The Beijing Olympic Winter Games kick off this month, from February 4 to 20. Canada’s athletes started to arrive in Beijing a week before, including Whistler’s Broderick Thompson (Alpine Skier), Sofiane Gagnon (Freestyle Skiing), Simon d’Artois (Halfpipe), Natalie Corless (Luge Singles,) Reid Watts (Luge Singles), and Marielle Thompson (Ski Cross). You’ll be able to catch some of the action and cheer on all the athletes at Whistler Olympic Plaza from 9 AM – 4 PM.
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Whistler played host to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and you can take a self-guided tour around some of the legacies by downloading the free, Go Whistler Tours app. You can even slide like an Olympian at the Whistler Sliding Centre, with the public Bobsleigh and Skeleton Experiences. The spirit of the Olympics lives on in Whistler!
Outdoor Adventure
You’ll find us:
- Having some fun challenging our friends and family in the Kokanee Valley Race Series, happening February 10 and 17.
- Boosting our confidence and riding skills with some of Whistler Blackcomb’s top, female coaches at the 2-day North Face Women’s Ski Camp and Women’s Showcase Snowboard Camp, happening February 12 and 13, and February 26 and 27.
- Training for and racing in the Coast Outdoors Payak Cross-Country Ski Loppet on February 26, out at Whistler Olympic Park.
- Heading to the Whistler Sliding Centre to get a taste for some Olympic sliding spots, part of their Discover Program on February 20 for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton.
- Brushing up on our mountain safety and backcountry skills through online sessions with BC AdventureSmart, guided tours and on-mountain training and courses. Read more in AdventureSmart Winter.
Adventure Lite
You’ll find us:
- Dropping a line and hoping to catch some trout when we go ice fishing. Insider, Kilee LeBlanc talks us through what happens on a half-day, guided ice fishing tour in How to Ice Fish in Whistler.
- Jumping on a sightseeing tour with Whistler Valley Tours, who go to Whistler’s distillery on one of their tours, which is located in the funky, Function Junction. Read more about it in Whistler Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience.
- Working our way through these late afternoon and evening activity suggestions in 7 Things to Do in Whistler in the Evening by Insider, Kate Heskett.
More ways to get outside.
Family Fun
You’ll find us:
- Having fun with the fam jam, especially on February 21, which is Family Day in BC. If you’re looking for inspiration and some great deals (like 50% off activities) take a look at our Family Day page.
- Sledding and ice skating at Whistler Olympic Plaza, and warming up with a hot chocolate and sweet treat from the surrounding coffee shops.
- Sliding down icy lanes on a rubber donut at the bubly Tube Park, open daily, which makes it a great après-ski activity for the whole family.
More family-friendly activities.
Arts & Culture
You’ll find us:
- Giggling at the opening show of the new Laugh Out Live comedy series, happening on February 3, 10, 17 and 24.
- At the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre on February 15 (closed from Jan 31 to Feb 14) for their new Our Living Language exhibition, and taking a look at the different craft workshops they’re running throughout the month, which include making dream catchers and drums. They also have specific programming for Family Day (children 18 and under are free with a paying adult).
- In awe, as we check out the glow-in-the-dark creations of local artist, Dave “PEPE” Petko at his solo show at The Gallery, at the Maury Young Arts Centre starting Saturday, on display until March 6. His artwork contains phosphorescent pigment which, when charged with light, glows in the dark; slowly fading and creating an eerie nighttime version of the painting.
- Discovering the world of Jean Paul Riopelle with Riopelle: The Call of Northern Landscapes and Indigenous Cultures, on display at the Audain Art Museum until February 21, 2022. If you can’t make it in person, catch their virtual TNT events, which happen every Tuesday evening featuring artists you will find in the museum.
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More arts and culture activities.
Eating, Drinking & Shopping
You’ll find us:
- Carb loading at Caramba, which has an extensive array of fresh pasta, including their Linguine Frutti di Mare (fruits of the sea), which comes in a rustic, tomato and garlic sauce, with chilli flakes and herbs.
- Noshing on a vegan brownie and sipping on a latte from Moguls Coffee House, right in the centre of Whistler Village.
- Finding it hard to choose a gin from the extensive craft options available at The Brickworks Public House. We suggest opting for their flight of four gins to get things started!
More on Village shopping, dining and arts and culture.
Don’t Forget . . .
- Please remember that COVID-19 isn’t on vacation, stay home if you have any symptoms, however mild, and get tested if your symptoms are consistent with COVID-19
- Practice physical distancing
- Wear a mask in indoor public settings
- Wash your hands often
If You’re Driving . . .
- Help reduce congestion on the highway by travelling during non-peak times. Peak travel times on the Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler include Friday evenings, Saturday mornings and late afternoons / early evenings, Sunday mornings and late afternoons / evenings, and holidays. To avoid this busy time, plan to visit Whistler midweek when the highway and the resort are typically quieter. Extend your weekend – plan to arrive on Thursday night and leave on Monday morning to avoid the weekend traffic. If you’re visiting Whistler only for the day, plan on staying for dinner to avoid the rush of day skier traffic leaving the resort after the mountain closes.
- The Sea to Sky Highway is always busier on snowy weekends so motorists should be prepared and plan their travel accordingly. Keep in mind precipitation falling as rain in Vancouver and Squamish is often falling as snow in Whistler during the winter months due to its higher elevation.
- Ensure your vehicle has proper snow tires and be prepared for winter driving conditions.
- Always check DriveBC for current road conditions before getting on the road. Follow @DriveBC on Twitter and listen to MountainFM for the latest updates.
- Winter parking regulations are in effect November 1 to March 31. There’s no parking in the Day Lots from 3 AM to 6 AM for snow clearing, and in Whistler neighbourhoods there’s no parking on the even side Monday to Friday 9 AM to 5 PM (excluding holidays), and no parking on the odd side year-round.
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Fall in Whistler means more, like great value on accommodation with rooms from $135 CAD per night, plus a free $100 CAD Dining Voucher when you book a stay of 3-plus nights. Book in confidence with Whistler.com for Flexible Cancellation and a Price Match Guarantee. If you're dreaming of a trip to Whistler, enter our Find Your Altitude contest for a chance to win a six-night vacation with flights, accommodation and activities (including a heli trip) all covered.
