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Hot Dining: Restaurants on Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains

Roundhouse Lodge photo by Toshi Kawano courtesy Tourism British Columbia

Peak-to-Peak Eats

Looking to satisfy hunger cravings between runs? Find fabulous fare—and to-die-for views—on top of both mountains. On Whistler, savour West Coast cuisine at Steep’s Grill or head to the spacious Roundhouse Lodge (pictured). On Blackcomb, Christine’s boasts a full-service menu at 1,859 m (6,100 ft), while at the cozy Crystal Hut log cabin, comfort food arrives straight from the wood-burning oven.—Jennifer Patterson

Hot Art: Fine Canadian Art at Mountain Galleries

"Consolation" by Linda Wilder

Top Notch

With gorgeous paintings by Canadian artists such as Linda Wilder (“Consolation,” pictured) lining the walls, it’s little wonder Mountain Galleries at the Fairmont won the Fine Art category in our 2011 Where to Shop Awards. This winter, keep an eye out for works exploring the mountain culture and landscape by 12 major artists, including Corrinne Wolcoski and Robert Genn.—Kristina Urquhart

More information:

MOUNTAIN GALLERIES AT THE FAIRMONT Fairmont Chateau Whistler, 4599 Chateau Blvd. 604-935-1862. www.mountaingalleries.com

Hot Essentials: Eco-Friendly Whistler

Photo by Randy Lincks courtesy Tourism British Columbia

Green Dreams

Achieving a zero operating footprint may be a lofty goal, but we’d say the Whistler Blackcomb resort is well on its way. Efficient lighting and a hydro project that produces the equivalent of the resort’s annual energy demand are just some of the ways Whistler Blackcomb is going green. Since 2000, the resort has reduced waste by 60 per cent and, in 2011, it was named one of Canada’s greenest employers for the third year in a row. Visit www.whistlerblackcomb.com for more information.—Kristina Urquhart

Hot Entertainment: Cross-Country Skiing in Whistler

Photo by Steve Rogers courtesy Tourism Whistler

Nordic Nirvana

Downhill skiers and snowboarders tend to receive most of the attention in Whistler, but the cross-country skiers don’t mind. It just means less-crowded terrain for them. Fans of Nordic skiing head to the 56 km (35 mi) of pristine cross-country trails in Whistler Olympic Park, or the 32 km (20 mi) of trails in Lost Lake Park, to work up a sweat—and enjoy some of the world’s most spectacular scenery.—Sheri Radford

More information:

WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK 5 Callaghan Valley Rd. 604-964-0060 or toll-free 1-877-764-2455. www.whistlerolympicpark.com

Hot Shopping: 2011 Where to Shop Awards Whistler

We asked. Where readers voted. Here are your top spots to shop.

Whistler Village photo copyright Hartemink/Dreamstime.com

Apparel
Roots.

Honourable Mentions
Lululemon.
Hatley Scoops.

Fine Art
Mountain Galleries.

Honourable Mentions
Adele Campbell Fine Art Gallery.
The Plaza Galleries.
Black Tusk Gallery.

Outdoor Gear
The North Face.

Honourable Mentions
Affinity Sports.
Escape Route.

Souvenirs
Cows Whistler.

Honourable Mentions
The Trading Post. 604-938-6204.
Sea to Sky Souvenirs. 604-932-3201.

Spa
Scandinave Spa.

Honourable Mentions
The Spa at the Four Seasons.
Vida Spa.

To vote for next year’s winners, visit www.where.ca/whistler.
To see Vancouver’s winners, visit www.where.ca/vancouver.

A Need for Speed at The Whistler Sliding Centre

Photo of bobsleigh courtesy Tourism British Columbia

By Sheri Radford

If you’ve ever dreamed of hurtling along an icy track at 135 km/hr (85 mi/hr), here’s your chance. The Whistler Sliding Centre offers two-hour bobsleigh rides and skeleton slides for adrenaline junkies. After gearing up, you rocket down the track like a pro, experiencing what it must have felt like to compete in the 2010 Winter Games here. Although there’s no need to be an Olympic athlete to embark on these heart-pounding adventures, they’re not for the faint of heart, either. If you’d rather leave the speed to the professionals, check out the FIL Luge World Cup (www.fil-luge.org) on Dec. 9 or the FIBT Bobsleigh & Skeleton World Cup (www.fibt.com) on Feb. 2.

More information:

WHISTLER SLIDING CENTRE 4910 Glacier Lane. 604-964-0040. whistlerslidingcentre.com

Winter Warm-Ups in Whistler

Baby, it’s cold outside. After a chilly day on the slopes, Whistler offers lots of activities to get your mercury rising

By Kristina Urquhart

The outdoor fire pit at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler's Mallard Lounge and Terrace. Photo by Randy Lincks courtesy Tourism British Columbia

HOT
Whether you’ve been slaloming down a black-diamond ski run or shopping in Whistler Village, duck into a coffee shop for a reprieve from the cold air. Locals love the beans at Lift Coffee Company and Moguls Coffee House, as well as the brews at DavidsTea—which stocks a wood-smoke-scented tea for those determined to warm up.

HOTTER
When a hot cuppa won’t cut it, try a roaring fire to warm your tootsies. Two fire pits at The Mallard Lounge and Terrace add a romantic ambience to live entertainment, and the leather chairs flanking the fireplace at Dubh Linn Gate make for cozy rest stops. Still feeling chilly? A heavenly spa treatment might do the trick. At Scandinave Spa, immerse yourself in warm soaking pools, sweltering saunas and steam baths. Or go for a hot stone massage, which is also offered at several village spots including Vida Spa. (more…)

Hot Dates: Cornucopia

Cornucopia photo by Mike Crane courtesy Tourism Whistler

November 10 to 13

Foodies and oenophiles alike follow their taste buds to Whistler for Cornucopia, the annual food and wine extravaganza in the town best known for skiing and snowboarding. In addition to palate-pleasing tastings, luncheons and winemakers’ dinners, the deliciously long weekend offers hands-on seminars, extravagant galas and over-the-top parties. But be warned: you may have to loosen your belt a couple of notches in order to fully indulge.—Sheri Radford
More information:

CORNUCOPIA: WHISTLER’S CELEBRATION OF WINE AND FOOD Various venues in Whistler. Toll-free 1-800-WHISTLER. www.whistlercornucopia.com

Canada’s Best New Attractions for Summer 2011

Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta

For travellers planning their summer trips in Canada this year, the regional editors of Where magazine have released their top picks for summer travel. The winners of Where Canada’s Best New Attractions for Summer 2011 represent the most exciting attractions – new, significantly improved, or celebrating major milestones this year. A diverse group of attractions from coast to coast, this year’s winners offer a wide range of activities and events suitable for any family, art lover, sports fanatic, nature lover or adventurer. Together, these attractions serve as the top must-see and must-dos for anyone travelling in Canada this summer. (more…)

Hot Entertainment: Best Attractions

Britannia Mine Museum

Each year, Where editors from across the country honour Canada’s top new or improved summer attractions. This year, we chose the new Beaty Biodiversity Museum for Vancouver, and the Britannia Mine Museum (pictured), which went through extensive renovations in 2010, for Whistler. Kids enjoy both attractions so much that they never notice how much they’re learning.—Sheri Radford

Hot Entertainment: Gone Fishin’

Photo courtesy Whistler Fishing Guides

Experienced fishers and anglers-in-training drive two hours north to cast off with Whistler Fishing Guides, which offers day trips to lure salmon and trout. Rods and tackle are provided, so no need for your own gear. Consider us sold—hook, line and sinker.—Kristina Urquhart

Hot Dining: Araxi Alfresco

Araxi's long table

Local dining is all the rage, and it doesn’t get much more local than feasting in the field where most of the meal’s ingredients were grown. Whistler’s much-celebrated Araxi restaurant is launching the Araxi Longtable @ North Arm Farm outdoor dining series in Pemberton, 20 minutes north of Whistler. Join chef James Walt on Aug. 27 or Sep. 11 for a four-course menu of the freshest food you could ever hope to try. Tickets are $160. Email farmdinner@araxi.com to make your reservation—then get your taste buds ready.—Sheri Radford

Gap year students may forego Canadian travel plans due to tuition hikes

Photo by Patrick Haney

The gap year may be a thing of the past in England. According to the Daily Mail, due to upcoming hikes in tuition, students are foregoing the tradition of taking a year off before heading to university to travel and work abroad. Canada is a popular choice for gappers with 5,000 one-year work visas available to U.K. citizens age 18 to 35 this year through the International Experience Canada program. (more…)

Jazz on the Mountain At Whistler

Greg Lowe, Kevin Eubanks and Oliver Jones are all expected to play

Jazz festivals have become a summer staple, and with all the competition to draw in music lovers, talent line ups need to entice. A nice setting doesn’t hurt either. Whistler is hoping that having both of these factors in their favour will draw crowds to their new Jazz on the Mountain At Whistler festival this Labour Day long weekend starting on September 2nd. The festival will feature international names like Spyro Gyra, Oliver Jones, The New Gary Burton Quartet and even that former late night sidekick Kevin Eubanks.

The concerts are spread out across the village, with the ticketed events taking place at the Whistler Olympic Plaza. Tickets start at $65 per day, with family packages also on offer. For those who want something more intimate, there’s brunch at the luxe Bearfoot Bistro with Lorne Lofsky, the jazz guitarist ($49). And to capitalize on the setting, a Mountain Top BBQ is scheduled each evening at the top of Whistler with a rotating menu and performers Ali Milner, Chris Smith and The Night Crawlers.

Organizers hope to make the festival family friendly on this key holiday weekend—they’ve also included a street festival spread about the village geared to the kids, which will include jugglers, acrobats and acoustic musical sets.

Visit whistlerjazzfest.com for schedules and ticketing information. For the Mountain Top BBQ, visit whistlerblackcomb.com for ticketing pricing and information.

Hit the Road

Sometimes you need to get away from it all. These nearby destinations are the perfect escape from the city

By Kristina Urquhart

It's anchors aweigh on the Sunshine Coast, where a boat tours Sechelt Inlet. Photo by Tom Ryan courtesy Tourism British Columbia

Whistler

Car 2 hours
Train 3.5 hours via Rocky Mountaineer

The scenic Sea to Sky Highway winds from Vancouver to Whistler, a top-rated ski resort with plenty to do in the summer. Settle onto a sun-soaked patio to people-watch in the pedestrian-only village, relax with a massage at a world-class spa, tee up for golf on emerald fairways or navigate the vertiginous cliffs on a mountain bike. Don’t miss a ride on the 4.4-km- (2.7-mi-) long Peak 2 Peak Gondola; you’ll need to pick your jaw up off the glass-bottomed floor as the seemingly endless valley between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains stretches beyond. Halfway between Vancouver and Whistler lies Squamish—the recreation capital of Canada—so suit up for whitewater rafting, wind surfing, diving and rock climbing. A hike up the Stawamus Chief, the world’s second-largest granite monolith, yields panoramic views of Howe Sound. (more…)

Hot Art: Provincial Pride

"Black-Tusk Whistler" by Deryk Houston

With British Columbia’s endless forests, mountains and ocean views, it’s not hard to figure out why people want to live or visit here. Celebrate our lovely landscape with an artful souvenir, such as Deryk Houston’s painting “Black Tusk-Whistler” (pictured), during Beautiful BC at Art Works Gallery (Jul. 25 to Sep. 8).—Kristina Urquhart

Hot Entertainment: Hit the Slopes

Photo by Sterling Lorence courtesy Whistler Blackcomb

In winter, nearby Whistler Blackcomb is blanketed in some of the world’s most skiable snow. But in summer, mountain biking enthusiasts grab their brain buckets (helmets) and flock to those now-bare hills to thrash, pogo and bunny hop to their hearts’ content. Experience it for yourself at the Whistler Mountain Bike Park—and don’t forget your brain bucket.—Sheri Radford

Hot Art: Artists in Action

Photo courtesy Adele Campbell Fine Art Gallery

Watch local artists at work during Painting at the Peak III, Adele Campbell Gallery’s open-air art demonstration on Whistler Mountain (Aug 13). Worth a second look: Vancouverite Michael O’Toole, whose Impressionist-style landscapes are also on display at the gallery (“Evening at Anthony Island,” pictured).—Kristina Urquhart

Hot Shopping: A Day at the Spa

Dip in the baths at Scandinave Spa

Indulge in some much-needed rest and relaxation at Scandinave Spa. Visit the eucalyptus steam room followed by a dip in the Nordic waterfall. Sweat it out in the Finnish sauna then head for a massage. End the day with a nap in a hammock. Whatever’s on the agenda, it’s time well spent.—Jennifer Patterson

15 Things We Love About Whistler

Photo by Chad Chomlack courtesy Tourism Whistler

1 Spectacular scenery, such as the gorgeous Whistler Olympic Park with its welcoming inukshuk. Whichever way you turn, you’ll see a picture postcard come to life.
2 Devouring a juicy Triple O burger at White Spot. This local restaurant chain was founded in 1928.
3 The abundance of festivals and special events, everything from bike races to rock concerts to a children’s art festival.
4 Looking for reminders of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Their spirit lives on in venues such as the Whistler Sliding Centre. (more…)