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No snow? No problem! There is still lots for families to do in Whistler.

Skating at Whistler’s Meadow Park Sports Centre

Public skating sessions featuring a “game zone” on the NHL-sized ice surface. Public skating takes place on most afternoons and some Friday and Saturday evenings. Call 604-935-PLAY for daily updates and schedules.

Swimming at Whistler’s Meadow Park Sports Centre

The kids’ pool features a lazy river, vortex, spouting bears and more. The big pool has 25-metre, 6-lane lap pool, a rope swing, eight-foot slide and basketball net. Or just relax in the hot tub, steam room or sauna.

The sports center is open 6am-10pm. Family admission rate of $14. Call 604-935-PLAY for daily updates and schedules.

Movies: Resort Cinemas (Village 8)

100-4295 Blackholm Way, Whistler — under the Mongolie Grill Restaurant
This is a small independent theatre with an arcade. They usually play at least one family friendly movie, and offer cheaper afternoon prices.

The Trails

The Village of Whistler has lots of walking trails.

The Village

Stroll through the village, browse through the shops, stop for a treat in one of the many cafes or restaurants.

Beaver Tails

This one is always on our kids’ list of things to do in Whistler. The Beaver Tail is like a flat donut, and “lemon & sugar” and “nutella” are the toppings of choice.
You can buy these at Zog’s outdoor hot dog stand in Mountain Square. They also make another Canadian (ok, Quebec) traditional meal — the poutine — fries, topped with curd cheese and gravy. And yes, it is supposed to make a squeaking sound when you eat it.

Condo Amenities

Enjoy the amenities of your condo to the fullest.
- take a hot tub,
- play games by the fireplace,
- watch a great movie in your room,
- make a fondue

Family Friendly Restaurants

Whistler is renowned for its fine dining, but families can still find kid-friendly restaurants at reasonable prices. Here are our top picks:

Old Spaghetti Factory at the Crystal Lodge, Whistler Village.
Family friendly Italian dining. All entrees come complete with a crisp green salad, sourdough bread, coffee or tea, and spumoni ice cream at no additional charge.

Gone Bakery & Soup Co. — 4205 Village Square Whistler
This little bakery makes everything — cookies, pastries, breads — from scratch without chemicals or preservatives. Their menu also includes fresh sandwiches and vegetarian dishes. If going for lunch — try a bowl of the hearty, homemade soup served with a wedge of fresh bread.

Boston Pizza — 2011 Innsbruck Drive, Whistler
Family-friendly casual dining atmosphere with a large selection of menu items centered around pizzas and pastas.

Milestone’s– Delta Whistler Village Suites Hotel
Milestone’s is a family friendly restaurant not just in its relaxed atmosphere, but also in that it provides a menu that appeals to all family members — Mediterranean/Pacific Coast Fusion dishes for the adults, the usual fare for the kids — and salads and hearty breakfasts all around.

Well, the Ski & Snowboard season is fast approaching. If your family is anything like ours, then your kids are eager to hit the slopes. We have just booked a little family ski getaway for January, and the following offers links to British Columbia ski resorts.

Skiing / Snowboarding can be expensive, so it’s worth your while to plan your trip. Our family enjoys both alpine and nordic skiing, so we look for resorts that offer both sports. If you are staying for more than a couple of days, you may want to look for resorts that offer additional family-friendly activities like tubing, snowshoeing, skating, and swimming.

Here is a list of great family-friendly ski resorts in British Columbia:

Manning Park Resort

Located in Manning Park, between Hope and Princeton; about 2 1/2 hours east of Vancouver, BC.
This family friendly ski resort is located within the E.C. Manning Provincial Park, and is completely isolated. It is also a little bit on the rustic side, but don’t let that disuade you. This is a great family getaway! In addition to downhill and cross-country skiing, the resort offers snowshoeing, tubing and skating. If that’s not enough snow play, there is a small snow play area near the lodge. The resort now offers a pool and a hot tub, in-room movies, and a kids play area. The prices are very family friendly. We would recommend this ski resort for short stays 2-4 days.

Sun Peaks Resort

Kamloops, BC.
SunPeaks is the second largest ski area in BC. Their downhill area offers world class skiing at family-friendly prices. They also have 28km of groomed cross country ski trails, dedicated snowshoe trails, and a tube park. After ski activities include Sleigh Rides, ice skating, a great Sports Centre. Some of the activities unique to this resort are: Back Country Cat Skiing / Snowboarding and Dogsledding Tours.

Silver Star Ski Resort

Vernon, BC.
This mountain is the home to the Canadian olympic cross-country ski team.
Be sure to check out their web specials. At the time of publication, Apex is offering deals like “Christmas night FREE in hotel accommodation PLUS Christmas day skiing FREE.” for stays between December 23 - 26, 2007; “Kids Fly, Ski & Stay for FREE with Alaska/Horizon”, and “Fly WestJet, Stay & Ski Apex” packages for Canadians.

Big White Ski Resort

Kamloops, BC.
Be sure to check out their on-line package deals such as: “Christmas night FREE in hotel accommodation PLUS Christmas day skiing FREE.” for stays between December 23 - 26, 2007; “Kids Fly, Ski & Stay for FREE with Alaska/Horizon”, and “Fly WestJet, Stay & Ski Apex” packages for Canadians.

Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort

Whistler, BC.
Host of the 2010 Winter Olympic games. Incredible mountains, great village life, great recreational center and wonderful (& cheap) cross-country skiing operated by the Village. Check out their last minute deals.

Apex Mountain Resort

30 minutes from Penticton, BC.
Located in the heart of the Okanagan, Apex is one of the hidden gems of Canadian skiing, offering the lightest snow.

Mount Washington Alpine Resort

Vancouver Island, BC
Unique Feature: Their “Summit to Surf Packages” that let you enjoy a two night ski package in the mile high alpine and then head to Middle Beach Lodge in Tofino, situated on 40 acres of secluded West Coast ocean front. For those coming from the mainland, check out their “BC Ferries Ski Packages” pricing.