What sets your travel preferences apart is the desire for experience and variety. Whether you appreciate trail tips, a recommendation for the best coffee and croissant, or an invitation from a local to an evening of music, you want the inside track to life in the mountains, even if your visit lasts only a few days.
I had my first taste of mountain life and the variety Whistler offers when I moved here after university. With a specialization in tourism marketing, it was my job to know what was up and to share stories about the resort. Now, four decades later, and with a lot of life’s chapters behind me, the same passions that brought me to Whistler — connection to nature and community — are what keep me here.
What are the best things to do in Whistler for seniors?
It depends on how active you want to be. This list includes a mix of low-impact outdoor activities, sightseeing, arts and culture, festivals and guided experiences, with options that don’t require skiing, mountain biking or strenuous hiking. There are plenty of things to do in Whistler for seniors who want to experience the mountains at their own pace. Here’s your guide to curating your Whistler mountain experience.
A Note on Getting Around Whistler and Accessibility
Many senior-friendly activities in Whistler are easy to reach without a car. Whistler Village is pedestrian-friendly, with places to sit and take in the view as you wander the main Village Stroll. I often suggest not bringing a vehicle to Whistler; you can get around on foot, bike, transit and taxi, and avoid the parking fees. However, if you are travelling with someone in a wheelchair, it’s good to take a read of the blog, Whistler by Wheelchair, as there might be specific factors for you to consider to plan for your trip to Whistler.
1. Experience Senior-Friendly Festivals and Events in Whistler
Whistler is about much more than mountain sports and outdoor play. Throughout the year, the resort hosts festivals and events that celebrate arts and culture by gathering like-minded folks together. With seating, indoor venues and events concentrated in Whistler Village, arts and culture are an easy addition to a lower-key day.
Two of my favourite festivals during fall include Whistler Writers Festival and Whistler Film Festival. Both events have outstanding reputations for the quality of programming, the uniqueness of the mountain setting, and the chance to be up close and personal with authors, filmmakers, and other attendees who appreciate the art of storytelling.
2. Enjoy Live Music, Theatre and Outdoor Entertainment
Whistler’s arts and culture calendar offers a range of entertainment events throughout the year. Arts Whistler hosts concerts from chamber and classical to jazz and pop at the Maury Young Arts Centre. They also host and advertise arts-based workshops throughout the year, which are a great place for making connections.
Two summer entertainment highlights include Art on the Lake, an outdoor celebration of art at Lost Lake, and Flag Stop Festival with live original theatre, music and comedy at village locations and at The Point Artist Run Centre, located on the shores of Alta Lake.
A summer highlight not to be missed is the free, outdoor Summer Concert Series and movie nights in the Village at Olympic Plaza, where the sunset and alpenglow backdrop transform The Great Lawn into one of the most memorable entertainment venues anywhere on earth.
3. Take a Guided Wildlife or Sightseeing Tour
For a day that fuels your curiosity and your camera, start early. Local nature guides offer wildlife viewing tours where the highlight could include Whistler’s resident black bears. The guides can pick you up and drop you back at your accommodation, which makes this an easy outing with someone else doing the driving.
Guided tours of the valley (driving or walking options are available) introduce you to life beyond Whistler Village, encompassing the valley from Green Lake to Function Junction. Specialized tours include stops at one of Whistler’s local breweries or the distillery, where partaking of the local libations is most definitely on the agenda.
4. Explore Whistler’s Museums and Art Galleries
Be in the know at one of Whistler’s museums. Discover unique mountain culture and the history of resort development and the Olympics at the Whistler Museum, where the collection includes archives, photographs and over 5,000 artifacts. June through September, the museum hosts the Valley of Dreams Walking Tour, which is a great way to explore Whistler Village.
At the Audain Art Museum, the permanent collection features over 300 works showcasing the artistic heritage of British Columbia, including carving, painting, and photography. The Audain also hosts workshops and talks that feature topics from photography to cocktail making, another place to potentially connect with other art lovers. The gift shop also offers unique pieces that reflect the collection.
Whistler has some lovely art galleries to explore, which you can learn more about in the blog, Insider Guide to Whistler’s Art Galleries. If you’re visiting in October, join a Whistler Wine Walk, where you get a glass of British Columbian wine at each location, ending at the Audain Art Museum.
5. Experience Indigenous Culture at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre
Connect with Whistler’s Indigenous cultural partners at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC). Accessible from the Village on foot along the Cultural Connector Trail, the Centre is an integration of gallery, museum and gathering place. It is dedicated to sharing the living cultures, traditions and artwork of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish Nation) and Líl̓wat7úl (Lil’wat Nation).
Tours at the Centre are offered by Indigenous Cultural Ambassadors who share stories across time, showcasing values, languages and current cultural practices alongside ancestral knowledge. Allow time to enjoy all the exhibits, including the gift shop, and I would recommend their café, where the Indigenous-inspired menu features tasty bannock tacos and salmon chowder.
6. Ride the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola
Whether you visit Whistler in winter or summer, go up, way up. Sightseeing on the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola delivers the alpine experience without requiring a strenuous hike (unless you feel like one).
Accessed from either Blackcomb Mountain or Whistler Mountain, the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola is a “must-experience,” as the world’s longest unsupported span for a lift of its kind, offering a bird’s-eye view over the Fitzsimmons Valley.
Summer visitors can venture even higher to the Peak of Whistler Mountain via a short (but steep) walk to the Peak Chairlift. Once at the Peak, summon your courage to traverse Cloudraker Skybridge and Raven’s Eye Cliff Walk.
If flightseeing is on your bucket list, the resort offers tours of the Whistler Valley and the surrounding mountains via helicopter or floatplane.
7. Explore Whistler’s Valley Trail on Foot, Bike or Mobility Scooter
Whistler is made for wheels, whether you’re using a mobility scooter, a wheelchair or adventuring on an e-bike. One of the gems of Whistler is the Valley Trail, a car-free, paved trail network that connects Whistler Village with the valley’s neighbourhoods, lakes, and waypoints.
Whistler Village bike shops offer fleets of rental bikes including e-bikes. Choose between a short loop of the Valley Trail that circumnavigates the Whistler Golf Course or work your legs and lungs and ride from the Village to Creekside and back.
Whether your ideal mountain adventure means spending the day outdoors or blending gentle activity with history, arts and culture, there are plenty of things to do in Whistler for seniors across a range of interests and activity levels. A great resource to use is the Whistler Mature Action Committee website for events and ways of making connections while you’re here.
And my tip for the best coffee and croissant in Whistler? I love Fix Cafe in Creekside and Mount Currie Coffee Co. when I’m in Whistler Village. Enjoy!
