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Whistler BC

For the winter traveler, a Whistler ski vacation can be the highlight of the winter season, especially if you plan to bring your family along. Between Blackcomb and Whistler Mountains, visitors can expect to enjoy a combined 8,170 acres (3,307 hectares) of skiable terrain. Plus, the mile-high vertical drop is over a thousand feet higher than the tallest mountain in North America suitable for skiing. And you can bet you’ll find family friendly nature at the Whistler resort convenient, affordable, and amazing. With all of these perks to look forward to on a vacation in Whistler ski resort, it should come as no surprise to hear that this year, Whistler Blackcomb tops the list of Conde Nast’s Traveler Top 20 Ski Poll. Magazine readers rated ski resorts from all over the globe and gave Whistler the highest marks with regard to service offerings, length of time spent waiting in a lift line, and mountain conditions. So, since it ranks at the top of the charts, what is it about a Whistler ski vacation that is so great?

Whistler Mountain welcomed winter sports enthusiasts to its ski slopes in the mid 1960s. Then, in the 1980s, Whistler Blackcomb, Whistler Mountain’s sister peak, opened its first ski lifts to travelers. In addition, developers began pouring the foundations of the shops and eateries that would eventually become Whistler Village. The vision of Whistler Village was to provide everything travelers to Whistler BC Canada could possibly need within walking distance to a Whistler rental. Further, Whistler Village was designed to exclusively allow pedestrian traffic. There is no need to drive away from your vacation once you arrive: When you get to your Whistler accommodations, you can park your car and not drive it again until it’s time for you to return home. Travelers can easily walk the length of Whistler Village even while wearing ski gear. And, if your Whistler accommodations are in Whistler Village, you can access the ski lifts practically from your door.

In addition to wanting convenient access to local amenities and attractions, travelers on a Whistler Blackcomb ski vacation want to spend as much time skiing down the slopes as possible. That’s where a short wait for the lift comes in very handy. Blackcomb and Whistler Mountain combined have 38 lifts that take more than 61,400 guests per hour to over 200 marked trails. Whistler resort staff wants its guests to get to the top of the mountain quickly and safely, so they do what they can minimize wait time. Not only that, but families traveling for a ski vacation in Whistler can take advantage of an abundance of activities for children.

Family vacations are always much more fun and memorable when all members are able to truly enjoy themselves, regardless of age. Families vacationing on a Whistler resort can expect the young members of the family to have just as much fun as the more experienced ones. The ski programs for children begin at age three and are divided into age appropriate groups. Packages available include weeklong ski camps and individual day lessons. In most instances, such as the weeklong camps, children have the same instructor(s) each day. That allows for the student to gain trust in the teacher(s)and be more comfortable in their surroundings. With easy access to child-only ski lifts and the Kids Adventure Zone, which features a magic castle and a secret fort among other surprises, children and teens can’t help but have a great time. Plus, families with children three months to than age three can comfortably leave their precious ones in the care of screened and licensed caregivers within the resort day care facility. Family ski vacations in Whistler are supposed to be fun, memorable, and safe.

Speaking of safe, remember the premise behind the design of Whistler Village? When you have your Whistler accommodations in Whistler Village, your children are safer: pedestrian-only traffic means significant reduction in automobile accidents and traffic jams. They both become non-existent.

Whistler BC Accommodations

Depending on the needs of your group, accommodations in Whistler are plentiful and varied. For a home-like atmosphere while you are traveling, a rental property complete with a kitchen, multiple bedrooms, and comfortable leisure space would be ideal. Whistler lodging choices also include condos and hotels. Whatever your travel budget is, finding Whistler accommodations to fit your specific needs for your winter or summer vacations is simple.

Another amenity to enjoy on a ski vacation in Whistler is specifically designed for travelers with limited physical abilities. Through the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program, a non-profit group organized to assist people with varying abilities, trained and certified instructors are paired with skiers and snowboarders to make a Whistler Blackcomb ski vacation fun, safe, and accessible to everyone. All people are encouraged and supported in their effort and desire to try and practice winter sports.

And when you’re ready for a break away from the slopes of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountain, you will find an abundance of activities to keep you and your travel companions busy: indoor pools, whirlpools, and alpine hiking, to name just a few. And when the sun goes down for the day, you’ll want to head into Whistler Village to take in some of the nightlife. Whistler Village has something to entertain everyone from hot dance clubs and under 21 spots to more quiet and intimate places to relax. Whatever your preference, definitely check out the local scene.

What few people know about a vacation in Whistler is that resort town was designed with the ultimate goal of hosting the Olympic Games. When those first slopes opened in the 1960s, the businessmen behind the efforts had the ultimate goal of hosting the 1968 Olympics. While they themselves did not get to see their dreams in the late ‘60s, their efforts to build a world-class ski resort ultimately turned that dream to reality. In 2003, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) granted Whistler Canada the honor of hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics. Now, Vancouver, Squamish, and Whistler will welcome athletes, families, and supporters from across the globe for the 2010 Winter Games.

Located in the Coast Mountains in British Columbia, Canada, Whistler is inhabited by 10,000 residents year round and accommodates 40,000 visitors on weekends. Whistler Blackcomb gets an average 33.5 feet of snow (10.22 meters) per year and its highest accessible lift elevation is approximately 7,500 feet (2,280 meters). Skiable terrain totals 8,171 acres (3,307 hectares). Whistler ski season runs from late November through early June. Whistler accommodations are available for any need: hotel, condo, townhome, vacation rental, and luxury accommodations. Whistler BC Canada will host the Whistler 2010 Olympic Games and welcome tens of thousands of winter sport athletes, teams, families, supporters, and coaches from across the globe.