The Local’s List: July 2022

July starts with Canada Day Long Weekend (July 1 – 3) and that’s the kick-off to the Whistler Summer Concert Series with the rock and roll sounds of the Montreal-based, Sam Roberts Band (read more on the series below). This month is when we fixate on peaks, picnics, parks and patios! The alpine hiking and biking trails are clearing and just about every outdoor activity from glacier glissading to whitewater rafting is open for booking. We also celebrate our local producers and artisans at the weekly Whistler Farmers’ Market, events like the alta + Audain Fine Dining Experience, Salmon Bakes via ATV and the Mountain Top Summer Feasts begin.

This great Insta shot is of Lost Lake, a great park to visit while you’re here and easy to get to right from Whistler Village. We even made a video about it in our blog, How To Explore Lost Lake Park. During the summer, there are free shuttles running from 11 AM to 6 PM daily from the Gondola Transit Exchange.

Summer is the time to remember that wildfires are a very real risk to Whistler when the weather gets hot and dry. Whistler’s fire danger rating gets updated daily by the BC Wildfire Service and when it reaches High or Extreme open fires of any kind are banned. That means no campfires, no tiki torches, no fireworks, etc. If you see a fire call 911.

Outdoor Adventure

You’ll find us:

• Getting our downhill on at the Phat Wednesdays (Fridays for the kiddos) and Women’s Nights (Mondays and Wednesdays) in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. If you’re looking to capture your time in the park with a banger photo check out Coast Mountain Photography which offers on-trail shots in the park with pro lighting, even if you’re not a pro.
• Watching the snow line, checking our gear and our adventure list as we get ready for some summer hikes – take a read of our Summer Hiking Guide for some inspiration. The snow has stuck around a bit longer this season, so make sure you check what’s open before you go!
• Cheering on the kayakers taking part in the Callaghan Creek Race on July 1 and 2, as they tackle Class IV/V rapids and plunge over two waterfalls!
• Hurtling down the Olympic bobsleigh track at the Whistler Sliding Centre – no experience required, they provide the pilot. The Summer Bobsleigh experience opens to the public this month and youth go free with a paying adult. If getting some g-force on the course isn’t your thing, you can sightsee for free. For more adrenaline-pumping adventures and challenges take a read of All Thriller, No Filler.

Adventure Lite

You’ll find us:

• Gliding down the River of Golden Dreams on a guided canoe tour to get the benefits of a knowledgeable, local pointing out the local flora and fauna, beaver dams, bear dens and osprey nests, along with their tips on where you should go for dinner!
• Waiting until the sun dips down and then heading into the forest for a multi-media show. Vallea Lumina is a great after-dinner activity that adds a bit of mountain magic to the evening. Read more about it in our dedicated blog.
• Tagging along on the monthly bird walk with the Whistler Naturalist Society on July 2, or heading out with the Whistler Museum to learn how Whistler came to be, well, Whistler. These historical walking tours happen daily in July and August, leaving at 11 AM from the Visitor’s Centre in Whistler Village.
• Exploring the Valley Tail via bike. Download the free Go Whistler Tours app and take a look at the self-guided Spring & Summer Half-Day Bike Tour. It takes you down to Creekside and around Alta Lake, hitting lakes, parks and great mountain viewpoints.

More ways to get outside.

Family Fun

You’ll find us:

• Enjoying the silence as the kids gaze, open-mouthed out of the windows of the record-breaking PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola (kids six and under are free). Take a read of these two blog posts for more Whistler family adventure ideas, 8 Ideas for Kid-Friendly, Summer Fun in Whistler and 5 Young Family Adventures in Whistler.
• Dropping off the kids at the Whistler Bike Park, which offers daily biking lessons for kids (5 to 12 years) and teens (13 to 18 years). If your kids are after more of a mix of sports check out the multi-sport camps happening at the Whistler Athletes Centre on July 4 to 8 and 18 to 22 (for ages 6 to 12). The activities include biathlon, roller luge, rookie rugby, BMX, pickle ball, soccer, track & field, disc golf, and adaptive sports such as wheelchair basketball. If your kids are more arts-inclined, local actor and musician, Ira Pettle, is running a Kids Improv Acting Camp from July 4 to 8 (ages 8-10) and July 25 to 29 (ages 1o+). Or you could combine both at Whistler Sports Legacies Arts & Multi-Sport Camps on July 11 to 15 and 25 to 29 (ages 6 to 12).
• Grabbing something sweet and sticky to celebrate a summer’s day in the mountains. Take a read of our Guide to Whistler Ice Cream for some places to grab your scoops!

More family-friendly activities.

Arts & Culture

You’ll find us:

• Grabbing some take-out and our picnic blanket for the Whistler Summer Concert Series. Take a look at the full lineup complete with YouTube links in our blog.
• Learning about ancient, Indigenous medicine at the new exhibit at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. It’s free to visit on July 1, 2 and 3, but we think a visit that it’s a priceless experience at any time of the year.
• Buying gifts alongside fuit and veg at the Whistler Farmers’ Market, which is held in the Upper Village every Sunday from 11 AM – 4 PM until October 9.
• At the Esperanto Film Premiere at the Maury Young Arts Centre on July 23 and 24. This new film by Teton Gravity mixes established rock stars of the biking world with new, up-and-coming riders. “Esperanto explores how we share our dreams through a universal, two-wheeled language no matter what our native tongue may be”.

Eating, Drinking & Shopping

You’ll find us:

• Taking in BC art, food and wine at the alta + Audain Fine Dining Art Experience, which happens every Friday in July and August, finishing on September 8.
• Getting on a private bus and taking a ride south to Function Junction with Whistler Valley Tours to Whistler’s Montis Distilling. The experience includes transport there and back, a tour and tasting, which includes a small selection of cheese and charcuterie. There’s also a coupon to continue the libations back in Whistler Village at The Raven Room. We took one for the team and visited last summer, check out that blog.
• Getting a healthy, fresh smoothie, salad or bowl from the locally-owned Naked Sprout, which has a cute, little patio overlooking Village Common.
• Imbibing in some summer sippers on a sunny patio. Take a look at our extensive list in The Insider’s Guide to Cocktails in Whistler. Talking of cocktails, the Four Seasons start their Braidwood Summer Sunsets this month on Fridays and Saturdays (with a Mexican margarita twist), and their Four Seasons BBQs on Thursdays with local craft brewers and musicians. At the Fairmont, it’s time to get the croquet mallets out at their Friday Garden Party happening weekly at The Mallard Lounge.
• Heading into the alpine for a mountain feast! Happening on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, our advice is to enjoy sightseeing and hiking on Whistler Blackcomb before earning your feast reward at the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain.

You’ll find us: