THE PERFECT VILLAGE FOR THE PERFECT VACATION

Whistler Blackcomb is all about choice and deciding where to stay can be overwhelming. With three distinct “neighborhoods” Whistler delivers accommodation options for every budget level and style of traveler. 
 
Learn more about the key strengths and benefits of Whistler Village, Upper Village and Creekside. 

WHISTLER VILLAGE

Whistler Village is the power center of the resort. High speed lifts transport skiers and riders from a buzzing pedestrian-only village on a journey that takes you over a vertical mile into the Coast Range mountains. 
 
For many vacationers, Whistler Village is more than enough; you can tour art galleries, go shopping and base yourself from your slopeside hotel for a variety of non-ski related winter activities (snowmobiling, sightseeing, snowshoeing, and zip-lining, to name a few). 
 
Foodies revel in the many culinary styles from award-winning chefs - even the chocolate shops are divine. Once après-ski starts (just after lunch, depending on what time you want to quit), Whistler puts on its party clothes and rocks furiously into the wee hours.
 
BEST FOR:
Food: From A (Araxi, Alta Bistro) to Z (Zog Dogs), Whistler Village restaurants satisfy virtually every palate. Spanish tapas, French crepes, fine Italian pasta, Grade A Canadian steaks and some of the finest sushi on this side of the Pacific make Whistler a foodie favorite.
 
Slopeside: That booming sound inside your head isn’t your hangover, it’s the sound of avalanche guns making the slopes safe for another day of skiing and riding. Most Village accommodation is a short walk to either Whistler or Blackcomb high speed lifts. If sleep is important, choose Village North.
 
Shopping: With over 200 shops and services, Whistler Village is more accurately described as a cosmopolitan resort. 
 
It’s all here: branded stores by global retailers like Salomon, Roxy/Quiksilver, Patagonia and The North Face. Buy a First Nations mask or a more contemporary art piece at any one of several galleries. 
 
Browse for bestsellers and regional favorites in one of BC’s finest bookstores, or take home a box of Cuban cigars.
 
Nature: Whistler Village pulses with an intensity that makes it the center of the action, but you can still get away from it all with a short walk north (Lost Lake) or south (Valley Trail) from the Village.
 
Family: With dozens of funky shops and a complete calendar of kids’ activities including Family Après at Whistler Olympic Plaza, Whistler Village is a favorite basecamp with the Snapchat set. (Selfie opportunities abound!). If early bedtimes are a requisite, choose Village North for accommodation.

UPPER VILLAGE/BENCHLANDS

A short stroll from the village over the Fitzsimmons Creek bridge along a forested path takes you to the Upper Village - sort of a “village within a village.” 
 
Luxe accommodations (Fairmont, Four Seasons), a luxury-oriented shopping concourse, and a selection of superb restaurants provide a more refined ambiance than the Village without sacrificing slopeside access. With the recent opening of the Audain Art Museum and its proximity to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, the Upper Village is perfect for visitors keen on exploring arts, culture and heritage.
 
BEST FOR:
Shopping: Luxury goods abound in the shopping concourse adjacent to Fairmont Chateau Whistler.
 
Slopeside: Superb access to the Wizard Express highspeed quad up Blackcomb Mountain and a great beginner learning area.
 
Families: Spacious, luxurious condominiums where families can spread out a bit are the norm up here. The high-end luxury hotels offer family-friendly programs so parents get a bit of a break.
 
Nature: The Upper Village offers peace and serenity, with paths along Fitzsimmon’s Creek leading to Lost Lake’s network of snowshoe and cross-country trails close by.
 
Food: Superb array of restaurants in the various luxury hotels, and if you yearn for nightlife, well, the Village is just a few minutes down the trail.

CREEKSIDE

This is where it all began just over fifty years ago, with a silver gondola rising through deep green coastal rainforest into a vast playground of alpine bowls, glaciers, and tree runs. 
 
Today, basing yourself out of Creekside still feels like an adventure, since the great majority of retail and nightlife takes place a short bus/cab ride away in Whistler Village. 
 
If you’re the kind of skier/rider who values a good night’s sleep, likes to make their own breakfast and some dinners, and wants to catch that first gondola in the morning, Creekside is your place.
 
BEST FOR:
Nature: Still retains some of the rustic ambience that attracted Whistler’s first skiing pioneers in the 1960s. 
 
Slopeside: Superb access to Creekside Gondola; both Franz’s and Dave Murray Downhill are can’t miss trails. Access to Blackcomb is via the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola at the Roundhouse.
 
Family: Offers good value since it’s a bit off the beaten track. Families love the mostly condo-style accommodation like Legends, First Tracks Lodge and Evolution which also feature large outdoor pools and hot tubs. Excellent daytime childcare from 18 months+ as well as ski school based nearby.
 
Food/nightlife/shopping opportunities are limited but well-loved by locals and there is excellent bus service to the Village.

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