Valentines Day In Whistler

February 13, 2012 by 16 Comments

Last Year I entered a contest that I found out through (one of my favorite blogs) Natural Mommie. The giveaway was sponsored by Z Chains and all I had to do was comment on a YouTube video and I won! The prize was a two night stay at the Westin in Whistler, Two Ski passes, z chains, and a gift card. It took me a year, but I finally have the time to write about my Valentines Day in Whistler.

 
I’m originally from British Columbia and although I have visited Vancouver many times, I have never been to Whistler. I was beyond excited to go and we booked the trip for Valentine’s Day (killing two birds with one stone). So in the middle of February we loaded up our tuck and began the (over) 10 hour trek.
 
We made it to Lake Louise when we saw the police flagging people, there was avalanche and we were told to either wait it out, or turn around and proceed the other way (which adds another 5 hours to the trip). We opted to wait it out and thank goodness we did. We waited maybe a half hour, and then the roads were cleared and we carried on.
 
Then came avalanche #2. We just made it outside Golden and were stopped in our tracks. This time we had no one to give us information, so we had no idea how long we were going to be in line for. Again, luck was on our side and we only had to wait forty five minutes.  
 
After calling it quits in Cache Creek, we woke up the next morning and continued on and made it to Whistler in one piece. 
Whistler is beautiful! It’s definitely my kind of place. You have amazing restaurants (including the Araxi – the very one that was the prize on Hell’s Kitchen a couple seasons ago), selective shopping, skiing and amazing scenery. Maybe I have been in Alberta too long, because I miss those mountains!
 
The first day we explored Whistler Village, checked out all the shops (spent a little too much money at David’s Tea) and had an awful meal at a little “hippie” shack (I forget what it’s called, but if memory serves me right it had a lot Jamaican themed colors. Either way, it was awful in food and service. I took one bite and they still expected me to pay). We went to Eddie Bauer and bought the hubby a new outfit for our Valentine’s dinner and had a great time.

The next day we made use of our ski passes (how can you go to Whistler and not ski?). I haven’t been on a ski hill since I was 13 and went to Hudson Bay mountain (Smithers is only forty five minutes from my home town), so I was a little apprehensive on how it was going to go. I think this picture sums it up:

 
Yup, it was the easiest route 100% of the time. I’m not the most graceful person out there when it comes to skiing and it took me almost two hours to make it down from where the Peak 2 Peak gondola was. I preferred to just take the chair up 1/4 of the hill, it was comfortable and I was happy, but husband got bored so we had to venture somewhere else.
 
The biggest thing I miss about being up on the mountain is how quiet it is. It’s a great time to reflect on your thoughts and genuinely have a great time. Something I didn’t think of was how tired I would get. Again, when I went on this trip I hadn’t skied in a good nine years and although I was in decent shape I was no where prepared for the beating my legs took. After half a day on Whistler Mountain (we were too tired to attempt Blackcomb) we called it quits and headed back to the Village.
 
For those of you who have never been to Whistler before, it’s a really neat set up. You can literally ski into the village. My hotel is to the left of this photo (you can’t see it), it was basically connected to the first gondola lift and I’m sure if I really wanted to I could have skied right to concierge. 
 
After returning our rentals, we ignored how much our legs and feet were killing us and went for another walk. Another aspect of Whistler that I love? The dress code is practical! Everywhere, everyone was wearing winter jackets, snow pants and boots (even in the restaurants). Not too many people had makeup, it was very low key.
 

For the big Valentine’s dinner we ate at the hotel’s Aubergine Grill. It was the best meal – ever. The best steak I have ever had, it was a fantastic night. There was a Canucks game on in the bar, so after dinner we went to watch it and after two martini’s I was a little dozy (not to mention my feet were killing me in my 6″ nude heels), so I left the hubby there to finish the period while I went up to the room to relax. When he came in, I was fast asleep…at 9pm. (I guess skiing takes a lot out of a girl.)
 
The Olympics were the year before so Whistler had some beautiful Olympic artwork and statues everywhere and the shops were still selling memorabilia. I couldn’t imagine how busy that place must have been.

Overall, I had an amazing trip and I cannot wait to go back. I would definitely take my children. There is a great tubing park that we never got to experience and I figure it would make a fun couple hours with kids. There is so much to do and experience in Whistler, that I couldn’t pack it all in in two days. Yes, it is expensive there (I was shocked with how low our bank statement was at on our last day) but the experience was worth it.
Filed Under: Life

Comments

  1. Beck Valley Books says:
    February 13, 2012 at 5:02 pm

    Wow first of all what an amazing prize and how lucky were you, well done!! Whistler sounds amazing apart from the odd avalanche on the way there :-) I can just imagine the peace you felt on top of the mountains.

    Reply
  2. Kerry C says:
    February 13, 2012 at 8:20 pm

    That sounds and looks amazing! I would love to do something like this! I’m from North Carolina so we do not get a lot of snow and well it’s a known fact that we cannot drive in snow and I’m deathly scared of trying (hah). I do love skiing though. Maybe one day I’ll make it there! :)

    Reply
  3. Kelly says:
    February 13, 2012 at 10:49 pm

    This looks amazing. My husband would do a backflip to go to Whistler. Totally jealous!

    Reply
  4. Jeremy Bates says:
    February 13, 2012 at 5:24 pm

    Happy Hearts Day! :)

    Reply
  5. Mimi B says:
    February 13, 2012 at 8:15 pm

    That looks so beautiful! I’m from WA and always wanted to go to Whistler for vacation! Looks as amazing as I epected!

    Reply
  6. Ashley S says:
    February 13, 2012 at 8:21 pm

    Wow, this looks absolutely amazing!!! What a gorgeous place to go :) Jealous, hehe.

    Reply
  7. My SoCal Life says:
    February 14, 2012 at 4:14 am

    this is somewhere I want to go!! My bff and her hubby have been a few times and love it!

    Reply
  8. Cecile says:
    January 23, 2013 at 8:23 am

    I would love to go there. It looks like a great place for a winter vacation.
    Cecile recently posted…The Top Five Small Kitchen Appliances That I Can’t Do WithoutMy Profile

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  9. Karen says:
    January 23, 2013 at 8:37 am

    That sounds like so much fun, and the pictures are gorgeous!

    Reply
  10. Nickida says:
    January 23, 2013 at 9:14 am

    Oh that’ looks like so much fun. I sometimes wish we got that much snow and then I think I don’t want snow at all. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
    Nickida recently posted…Wordless WednesdayMy Profile

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  11. Krystle says:
    January 23, 2013 at 6:52 pm

    The snow is so beautiful! I’d love to travel here someday.
    Krystle recently posted…Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies RecipeMy Profile

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  12. Rosey says:
    February 14, 2013 at 10:56 am

    Well that place even makes the snow and cold look fun! :)

    I’m visiting from the Thursday’s Thoughts hop.
    Rosey recently posted…Travel: ScotlandMy Profile

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  13. teresa says:
    February 14, 2013 at 12:08 pm

    I don’t like being cold but I have to agree with Rosey, that looks fun! Thanks for linking up with Thursday’s Thoughts at NanaHood.com
    teresa recently posted…Music and Hearing LossMy Profile

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  14. Ginger Kay says:
    February 14, 2013 at 3:29 pm

    How fun to win a getaway! Going from ski boots to six inch heels: you sound like a superhero. No wonder you were asleep by nine!

    (I came by way of Nanahood’s bloghop.)
    Ginger Kay recently posted…Giving Up or Giving Out?My Profile

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