If you’ve never lived in Whistler, there’s a good chance you’ve only managed to worm your way through the winding Village Stroll, checking the sights that line the street. That’s fine, but any local will tell you that the Village is just one small part of the Whistler experience. Get out to those outlying areas and maaaan you’re in for a real treat.
As a former local, I feel it’s my duty to share the knowledge I accumulated whilst living between the mountains. Enjoy.
Best breakfast, not infested with tourists
The Wild Wood. No question. There are two locations, and while the Whistler Racquet Club location is big, bright, and beautiful, it’s often far more crowded on a Saturday morning, and is well known by visitors and locals alike. The Function Junction location, at the very end of Millar Creek Road, is local favourite, though still a bit of a hidden gem for visitors. It’ll likely be humming with locals – though less so than anywhere else in Whistler, given the distance from the Village – but the food is worth the wait. At $11 for a full meal, it’s as good a value as you’ll find in town.
Best spot for a solitary jog through the forest
You’ll hear a lot of Lost Lake here and, yeah yeah, whatever. If you really want to escape humanity for an hour or two, try the Riverside Trails outside of the Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood. The trails wind along the Cheakamus River, through the old growth forest. The trails are well maintained, moderately difficult and great for snowshoeing once the winter’s in full swing. It’s as peaceful as you can get without having to stray too far from the nearest Wi-Fi connection.
Best spot for a relaxing, post-ski soak in a hot tub
There are more than a few private hot tubs that locals can (and often will) sneak into after a hard day on the hill. We won’t share those with you, though. Just know they exist and you can find them if you try. Obviously, Scandinave Spa is a great pit stop for relaxation, but if you’re unwilling to fork over the $50 fee, the Meadow Park sports facility just before Alpine on Highway 99 has a giant swimming pool and a hot tub. It’s far enough outside the Village that tourists almost never visit, and it costs a mere $8.25 for a drop-in. Sure, it’s not the ideal location after an a two-hour après session, but beggars can’t really be choosers, can they?
Best spot to shoot some pool
Billiard tables are hard to come by in Whistler, which is problematic because, once the mountain closes, and if you’re not up to partying, there’s not really a whole lot to do in Whistler. But there are a few places, the best of which is the Cinnamon Bear, in the Hilton. The bar’s often packed, but it’s off the Village Stroll so tourists are less likely to stumble upon it. Added bonus: The food’s reasonably priced (by Whistler standards) and they make a mean burger.
Best spot for hair of the dog
Harrison Stoker, co-founder of the Whistler Valley Beer Festival and Whistler local for 13 years, says, Wild Wood followed by Elements are the hangover hubs. Nicklaus North recently rebranded their dining room to Table Nineteen have a bitchin’ assortment of caesars which are so damn good on their patio in Summer and getting out there via a valley trail totally mandates some fresh air into your system! Splitz burger will either make you puke or reset your champion status.
Best meal value
Locals will tell you Samurai Sushi (in Creekside or Nester’s) because the sushi’s “cheap” (again, by Whistler standards) but nowhere close to as quality as the options Vancouverites can have at the same price point. Pasta Lupino is easily the best value. At lunch, $6.95 will get you a hearty plate of alfredo or Bolognese (your choice of pasta), and while the price doubles for dinner time, the portions are sizeable, and tasty enough, not to feel even remotely ripped off. Their take-away pizza dough is a must-try for homemade pizza.
Best neighbourhood to rent a house for a week (or forever)
White Gold. It provides easy access to ski lifts, groceries and transit, and far enough away from the hubbub of the Village that you won’t be woken up by screaming Village drunks at all hours of the night.
Best spot for some public hanky-panky
The gondola, obviously. Any gondola will do.
