Whistler

Whistler, British Columbia, is one of North America's premier ski and mountain resort destinations — a purpose-built mountain village at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, 125km north of Vancouver on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, hosting the skiing events of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Its snow record, terrain variety (8,171 acres of skiable terrain) and resort infrastructure are genuinely world-class. The PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola connecting the peaks of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains at 436 metres above the valley (the record-breaking span of 3.02km is the world's longest unsupported lift span) is one of the most extraordinary ski lift experiences in the world. In summer, the mountain bike park at Whistler is globally renowned — thousands of downhill and cross-country trails convert the ski runs. Zip-lining, glacier hiking (on the Horstman Glacier at 2,182m), bear spotting tours and white-water rafting on the Green River are all available. Whistler Village itself is a European-inspired car-free pedestrian resort village — restaurants, boutiques, galleries and bars at every turn. The Sea-to-Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler, with its dramatic fjord views, the Shannon Falls and Stawamus Chief (a granite monolith popular for climbing) and the Squamish Eagle Festival (bald eagles gather here in winter) make the journey as rewarding as the destination. Accommodation is expensive; day trips from Vancouver (2 hours) reduce costs significantly.