The Resort Town of Whistler Village

by Amanda Pataky
Whistler Village in Autumn

Famous for its two ski mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb, Whistler Village is a year-round destination featuring great activities for folk of all ages.

 

Whistler Village

Whistler Village is the area located at the base of the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. The place features a large selection of shops, restaurants, bars and hotels, as well as other things to see and do. Whistler Village is pedestrian-friendly, with a multitude of paved trails and the pedestrian-only Village Stroll.

Along with the City of Vancouver, the resort town of Whistler was also the host of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Folk can still see remnants of this time including the Olympic Rings located in the Village North and the Whistler Olympic Plaza located in the Upper Village.

 

Parts of Town

The main village of Whistler is split up into three areas. These include the Village Centre, Village North and Upper Village. All three connect with each other by paved walking trails, roads, paths and public transit. All three areas are also easy to navigate on foot, by bike or by car.

 

Village Centre

The Village Centre area is connected by gondolas to both Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain. Arguably the busiest area within Whistler Village, the Village Centre features a variety of shopping, dining and entertainment options.

This area is home to a variety of hotels and restaurants, plus the iconic Whistler Inukshuk.

 

Village North

The only one of the three parts of town not directly connected to a gondola, the Village North area is separated from the Village Centre area by Village Gate Boulevard. However, it is also connected to the Village Centre by way of the pedestrian-only Village Stroll walking path.

Places of interest in the Village North area include the Olympic Plaza, Audain Art Museum and Whistler Museum.

 

Upper Village

One of the quieter areas in Whistler Village, the Upper Village area is located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain just east of the Village Centre and Village North areas.

The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre can be found in the Upper Village, as well as the Family Adventure Zone in the summer. Just east of the Upper Village is Lost Lake, a beautiful lake with a beach area and a multitude of walking and cycling trails.

 

Mountain Biking at Whistler Village

Whistler Village’s Mountain Biking Base

 

Things To Do in Whistler

Whistler Village has something for everyone from arts and cultural activities, to shopping, spas, wellness and dining options.

 

Sporting Activities

Whistler is world-famous for its outdoor recreation opportunities. Most famous of all is the Skiing and Snowboarding, of course, but not far behind is the mountain biking. The region is also well known for its hiking trails. There are also golfing, boating, zipling and other fun activities to do too.

 

Arts and Culture in Whistler

If you are looking for a cultural or educational experience, Whistler has options for that as well. The Audain Art Museum at 4350 Blackcomb Way in the Village North area features a wide range of work including pieces by world-famous BC artist Emily Carr and a number of Indigenous artists.

Also worth checking out is the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre at 4584 Blackcomb Way in the Upper Village area. It’s a cool place that celebrates the culture of Indigenous peoples in the Whistler area. The centre has a First Nations longhouse, an art gallery, a theatre and a museum.

Another interesting option is the Whistler Museum at 4333 Main Street in the Village North Area. The Whistler Museum is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to preserving the history of Whistler, including exhibits of the 2010 Winter Games. Whereas you have to pay to get into the other two places mentioned above, admission to this third venue is by donation.

 

Shopping

There are many excellent shops located around the Village. Many are located along the main Village Stroll, which is a pedestrian area only. This makes getting around easy if you’re on foot! Stores have everything from clothes to jewelry to outdoor sports equipment.

 

Spas and Wellness

There are many options to pamper yourself in Whistler. Many of the resort town’s hotels offer spas with a variety of treatments. Popular options include the Whistler Day Spa at the Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre and the Vida Spa at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.

For something close by, but not quite in the Village centre, check out the Scandinave Spa. It’s about a 5-minute drive north of the Village and is well worth the short drive!

 

Dining

Whistler Village has a variety of places to eat and drink. For good eats check out our page about Whistler Restaurants and for places to grab a drink check out our page on Whistler Bars and Clubs.

 

Where to Stay

There’s a variety of hotels and places to stay located within the town of Whistler and the surrounding areas. Prices can become quite reasonable in the off season. For more information, click Whistler Places to Stay.

 

Whistler Special Events

A number of special events take place within Whistler Village throughout the year. Below is a selection of a few seasonal events hosted in the Village throughout the year:

 

Other Information

For more information about Whistler Village, visit the Tourism Whistler website.

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