Summer Weekend in Whistler
Whistler & Vancouver, Canada Travel Itinerary & Guide
Post From:
3 Days in Whistler & Vancouver, Canada
With unlimited things to do from snowboarding down olympic slopes in the winter to mountain biking in the summer, Whistler is an outdoor fan’s paradise! We had the opportunity to explore Whistler over two jam-packed days and then a bonus day in Vancouver before our flight home.
Day 1:
Visit of the town of Rotorua (or “the city that smells the rotten egg”), including its geothermal parks and its Maori buildings. And of course, a Maori restaurant to try the “Hangi”. Finally, sleep on the shore of a beautiful lake.
Start the day off right with a delicious and filling breakfast from Stonesedge, located at the edge of Whistler Village. Enjoy their outdoor patio while feasting on really wholesome meals. We ordered the breakfast poutine and the chicken & waffles. When the chicken & waffles arrived, the appearance seemed very “cheap” but once we dug in we were hooked. The staff members here are really nice and friendly as well.
Ever seen Cool Runnings? Well, bring that moment to life by participating in summer olympic bobsledding! Typically, in the summer they have cleared the bobsledding track of ice, but it’s perfect because you get to walk down the track taking a full tour then bobsled on wheels down the track.
We booked our reservations online. Be sure to check out their website for seasonal availability.
The Olympic bobsledding center is about a 7 minute drive (or 30-minute walk uphill) from Whistler Village. On arrival we had to fill out waiver forms and had our height and weight checked to make sure we didn’t go over the restrictions (you’re okay if you weigh between 85 lbs and 285 lbs and are between the height of 4’6″ and 6’5″). We were then taken up to the top of the bobsledding track, where surprisingly we got to walk on the track learning about the sport of bobsledding, the track, and about the Olympics. After going about half way down the track, we were fitted with a helmet and watched a safety video. Then our names were announced and we were off down the track in the bobsled, led by a pilot driver. It was really fun and fast. Once we reached the bottom our times were announced and we got to choose a team name to put on the board with our times.
We watched a few of the other people bobsled down, then made our way back down walking to Whistler Village (was only around a 20-minute walk).
Poutine at Zogs Dogs
We had to get proper poutine in Canada, so we visited Zog Dogs which sports an outdoor seating area, quick counter service and a variety of poutines and hotdogs.
What is poutine? Poutine is a dish that includes french fries and cheese curds topped with a brown gravy.
We ordered the Canadian poutine which included cut up hotdogs.
Forged Axe Throwing
Forged Axe Throwing is so much fun! Located less than a 10-minute drive from Whistler, this is such an epic activity. Axe throwing, is very similar to bowling but with axes and targets. We booked out an hour and were able to use two lanes, since it wasn’t that full. You’re assigned an instructor and guide who will teach you how to throw the axes, and guide you through various axe throwing tricks (including two axes and one large axe) and a variety of competitive and fun games.
Bring a little bit of cash to tip your guide.
Whistler Brewing Co
Just a hop and a skip from Forged Axe Throwing visit Whistler Brewing Co. for an ice cold beer in a relaxed environment.
Dinner at 21 Steps Kitchen + Bar
We were lucky to get one of the last tables available, so try to make a reservation ahead of time, because 21 Steps Kitchen + Bar is absolutely worth it. They offer a 3-course special where you can choose a small plate, an entree, and dessert for only $40! The food was great! Between two people doing the 3-course meal special we split the tiny bacon beef wrapped fillets, salmon cakes, fresh trout, Thai vegetable curry, creme brulee, and Belgian chocolate brownie.
Vallea Lumina
Valle Lumina is a stunning interactive experience offered in the summer time just shortly outside of Whistler. After taking a short shuttle bus provided by Valle Lumina we arrived in the middle of the forrest and were greeted by a “park ranger” giving us the rules of Valle Lumina. Once inside, they have a camp ground that is a perfect replica of summer camp, with games, bathroom, and a small cafe. Throughout the camp grounds there are posters and little hints alluding to the story of Vallea Lumina. Once your time opens up, you’ll get the chance to “hike” along a walking path in the forest with various lighting displays and music all connecting back to a central theme of adventure and wonder. The entire experience is like a dream and I cannot recommend it enough. My pictures do not do it justice.
Day 2:
Continue exploring all that Whistler has to offer including restaurants, hiking, and spas.
Crepe Montagne is an intimate restaurant and cafe serving up delicious French favorites! Including a variety of savory breakfast crepes and delectable sweet crepes. We devoured a 2010 crepe which includes three eggs, ham or Canadian back bacon, cheese, tomatoes (and of course we had to add mushrooms to complete the crepe). To round out the meal, we split a sweet strawberry and Nutella crepe. To say the least, we left Crepe Montagne full and satisfied.
Explore Olympic Village
Whistler and the surrounding area hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics, and there are still beautiful remanents of the Olympics sprinkled throughout Whistler Village. Take a picture with the Olympic rings and be on the lookout for all the other Olympic legacies.
Snow Walls & Peak 2 Peak
Purchase a Peak2Peak Gondola ticket online (as there is an online discount) then take the Gondola up to Roundhouse Lodge. The gondola ride is an experience in itself, it takes around 25 minutes to reach the Roundhouse Lodge, but you can enjoy the stunning views, the mountain bikers twisting and turning on their course, and you can even see bears. Once you reach the top, enjoy the sights and take a look around the Roundhouse Lodge then walk the Peak Express Traverse to the Peak Express Chair. The Peak Express Chair will take you to a suspension bridge that is between two peaks. It looks very intimidating from a far, but it’s not as scary as it seems. After taking in the breathtaking views, check with the staff to see if the path to the snow walls are open if so, proceed down the mountain on about a 45-minute hike that will put you back at the Roundhouse Lodge. Throughout the hike, you’ll be surrounded by humongous snow walls (not as big as Game of Thrones, still impressive).
Be sure to bring a bottle of water, layers, and comfy shoes for the hike.
Umbrella Bar at Roundhouse Lodge
Reward yourself after the hike with a cold or warm drink at the Umbrella Bar surrounded by great views.
Purebread Bakery is heaven on earth. Their line in the morning is well out the door, but if you go in the afternoon for a snack, it’s a lot smoother sailing. Purebread Bakery offers an endless amount of delicious sweets and treats! We ordered a few different things, and they were all so good, so go with your heart and I’m sure you’ll find something just as delicious.
Scandinave Spa
Alright, I know I said Purebread Bakery is heaven on earth, but they might need to battle it out for the title, or you could enjoy both back-to-back and have a pleasant half-day of bliss. The Scandinave spa emulates the Scandanavian hot bath experience, where you immerse your body into hot temperatures of the hot baths, the saunas, and steam rooms for a few minutes then quickly immerse yourself into a frigid pool of cold water immediately refreshing your body. After you layout in their hammocks, comfy chairs by the fire, or other lounge chairs and unwind. They even have yoga mats and comfy blankets to curl up under while you sip on refreshing herbal tea. The spa is a silent and technology-free environment, so you can only whisper short sentences, so many people bring books and enjoy a little bit of reading in this blissful environment. You can rent robes for an additional cost (which I would recommend) as they are big and very comfy when lounging around. There are also massage packages that can be reserved online. The spa is about a 7-minute drive from Whistler Village.
Grab your final dinner at Hunter Gather which offers freshly made locally sourced BBQ and local craft beers. It’s a very relaxed and chill environment, where you order from the counter and have your food delivered, which, is perfect after unwinding at the spa.
There is no better way to end this perfect day then a stop at Cow’s ice cream! They have what seems like an endless amount of ice cream flavors and really fresh cones.
Day 3:
If you’re traveling back through Vancouver and need to kill some time while in transit, we have a few excellent food recommendations below.
Breakfast at Medina
I visited Medina on a Monday morning, and the wait was still 45-minutes, which attests to the popularity of this great restaurant. (It can be a bit misleading as it looks like there is a line to get in, but go in and see the hostess when you arrive and put your name down.) The decor is stunning from the moment you walk in and is matched with a very creative menu, including breakfast paella and a lavender mocha. If you’re a solo traveler, you can snag a seat at the bar to avoid the long wait.
I wish I had an endless stomach so I could try bowl after bowl of Kokoro Tokyo’s Mazesoba! What is mazesoba? It’s basically soupless ramen, sounds dry right? Think again, the noodles are moist yet firm offering such great flavor mixed with meats, vegetables, egg, and more. They do offer ramen and a few other dishes as well, but you should try the mazesoba as it’s unique.
Tuc Craft Kitchen was another winner to help top off our food tour of Vancouver. We started our meal by trying their famous crispy bacon & egg, which was unique and delicious! Our next dish, was our favorite, the mussels and sausage. I still dream about the savory and hint of spiciness that the broth had to offer, probably being one of my favorite mussel dishes I’ve ever had. Pro tip: ask for bread to dip into the broth. We then finished off the meal with the Beef al Forno (braised beef, mashed potatoes, mushrooms, goat cheese, red wine & chocolate sauce) and the Ribs ‘n Fries (orange & jalapeno glazed side ribs, curly yam fries, red slaw). Everything was delicious and paired perfectly with a bottle of Burrowing Owl wine.
This day of delicious food, can’t be done until we’ve had dessert. Visit the Bella Gelateria to grab some gelato and then go for a short walk to the waterside to enjoy the gelato while watching the sunset. Bella Gelateria has tons of great flavors, and their cones are delicious as well.
Tips and Tricks:
- Whistler and Vancouver do not have Uber, so you’ll need to get around by taxi or walking. We didn’t rent a car and were able to get around easily. (Parking can be expensive in Whistler at the larger hotels.)
- We stayed at the Fairmont Chateau in Whistler, which offers a luxurious experience just a short stroll from the hustle and bustle of Whistler Village. The other part of the trip we stayed in a very cozy and affordable Airbnb a few steps from Whistler Village.
- Credit cards were accepted everywhere.
- We did make reservations for almost every activity we did in advance. (We visited at the end of June and the bobsledding and snow walls had just opened that weekend.)
- Whistler is very safe and clean with really low crime levels. We also felt very safe in Vancouver.
- To get to Whistler, we used Epic Rides which has a shuttle from Vancouver airport to Whistler and back (they also have shuttles that go to downtown Vancouver).