I joined a group of 53 people on a trip to Whistler. Though Whistler is most known for skiing, there are many other activities to do in Whistler. Some people in the group did not ski, and spent their entire time doing excursions.
Squamish
On the way to Whistler, we stopped at Squamish Adventure Center and Shannon Falls.
Skiing
I had 3 ski days. The weather each day was mixed: lots of snow in the higher elevations, rain/snow mix near the base, occasional blue skies, and fog. My favorites runs are Springboard and Ross Gold on Blackcomb Mountain and Dave Murray on Whistler Mountain. Some of the ski trails were above the clouds.
One big change this trip is the new Blackcomb Gondola, allowing skiers and sightseers to go from base to peak of Blackcomb mountain in an enclosed environment - nice upgrade from the two chair lifts previously used. This means a complete gondola loop for both Whistler mountains: Blackcomb Gondola, Peak-to-Peak Gondola, and Whistler Gondola. There is also Excalibur Gondola to go from Whistler mountain base to halfway up Blackcomb Mountain. The peak-to-peak Gondola is a highlight of many visitors, and I rode the glass bottom unit with views of the ground.
Whistler Village
Lots of specialty shops, a grocery store, and restaurants in the village. It is a great place to stroll around, especially at night when the village is lit up. I was in the village mainly for dinner. My dinner places: Splitz Grill, Mongolie Grill, Dubh Linn Gate, Earls, and Old Spaghetti Warehouse. Plus spending some time at Garibaldi Lift at the end of a ski day.
Zip Line
Early evening zip line tour in the forest, by Zip Trek. This tour had four zip lines, plus walking on tree canopies and suspension bridges.
Sleigh Ride
Evening sleigh ride in Blackcomb Mountain, being pulled by two horses. Halfway through the ride, we stopped in a heated hut (well decorated for the winter season) to have hot chocolate.
Eagle Float
Float trip along Squamish River to see bald eagles. From mid-November to February, bald eagles hang out in the trees along the river banks in search of salmon to feed on.
Airplane Views
Our return flights were Seattle to San Francisco, then San Francisco to Austin. I got photos of Mt Rainier, downtown San Francisco, Bay Bridge, and Golden Gate Bridge from the plane.
