Angie & Phil's Wedding

Things to do

The Whistler Mountain Bike Park is the number one lift-accessed bike park in the world, so it didn't take much to convince Phil to get married in Whister!

Just like ski slopes, the trails are classified by how difficult they are. Green for beginners, blue for intermediate and black and double back for advanced and expert riders.

Mountain biking is a blast even for those of us who don't know what we're doing. With just a few tips from Phil, Angie had graduated from the green trails to the blue trails in a day.

There are several places to rent bikes in the Village. If you rent a bike, be sure to lock it up when you are not using it. Mountain bike theft is common in Whistler.

To use the Whistler Bike Park, you will need to purchase a lift ticket in Skier's Plaza. A trail map of the park can be found here. There is also a pump track and practice park near the Upper Village.

If you'd prefer to try something a little more mellow, there are also bike trails at Lost Lake, but at Lost Lake you don't get to take advantage of the lift on the way up and mountain biking up hill is harder than you think!

Lost Lake also offers a beach and swim area.

We recommend trying out the Whistler Bike Park!

The Peak 2 Peak 360 Experience is definitely a must. On the way up the gondola, we spotted a black bear!

If the snow is melted, there are some great hiking trails that start at the top of the mountain. They can be accessed when you get off the gondola.

The Peak 2 Peak 360 Experience includes:

- Riding the gondolas on Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain, including the gondola that links the peak of the two mountains!

- Cloudraker Skybridge: A 130-metre suspension bridge that spans from Whistler Peak to the West Ridge over Whistler Bowl.

- Raven's Eye Cliff Walk: A viewing platform with 360-degree views from Whistler Peak.

- A walk through the snow walls. The snow walls only last for a short period of time in early summer so the weather will determine whether or not we'll get to experience these before they melt.

- If you're lucky, you'll see some black bears!

**TIP**: If you plan to ride the gondola up the mountain, purchase your ticket at the base of Whistler Mountain or online. Plan to ride the gondola up Whistler Mountain and down Blackcomb Mountain.

We waited in line at the base of Blackcomb Mountain for tickets for over an hour last year because the ticket booth at the base of Blackcomb sells tickets for more than just the Peak 2 Peak 360 Experience.

If you purchase tickets online, you will only be given a voucher. You will still be required to go to the ticket booth to collect your tickets. We recommend doing that in Skier's Plaza at Whistler Mountain to avoid the lines at the base of Blackcomb Mountain.

There are three popular rivers in the area that offer rafting adventures.

The Cheakamus River offers fun, bouncy, Class 1-2 rapids and a float along calmer sections of the river, while taking in views of Mt. Garibaldi and the beautiful Paradise Valley.

The Green River provides the perfect combination of Class 2-3 rapids and spectacular scenery surrounded by snow-capped mountains.

The Elaho-Squamish River is for the more adventurous spirit! This is a Class 3-4 river in a spectacular wilderness setting. Hanging glaciers, towering mountains, cascading waterfalls, exciting rapids, and a lush rainforest.

If you plan to go white water rafting, don't forget your swimsuit!

Local tour operators that offer white water rafting adventures include the Squamish Rafting Company, The Adventure Group, The Canadian Outback Rafting Company, and others.

The summer activities available in Whistler are endless. Here are a few more recommendations to consider for your visit.

Hiking: There are a ton of hiking trails in the Whistler area so we can't pretend to be the experts.

There are several great hiking trails that start at the top of Whistler Mountain including the High Note Trail and Musical Bumps (accessible via the Whistler gondola). The trail map can be found here. Both of these offer views of Cheakamus Lake.

Garibaldi Provincial Park also offers hikes with some stunning views. We recommend using an app like Alltrails to find the best hike for you. Best Hikes in Garibaldi Provincial Park.

Swim at Lost Lake Beach: Lost Lake Park, located close to Whistler Village, offers a popular sandy beach, BBQs and a kids area. There are several other nearby parks with similar amenities.

Whistler Farmer's Market: Find fresh local produce from the Sea to Sky Corridor, food, local art, refreshing beverages and live entertainment. Located in the Upper Village at the base of Blackcomb Mountain.

The farmers market takes place twice a week (typically Saturday and Sunday) during the summer. Check the website for summer dates.

Blackcomb Family Adventure Zone: Perfect for the kids! The Family Adventure Zone offers mini golf, go carts, a climbing wall, a bounce castle and much more!

Bear Tours: Bear sightings from the Whistler Village Gondola are common but for a closer look, several tour operators offer a tour through the largest concentration of bear ranges in the region.

Zip Lining: There are several tour operators who offer tour options across a variety of ziplines.

The restaurants in the Village are busy. Walk-ins can typically be accommodated at the casual restaurant and pubs but if you're planning on having a nice night out, we recommend making reservations where possible.

Our faves:

Purebread: You can't miss this one! This bakery is located directly across from Olympic Park. Even if you don't eat anything, just poke your head in and take a look.

For breakfast they have bacon & egg brioche, buttery almond croissants, fresh bread, crumbly buckwheat scones, morning glories, bacon, sour cream & chive scones, lemon blueberry basil scones, savory croissants, delicious fruit pastries and lots, lots more....and of course coffee!

Southside Diner: The Southside Diner offers typical diner-style breakfast and lunch/dinner options. It is located in Whistler Creekside. Whistler Creekside is accessible via the Creekside Gondola. Whistler Creekside is known as the "original Whistler" and is like a mini Whistler Village.

Araxi ($25-$45): Eric & Sarah Johnson recommended this restaurant to us last summer and now we highly recommend it to you! This restaurant has great food and a fantastic patio. Reservations are definitely recommended.

Mexican Corner ($12-$22): Mexican food with a view!

Other highly rated restaurants:

Il Caminetto di Umberto ($25-$40): Located in the heart of Whistler on Village Stroll, Umberto Menghi brings us the warmth and hospitality of Tuscany. Fine Italian cuisine.

Quattro ($22-$42): Critics, visitors and locals agree that this warm, inviting contemporary Italian cuisine is not to be missed. The menu features cuisine of Central and Northern Italy. The Venetian interior features fire places, mahogany and hand painted silk chandeliers. Elegant but casual.

Alta Bistro ($15-$30): Local produced and sustainable food and eclectic wines in a quaint bistro atmosphere. Food is well prepared and the ever evolving menu is small due to availability of local ingredients.

Sushi Village ($10-$30): Whistler’s original sushi restaurant is located in Sundial Hotel near the lifts in Whistler Village. Open weekends for lunch and daily for dinner. Known for a vibrant atmosphere and jugs of sake margarita’s. Reservations for 6 guests or more ONLY

Bear Foot Bistro ($65-$95): A 2.5 to 3 hour dining experience that is extravagant, approachable and undeniably fun, boasting all the accouterments of five star dining, without the fuss and pretension. They feature live piano jazz most evenings. Chef Melissa Craig and the Bear Foot Bistro have won many awards.