The World's #1 Ski Resort Gets Even Better!

If you’ve never been to Whistler-Blackcomb in British Columbia, you’ve been missing a a lot!  In fact, it’s one of my favorite places in the world for heart stopping scenery, friendly folks, top restaurants and bars, great shopping and non-stop fun.  It’s no mistake that Whistler-Blackcomb has been voted the world’s #1 favorite ski resort for 12 years running.  But winter fun is only half the story, this resort rocks all year round, and is about to get even better!

On December 12th, Whistler-Blackcomb will christen its new ‘Peak 2 Peak’ gondola that traverses the 4 1/2 kilometer distance between the two mountain peaks in just 11 minutes.  This will be a record breaking ride, climbing 1,427 feet and floating over the worlds’ longest free span on the world’s longest continuous lift.  (With a price tag of only $52 million dollars.) Two gondola cars will feature glass bottomed floors for those brave enough to look down.  Let me tell you, these mountains are GIGANTIC.  Standing in the village below, you can’t possibly see their peaks climbing ever upward into the clouds.  I can recall hopping on a lift at the bottom of Blackcomb wearing shorts in 70 degree weather, and riding from lift to lift to gondola, to bus, to gondola, before reaching the top overlooking glacier fields with temps in the 30′s.  Definitely a ‘top of the world’ experience.  Now adventurous spirits (with and without skis) will be able to board the gondola at the base of one mountain, climb to the top, cross over to the adjacent  peak, and glide back on down to the village below – quite a ride! an>

Everything at Whistler-Blackcomb will be gleaming this year as they prepare to host the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.  We hear that all the Olympic venues are already completed and the resort is preparing for a year of celebrations running up to the games.  So just what can you expect from a Whistler-Blackcomb experience – more fun than you ever expected!  Here’s my short list of things to do winter and summer:

1. Ski your brains out on 8,171 skiable acres, 17 bowls, four glaciers and 200 trails!
2. Get Board silly at the Nintendo Terrain Park
3. Go tubing at the lift-assisted Coca Cola tube park
4. Have a tour by snowmobile
5. One of the few places you can go dog sledding
6. Try out a ski jump and land in the lake
7. Up Up and Away with Heli Skiing
8. Take a snowcat to virgin boarding terrain
9. Miles and miles of cross country ski trails
10. Take your mountain bike up the lift and enjoy 200 kilometers of exhilarating mountain biking trails
11. Try the downhill mountain bike snow slalom race – ouch!
12. Go on a Zip-Treking Eco Adventure – talk about an adreneline rush!
13. Tee off one one of the 5 premier golf courses
14. Send the kids off to Adventure Zone featuring Bungee jumping, a luge, wall climbing, trampoline, inline roller blading park and tons more
15. Miles and miles of walking and hiking trails for all abilities
16. White water rafting
17. ATV rentals and tours
18. Horseback riding trails
19. Fly Fishing
20. Tennis, and more and more and more!!!
Check it out for yourself at WhistlerBlackcomb.com.
Start planning a family vacation to this great spot – there’s excitement here for all ages.  The mountains are just a 2 hour drive north of Vancouver (or 4 hours from Seattle) along some of the most dramatic highway scenery you’ll ever encounter.  This spot definitely deserves a top slot on your ‘bucket list’!

Tags: British Columbia, ski

Category: Adventure Vacation Ideas, Canada