Long Way to the Bottom

Apres Ski

In the old days after skiing we'd strip off our ski gear, grab a towel, and gingerly walk into the Hugh Heffner-ish pool on the first floor of the Chateau Whistler. As I told my son, "Don't worry, nobody questions a naked man holding a towel. Follow me." But compared to modern options, that was slumming.

Apres Ski

In the old days after skiing we'd strip off our ski gear, grab a towel, and gingerly walk into the Hugh Heffner-ish pool on the first floor of the Chateau Whistler. As I told my son, "Don't worry, nobody questions a naked man holding a towel. Follow me." But compared to modern options, that was slumming.

The new aquatic center down the road, the Meadow Park Sports Center, proves what an enlightened community this is. Bursting with all the above charms, it has several large, steamy pools, including a serious lap pool. Several hot tubs and saunas. Racquet ball courts. Aerobic studios. And because this is Canada, a full fledged hockey rink. (These people to the north are geniuses—they don't put their young hooligans in jail. They put them on ice.) The center has an entry fee of around two dollars, but their hot showers feel like a million bucks.

There's also Mountain World for the kids, with a climbing wall, simulators for hang gliding, flying, and more, all in the village.

Off-season

Mountain Biking

Come spring, summer, and fall, they're as ubiquitous as skis. You can ride around and up the mountains. You can put them on the lifts and tour or race down. That can be breathtaking or bone-busting if you aren't skilled and prudent. But like skiing, there are runs for all abilities.

Hiking

Remember, you are in the midst of the still unspoiled Coast Mountains of British Columbia. The air is evergreen; there's fish in the waters and breathtaking vistas from the crags above. It couldn't be more romantic. But there is one more thing that makes a wonderful difference. Until you climb a thousand feet up, sweating like you were in a 180 degree sauna, you forget how much effort it takes. Here you can ride the chairlifts and gondolas up, then walk across the mountain and down. The last time our family did this, there were no complaints to dad.

We slid down snowfields (be careful and make sure you can stop before the rocks) and hiked along bubbling cascades. There were several bears, and endless wildflowers. This is not pristine wilderness, but it's close enough.

Try hiking the Musical Bumps. Ride up to the top of Whistler and traverse Oboe, Flute, and Piccolo peaks to Singing Pass, the trail to Wedgemount Lake, or Rainbow Lake.

For an even more pristine experience enter the pure wilderness of Garibaldi Park—all 195,000 hectares of it—with roads only to the park's boundaries.

Water

There's sailing, swimming, & windsurfing on the five lakes—Wayside, Rainbow, Alpha, Lost, and Green, as well as rafting, kayaking on the rivers, and fishing.

Even More Fun

Opportunities abound for mountain climbing, parasailing, gliding, heli-hiking, heli-skiing, and horseback riding. For more on heli-skiing in the area, see "Whistler: Heli-skiing Paradise."