Whistler Village

The town of Whistler is sprawlingly out and around the valley, but the heart of the Whistler experience focuses on the style from the European countries built around the base of the gondolas. Most of the accommodation, restaurants, bars, shops and the Blackcomb and Whistler gondolas are located in in Whistler Village and the Upper Village. Village North (Blackcomb Village), was built around the old base of Blackcomb,smaller but still has numbers of restaurants and hotels. Whistler Creekside is built around the original gondola on the south side of Whistler Mountain and it's the easiest way to get around most of Whistler by foot. Whistler Village and the Upper Village are mostly pedestrian walkways and small enough that you can walk anywhere. A short trail (5-10 minutes) links it with Village North and there is also an extensive system of trails that links Whistler Village with many of the parks, golf courses and beaches in other parts of the valley.If you're trying to reach some of the outlying areas, cars are best used and if you do use a car, the main road through town is Highway 99.

Location

Whistler sprawls on the west coast of Canada, walk of roughly 100 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. It is approximately 75 miles northeast of the city of Vancouver.Located in Canadian province of British Columbia, the nearest American city is Seattle, Washington. Whistler is surrounded by the south and west by Garibaldi Provincial Park, A Canadian national park.Garibaldi ranges have many ski slopes in the winter and many hiking paths during the summer season. Whistler serves as a convenient home base for skiers and hikers seeking the sights of the are.

History

Initially, Whistler served as part of a trading route between the Squamish and Lil'wat Native Americans. The area was later explored in the 1860s by the British. In 1877 the area was used for ranching cattle and as part of a track to bring them to market in Vancouver. A resort called Rainbow Lodge was established at the turn of the century in a small hunting lodge. The creation of a railway to nearby Vancouver in the 1910s made access to this area easier from both coasts. Vacationers traveled to Whistler to explore lakes as well as to hunt and fish within reach. Skiers were drawn to the area's fine slopes.A year-round population was established as a result. At present there are roughly 10,000 people who live in the area full time.

Climate

Whistler shares a relatively cool summer with Vancouver. Even in midsummer, temperatures rarely rise above the mid-seventies. During this period rain is frequent, with an average of two inches for both July and August. Spring and fall are also quite temperate. The average temperature in May is in the low sixties. Winter can be relatively cold with an average temperature of thirty-two in January. During this time snow is common, with an average of nearly a foot for every month of winter.

Olympics

Vancouver was chosen as the official site for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The 2010 Olympics are scheduled to be held from February 12 to February 28. Some Olympic events will be held in Whistler during this time. These include all Alpine competitions such as downhill skiing. Whistler will also be the site of sliding events such as luge and bobsled and the snowboarding events such as the halfpipe.

Attractions

Whistler is home to the Whistler Blackcomb resort. The resort offers guests many skiing trails designed for skiers of all levels and abilities. Guests may also make use of a mountain bike path where bikers can travel down a designed trail. In this area Mountain biking festivals and competitions are held several times each year