Ten of the Best Whistler Highlights
By: Lisa Wolff, Yahoo!7 Travel

Canada's alpine playground - in all seasons

I've always thought of Whistler as Canada's winter playground of the rich and famous. I felt slightly intimidated before my visit. Would I be asked for a bank account statement or need to prove my status in Hollywood before being allowed to enter? But the town was nothing at all like that. It has a villagey feel with a down-to-earth charm which makes its spectacular scenery even more attractive. Here are my highlights:

Breathtaking Scenery
There are a number of ways to get to Whistler - train, car or bus. We took the Pacific Line coach to the town. It was a two-and-a-half hour ride from Vancouver with breathtaking views along the way. The landscape of high mountains and alpine ice-blue lakes reminded me of the Swiss Alps. The centre of the village is paved into a bustling pedestrian pathway with a variety of shops and cafes to tempt all tastes.

All Seasons Holiday
Whistler is an all-round holiday hot-spot. We visited in summer, when the sun was warm and the days were long. But there was still a scattering of snow on the summit of the peaks. I would love to return in winter when the mountains are transformed into a winter wonderland and the mountain biking enthusiasts are replaced by skiers and snowboarders.

Tree Trekking
There are heaps of adrenaline adventures in Whistler for both the warm and the icy days. Topping my list in summer is the ZipTrek experience. We slipped on harnesses and then had a practise run on the flying fox near the base of the mountain. Once we'd grown accustomed to the wind whipping past our faces, we were transported deep into the Whistler forest.

Our guides (one was Aussie, the other Dutch) were fantastic - encouraging our group to challenge our fears and tackle each zipline with maximum zest. There were four more flights amongst the trees, with each one getting progressively longer and faster. The longest was 1,100 feet and towered 160 feet above the forest floor. My heart skipped a couple of beats as my toes left the platform and I whooshed over waterfalls, streams and the green canopy below. All was quiet except for the zzzzzip of the zipline. The ultimate in exhilaration. At the last line, we were encouraged to go freestyle - upside down or spreadeagled. I put my faith in the strength of the line, let go and starfished across to the other side. Woohoo!

Well that was the beginner Bear Run complete. Next up, the Eagle run (with its 2,000 foot long run).
Find out more about ZipTrek EcoTours.

Alpine cableways
The ski centre at the base of Whistler mountain is the gateway to some of the best views in the world. We took a gondola up to the top of the mountain - an exciting 25-minute aerial journey passing through some dramatic scenery. From here, we could choose to meander along hiking trails or take another lift to an adjacent peak. We hopped straight onto the Peak Express chair lift which was a thrilling open-air ride to a height of 7,000 feet. We were in glacial territory here so we were glad that we remembered am extra jacket.

We then took a lift down and climbed on board the new Peak to Peak gondola which opened in December last year. We stood in the queue for the special silver cablecar which boasts a glass floor. What a rush to be skimming hundreds of metres above the forest level (436 metres to be exact) and staring down onto the trees way below. The gondola is a remarkable feat of engineering, holding three world records including the longest unsupported span for a lift of its kind (3km). The cableway stretches 4.4km all the way over to Blackcomb mountain where there are a variety of trails and ski slopes (in winter) on offer.

Mountain Barbecue
One of the highlights of a summer holiday in Whistler is the mountain barbecue. On weekend evenings, there's no need to rush down the mountain. We headed to the restaurant where we joined in the scrumptious barbecue feast. There was a delicious selection of salads, veggies and cuts of juicy beef and chicken. The dessert was an-all-you-can-eat buffet with dense chocolate brownies, apple tart and blackberry crumble. We ate on the balcony overlooking the breathtaking Whistler terrain and listening to the band playing nearby. Sheer culinary bliss.

Eating
There are more than 90 restaurants in Whistler including the highly regarded Bear Foot Bistro. We tried out the brilliant Mongolie Grill restaurant, where you pick your ingredients from a fresh buffet selection and the chefs stirfry the produce on a huge slab right before your eyes. Make sure you select some baby tomatoes as the cooks perform some skillful tricks with them as they spatula the food into the bowl. Free rice is included in the meals. We also tried Mix By Rics for brekkie one day, which was also good.

Cow Ice-cream
If you're ice-cream crazy, then make sure you drop into the Cow shop for yummy gelato and the coolest t-shirts and assorted other paraphernalia.

Shopping Bargains
Here's a secret. If you need winter outdoor clothing, then Whistler in summer is the best place to stock up. I picked up some fantastic discounts on warm clothes that were all on sale in the various shops.

Mountain Biking
Mountain biking is very popular in the sunny season and our visit co-incided with CrankWorx - a mountain biking challenge which drew thousands of adrenaline junkies from all over the world. I have never seen so many biking enthusiasts in one area. They loaded their bikes onto the chairlifts, off-loaded them on the top of the mountains and then rode all the way down. Crazy!

Winter Olympics
Whistler is on the brink of attracting hoards of visitors when the Winter Olympics open on 12 February next year. Whistler will be hosting a number of events including bobsleigh, luge and alpine skiing. So if you haven't booked your tickets yet, you should probably get onto that now.

Where to Stay

There are hundreds of different accommodation options in Whistler - ranging from your five star luxurious resorts to backpacker joints. We stayed in the mid-range Pinnacle International Hotel. This place is perfect for families as it is equipped with a kitchenette and is within easy walking distance of the centre of town. We found it a little strange that the spa bath was situated in the main bedroom rather than in the bathroom but if you're in a couple, it shouldn't really matter. More info.

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