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In recent years, Whistler Blackcomb has grown into one of the largest and most famous ski resorts in all of North America.
And to think it all started in humble Whistler Creekside, now the quainter and more tranquil alternative to bustling Whistler Village just over four miles up the hill. It was on this spot — on the banks of a winding stream and tiny alpine lakes that once attracted scores of trout fishermen — that the area's very first ski resort was opened in 1966. With just a modest four-person gondola, a double chairlift, and two T-bars, the place may not have been massive, but the reputation of its powder certainly was.
After all, this resort boasted the longest vertical drop in North America and a ski season that lasted for over half the year, from November through May. Soon, Whistler became a British Columbia favorite, bringing in crowds of area free spirits who came to define the mellow, laid-back vibe that you'll still find here today. Though the original village still holds a special place in many locals' hearts, Whistler Creekside is far from content to rest on its laurels. In the past decade, "The Creek" underwent a massive multimillion-dollar renovation to get it ready for its close-up: In 2010, this was the official alpine skiing venue for the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
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If you carry a torch for all things Olympic, the Whistler area is a perfect place to explore. During the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Whistler Creekside was the official alpine skiing venue, and the surrounding mountains and valleys were home to two important satellite venues where you can now visit, tour, and play — without having to get through any pesky qualifying rounds! Indulge your Olympic fantasies by giving bobsleighing a whirl at the Whistler Sliding Centre, site of the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton competitions, or check out Whistler Olympic Park, the first site to include all three traditional Nordic sport stadiums: cross-country, ski jumping, and biathlon.
From rushing rivers to remote alpine lakes, Whistler offers fishing experiences throughout the entire year. So it's no wonder amateurs and seasoned pros alike flock here to snag rainbow trout, char, and cutthroat trout. But with snowmelt heightening river levels, summer may be the best time of all to cast a line. In fact, on the odd year, area waters have even been known to yield an impressive five varieties of salmon. Not hooked by regular old fishing? Turn it up a notch with helicopter or floatplane fishing, which whisks you away from the crowds to secret fishing holes that have yet to be overrun with anglers.
Make friends with Whistler's furriest locals: the up to 50 black bears and cubs that call the area's hemlock forests home. On a Whistler Blackcomb Bear Viewing Tour, you'll travel with experienced researchers by 4x4 to find the bears' dens and favorite feeding spots. Though tours run from mid-May through October, fall is the best time to catch the bears up close, as they forage for berries up in the mountains before tucking in for their long winter's nap.
Dashing through the snow on a one-horse open sleigh may be seasonally appropriate — but getting pulled by a rollicking team of six to eight huskies is a heck of a lot more fun! On a Blackcomb Dog Sled tour, you'll be whisked through the snowy Callaghan Valley, surrounded by a landscape of birch and cedar forests just south of Whistler. While you're welcome to sit back and relax, you're more than encouraged to participate every step of the way, from learning commands to feeding the dogs treats for a job well done. The day's highlight? A trip to the onsite Puppy Pen, a prep school for future team members.