Whistler a Haven for Active Travelers

Whistler is an area full of outdoor activities for those seeking an active vacation in a beautiful environment.

Though this area is often seen a great place to visit during the winter (when snowboarding, downhill skiing and other outdoor activities are prominent), Whistler also attracts happy visitors in the summer, when those mountains become ready for hiking and exploring.

Whistler itself is a resort town and is home to the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. It can boast of just 7,500 year-round residents, but during the winter those numbers can swell to more than 10,000 as visitors from around the world take advantage of world-class resorts and ideal skiing conditions.

Whistler will host many snow-related Olympic events during the 2010 Olympics, since these snow-capped mountains are just 120km north of Vancouver (the main site of the Winter Olympics).

Photo by Ian Hughes

During the summer months, visitors can take the gondola up a mountain and enjoy the views. Those with a more daring spirit can take a mountain bike on the gondola with them and then enjoy the ride back down the mountain. It’s terrifying but beautiful, say those who have done it.

Many of the areas resorts offer special activities during the summer months, too, such as flying trapeze rides, horseback riding and fly-fishing. These bring in visitors even when the areas main draws (snowy mountains) are away for the season.

Photo by Yashima

In the evening, visitors can enjoy the myriad of shopping and nightlife options in Whistler’s European-style downtown village. Some options include a pub with go-go dancers, and many clubs that feature live music and other forms of live entertainment.

It’s likely that most anyone who visits Whistler will find something fun to do, no matter their interests.