Whatever region of the Sea to Sky Country you find

yourself in, it is safe to say no other vacation will quite compare with the breathtaking serenity found in Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton.

It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly about Whistler captivates travellers and continues to call them back year after year. Perhaps it is the superb skiing and downhill mountain biking. Perhaps it is the range of upscale hotels, luxurious restaurants, and posh shops. Or perhaps it is simply the youthful energy that seems to float around the Village in throngs. One thing is for sure: Whistler is the kind of place you can always spend a little more time.

The resort got its start in 1910 when a couple named Myrtle and Alex Philip purchased 10 acres (4 hectares) of land and established Rainbow Lodge. It was a hit. Tourists travelled across Canada to fish and hang out in the summer. Of course, Whistler (or Alta Lake as it was called back then) was a far cry from the established world class resort it has become today. Up until the 1960s, there were no sewage, water or electricity facilities. That all started to change in 1962 when four Vancouver businessmen showed up with the dream of turning the area into a ski resort and bidding on the 1968 Winter Olympics. While their Olympic dreams went unrealized for the time, the ski plan took off. In 1966, Whistler Mountain opened to the public; and in the 1970s, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) was formed.

Today, over two million tourists flock to Whistler each year. The town’s main hub, called the Village, is found directly at the base of the mountains Whistler and Blackcomb and holds most of the shops, restaurants, spas and bars. Patios spill onto pedestrian streets in a similar fashion to European mountain towns. People wielding skis, snowboards and mountain bikes pack the walkways in the day, usually stopping in one of the many bars in the early evening for an après session. And at night, six clubs keep partygoers carousing until the wee hours.

Spiralling out from the Village are 15 different neighbourhoods that house vacationers, locals, and thousands of seasonal workers from countries like Japan, New Zealand, Australia, England, and Sweden. Real estate can be pricey with the average property valued at over $1 million; and many rich and famous people are rumoured to own homes here including Sarah McLachlan, Gene Simmons, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Justin Timberlake.