Guest Blogger: Julia Murray
I grew up here so I am probably biased but I think Whistler is the best place to spend Christmas because there is a feeling of being separated from the rest of the world and our little valley harnesses a really festive buzz. It’s like we are all inside a holiday snow globe with family, friends, snow and lots of parties (including my birthday!).
For me, Christmas always meant searching for the perfect Christmas tree, wearing a Santa hat to bed with my PJs, huge snowforts in the backyard (monster slide included), lake skating, mach-speed shredding on the mountain and waking up at 6 AM to discover Santa had not only eaten all my shortbread cookies but also left sooty footprints on the living room floor and presents!
My favourite Christmas ever was probably Christmas 1998. We got so much snow, I remember staring past the Christmas tree out to the balcony and the snow was piled up past the railings. I guess every Christmas in Whistler is a favourite though because everyone takes more time than usual to be with family and friends and appreciate each other. Maybe it’s the Baileys and coffee…?
Enough reminiscing though, here are my Whistler Christmas Top Five Best Things To Do:
- Stroll: Get a hot beverage and just walk around enjoying the Christmas lights strung throughout Whistler Village. It’s so peaceful and pretty, but then you can always start a snowball fight to really get things going.
- Ice Skating: Some years we are lucky enough to have 5 frozen lakes in the Valley to get out and carve some pirouettes or take slap shots on. And now we have the free rink at Whistler Olympic Plaza so everyone can have a fun outdoor skating experience under the stars with someone they love.
- Partying: This time of year it’s okay to wear as much red as you want and, of course, rock the ugly Christmas sweaters. There is something worth attending every single night if you are up for it so either pick and choose or just write the whole two weeks off as a time to shine with rum, eggnog, dancing shoes and sequins.
- Skiing: Don’t spend too long opening presents because December 25 is the day to ski if you want an uncrowded mountain. Seems like it almost always snows on Christmas and this is your last chance to wear that Santa attire on the hill.
- Eat, Eat, Eat: Plum pudding, turkey and chocolate, oh my! Incredible food is too difficult to avoid in Whistler this time of year. Try a new restaurant out or go indulge in Purebread’s croissants while humming the Charlie Brown Christmas albumn. Humming counts as exercise right?
Most importantly, have fun and spread the love. Merry Whist-mas! Julia Murray
