We traveled to Whistler, British Columbia, by flying from Oakland to Seattle on Alaska Airlines 369 (departing at 10:00 a.m. and landing at noon) on Saturday, February 16. From Seattle, we rented a Dodge Journey AWD SUV (using Alamo), drove to Vancouver, British Columbia, and then to Whistler along the beautiful sea-to-sky highway.
When we landed in Seattle, I planned on renting an inexpensive Ford Escape SUV. However, when I talked to the Alamo rental agent, she mentioned a lot of snow on Whistler and that I would need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to get there and back.
When we landed in Seattle, I planned on renting an inexpensive Ford Escape SUV. However, when I talked to the Alamo rental agent, she mentioned a lot of snow on Whistler and that I would need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to get there and back.
The Ford Escape SUV that I reserved was only front-wheel drive. I was disappointed; the cost to get to a full-size SUV (Dodge Journey AWD) was another $200. I ended up renting the full-size Dodge Journey AWD SUV, but it was unnecessary.
The road to Whistler was primarily dry, and even on the last day (when it snowed heavily), the road back was quickly plowed. Most vehicles I saw on the road were not AWD, but there may be times when this is needed.
We arrived in Whistler relatively late and were both very exhausted. We decided to go to bed early to prepare for Sunday's first day of skiing. I stopped by the local grocery store to pick up some breakfast items (cereal, milk, chocolate, eggs). The prices in Canada (or at least at Whistler) were significantly higher than in the U.S.A. However, people everywhere were so friendly that it was a joy to walk around.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
We got up around 7:30 a.m., had a quick breakfast of eggs, and went downstairs to the Pan Pacific Mountainside's Solomon Ski Shop to rent our skiing gear.
The shop opened at 8:00 a.m., and we were the first people through. Alex and I rented snowboards, and Inna rented skis. After we put all the gear on, we walked outside and rode one of the chairlifts (the Gondola to the top looked very busy).
We took a few more chair lifts to the top and began skiing. The weather was a bit cloudy, and the snow was a mixture of packed powder on the top and ice on the bottom.
Alex needed some time to remember his snowboarding technique, so he fell a lot initially but improved significantly during the day. Alex and Inna skied together, and I did a few runs alone.
Around lunchtime, we stopped by the Roundhouse Lodge, where we had a wonderful lunch. The food in Canada was so much better (than at Lake Tahoe) that it was nice to enjoy my food. I ordered Vietnamese Pho soup with Chicken and a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich for Inna. Alex wanted pizza, and I called him one.
Here is a video I recorded on our first day of skiing and snowboarding:
After lunch, we continued skiing until the mountain closed at 3:30 p.m. Inna was a bit scared after the run to the bottom due to all the slick/icy conditions at the bottom of Whistler.
After resting, Inna and Alex went to the hot tub while I recorded Whistler's famous Fire and Ice Show. Several skiers and snowboarders were performing various stunts.
For dinner, I made reservations at Quattro, where we ate last time in Whistler. We had a wonderful dinner there. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos from Quattro.
Monday, February 18, 2013
We got up early, around 7:30 a.m., to prepare for Alex's 5-day Snowboarding Adventure Camp. After breakfast, I dropped Alex at his snowboarding camp near the Whistler Gondola. As the snow was still icy, Inna and I decided to take a break from skiing and try dog sledding.
We found an outfit nearby called Blackcomb Dogsled and took a van from the Whistler Hilton to the staging area. We arrived, petted some of the dogs, and mounted the sleds. For one part of the journey, we lay down in the sled. We took turns standing, controlling the sled, and applying the brakes for the return part.
Dogs needed some urging to get going and knew their own names. They were not pure Alaskan Huskies, as the weather at Whistler is not cold enough for them (and they would overheat). This particular breed was smaller and more suited for the temperate climate at Whistler.
Halfway to our destination, we switched places on the dog sled, and Inna got to ride standing up.
After a fun day of dog sledding, Inn and I petted some of the puppies.
As it was lunchtime, we stopped by for lunch at Crepe Montagne in Whistler for some beautiful crepes.
After lunch, we strolled in Whistler Village, picking up Alex from his snowboarding camp at 3:15 p.m p.m.
Alex was tired after camp, so he watched television while Inna and I decided to try out the outdoor hot tub and steam room.
We made reservations at Earl's Restaurant for dinner and enjoyed eating there.
Tuesday, February 18, 2013
The forecast for Tuesday was sunny and warm, and we were excited to go skiing.
The skiing and snowboarding were excellent, and we especially enjoyed the blue skies and fine weather.
I am snowboarding down Upper Whiskey Jack and Lower Whiskey Jack to the Emerald Express chair lift.
After a full day of skiing, we decided to have dinner at Crepe Montagne.
Wednesday, February 19, 2013
Inna decided to go to a spa while I went snowboarding by myself. The weather was not the best - it was foggy with light snow.
I didn't enjoy the day, as I lost my Canon G15 camera, which I used to take many photos of Whistler. I searched everywhere for it and asked all the people working in Lost and Found, but it was nowhere to be found. I am still unsure where and how it fell out of my case.
I also almost lost my GoPro Hero 3 Black edition (but luckily caught it as it fell off my helmet).
Inna really enjoyed her Scandinave Spa. She enjoyed her full-body massage from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and spent a few hours at the spa's various pools. She enjoyed the spa and thought it was one of her main highlights at Whistler.
After snowboarding, I picked up Alex from his snowboard camp and met with Inna in our Pan Pacific room. While Alex rested, we explored Whistler Village and discovered many parts that we had not previously seen.
We saw some Native American totem poles and Olympic Rings. Whistler was the skiing site for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
We were on a waiting list for Araxi Restaurant at 6:00 p.m. for dinner. Araxi is the best restaurant in Whistler, and we enjoyed eating there.
After the beautiful dinner, we explored Whistler some more.
We found an open ice skating rink nearby. It had some young boys playing hockey, a disco ball, and a few oddities. Ice skating was free there, and the ice skating rental was only $5.00. Nearby, many people were watching ice hockey, and I could tell that hockey was the main sports attraction in Canada.
We returned to the Pan Pacific Mountainside room as it was getting late. Whistler is truly fantastic in the evening!
Thursday, February 20, 2013
We decided to go skiing and snowboarding again. The weather promised to be less foggy with light snow.
As it was a bit cold, we decided to stop by Chic Pea Cafe and warm up with nice hot chocolate.
We also stopped there for our lunch, as we enjoyed the food so much.
We decided to try The Wildflower Restaurant in the Fairmont Chateau Whistler for dinner. The dishes at The Wildflower were good but not as great as those in Araxi, Crepe Montagne, or Quattro. The service was fast and efficient, but the food did not woo me.
After dinner, we decided to go back to Whistler Village. The upper Whistler Village was dead. As it was cold, the sidewalks were highly slippery.
Since the Whistler Olympic Plaza Skating Rink was open until 9:00 p.m., we let Alex ice skate for an hour. We rented a pair of hockey ice glides for $5.00, and Alex made a few loops around the rink and then tried to play hockey. It looks like he forgot how to skate well (even though he took 2+ years of ice skating lessons at Logitech Ice Arena).
Friday, February 20, 2013
The forecast promised heavy snowfall (5-8 cm of snow). When we got outside, we immediately saw the heavy snowflakes and the wind, which indicated a significant storm.
The snow was fantastic, and the trails were quickly covered over. However, visibility was poor, and the wind was fierce on the top of the mountain.
I enjoyed snowboarding on the fresh powder, but Inna found adjusting her skiing technique to the light and fluffy snow complex. She was also coming down with the flu and felt tired at times. Besides, most of the green runs now had moguls (bumps) and looked more like blue runs. She tired quickly and needed to rest. I took her to the Roundhouse Lodge, where she ate delicious food and played games on the iPhone.
The Roundhouse Lodge was warm and cozy, and Inna spent several hours recovering from her flu.
After finishing the day, we returned our rented ski gear and drove to Vancouver, where we had two more nights reserved at the Four Seasons Hotel.
We had a great time at Whistler and in the Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside Hotel, and we hope to come back again.
Alex needed some time to remember his snowboarding technique, so he fell a lot initially but improved significantly during the day. Alex and Inna skied together, and I did a few runs alone.
Around lunchtime, we stopped by the Roundhouse Lodge, where we had a wonderful lunch. The food in Canada was so much better (than at Lake Tahoe) that it was nice to enjoy my food. I ordered Vietnamese Pho soup with Chicken and a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich for Inna. Alex wanted pizza, and I called him one.
Here is a video I recorded on our first day of skiing and snowboarding:
After lunch, we continued skiing until the mountain closed at 3:30 p.m. Inna was a bit scared after the run to the bottom due to all the slick/icy conditions at the bottom of Whistler.
After resting, Inna and Alex went to the hot tub while I recorded Whistler's famous Fire and Ice Show. Several skiers and snowboarders were performing various stunts.
For dinner, I made reservations at Quattro, where we ate last time in Whistler. We had a wonderful dinner there. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos from Quattro.
Monday, February 18, 2013
We got up early, around 7:30 a.m., to prepare for Alex's 5-day Snowboarding Adventure Camp. After breakfast, I dropped Alex at his snowboarding camp near the Whistler Gondola. As the snow was still icy, Inna and I decided to take a break from skiing and try dog sledding.
We found an outfit nearby called Blackcomb Dogsled and took a van from the Whistler Hilton to the staging area. We arrived, petted some of the dogs, and mounted the sleds. For one part of the journey, we lay down in the sled. We took turns standing, controlling the sled, and applying the brakes for the return part.
Dogs needed some urging to get going and knew their own names. They were not pure Alaskan Huskies, as the weather at Whistler is not cold enough for them (and they would overheat). This particular breed was smaller and more suited for the temperate climate at Whistler.
Halfway to our destination, we switched places on the dog sled, and Inna got to ride standing up.
After a fun day of dog sledding, Inn and I petted some of the puppies.
As it was lunchtime, we stopped by for lunch at Crepe Montagne in Whistler for some beautiful crepes.
After lunch, we strolled in Whistler Village, picking up Alex from his snowboarding camp at 3:15 p.m p.m.
Alex was tired after camp, so he watched television while Inna and I decided to try out the outdoor hot tub and steam room.
We made reservations at Earl's Restaurant for dinner and enjoyed eating there.
Tuesday, February 18, 2013
The forecast for Tuesday was sunny and warm, and we were excited to go skiing.
The skiing and snowboarding were excellent, and we especially enjoyed the blue skies and fine weather.
I am snowboarding down Upper Whiskey Jack and Lower Whiskey Jack to the Emerald Express chair lift.
After a full day of skiing, we decided to have dinner at Crepe Montagne.
Wednesday, February 19, 2013
Inna decided to go to a spa while I went snowboarding by myself. The weather was not the best - it was foggy with light snow.
I didn't enjoy the day, as I lost my Canon G15 camera, which I used to take many photos of Whistler. I searched everywhere for it and asked all the people working in Lost and Found, but it was nowhere to be found. I am still unsure where and how it fell out of my case.
I also almost lost my GoPro Hero 3 Black edition (but luckily caught it as it fell off my helmet).
Inna really enjoyed her Scandinave Spa. She enjoyed her full-body massage from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and spent a few hours at the spa's various pools. She enjoyed the spa and thought it was one of her main highlights at Whistler.
After snowboarding, I picked up Alex from his snowboard camp and met with Inna in our Pan Pacific room. While Alex rested, we explored Whistler Village and discovered many parts that we had not previously seen.
We saw some Native American totem poles and Olympic Rings. Whistler was the skiing site for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
There were also lovely children's playgrounds erected for young kids, which looked like a fairy tale.
We tried some excellent ice cream at Cow's Creamery. The ice cream there was definitely very yummy.
After the beautiful dinner, we explored Whistler some more.
We found an open ice skating rink nearby. It had some young boys playing hockey, a disco ball, and a few oddities. Ice skating was free there, and the ice skating rental was only $5.00. Nearby, many people were watching ice hockey, and I could tell that hockey was the main sports attraction in Canada.
We returned to the Pan Pacific Mountainside room as it was getting late. Whistler is truly fantastic in the evening!
Thursday, February 20, 2013
We decided to go skiing and snowboarding again. The weather promised to be less foggy with light snow.
As it was a bit cold, we decided to stop by Chic Pea Cafe and warm up with nice hot chocolate.
We also stopped there for our lunch, as we enjoyed the food so much.
We decided to try The Wildflower Restaurant in the Fairmont Chateau Whistler for dinner. The dishes at The Wildflower were good but not as great as those in Araxi, Crepe Montagne, or Quattro. The service was fast and efficient, but the food did not woo me.
After dinner, we decided to go back to Whistler Village. The upper Whistler Village was dead. As it was cold, the sidewalks were highly slippery.
Since the Whistler Olympic Plaza Skating Rink was open until 9:00 p.m., we let Alex ice skate for an hour. We rented a pair of hockey ice glides for $5.00, and Alex made a few loops around the rink and then tried to play hockey. It looks like he forgot how to skate well (even though he took 2+ years of ice skating lessons at Logitech Ice Arena).
Friday, February 20, 2013
The forecast promised heavy snowfall (5-8 cm of snow). When we got outside, we immediately saw the heavy snowflakes and the wind, which indicated a significant storm.
The snow was fantastic, and the trails were quickly covered over. However, visibility was poor, and the wind was fierce on the top of the mountain.
I enjoyed snowboarding on the fresh powder, but Inna found adjusting her skiing technique to the light and fluffy snow complex. She was also coming down with the flu and felt tired at times. Besides, most of the green runs now had moguls (bumps) and looked more like blue runs. She tired quickly and needed to rest. I took her to the Roundhouse Lodge, where she ate delicious food and played games on the iPhone.
The Roundhouse Lodge was warm and cozy, and Inna spent several hours recovering from her flu.
After finishing the day, we returned our rented ski gear and drove to Vancouver, where we had two more nights reserved at the Four Seasons Hotel.
We had a great time at Whistler and in the Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside Hotel, and we hope to come back again.
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