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The River of Golden Dreams can be a great way to spend an afternoon. You can float down at a leisurely pace in one of Backroads Whistlers’ many canoes or kayaks. The river trips provided by Backroads all start at Lakeside Park, where you can find free parking. Then follow the river north until it finishes where the River of Golden Dreams and Green Lake connect. Every river trip comes complete with a shuttle from the river termination back to Whistler Village or Lakeside Park. This can be a fun, relaxing day where you can rest assured that everything is taken care of, from rentals to driving arrangements. For an idea of what to bring on the river to ensure the best time possible, check out our article on what you need for the River of Golden Dreams. 

The Peak to Peak Gondola, on its completion, took three world records for:

• The world’s longest unsupported span for a lift of this kind, at 3.024 kilometers(1.88 miles). Holds the Guinness World Record
• The world’s highest lift of its kind at 436 meters (1427 feet) above the valley floor holds the Guinness World Record.
• World’s longest, continuous lift system, connecting two high-speed chair lifts and one gondola

Not only does the Peak to Peak break these records, but it also connects the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains allowing for a 360° experience. This can be a great way to see tons of wildlife, access the alpine hiking trails, and see the ski resort in the summer months. Views of the many lakes in the valley will bring aww, especially on the suspension bridge beside the peak chair. The trip up the mountain can take anywhere from 2 to 7 hours, depending on how adventurous you get. 

A great way to spend a day and get some exercise is riding your bike around the Valley Trail. The Valley Trail connects the entire town with the surrounding subdivisions. The whole trail system consists of around 40 kilometers of paved two-way non-motorized traffic. The trail network is free to use. However, the trail is multi-use cyclists, skateboards, walkers, joggers, and other pedestrians all share the infrastructure. So, when traveling on the valley trail, make sure to have your head up and be aware of your surroundings as other users can be unpredictable. Remember, slower-moving travelers have the right of way, and standard road rules apply. The valley trail can be a great way to get around, visit a brewery or two, and enjoy the sun. You can rent bikes at several spots in town. Check out Gateway Bikes for a quick and easy rental. 

For a nice relaxing day, spend time relaxing in, on, or around Alta Lake. Alta Lake is the warmest lake in the Whistler Valley, making it great for swimming and floating. Start your day at one of the many parks on the shoreline of Alta Lake. Lakeside Park is one of the easiest accessible parks from the Whistler Village. There are drinking fountains, public restrooms, food amenities, and boat rentals at Backroads Whistler, supplying pre-packaged snacks and drinks. On the other side of the lake, there is Rainbow Park, which is a bit more of a journey from the village, requiring a faster mode of transportation other than walking. The trip to Rainbow Park is 4 kilometers via the Valley Trail and close to 10km on the road. For more ideas on how to spend a day on Alta Lake, check out our article How to spend a lake day in Whistler.

There is no better way to experience the old-growth forests of British Columbia than flying through them. Spend an afternoon flying through the forests surrounding Cougar mountain, taking in views of Wedge mountain, Armchair glacier, and the wildlife on the forest floor below you. The Superfly tour takes you up Cougar mountain with the potential to see natural wildlife like black bears, deer, owls, and maybe even a cougar. The two-hour tour is a great way to spend an afternoon in the cool forest canopy protected from the sun.

The Scandinave Spa offers several packages that include massages, mud baths, cold and hot tubs, and sauna experiences. Spending a day at the Scandinave can bring some zen to your life, relaxing you for the rest of your Whistler trip. The cold and hot pools will reset your systems, giving some much-needed relaxation to a busy Whistler weekend. Let a trip to the Scandinavian Spa soothe you to start or finish off your getaway to the mountains.  

The Vallea Lumina light walk takes you on an adventure of light through the old-growth forests in Whistler. With fluorescent lighting and multimedia experiences, you take a journey of wonder through the forests between the Rainbow and Cougar mountains, following the tale of two hikers from long ago. Learn the history and culture of the surrounding mountains in an all-encompassing trip.

The Lost Lake trail system is less than a kilometer away from Whistler Village. The trail system is great for beginner to intermediate mountain bikers progressing their skills. With a wide variety of green and blue trails to test different riding aspects. If you prefer two feet to two wheels you can run many different loops through the trail system to finish off at Lost Lake for a refreshing swim. There is a wide multi-use path that gets you from the village to Lost Lake with great signage. The path is suitable for most able-bodied humans. Families are often seen with strollers walking over with toddlers in tow. If the journey was too far to get to Lost Lake there is a free bus back to the village. 

Two of Whistler MicroBrewarys are a 15-minute drive south of Whistler Village in Function Junction. Function Junction is home to Whistler Brewery and the newer Coast Mountain Brewery. Both breweries have bars and tasting rooms for you to sample their goods and enjoy some barley water. Whistler Brewery has some old classics like the Whistler GrapeFruit ale and the Powder Mountain Lager. Coast Mountain has a little more variety and new school taste. Coast Mountain’s more experimental brews have become staples at local homes. The Hope Your Happy IPA and the Crystal Chair Pilsner are must try if you stop in. Take some time out of your trip to visit the fine folks at these breweries. If Function is too far from town, check out the BrewHouse for their whistler classic microbrews. 

Experience the beautiful mountains in the evening alpenglow, soaking the snowcapped mountains with an incredible orangey-red glow. Take it all in from the Whistler Golf Course in the center of the valley. The cooler temperatures of the evening allow for a more relaxed golf game, prompting better scores and a good game. The evening light lets you see the greens with no interference or sun glare messing up your perspective. Enjoy a twilight golf game at Whistler Golf Club.