The snow is falling and the temperature has dropped, marking the beginning of the winter season in Whistler, British Columbia.

The popular winter destination offers a wide array of new offerings and updates for the upcoming season. Guests have the chance to enjoy unique winter activities, from Zip Trek Ecotours to Vallea Lumina, a wondrous journey through the forest complete with lights, music and holograms. There’s also the Peak to Peak Gondola, the world’s longest unsupported gondola spanning 4.4 kilometres and lasting 11 minutes, Scandinave Spa Whistler featuring hot pools, cold plunges and solariums, and The Squamish Lil’wat cultural Centre (SLCC), a fascinating museum and cultural centre that highlights the Sk̲wxwú7mesh Úxwumixw and Líl̓wat7ul Nations.

Visitors should also save the dates for a number of signature events this season, including Whistler Film Festival (Nov. 29-Dec. 3), Eberspächer Luge World Cup Whistler (Dec. 15-16), Whistler Pride and Ski Festival (Jan. 21-28), and Peak to Valley Race (Feb. 23-24).

Here are additional updates in the area:

Whistler Blackcomb 

One of the region’s most popular ski destinations is Whistler Blackcomb, just north of Vancouver, which opened for the season on Nov. 23.

Whistler Blackcomb and Vail Resorts are constantly enriching the customer experience throughout the resort by adding new on-mountain experiences and investing in infrastructure upgrades. New offerings include the following:

• Whistler Mountain’s Fitzsimmons Express Chairlift upgrade. The former four-person Fitzsimmons chair located at the base of Whistler Village has been upgraded to an eight-person chair, increasing uphill capacity in winter by 73%. The new 8-pack chair is the first of its kind to be installed across the Vail resort line up. It will also aid in decreasing lift line waits in summer for the Whistler mountain bike park.  
• Dawn Patrol with Whistler Heli-Skiing. New for this winter, Whistler Heli-ski guests who are unable to fly due to bad weather will have the exclusive option to upload Blackcomb Mountain at 7:30 a.m. with their guide to get first tracks and enjoy lift line priority all morning.
• On mountain dining. This season Whistler Blackcomb will be serving indigenous-inspired dishes created in partnership with the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre at Merlin’s and the Raven’s nest. Enjoy fine dining with a view at Christine’s at The Rendezvous on Blackcomb, and Steeps Grill and Wine Bar at the Roundhouse on Whistler. 

2023/24 Whistler Blackcomb season and day passes, Epic Passes,  Edge Cards are available for purchase up until Dec. 3. Go to Whistler Blackcomb Passes.

New in the Valley 

The new Wedge Mountain Lodge & Spa opens this month providing a completely private, full service retreat for groups as large as 20, and up to 50 for receptions. The 12,000 square-foot property boasts 10 beautifully-appointed guestrooms as well as a state of the art movie theatre,  bar and a curated wine cellar, billiards and poker room, and children’s area. The Spa features all the amenities one could expect including refreshing pools and massage rooms. The property is designed to be the perfect mountain experience for corporate retreats, weddings, or friend and family gatherings.

The Whistler Four Seasons resort & Residences spa is undergoing renovation with an expected completion date of December 2023. The new upgrades include enhanced relaxation areas and treatment rooms. Newly curated wellness programs include couples escapes, bachelorette packages and signature treatments.

After a full renovation of Four Seasons rooms and suites in 2019/20, the hotel continues to enhance the guest experience by adding a new restaurant, The Library Bar. Opening for the 2023 festive season, The Library features a large terrace overlooking the courtyard and surrounding scenery.

Wild Blue, Whistler’s newest fine dining restaurant, was named #4 on Canada’s Top 10 Best New Restaurants of 2023. Featuring northwest cuisine with Italian and French influences, the restaurant offers sustainably sourced seafood, local ingredients and an extensive wine selection and cocktail menu. 

For more information on all that is Whistler, and for significant savings on lodging, vacation packages and more, visit Whistler.com.

Source: Travelweek