Going to the Olympics this year? If so, you might want to think about avoiding the crowds and staying in the smaller resort towns in British Columbia. You might even want to avoid Whistler; although it’s smaller than the Games main venue, Vancouver, many of the competitions will be held there. It’s sure to be busy and crowded.

Pemberton may be a good choice for accommodations during the Olympics. It’s located just 32 kilometers (20 miles) north of Whistler, or a short 30-minute drive. Pemberton is best-known for its agriculture, mainly potato production, but in the last fifteen years, the village has become more of a ski resort and recreational center. Its growth has actually outpaced that of Whistler; in 1997, it was named the fastest-growing community in North America.  Since 2003, the population has grown by over 7%, as compared to nearby Whistler, which has only grown at about one-half of a percent.

Pemberton is a well-planned, charming village.  Its look is slightly rustic and has the appearance of an Old West movie, which is not only an attempt to make it more appealing to tourists, but a nod to the area’s roots as a ranching and mining center.  Pemberton is surrounded by the majestic Coast Mountain, with spectacular aquamarine lakes and rushing rivers.  It could very well be the ideal place to wind down after a busy day of skiing (cross-country, backcountry, and heli-skiing), snowmobiling, and watching the competitions.

Pemberton has a wide variety of accommodations for your stay, including hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts, hostels, cabins, and retreats.  Most of its hotels and several B&Bs are located in the center of the village, but if you’re willing to have a more private experience, there is one motel and more B&Bs located at nearby Mt. Currie and many lodges and B&Bs on Lillooet Lake east of the village.  There are even camping facilities available, if you want to rough it.

Pemberton excels in the bread & breakfasts and hostels, for every taste and budget, dotted throughout the area.  There are five B&Bs in the village alone, five more in the Pemberton Valley north and west of the Village, and two more to the east at Mt. Currie and Lillooet Lake.  For those on a strict budget, a hostel might be a good choice; there are two in the Village and one at Mt. Currie.  Pemberton hotels, lodges, motels, and cabins include Ivey Lake Lodge, Lillooet Lake Lodge, Pemberton Hotel, Pemberton Valley Lodge, Birken Lakeside Resort, and the Hitching Post Motel.

With all these choices available, you’re sure to enjoy your stay in Pemberton during the Olympics, or at any other time of the year.  The Village is becoming more and more popular, and is sure to become even more well-known after this Olympic year.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 at 3:15 pm and is filed under Whistler Village. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.