Exploring Whistler: Beyond the Village

Whistler Village is a great place to be. You’ve got shops, restaurants, hotels, and – of course – two incredible mountains right at your footsteps.

But there’s much more to Whistler than the Village: there’s plenty to do and see in Whistler’s other neighbourhoods, too. If you’re willing to wander just off the Village Stroll, you’ll be rewarded with some pretty cool sights and adventures.

Here are just a few of our favourite spots to explore outside of Whistler Village. Let us know if we missed any of your top picks!

Alpine Meadows: Sports, Sports, and More Sports

Whistler’s largest residential neighbourhood, Alpine Meadows, is situated just four kilometres north of Whistler Village. This local-heavy, family-friendly neighbourhood is home to Whistler’s community centre, Meadow Park.

With squash courts, an indoor swimming pool (complete with kiddie pool, hot tub, and sauna), an indoor skating rink, a full fitness centre, and fitness classes, Meadow Park is the place to go to stay active, especially when the weather isn’t cooperating outside.

Just outside of Meadow Park, there are fields for team sports, a jungle gym to satisfy every kid’s wildest dreams, and plenty of running trails to explore. The Valley Trail from Meadow Park to Rainbow Park – about 5 km one-way – is groomed every three days for cross country skiing in the winter time.

Creekside: The Original Village

Before there was a Whistler Village, there was Creekside. It’s easy to get to: just follow the ski out signs from Whistler Mountain!

Creekside has its own gondola, and savvy skiers often head here to take advantage of the free, underground parking – no clearing snow at the end of the day!

Creekside also has plenty of amenities, including a market, a liquor store, a Starbucks, professional services, and ski rental and tuning shops. You’ve probably heard of Dusty’s, the infamous apres spot known for its tasty potato wedges. We also recommend crossing the highway to experience Whistler’s tastiest pizza at Creekbread.

The Callaghan Valley: Recreational Paradise

If you came to Whistler from Vancouver, you drove right by the Callaghan Valley. From the highway, it’s just a sign, but when you turn off, you’ll quickly see that it’s so much more.

For one, it’s the site of many ATV and snowmobiling tours, which makes a lot of sense: after all, this is some of the best Whistler area backcountry to explore. It’s also home to the Whistler Olympic Park, where the Nordic skiing events (including ski jumping and biathlon) were hosted during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. You can easily spend hours exploring the cross country skiing and snowshoeing trails in the snowy winter months!

Nicklaus North: Golfing and More

Follow the Valley Trail north of Whistler Village to the spectacular neighbourhood of Nicklaus North (sometimes called Green Lake Estates). Sited on the shores of glacier-fed Green Lake, this neighbourhood is known for hosting the Nicklaus North Golf Course (and driving range), a spectacular golf course that is a must-visit for any golfing enthusiast.

But even non-golfers will enjoy meandering the wooden platforms along the edges of the lake, watching float planes take off and land and checking out wake boarders in the summer months and snowkiting in the winter months.

Check it out for yourself -- and see what Whistler is like beyond the Village.