The first tip for families attending the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler is to bring skis. This may appear obvious, but many people think the world’s best alpine athletes overwhelm the host ski resort. Not so in Whistler, where 90% (i.e. 7,200 acres) of the terrain will remain wide open during the Games. Remember, all snowboard and freestyle ski events will occur at Cypress Mountain on Vancouver’s North Shore, though ’98 Nagano Gold Medal pioneer and snowboarding legend Ross Rebagliati assures me that Whistler will remain the festive focus for snow play. “The snowboarders are going to hang out in Whistler,” the sport’s first gold medalist declares, “We all know this is the place to be and to ride.”
When Rebagliati talks, the snowboarding world listens, so tweens and teens will want to log time in Blackcomb’s all-world terrain park to catch some of the sport’s biggest stars take to the air as well as slide their boards and twin planks down the Snow Cross Track, catch air of their own in the Terrain Garden and compare tricks in the Superpipe. While the “go for it” vibe always buzzes in the park, it’ll become podium pumped throughout the Games.
Whether riding or cheering, here are several other tips when your family joins The Family of Olympic Nations this February:
- All Ages all the Time: KidZones, Concerts & DJs, Oh My! - It’s no secret Whistler likes to party, just ask the thousands of nonskiers who show up each weekend. Kids can get in on the acting out at the Village Common and Mountain Square street theater performances, at the Town Plaza’s Kidzone of storytellers, and at Skiers Plaza and Village Sqaure, where DJs will spin to a nightly fire and ice show and a roster of international musicians will jam well into each evening. Everyone goes home humming (and tired!). www.whistler.com
- Spread Your Playdates Among Nation Houses - Nation Houses, environments that support and celebrate a specific country, are an Olympics tradition. You’ve probably heard rumors about the “don’t worry, be happy” groove at the Jamaican Bobsleigh House, but you’ll also want to check out the rest of the street, including Austria, Switzerland, USA and Canada House, among others. And don’t miss an opportunity to visit the Squamish-Lil’Wat Cultural Centre to learn about the Salish people who first built their homes here many thousands of years ago. www.slcc.ca
- Whistler Kids - Where Children Love to Go to School - Though Whistler-Blackcomb’s vast terrain and Village Stroll’s nightly singles scene shenanigans usually garner the most conversation at the end of the visit, any honest parent will tell you that Whistler Kids, the resort’s ski school, is what makes this destination great. Say goodbye to the guilt-laden dropoffs of resorts gone by. Whistler’s well-trained and positively giddy teaching staff of 20-somethings pass the positive energy onto your kids, who rarely want to leave at the end of their session. Whistler will take kids from as young as three months (for daycare) to 18-years of age for full or half-day group or private lessons.
- After Skiing – Hit the Pool, But Not Just any Pool - Every American should spend a few hours in a Canadian recreation centre. Sure, it isn’t health care, but you’ll be amazed at what a recreationally focused social system can create. Whistler’s Meadow Park Sports Centre not only offers the requisite ice rink with daily public skating, this is Canada after all, the pool features rope swings, fountains and an actual whirlpool to keep you kids in a giddy froth for hours. www.findwhistler.com/page/cf,/50
- The Village Menu From a Kid’s Palate - “Can we go find the cow?” my kids scream, the moment we arrive in Whistler. The cow refers to a hosltein statue that lures passers by into COWS, the Prince Edward Island ice creamery known as much for its bovine-themed apparel (“Dairy Potter,” “Hannah Moontana,” you get the idea) as for excellent “Cowrispy Crunch” frozen confections (www.cows.ca). Fortunately, since there’s more to our diet than ice cream, Whistler provides a sprinkling of family-friendly fare between the romantic restaurants and abundant bars. Of course there’s an Old Spaghetti Factory here, but also Pasta Lupino, which will serve you or create a dinner for you to take back to the condo. The Southside Diner and Whistler Brewhouse offer traditional pub fare, while Carmaba (Mediterranean) and Bavaria serve more adventurous families. Remember to make your reservations NOW if you’re even thinking about attending the Games. Condo dwellers will find complete shopping needs at The Grocery Store, located in the Village.
- Peek at the Games then Peak2Peak back to Ski Blackcomb - Every family ski day should have an escape plan, like when I had to race a mile (literally!) from Horstman Hut at the top of Blackcomb to the Upper Village when my nine-year old greeted his midday chili bowl with a 102 fever. The year old Peak2Peak Gondola, which connects Whistler’s Roundhouse with Blackcomb’s Rendezvous lodges, transforms your family from slalom race observers to GS racers in just 11-minutes. You’ll escape the crowds as quickly as you can say “Dave Murray Downhill.” www.peak2peakgondola.com
- Leave Village Bright Lights Behind for Nighttime Tubing, Daytime Zipping - Though long time Whistler visitors will gladly tell you about the good old days, the resort itself rarely looks over its shoulder. Just go for a ride on Peak2Peak, the longest free span gondola in the world, and you’ll understand. Back in 2005, Whistler opened the Tube Park, a series of 1,000-ft, swerving slides located at Base II on Blackcomb. They’ve even addressed tubing’s one bummer: a moving carpet hauls you and your tube (provided with entrance ticket) back up the hill. Adventurous teens can also fly through the trees for 2,500-ft via ZipTrek Ecotours. www.whistler.com/tube_park www.ziptrek.com
- Every Child Deserves a Sleigh Ride - Whistler Village will be abuzz with alpine energy this Olympics, as European ski aficionados descend on town like a Swiss Alps blizzard. And what could be more Bavarian than a family sleigh ride? Several operators offer different packages from a basic 30-minute tour to a two hour sleigh ride (with cocoa, naturally) and fondue dinner (upon return to Fairmont Chateau Whistler.) Dress the kids as warmly as possible, and then add another layer! www.blackcomsleighrides.com
Photo courtesy of Dano Pendygrasse and Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort
