The Local’s List: May 2022

Updated May 6, 2022 to reflect the change of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park opening from May 13 to May 19.

May in Whistler is a time of transition. The last day for skiing, riding and sightseeing on Blackcomb Mountain is May 23, but at the same time, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park opens on May 19, which means there are a few days this month you can get both sports into one day. It’s also a great time to dine, with many restaurants featuring specials until the end of the month.

The greens of the golf courses are ready to go this month too and avid cross-country bikers will be checking Trailforks to see if their favourite routes are out of the snow. The Whistler Farmers’ Market starts up for the summer and we welcome the Whistler Children’s Festival to May as it takes over the last two weekends of this month. Spring in Whistler is evidently a great time to visit the mountains.

Some good things to note when visiting at this time of year is that the Whistler Gondola and PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola are closed, check our Hours of Operation page for more information. It’s also good to know that Whistler’s parks can be a little waterlogged from the snowmelt, so tread carefully if you’re visiting them. Heads up, it’s also Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8 and if you’re thinking of a treat for mom, take a look at some of our spa options, contemplate brunch at the Four Seasons or pick up a beautiful bunch of flowers at Senka Florist.

Outdoor Adventure

You’ll find us:

• Skiing and riding on Blackcomb Mountain until May 23. It’s good to know that Glacier Express and Crystal Ridge Express are now closed for the season, however, they may open on weekends depending on volume and conditions. Check Whistler Blackcomb’s Instagram stories and @WBMtnOps on Twitter on weekends for updates.
• In the Whistler Bike Park when it opens on Thursday, May 19.
• Going from mild to wild on an Aerial Obstacle Course set 60 feet up in the tree canopy. Great for adventurous families and groups of friends who are eager to egg each other on!
• Splashing through muddy, springtime puddles on an ATV or off-road buggy. Read about what this is like in A Whistler Off-Road Adventure.
• At the library on May 20 for AdevntureSmart BC’s talk on Safety in the Outdoors, brought to you by the Whistler Welcome Centre.

Adventure Lite

You’ll find us:

• Grabbing our golf clubs and hitting the greens. Big Sky opened on April 29, Whistler Golf Course is due to open on Thursday, May 12, with the Fairmont and Nicklaus North on Friday, May 13.
• Renting an e-bike in Whistler Village and using the new, self-guided Go Whistler Tours App to explore the Valley Trail down to Function Junction and back.
• Taking a Whistler Sound Bath with Treeline Aerial. Experience deep relaxation as you listen to gongs, singing bowls and steel tongue drums at this 90-minute session.

More ways to get outside.

Family Fun

You’ll find us:

• Laughing, dancing and all-out having a great time at the Whistler Children’s Festival, which has taken over the last two weekends of May. Take a read of our blog post for what’s on over each weekend and with help planning, Insider Guide: Whistler Children’s Festival.
• Wishing for rain so we can see the beauty of wildflowers appear, as if by magic, along the Village Stroll leading to the concrete pavilion at Whistler Olympic Plaza. Working with a local graphic designer, Ruth Barrow the Resort Municipality of Whistler will be using rain-activated paint (non-toxic, environmentally safe and biodegradable) to showcase Whistler’s native flowers including lupines, Indian paintbrush and mountain arnica, culminating with a full alpine meadow display at the plaza. The “Spring Showers, Whistler Flowers” activation will start in the middle of May and last for a couple of months.
• Seeing if we can spot our furry friends who are out and about after their long, winter nap. The safest way to do this, for both you and the bears, is to go on a bear viewing tour. Not only do the guides know the best spots, but they can also answer all your kid’s questions too!
• If you’ve got kids aged 7 to 13, take a look at the Superfly Aerial Obstacle Course – Kids Course, which challenges them to tackle suspension bridges, climbing walls and fisherman’s nets.

 

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More family-friendly activities.

Arts & Culture

You’ll find us:

• Witnessing the carving of the Community Reconciliation Canoe at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC). Master Carver Chief Ray Natraoro (Ses Siyam) of the Squamish Nation, will lead SLCC Cultural Ambassadors Brandon Hall of Squamish Nation and Q̓áwam̓ Redmond Andrews of Lil’wat Nation as they work as apprentices carving the canoe at the entrance to SLCC’s Great Hall this spring and summer.
• Listening to the sounds of Mozart and Beethoven at the Dulu Piano Quintet presented by Whistler Chamber Music Society event at the Maury Young Arts Centre on May 15.
• At the Wolves: The Art of Dempsey Bob exhibit at the Audain Art Museum. This is the first-ever retrospective exhibition of this noted BC artist’s work drawn from public and private collections across Canada. His artwork is rooted in the visual and oral traditions of his Tahltan and Tlingit ancestors and includes masks, helmets, spoons, rattles, panels and wall sculptures alongside a variety of other media such as bronze casting, gold smithing, print making and robe design.

More arts and culture activities.

Eating, Drinking & Shopping

You’ll find us:

• Checking out the spring dining specials page, as a lot of Whistler’s restaurants decide to offer some deals at this time of year – have a look to see if your favourite place is on there or try something new!
• Buying fresh fruit and vegetables (and maybe a sweet treat or two) at the Whistler Farmers’ Market, which happens every Sunday starting May 22 along the Upper Village Stroll.
• At Fairmont Fridays, which start May 6 at the Mallard Lounge from 5 to 7 PM with live music and specials on drinks and appetizer plates. Also good to know, Portobello is now offering All Day Waffles from 7 AM to 4 PM daily – yum!
• Digging into some fries and cheese curds from the Not Your Regular Poutine menu at the Braidwood Tavern, located at the Four Seasons. The scrumptiously OTT options include crispy cod, duck leg, reef ragu and hot fried chicken!
• Sipping on a Death Before Download beer at Coast Mountain Brewing. This Hazy IPA is only available on draught, so you can bring your growler (or purchase one), or opt to sit on their patio and sup a pint in the spring sun!
• Chomping on a to-go charcuterie box and a stacked Rueben sandwich from The Deli by Picnic. Local, Amy Mac started this made-to-order, online charcuterie business a few years ago, which quickly blossomed into a booming business leading her to open this location on Main Street, among some of Whistler’s top eateries.

 

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More on Village shopping, dining and arts and culture.

Travel Updates

• Face coverings are no longer required for indoor public settings in BC
• Proof of vaccination is no longer required to access non-essential events, services and businesses. Learn more about British Columbia’s province-wide restrictions.
• Fully vaccinated US and international travellers are welcome to visit Canada. Fully vaccinated travellers will no longer need to provide a pre-entry COVID-19 test result to enter Canada by air, land or water. Visit the Government of Canada’s website for full details on Canada’s entry requirements.
• Know Before You Go – visit Whistler.com/covid for the latest COVID-19 information and resources for travellers.

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.
• Always check DriveBC for current road conditions before getting on the road. Follow @DriveBC on Twitter and listen to MountainFM for the latest updates.
• There is free parking in Day Lots 4 and 5 from April 16 to June 14, and it’s complimentary parking in Day Lots 1, 2 and 3 from 5 PM to 8 AM until October 31.