Family Day is Whistler Day
Family Day in B.C. is the perfect time to unplug and unwind in the beautiful mountain town of Whistler. So why not surprise the family with a mid-winter getaway and take advantage of discounted family fun.
You don’t have to be a skier or snowboarder to have a blast in Whistler but if you want to hit the slopes, take advantage of the holiday halfprice skiing and snowboarding on February 12. There are more than 8,000 acres of snow-covered slopes and two hundred marked trails to explore. Tickets are also half price on the three-kilometre Peak 2 Peak gondola ride between Blackcomb and Whistler mountains—a thrilling ride for the entire family.
Try some good old-fashioned tobogganing or snowshoeing at the Whistler Olympic Park in the Callaghan Valley or travel on top of the snow, like B.C.’s early settlers did, in a pair of snowshoes over forty kilometres of groomed trails. Ski rentals are half price at the Lost Lake cross-country ski and snowshoe track.
Go ziplining high above the Fitzsimmons Valley or meander through Blackcomb Mountain’s snowy woods on a horse-drawn sleigh ride. Admission to indoor ice skating or swimming in the wave pool at Meadow Park Sports Centre is also half price. Or simply sample the Smarties-coated candy apples at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory or the huge assortment of old-fashioned candies at the Great Glass Elevator Candy Shop.
Family après in the Olympic Plaza Stroll is a favourite. Held Monday and Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m., it’s nonstop child-friendly activities and entertainment. Swirl and twirl on the ice at the outdoor skating rink among the dazzling winter garden of coloured fairy lights. Admission is free and skate rentals discounted.
For a change of pace spend a few hours taking in some Whistler culture with a visit to the renowned Audain Art Museum or experience First Nations’ culture at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. Tucked away behind the Whistler Public Library is the Whistler Museum, where you can experience this resort’s beginnings as a train whistle stop fishing lodge.
Check out whistler.com for more Family Day events and activities.