WHISTLER, B.C.:: Many, many thanks to Howard and Linda for inviting us to stay a few nights in their very nice Whistler condo! We had an awesome weekend! Our first experience of Whistler was both an exciting holiday getaway and a relaxing break from school.
The drive to Whistler from Seattle was only five hours, and is quite scenic through Vancouver and along the Sea-to-Sky highway. After checking-in and unloading our luggage, we hit the Village to rent some skis and find some food. There are hundreds of shops, restaurants, theaters, clubs, and luxury hotels surrounding a pedestrian-only zone of wide paths and open squares. All of the architecture is styled to resemble alpine lodges or Swiss chateaus. The heavy accents spoken by the locals and tourists helps create a convincing illusion of being in a European town. That is, until you see “The Keg” emblazoned in neon through a faux-mullioned window. We walked into the restaurant with our ski boots slung over our shoulders, and I enjoyed a marvelous, soft-as-butter filet mignon steak. Mmm… We needed plenty of energy for our big day of skiing tomorrow!
Before we planned this trip, Kristie admitted she really didn’t like skiing. However, because I had never tried it, she very graciously agreed to try to teach me. We woke up early to be one of the first on the Whistler Gondola. We started on the bunny slope near the Olympic chair where Kristie quickly taught me the snowplow and how to turn. It seemed easy enough and I felt I was ready for the slopes.
Not quite! For about four hours we attempted several green runs. Some were way too steep, in my opinion, and others were nearly perfect, allowing me to glide and stay standing for more than thirty seconds. There were times when I actually enjoyed myself, but I think ultimately, my frustration outweighed my joy. I concluded the high risk of this sport just wasn’t worth the potential fun. Fortunately, Kristie was very patient with me, but the look on her face was, “I told you so!”
When I wasn’t panicking or laying twisted in a snow bank, I was able to enjoy the breathtakingly beautiful scenery around me. If you love skiing, this is the place to be, although fortunately there are many other reasons to return. The gondola climbs nearly 5,000 feet, up through the clouds to the Roundhouse Lodge with views of neighboring Blackcomb and other peaks. Black bears and other wildlife supposedly take over the place when it’s warmer. In fact, the mountain is named for the whistling marmots that live here. This would be a great place to hike during the summer, and the woods and lakes around the Village offer miles of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing for another winter.
The drive to Whistler from Seattle was only five hours, and is quite scenic through Vancouver and along the Sea-to-Sky highway. After checking-in and unloading our luggage, we hit the Village to rent some skis and find some food. There are hundreds of shops, restaurants, theaters, clubs, and luxury hotels surrounding a pedestrian-only zone of wide paths and open squares. All of the architecture is styled to resemble alpine lodges or Swiss chateaus. The heavy accents spoken by the locals and tourists helps create a convincing illusion of being in a European town. That is, until you see “The Keg” emblazoned in neon through a faux-mullioned window. We walked into the restaurant with our ski boots slung over our shoulders, and I enjoyed a marvelous, soft-as-butter filet mignon steak. Mmm… We needed plenty of energy for our big day of skiing tomorrow!
Before we planned this trip, Kristie admitted she really didn’t like skiing. However, because I had never tried it, she very graciously agreed to try to teach me. We woke up early to be one of the first on the Whistler Gondola. We started on the bunny slope near the Olympic chair where Kristie quickly taught me the snowplow and how to turn. It seemed easy enough and I felt I was ready for the slopes.
Not quite! For about four hours we attempted several green runs. Some were way too steep, in my opinion, and others were nearly perfect, allowing me to glide and stay standing for more than thirty seconds. There were times when I actually enjoyed myself, but I think ultimately, my frustration outweighed my joy. I concluded the high risk of this sport just wasn’t worth the potential fun. Fortunately, Kristie was very patient with me, but the look on her face was, “I told you so!”
When I wasn’t panicking or laying twisted in a snow bank, I was able to enjoy the breathtakingly beautiful scenery around me. If you love skiing, this is the place to be, although fortunately there are many other reasons to return. The gondola climbs nearly 5,000 feet, up through the clouds to the Roundhouse Lodge with views of neighboring Blackcomb and other peaks. Black bears and other wildlife supposedly take over the place when it’s warmer. In fact, the mountain is named for the whistling marmots that live here. This would be a great place to hike during the summer, and the woods and lakes around the Village offer miles of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing for another winter.
