The exterior blends in seamlessly with the rustic mountain vibe of the village, but the surprise lies inside. Sleek and sophisticated, the slopeside Evolution reinterprets mountain style with an elegant modern twist. Gear up at the ski lockers, then walk to the lifts from your convenient mountain base location. Head up and surprise the kids with your moderately impressive schussing. If the speedier ones in your crew need more of a challenge, decide on a mid-mountain lunch spot, then go forth and conquer. Once everyone’s made it back down to the base, stash your gear and head inside where you’ll find four ways to warm up (not counting cocktails): the outdoor heated pool, two hot tubs, a sauna and eucalyptus steam room. Regroup back at your suite for dinner around the table, then reveal more hidden talents when you challenge the kids to a foosball face-off in the game room.

Pet-friendly one- and two-bedroom vacation suites range in size from 590 to 1,625 square feet, sleeping up to eight mighty mountain adventurers comfortably. Keep said adventurers carb-loaded with French toast, pancakes or a top-your-own-bagel bar for breakfast before layering up for the day ahead. Return victorious and head for the soaker tub, or collapse fireside for games that are more luck- than skill-dependent, like Uno or Pass the Pigs. Or catch one of the two daily screenings in the onsite media room. If it’s summer, gather your crew around the BBQ on the patio for an al fresco feast with spectacular mountain views.

The quaint, cobblestoned Whistler Village is abuzz with events, festivals and a year-round après scene for everything – après golf, après hike, après bike – and the list goes on. Whistler Tree Adventure Tours also continue all year long – try the Tree Trek Tour, with tightropes, plank bridges, swinging logs, ziplines, cargo nets and tree ladders. If the culinary scene is more your speed, join a tasting tour. Then gallery hop or hit one of the popular spas. Golf is definitely a thing here, with four championship courses by four of the world’s top designers: Big Sky by Robert Cupp, Fairmont Chateau by Robert Trent Jones Jr., Nicklaus North by Jack Nicklaus and Whistler Golf Club by Arnold Palmer. The mountain views are amazing from below, but just wait until you see them from above. Surprise your crew with the Peak 2 Peak 360 Experience, and try to get the glass-bottom gondola for an incredible bird’s-eye view over the mountains