European charm in North America: The lovely village of Whistler, British Columbia

We love Canada and have enjoyed multiple visits to Montreal, Quebec City, and Toronto. However, we had never ventured to British Columbia due to its distance from Baltimore. I, Alexis, am embarrassed to admit that I had never even heard of Whistler a year ago when Bertaut suggested that we go there to celebrate our 9 year wedding anniversary. I assumed that a place I’d never heard of could not possibly be exciting enough for an anniversary celebration, but was I ever wrong. I fell in love right away with this charming village nestled in the mountains, surrounded by beauty everywhere you look. It is the perfect destination for those who love to spend time outdoors and has many exciting activities every season of the year including skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, hiking, cycling, and much more. We were there in August and enjoyed ziplining through the treetops, hiking on the mountaintop, meandering through the European-like village, taking the Peak to Peak gondola to Blackcomb and Whistler Mountains, and flying over the breathtaking Garibaldi lake and glaciers in a helicopter, which was our big splurge for our anniversary. Bertaut is not good at surprises, but he blew me away with that one!

Our journey to Whistler began in Seattle. We flew there since it is cheaper to fly domestically than internationally, and we were able to use Bertaut’s companion pass with Southwest Airlines for me to fly for free. We rented a car in Seattle using entirely Chase Ultimate Rewards points and then set off for the Sea to Sky Highway (Highway 99), a gorgeous scenic route along the Pacific coast that is considered one of the world’s most beautiful drives. Unfortunately it was somewhat overcast the day we made the voyage, so our photos don’t capture the essence of its beauty. You must go and experience it for yourself, since it is a must-see attraction in British Columbia. Also, we found that on the drive north there are not as many pull-off spots for taking photos as we expected. The majority are on the other side of the highway, so plan to make your photo stops on the drive back down the scenic highway.

We found this lovely spot to capture the mountains, and could have sat there for hours enjoying the view if we had not been so excited to make it to Whistler.

Another stop along our drive was Brandywine Falls Provincial Park where you can make an easy 10 minute hike to a waterfall. We enjoyed snapping some photos of the beautiful scenery and got to stretch our legs a bit.

Bertaut does not have a death wish, but for some reason he found it very appealing to lay on the train tracks with his new selfie stick.

I was enjoying photographing nature and getting the hang of my new lens. I loved the textures of this green moss and fallen tree trunk.

We saw a giant lumberjack taking a break from logging along the way in Squamish. 😉

At one scenic point we learned about the Squamish Nation, as we were now in their beautiful sacred land. We learned more about their culture at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, which is a must-see for anyone who likes history and culture. We took the guided tour, which is included with admission ($18/adult) and provided a good understanding of these two beautiful cultures. Both cultures have the utmost respect for nature and are an inspiration for others to protect the environment while enjoying it’s bounty. This Centre “where mountains, rivers and people meet, embodies the spirit of partnership between two unique Nations who wish to preserve, grow and share” their traditional cultures. We had fun dressing up in traditional clothing, making a natural bracelet, reading about the history and evolving lifestyle of these two Nations, and looking at their colorful art and impressive canoe and totems.

The village of Whistler reminded me of my visit to the French Alps during my college years when I was studying abroad in France. It truly has a European charm set amid a stunning backdrop of mountains and alpine forests. The people there are very friendly, as I can say about all my experiences with Canadians, who seem to have a slower pace than my American East Coast neighbors. It is a melting pot of cultures, with outdoorsy types flocking there from other countries to enjoy the thriving sports scene year round. I think we met as many Australians as Canadians during our visit, who are drawn by the amazing snow sports, but end up settling there.

Once settled in at our hotel, the Sundial Boutique Hotel, we set off to explore the village on foot. We loved this hotel because of its exceptional location right at the heart of the village, within walking distance to everything we needed during our stay. Bertaut was able to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points for our 3 nights at this quaint boutique hotel, so it ended up costing us no money.

Having lived in Aix-en-Provence, France for a year in college, I love and miss the outdoor cafe culture, which thrives in Whistler. I go to my happy place when I’m sitting outside, looking at beautiful flowers, feeling the sun warm my cheeks and the gentle breeze flowing through my hair, while drinking my morning coffee or enjoying an afternoon tea. There are so many lovely spots to eat or have a drink outside in this village year round, thanks to heat lamps and fireplaces that many of the restaurants offer to keep their guests warm on the chilly evening nights. I love flowers so this gorgeous little village had me smiling at every step. I felt like a kid in a candy shop and kept thanking Bertaut for bringing me to this wonderful little slice of Heaven.

 

We made our way to the Olympic Rings to snap some photos, since Whistler was a host of the Winter Olympic Games of 2010.

There’s a relaxing area near the rings with benches and flowing water where you can sit and eat a delicious pastry from Pure Bread, which is steps away. There will be more to come on Pure Bread and another affordable restaurant we enjoyed in the village.

We also made our way to Lost Lake Park, which included a nice lengthy stroll through the forest and alpine fields. We almost stepped on thousands of tiny toads making their way across the path. There were cyclists, joggers, and meanderers like us all enjoying this path around Lost Lake. Look for the path near the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. We got a little lost looking for Lost Lake Park. Lost Lake & the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Center are a good 15min walk from the village.

This felt like a scene straight out of The Sound of Music. I had the urge to frolick through the field of flowers singing “The hills are alive with the sound of music.”

At last, we made our way to the Lost Lake. It is very serene and picturesque and would be a perfect spot for a picnic or a swim on a warmer day. It was our last activity before heading out of town on our way to Vancouver, so offered us the chance to stretch our legs and take in some fresh air before sitting in the car for a few hours.

In conclusion, we absolutely adored this charming village to celebrate our 9 year anniversary. We definitely will be back, and with the kids next time, to enjoy its beauty and more fun activities. With only 4 days in Whislter, we feel like we barely scratched the surface of all this fabulous village and surrounding area has to offer. We would like to spend a few days hiking next time, and perhaps try paragliding, which is another item on our bucket list. What memorable experiences have you had in Whistler that we need to check out? Or if you haven’t been yet, what is at the top of your list for your first visit? If you liked this post, please sign up for our RSS feed to be updated each time we publish a new blog post and our email newsletter for our tips to travel like a millionaire.