We live approximately two hours away from one of the best ski resorts in the world: Whistler, British Columbia.
Unfortunately, we only go there about once a year, for a host of reasons; cost and difficulty in finding time off to get away being the two main ones. If your children are school-aged and busy with extra-curricular activities, finding the time can be the most challenging of all.
This past weekend reminded me of why, despite the challenges, it is so worthwhile to have a short 2-3 day trip away as a family. In this case, it was planning a ski trip to Whistler-Blackcomb from Sunday to Tuesday. The children have been skiing since they were four years old, courtesy of many hours of ski lessons on local north-shore Mount Seymour, so they can keep up with (and even surpass!) the adults, and we can ski as a family.
This is a glorious experience, and no matter what sport or activity you choose, doing it as a family is a special gift. Your children will love and remember the special quality time they had with you, and you will cherish it as well. Especially when you notice all the older teens out there on the hill, skiing with their peers instead of their parents (as if!). The time is now to invest in that family time before the kids give you the brush-off.
As we are B.C. residents, we are eligible for the discount Edge Card (also available to Washington State residents), offering discounted lift access to both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Every little bit of savings helps, especially when buying tickets for a family of four for several days!
We began on Blackcomb Mountain and headed straight for Seventh Heaven, a wide expanse of intermediate (blue) to expert (black) terrain that can keep you busy for hours. Most of the lifts are high-speed quads so your travel time back up the mountain is pretty quick. Our favourite run of the day quickly became "Cloud Nine" - a long and windy blue run.
Despite my misgivings and natural fear of heights, I managed to muster the courage to accompany my family on the new Peak to Peak gondola, connecting Blackcomb and Whistler mountains by way of a 4.4 km long gondola ride. I did not look down though - my courage didn't stretch quite that far. I will marvel at the engineering of it, as it is truly incredible, but let others enjoy the ride next time!
We spent the second day on Whistler mountain, loving the wide expanse of the Harmony and Symphony bowls. We were blessed with sunny, blue skies on both days, allowing for unlimited views of the surrounding mountains and valleys - gorgeous!
Whistler is a true resort village. It seems to offer all things to all people. Skiing? Boarding? Choose your mountain and go for it! Prefer a spa treatment? There are lots to choose from. Whistler offers many child-friendly programs. For those interested in winter sports, the Whistler Kids ski or snowboard lessons and camps are an excellent opportunity for kids to learn while parents can have some hours on the slopes to themselves. Excellent, quality child-minding is also available.
Food offerings range from cheap pizza and pub food, to family-friendly fare and gourmet meals and wines. One of our local favourites is the Wild Wood Bistro, located at the Whistler Raquet Club. This family-friendly restaurant has its own kids menus, with favourite offerings such as pizza and spaghetti and meatballs. The adult offerings are equally tasty, with emphasis on west coast cuisine and flavours. The extra benefit of the Wild Wood Bistro is its location at the Raquet Club. My kids love to wander over to the adjacent indoor tennis courts and watch while waiting for the food to arrive at the table. They keep themselves amused and the staff don't seem to mind.
It was a short but sweet trip, which we'd love to repeat soon again but will likely have to wait another year to enjoy. It'll be worth it.