Why Don't You
Stories by David Burke | Images by Joern Rohde
Whistler’s spectacular scenery is the backdrop for an exceptional variety of activities. So, why don't you try some of these unforgettable Whistler experiences this season? Take a bucket list, heli-ice cave tour with No Limits Heli Adventures and enjoy lunch by the Bearfoot Bistro; experience a flight on Ziptrek’s Sasquatch line; perhaps a much-needed stress leave at Scandinave Spa; connect with local art and culture with a Whistler Cultural Pass to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre and the Audain Art Museum.
Take a Heli-Ice Cave Tour
A helicopter tour in the spectacular Coast Mountains and a visit to a 12,000-year-old ice cave… what could be more memorable than that? How about the same, with a gourmet lunch prepared by the famed Bearfoot Bistro, to boot?
It’s all part of the Ice Cave Experience offered by No Limits Heli Adventures. The 3.5- to four-hour tour includes approximately 60 minutes in one of No Limits’ five-passenger helicopters, a landing on the Elaho Glacier, a tour with an experienced guide inside an azure blue ice cave and a cheese-and-charcuterie lunch with dessert, expertly prepared by the team at the Bearfoot, one of Whistler’s most iconic restaurants.
The helicopter portion of the tour offers spectacular vistas of the mountains, the Whistler Valley and a flyover of the Pemberton Ice Cap, said Kim Gregoire, No Limits’ operations manager. After landing, guests are guided into the ice cave by a fully certified guide, followed by lunch just outside the cave. A vegetarian option including tapenade and antipasto is available on request, she said.
nolimits-helicopters.com | 778-820-8888
Take a Flight on the Sasquatch®
Visitors who have booked to ride Ziptrek Ecotours’ Sasquatch® zipline usually start to feel the butterflies as they’re walking along the final stretch of the path to where the line begins on the upper slope of Blackcomb Mountain.
“Walking out to the line is when people start to get a bit more nervous, when they can see the height and the length,” says Karel Walls, Ziptrek’s sales and marketing coordinator.
The Sasquatch is, after all, North America’s longest zipline, at nearly 2.2 kilometres (1.2 miles) long — or just about 7,000 feet. Depending on a guest’s weight, it takes an average of two thrilling, heart-in-your-throat minutes to reach the Whistler Mountain side. The tour lasts 1.5 hours, from arrival at Ziptrek’s location next to Excalibur Gondola, up the Blackcomb Gondola, and back down. During Covid, groups of guests remain in their separate bubbles, and Ziptrek staff wear masks, gloves, and face shields while preparing guests for the ride, Walls said.
Ziptrek offers a number of zipline and tree-canopy tours that run year-round, but the Sasquatch runs from mid-June to early October.
whistler.ziptrek.com | 604-935-0001
Take a Stress Leave at Scandinave Spa
Sea to Sky locals and resort guests in need of some “me time” — to de-stress from the rigours of work and life pressures, to take a break from responsibility or to relax those muscles after a strenuous outdoor adventure or workout — have a place to go in Whistler. Scandinave Spa is open and ready to help you find peace of mind and body.
Scandinave Spa is home to indoor and outdoor Scandinavian-style spa amenities, including varying temperature hot baths, stimulating cold features, saunas, steam rooms and multiple relaxation areas.
Scandinavian-style hydrotherapy operates on the principle of using warmer water to dilate the blood vessels and open up the pores, reducing blood pressure and increasing blood flow, providing a cleansing experience. The cold baths are meant to close the pores, flush toxins, increase the heart rate and release endorphins. A visit to the relaxation rooms will then allow the heart rate and blood flow to stabilize.
Scandinave Spa is located just a few minutes north of Whistler Village, on the edge of the spruce-cedar forest next to Lost Lake Park, for you to refresh and regenerate in a quiet, digital-free environment.
scandinave.com/whistler/en | 604-935-2424
Connect with Local Art and Culture
Visitors who would like to expand their cultural knowledge in Whistler can take advantage of the “Whistler Cultural Pass,” which offers outstanding value as a dual admission pass to the Audain Art Museum (AAM) and the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC). The pass, jointly created by the two institutions, was designed to augment a guest's cultural experience while visiting Whistler. At the AAM, visitors can experience historical and contemporary Indigenous art from B.C., the world-renowned permanent collection, as well as special exhibitions. At the SLCC, guests can explore the two local First Nations’ rich and distinct cultures while connecting with Ambassadors from each Nation.
The pass is available for purchase at either of the venues, online at (whistler.com/arts), where you can also download a guide, and at the Whistler Visitor Information Centre. The physical pass also provides information about the “Cultural Connector” — a scenic pathway that links all six of Whistler’s arts and culture institutions, partners and their locations to encourage additional exploration of Whistler's exceptional artistic and cultural offerings.
slcc.ca | audainartmuseum.com | whistler.ca
