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Odds are you’ve heard of Whistler in Canada‘s British Columbia, probably because it’s offensively beautiful. Like, jaw-dropping, I-have-a-new-outlook-on-existence kinda beautiful.
In light of this, we picked the mind of local pro snowboarder Dustin Craven for the 411 on the spot.
To get to ol’ Whistler, you’ll need to fly to Vancouver and travel from there – something that Craven believes has perks in and of itself.
“When you fly into BC via Vancouver, I would strongly recommend spending a night or two in the city,” Craven tells PEDESTRIAN.TV.
“There is so many amazing spots to eat and hang out around there, it would be a shame not to check it out. About halfway on the way up to Whistler, there’s a small town called Squamish – there’s a mountain there called The Chief.”
“It’s about a two-hour, round trip hike to get to the top, but when you get there you can look off a 600-metre vertical drop that overlooks the ocean and town. It’s a great place to get an Instagram out of the way. Squamish also has a great sushi restaurant called Sushi Sen, and that has to be a must on your trip.”
Photo: Sushi Sen / Facebook.
Places like Squamish are dotted all over British Columbia, so consider setting aside some time to explore the area more thoroughly when Whistler-bound.
“The sign when you come to BC says, ‘Welcome To Beautiful British Columbia,’ and I think that nails it. There’s beautiful coast, trees for thousands of kilometres, amazing lakes, glaciers – everything that anyone who wants to be outdoors can think of. It may just be the outdoor recreation capital of the world.”
After doing some poking around, make straight for Whistler, which Craven reckons is the “Disney Land for anyone that likes to ski, snowboard or mountain bike.”
In addition to being a highly ‘Grammable spot, Whistler’s other main draw is its people.
“I’ve always found that Canadians and Aussies are very similar. They love having a good time and generally treat everyone respectfully. Aussies come to Canada ’cause it’s probably the closest you can get to feeling like you’re at home, but with Caesars and big mountains.”
LOCAL’S ADVICE
So, whaddya needa know when heading to Whistler? Craven’s advice is as simple as can be.
“Bring more money then you think you need. There are so many amazing things to see and do, but it’s easy to run low on funds and find your self cutting a trip short. Also, condoms are never a bad thing to use when you’re in Whistler.”
WHERE TO EAT
Obviously y’all gotta eat. Here are a few places to do just that.
EARLS
WEBSITE: HERE
Photo: Earls.
“Earls is a Whistler and Canadian classic located in the centre of the Village.”
“Everything on the El Furniture Warehouse‘s menu is $5 – it’s a great place to have some affordable food, and open late to have a drink before you go onto a bar.”
“Sushi Village its by far the best sushi place in town. They have 1L bottles of saki and you can get a private booth for you and your friends. Think of it as a great place to eat and get corked before a big night on the village.”
WHERE TO PARTY
If one goes on holiday and doesn’t return with some cooked tale from a night out, did they even holiday? Craven reckons you’ve got great odds of having a decent night out wherever you end up in Whistler’s Village.
“Most of the clubs are downstairs in Whistler, so no matter which one you’re at, you’re getting basically the same good stuff. Every bar in town has their own nights that are big, so you can always find a party each night of the week. Moe Joe’s Nightclub, Garfinkel’s and Amsterdam Rhino are all great spots.”
GETTING AROUND
“The Whistler bus system is really good. For the most part, you can walk or bike everywhere – there are three different bases to get up the mountain from, so it’s easy to find one close to you.”
WHAT TO DO / SEE
At the end of the day, you’re going to be a tourist while travelling. You don’t want to be a #MegaTourist though, but you’d be a fool to miss out on damn-fine attractions like these ones.
PEAK 2 PEAK GONDOLA
Photo: WhistlerBlackcomb.
“The ski hill has a gondola that connects the two mountains – it’s 110% worth going up and getting a ride on.”
BRANDYWINE FALLS
“Brandywine Falls is just south of Whistler and is a great place to go for a short hike to check out some scenery.”
As you can see, Craven’s quite the Whistler advocate – especially when it comes to snowboarding.
“I’ve been to so many hills and locations travelling the world to snowboard, but there’s no where that compares to BC. It’s a powdery mecca and should be on everyones bucket list.”
But it doesn’t matter if you’re all about shredding slopes or more about après-ski, if you’re now keen to get to Whistler / BC after sensibly listening the case that Craven’s made for it, consider getting yourself there with Air New Zealand. Check out why it’s quicker and easier to transit via Auckland when heading to Vancouver (or San Francisco / LA / Houston / Buenos Aires) by heading HERE.
Photo: Dave Steers Photo / Getty.
