Whistler in a Day: What Can you Do with 24 Hours in Whistler?
Visiting British Columbia, but you only have 24 hours in Whistler to spare? What a shame! Even if you have just enough time to do Whistler in a Day, you can still hit up the highlights, and get a taste of our what town has to offer. Whistler is much more than just a humble backwoods mountain town. With a single full-day of Whistler time, you’ve got your work cut out for you. The wonderful thing about Whistler is the wide variety of activities and entertainment available, no matter what time of year you plan on coming.
A single day in Whistler can also present you with some seriously tough decisions if you’re short on time. What can you cut out? What can you not stand to miss? What top of the line dinners, drinks, and delights should you be digging into?
We’re here to solve that issue for you. We live here after all. We’ve carefully constructed a schedule for you that highlights all the greatest Whistler hits. Check out a few of our considerations below, but remember, there’s always so much more available in Whistler, just stay a day or two longer. Stay a month!
Getting To Whistler
First things first, you’ve gotta get to us. If part of your 24-hour window is going to include travel, we’re going to provide you with the best, and quickest, directions to get right to us. You’ll likely be trying to get to Whistler by way of Vancouver. If you’ve rented (or have) a car, we suggest you hop on BC-99 North and get to driving. Check out online traffic cams for road conditions and ensure you arrive safely. If you don’t have a car, no worries! You can access Whistler via the shuttle bus system. This will take you directly from the Vancouver airport all the way to Whistler for a low rate.
Hotels, Lodges, and Chalets, Oh My!
Now that you’re on the road, let’s get down to business, we’re going to pack your next 24 hours with so much fun you won’t be able to stand it, and much of that will start with selecting the right lodging. Picking the perfect accommodation is easy in Whistler, there are plenty of fancy resorts, comfy cabins, and private chalets available for you! Here are a few of our favorite suggestions.
Westin Whistler
If you are doing Whistler in a Day, you might want to be smack-dab-in-the-middle of all the commotion for your 24-hour stay. The Westin Resort in Whistler is the spot for you. Located in the heart of Whistler, you’ll get the best of both worlds — beautiful mountain views and access to all the food, drinks, and nightlife your heart could desire. What’s better, this hotel has been voted the #1 ski hotel and resort in all of North American twice by Conde Nast, so you know you can expect a quality stay.
Nita Lake Lodge
If you’re looking to soak in the Whistler Mountain views nonstop for your 24-hour stay, the Nita Lake Lodge will give you just that. Mere steps from the Creekside Gondolas, you can have mountain access in minutes. With its private rooms, fireplaces, and relaxing tubs, this is the perfect lodge if you’re looking for a romantic getaway.
Pan Pacific Village
If you’re looking for a something a little more family-friendly for your whole crew, we suggest the Pan Pacific Village Centre. Not only do you have access to mountain views, hot tubs and saunas, and complimentary extras, it’s only a 5-minute walk away from Whistler Village where all the action happens. It’s also incredibly close to the gondolas to take you up the mountain in a flash.
Whistler Mountain
You’ve got the lodging straightened out, so it’s time to start packing your remaining hours with tons of fun, starting with one of the most obvious choices.
You can’t go to Whistler without going to Whistler Mountain — that’d be like going to Canada and not getting a Tim Hortons coffee and donut (who does that, right?). Whistler Mountain is jam-packed with endless activities, gorgeous scenery, and fun for everyone, no matter what age or adventure preference you might have. Here are a few of the fun things you can participate in on Whistler Mountain.
Peak 2 Peak Gondola
Want to see everything but only have a day, the Peak 2 Peak makes it easy.
This exceptional gondola ride does far more than just get you from point A to point B. This is one of the best ways to get a full 360-degree view of the beautiful land you’ve traveled to. This gondola offers you stunning views of Whistler Village, mountains, lakes, glaciers, and seemingly endless forests. They even have a few extra-special glass bottom gondolas for a bird’s eye view of the forest below. This is a great way to pack in the views if you don’t have time to explore each of Whistler’s gorgeous features.