About Whistler Village A Year Round Pleasure Playground
A people place and a year-round, cosmopolitan resort, Whistler is full of variety, both on and off the slopes. Whether looking for intense or intimate, hard-driving or soul-soothing, an escape or an indulgence, Whistler has it all!
In the Beginning...
In 1962, four Vancouver Businessmen began the development of Whistler Mountain as a potential site for the Winter Olympic Games. Until 1964 there was no road, electricity, water or sewer in or to the Whistler Valley. In 1965 London Mountain's name was changed to "Whistler Mountain" and on February 14, 1966 it officially opened for skiers. At this time the permanent population of the Whistler Valley was approximately 25 people.
In 1975, the rapidly growing community of Alta Lake became the first and only Resort Municipality in Canada. The following year Vancouver/Garibaldi finally, after three previous tries, won the Canadian nomination for the Winter Olympics. However, Montreal, Quebec was awarded the Summer Games and as a result Whistler did not win the winter bid.
A plan for the town site was formed in 1977, and construction began in August 1978, on what had previously been the garbage dump for the area. Blackcomb Mountain was developed at the same time and opened for skiing the winter of 1980/81. In 1985 Blackcomb Mountain expanded it's terrain making it North America's only "Mile High Mountain". Ever increasing popularity of Whistler earned it the naming of North America's Number One Ski Resort by Snow Country Magazine in 1991. Since then, Whistler has won numerous similar honours and continues to be one of the world’s best four-season holiday destinations.
Summer
The fun and activities don't stop when the snow melts! With its crisp mountain air, crystal clear lakes and lush emerald forests, there's something to do here every day whether it's a thrilling adventure or just some quiet time listening to nature and absorbing the magnificent scenery. There are numerous activity providers in the area who specialize in providing the "summer adventure" of a lifetime. Try mountain biking, a heli-fishing tour, atv ride, backcountry hike or sightseeing adventure to get your adrenaline pumping. Here in Whistler and Sea to Sky country you can wake up, ski the glacier and cut some summer turns, then fish for your salmon dinner all in one day.
This award-winning destination is quickly gaining fame as a golf resort, with a superb choice of four championship courses designed by world famous golf course architects such as Palmer, Trent Jones, Jr., Nicklaus and Cupp.
Winter
With the largest ski area in all of North America, Whistler ski resort can rightly claim itself the number one winter destination on the continent. With an average snow fall of 30+ feet a year, the November to June season is long, and the snow is plentiful.
Blackcomb and Whistler Mountains feature 8,171 acres of terrain and 200 marked trails and 33 lifts. For the serious skier who lives life on the edge, there are amazing alpine bowls, steep powder chutes, mogul fields, and secluded tree skiing. For intermediates and cruising skiers, there are many varied and well groomed runs. Just starting out or never skied before? Whistler Blackcomb has one of the best ski schools in the world. The distribution of runs according to difficulty is: 20% novice, 55% intermediate and 25% expert.
Snow facilities on the mountain include the Winter Ski and Snowboard School with lessons and scheduled camps, snow parks, pipes, special children's park features, as well as a variety of rental locations and on-mountain restaurants.
Shopping, Dining & Nightlife
The nightlife in Whistler has become almost as famous as the skiing! Most establishments are just minutes from the ski lifts within the pedestrian-only Village. From internationally famous DJ's, to the live music scene or sipping cocktails, Whistler has something to suit everyone’s liking. Boasting over 90 restaurants, Whistler is home to some of the best dining in British Columbia. Visitors will find an array of international cuisine, ranging from pub fare to fine dining.
The Village of Whistler is a shoppers paradise - pedestrian friendly walkways and plazas lead you through shops, boutiques, art galleries and theatres. You'll find everything you need for while you're here and plenty of souvenirs to take home.
Olympic Venue in 2010
On July 2nd, 2003 the International Olympic Committee awarded the 2010 Winter Olympic Games to the cities of Vancouver and Whistler, fulfilling a lifelong dream for the community. During the 2010 Winter Games, Whistler played host to alpine skiing events; luge, bobsleigh and skeleton; cross-country and ski jumping events down valley in the Callaghan; as well as the entire events roster of the Paralympic Games.
The world's best athletes were just part of the celebration in 2010, however, as visitors enjoyed the Cultural Olympiad throughout the Games, as well as diverse entertainment featuring the Sea to Sky region's First Nations among others. Every night at the Celebration Site, athletes, Games volunteers and fans saw music's most popular performers, as well as the official medal ceremonies broadcast live to the world.