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Everyone knows Whistler as one of the world’s best places for winter activities. Skiing, snowboarding, you name it. Whistler was even home to many of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics competitions. But did you know that there are just as many fun summer activities in Whistler too?
Whistler Village is a busy and popular place – the stunning scenery all around helps with that. While there are some great things to do in the village itself, there are also lots of things to do around Whistler. It’s a town that’s build for outdoor adventures – but that isn’t to say there aren’t some great opportunities to relax.
Getting To Whistler From Vancouver
Whistler is in British Columbia, Canada, less than a couple hours from Vancouver. If you’re visiting the west coast, you’ll no doubt be flying into – or at least driving through – Vancouver. From there it’s an easy drive to Whistler along one of the most scenic highways you’ll ever come across.
The best way to get to Whistler is to rent a car and drive from Vancouver. Allow plenty of time for stops along the way as there are lots of fun activities and some of the best views you’ll see in Canada.
The perfect half way stop is Squamish, BC. Here you can find the amazing Sea to Sky Gondola with world class views looking out over Howe Sound. Britannia Mine Museum is another fun stop nearby. And if you’re looking for a unique hike there’s the unbelievably pristine Watersprite Lake. Take a couple extra days and camp here as it’s a difficult one to get to, so you might as well plan a longer trip.
Don’t drive? Not a problem, there are other ways to get to Whistler. From Vancouver there are bus transfer services which run regularly. Usually under $50 per person round trip. Quick and easy door to door service that allows you to sit back and admire the scenery.
Want something even more special? Harbour Air is a local flightseeing company with small float planes. They operate to and from Vancouver Island, mostly to Victoria, but there are services to Whistler too. You’ll get the most unique perspective of the Sea to Sky Highway and it only takes about 45-minutes.
Where To Stay In Whistler
Sure, you can do Whistler as a day trip, but you’ll run out of time before even scratching the surface of what this gorgeous mountain town has to offer. I recommend staying at least a couple of nights – longer if you can.
If you want to be right in the action, Whistler Village is the best place to stay. The Upper Village is a little quieter and personally where I like to stay.
The last option is Whistler Creekside, a few kilometers before the village. It’s much quieter, and where a lot more locals live. There’s a bus servicing the route to Whistler Village and some of the hotels here operate their own shuttle services.
You can find short term rentals through Airbnb or VRBO – even more ideal if there are a few of you traveling or you’re looking for a full week. Having a cabin-style accommodation around Whistler is a fun way to experience it.
MY TOP WHISTLER HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS
Fairmont Chateau Whistler – Luxury hotel in the Upper Village – quiet, great bars/restaurants and a really nice spa.
Delta Hotels Whistler Village Suites – In Whistler Village the hotel rooms here have a small kitchenette including fridge, kettle and microwave. Ideal for longer stays.
Nita Lake Lodge – Located by a lake in nearby Whistler Creekside, the hotel bar has a fantastic cocktail menu, there’s an outdoor hot tub (fun on snowy/cold days) and a shuttle service into the village.
HI Whistler Hostel – A little before Whistler Creekside, this is about 10km from Whistler Village but it’s a cheaper place to stay in an expensive town. Best if you have a car, the hostel is in the old athletes village from the Olympics. Bonus: the hostel is near a popular hike, the Whistler train wreck (more on that below).
Top Summer Activities in Whistler
You’ve made it to Whistler and settled into your accommodation, now what? Stay hydrated and rest when you can because Whistler is going to be non-stop fun. Take some time to stroll around the village, looking in the shops. Some are unique local shops, some are big brands or sell familiar souvenirs.
The village has some great food – if you’re looking for something on the go, my favorite place is Purebread Bakery. Stock up on some goodies for your action-filled days. Speaking of which, here are some of my favorite summer activities in Whistler.
WHISTLER TRAIN WRECK HIKE
A really easy, but totally unique hike in Whistler is the Whistler Train Wreck trail. It’s less hike, more relaxed amble through the forest, which makes a great activity for kids or those who are not super intensely into the outdoors.
The forested trail features a very epic torrent of a river, a fun suspension bridge and culminates at the scene of a train wreck from more than half a century ago.
The abandoned train cars have been repositioned in the forest and adorned with artwork. It makes for an interesting trail unlike any other you’ll find in the area.
VISIT THE ICE BAR
Too hot outside? Cool down at Whistler’s very own ice bar – maybe one of the best summer activities in Whistler on a warm day. Located at the Bearfoot Bistro inside the The Listel Hotel Whistler, the Ketel One Ice Room is a fun place to try some ice cold vodka.
Book a vodka tasting experience in -32C/-25F temperatures – warm, fuzzy Canada Goose arctic jackets included. The experience is about $60 per person but is a fun activity if you’re with a group of friends – or if you really like vodka.
BROWSE THE LOCAL FARMERS MARKET
Have I gone to Whistler for the day just to visit the farmers market? Yes I have. It’s one of my favorite summer activities in Whistler. Not only do they sell incredible fresh produce and local crafts, but you’ll find lots of delicious baked goods and other food.
The market is along the Upper Village Stroll near the Fairmont Chateau Whistler hotel. Behind it is Blackcomb mountain, and surrounding the market are a couple of great places to enjoy a summer patio drink when you’re tired of shopping.
TOP TRAVEL TIP: The weekly farmers market in Whistler is usually on Sundays from mid-May to early October.
RELAX AT THE SCANDINAVE SPA
Everyone deserves a day of pampering every now and again. You won’t find a better place in Whistler than at the gloriously luxurious Scandinave Spa.
Enjoy access to the baths and sauna for as little as $90 for the day. Soak in the silence in this adults only relaxation space with bubbling steam baths and plenty of aromatherapy.
Enhance your experience with a VIP package including robe, towel and padlock rental. Or better yet book a relaxing or restorative massage and your entry to the baths including VIP package will be included in the price.
TOP TRAVEL TIP: For Canadian residents, Scandinave Spa offer RMT massages which are covered by extended health benefits.
RIDE THE PEAK 2 PEAK GONDOLA
Whistler is big for skiing and snowboarding (or mountain biking in summer) on its two popular peaks: Blackcomb Mountain and Whistler Mountain. But you don’t have to be a fan of these activities to get up the mountains to enjoy the view. And the Peak 2 Peak Gondola ride is a great way to enjoy both mountains on the same trip.
Take the journey up Blackcomb or Whistler Mountain and then across from one peak to another. Here you’ll get some incredible views up and over Whistler and its nearby mountains – the best in the area.
TOP TRAVEL TIP: Take the silver glass bottom gondola ride on the Peak 2 Peak part of the journey. Here you can look down through the floor to the trails and forests below.
ZIPLINE THROUGH THE TREES
Ziplining isn’t just for kids. This is a unique way to get closer to nature – as you sail past trees (or over them) on a wire. I did this as part of a bachelorette weekend trip and it was fun and exhilarating, if not a little scary at first. But once you’ve launched yourself into the air once it makes it easier the next time.
By the end of our zipline experience we were challenging each other to see who could hang upside down as we whoosh along the wire. Ziptrek Ecotours is the best place to zipline in Whistler with a bunch of different tours for every skill level.
TOP TRAVEL TIP: Up for the ultimate challenge? Try the Sasquatch Tour – the longest zipline in all of Canada and the USA.
VISIT A FIRST NATIONS CULTURAL CENTER
Canada has a rich indigenous history, and it’s at places like the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre that you can really learn more. Unlike a typical museum, the SLCC takes a more interactive approach. Get involved in fun traditional craft activities and First Nations led tours.
At certain times throughout the year there are special feasts involving Indigenous-inspired food and cultural performances. Learn more about the history and culture of Canada’s First Nations from the people who know it best.
TOP TRAVEL TIP: Look out for signs along the Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler bearing place names in the language of the First Nations of this area. For example, the town of Squamish you pass on the way, is written Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Sḵwiḵw is the word for Whistler.
ENJOY SOME FINE DINING
Whistler is a culinary delight of a town. More than one of Whistler’s top notch restaurants are on the list of best restaurants in Canada.
Araxi Restaurant & Oyster Bar is well worth the money – a farm-to-table restaurant that hits all the right notes. Bearfoot Bistro within the town’s Listel Hotel also has an unbelievable menu (and the ice bar mentioned earlier in this post).
My other top recommendations are The Wildflower which can be found in the Fairmont Chateau Whistler hotel, and Grill & Vine Whistler in The Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler. All have ever-changing menus that change with the season and highlight the best local ingredients.
TOP TRAVEL TIP: The top restaurants often offer tasting menus of four or more courses. Keep an eye out for them, and if you get the chance to try such an experience do it. I’ve done more than a couple of tasting menus including at Araxi and Grill & Vine and it was a fantastic way to try more delectable dishes.
MOUNTAIN BIKE DOWN A SKI HILL
Even in the summer the “ski” hills are in use. In the case of Whistler Mountain, it’s for mountain biking, one of the most popular summer activities in Whistler. Not content with a cycle around the village or other trails around Whistler? You can bike down some of the steeper and more intense trails of the mountains.
A day pass is under $100, and you can even rent all equipment (including bike) starting at just over $100 per person too. If you’re not planning on anything as extreme as this, there are still plenty of trails around Whistler to try – and bike rentals are available from Whistler Village.
GO BUNGEE JUMPING
Maybe the most adrenaline-inducing experience in the area is to bungee jump off a bridge just outside of Whistler. For thrill-seekers who love terrifying gravity-defying activities, this might be the one for you.
25km south of Whistler village is Whistler Bungee where for around $125 per person you can leap towards the river below this epically situated bridge. For those driving from Vancouver this might be something to plan on the journey to or from Whistler. Make reservations in advance but maybe save the big heavy meal until after the jump.
While I haven’t personally done this, we booked a friend on the jump for her birthday on a girl’s trip weekend we took to Whistler. Don’t worry, she loved it.
TAKE A FLOAT PLANE RIDE
As mentioned earlier, a unique way to get to Whistler is taking a Harbour Air float plane ride from Vancouver. But even if you choose to drive to Whistler you can still experience the magic of seeing the mountains from the air. Harbour Air also offers panorama flightseeing tours. Harbour Air flights are definitely my favorite way to see BC from above.
Take in the peaks of all the local mountains, or gaze into the bluer-than-blue alpine lakes below. Even in summer you will see some snow on top of the highest peaks.
Various tours are available 20-60 minutes long, and from as little as $135 per person. Tours and flights leave from nearby Green Lake, and is often able to offer complimentary shuttle services to/from the village.
Top Summer Activities In Whistler
Many of these activities are year round and can be enjoyed any time, but in winter it’s easy to get distracted by all the skiing and snowboarding. Take a trip to Whistler in the summer and enjoy the lush green forested trails – or flying through them on a zipline – and other fun experiences.
Whistler is easy to reach from Vancouver and while it can be done as a day trip, it’s better to spend a night or two. Once you see Whistler, you’ll be glad you visited.
Driving up from Vancouver? Don’t forget to stop at some of the beautiful spots on the way. Squamish and Brandywine Falls are two of my favorites. A slow drive up is the perfect way to take in the sights and get acclimatized to the fresh, BC air.
Stay in one of the town’s fabulous hotels, enjoy the great outdoors and eat all the delicious food. Whistler is a popular destination for a reason, don’t forget to make it a part of your western Canada vacation itinerary.
If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Which of these summer activities in Whistler would you want to do most?
Wow! What a comprehensive list!
Being from Canada it is a shame I have not had the opportunity to experience these activities on the west coast.
Although I have been to Vancouver, I have not had the time to head up to Whistler.
Although I would prefer taking in some of these summer activities, my husband would prefer the winter activities. And there’s my dilemma.
Someday, we will make the trip this list provides a great conversation starter about the reasons to go in the summer.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for compiling a wonderful list of free and paid for summer activities for Whistler. I would absolutely love exploring here and spend some time relaxing from the everyday. Whistler appeals to me for its many outdoor activities. I would skip the bungee jumping but you’ll definitely find me on the zip line or mountain biking. The fine dining options are an added bonus.
Carolin | Solo Travel Story