and are one of the largest collections in Western Canada.

Adele Campbell Fine Art Gallery – 604-938-0887 - http://www.adelecampbell.com/

114 – 4293 Mountain Square RR 4, Whistler, BC, Canada V0N 1B4

Freestyle Framing, Art, Awards, & Engraving – 604-932-4077

#122B – 4338 Main Street, Whistler, BC, Canada V0N 1B4

Path Gallery – 604-932-7570 - http://www.pathgallery.com/

122 – 4338 Main Street, Whistler, BC, Canada V0N 1B4

The Plaza Galleries – 604-938-6233 - http://www.plazagalleries.com/

#22 – 4314 Main Street, Whistler, BC, Canada V0N 1B4

Whistler Village Art Gallery – 604-938-3001 - http://www.whistlerart.com/

#110 – 4293 Mountain Square, Whistler, BC, Canada V0N 1B4

Antiques

Books

Piccadilly Place – 604-938-1625

4599 Chateau Boulevard, Whistler, BC, Canada V0N 1B4

Armchair Books – 604-932-5557

4205 Village Square, Whistler, BC, Canada V0N 1B4

Gift Shops

Foster Walker Gifts of Distinction – 604-681-2456 - http://www.fosterwalkergifts.com

Gifts of distinction

Mounted Police Trading Post – 604-938-6204 - http://www.mountedpolicetradepost.com/

#107 – 4308 Main Street, Whistler, BC, Canada V0N 1B4

Skiing & Ski Equipment

Whistler Blackcomb – 604-904-8134 – http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/

4545 Blackcomb Way

Whistler, BC, Canada V0N 1B4

This is the official site of the Whistler Blackcomb resort.

Tours and Guides

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