Despite being a Colorado Native I am not what I would call a skier. I do own a snowboard, but my skills more than rusty and at this point I am probably a better lodge bunny. When I think of visiting Canada in the winter, my mind is full of snowy slopes and hot cocoa. As I recently learned, from Rachael at Forged Axe Throwing skiing is not a mandatory Whistler activity. I’m excited Rachael was able to share these tips about other things you can do in Canada and I’m looking forward to planning a trip there soon!
Nestled in the mountains of British Columbia, Whistler is Canada’s very own winter wonderland. Famous around the world as a leading ski resort, the dramatic scenery and impressive slopes draw the crowds year after year. But what if you don’t ski?
While there’s no denying Whistler’s snowsport credentials, there’s so much more to this mountain village than simply snowboarding or skiing. Here, we take a look at the non-ski activities waiting to be enjoyed.
LEARN TO AXE THROW
Unleash your inner lumberjack by learning the art of axe throwing. Yes, axe throwing. This distinctly Canadian pastime has grown in popularity across the world in recent months and there’s something truly satisfying about hurling an axe down an alley in an attempt to hit a bullseye.
As Whistler’s only indoor axe throwing venue, Forged Axe Throwing is THE place to head for. Regardless of experience, the Forged team will provide you with all the help and training you need to get you throwing your first bullseye. Axe throwing is the ideal group activity and is particularly popular for those in Whistler for bachelor or bachelorette parties.
GO SNOWMOBILING
Take your adventure to another level by enjoying one of the guided snowmobile tours through the Whistler landscape. Blackcomb Snowmobile offers an impressive selection of tours including family tours (they have cute snowmobiles for kids), scenic tours, and wilderness tours, all generally taking 2-4 hours. For those that have experience of snowmobiles, the extreme tour is well worth checking out. You’ll enjoy a high octane journey through the dramatic Whistler backcountry, learning how to side-hill like a pro all under the eye of senior, experienced guides.
Zip Trek eco tours
RIDE THE ZIPLINES
While you may not want to ski, you’ll likely still want to enjoy some adrenaline-fuelled fun. Ziptrek Ecotours boasts the longest zipline in North America at over two km long, and their Twilight Tour is particularly popular with those looking for a fun way to watch the winter sun setting in the Whistler sky. Alternatively, choose from a number of other ziplining tour types each taking 2-4.5 hours, and transporting you at altitudes of 7,000 ft – the ultimate eco-exhilaration.
VISIT THE TUBE PARK
Head to Whistler Blackcomb Coca-Cola Tube Park to enjoy the exciting yet affordable fun of sliding down a 1000 feet tube. There’s no need to worry about the climb to the top, as once you reach the bottom, you’ll find a special conveyor lift ready to take you right back! This activity does get particularly busy during the festive season, but that simply adds to the fun.
Dogsledding in the Callaghan Valley with Canadian Wilderness Adventures
LEARN TO MUSH
There’s something pretty magical about taking a dog sled tour through the winter landscape. Take in your glorious surroundings wrapped in a blanket, all behind a rather enthusiastic team of gorgeous Arctic snow dogs. Based in the Callaghan Valley, the Canadian Wilderness tour guides will take you through snow frosted forests, providing you with a rest at an abandoned trapper’s camp on Totem Lake. You can take the reins yourself, learning the commands to ‘mush’ your own dog team, or simply kick back and let your tour guide do the hard work.
TAKE THE ULTIMATE WHISTLER SELFIE
While there are Instagrammable selfie backdrops at every turn in Whistler, the Cloudraker Skybridge is arguably one of the best. The breathtaking suspension bridge spans 130m from Whistler Peak to the West Ridge, crossing high above Whistler Bowl and offering breathtaking views over the winter landscape. The Raven’s Eye Cliff Walk includes a viewing platform with 360° views from Whistler’s Peak. Say cheese!
Audain Art Museum, Whistler. Photo by Justa Jeskova.
VISIT THE MUSEUMS
For those who love a little culture, the museums and galleries in Whistler are a must-visit. A visit to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre comes highly recommended, celebrating the history and culture of local First Nations. The Whistler Museum has a remarkable variety of exhibits too, telling engaging stories, sharing historical photographs and even showcasing an original gondola cabin! The Whistler Public Library plays host to a number of seminars and movie nights, as well as being home to ‘Whister’s Living Room’. It’s a cultural and community hub for locals, seasonals and visitors alike.
RELAX AT THE SPA
Take time out for yourself at Whistler’s Scandinave Spa, immersing yourself into hot tubs, cold plunge pools, and saunas, or choosing from one of the many massages and treatments. The Vida Spa at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler is also a highly rated spa experience.
RIDE THE PEAK 2 PEAK GONDOLA
The bright red Peak 2 Peak Gondolas are something of a feat of engineering taking riders between the imposing Blackcomb and Whistler mountains. It has the longest unsupported lift span in the world at 3.024 km (or 1.88 miles) and is the highest lift of its kind in the world at 436 meters (or 1,427 feet). You’ll enjoy 360’ views of Whistler and its magnificent surroundings while onboard. Who cares about skiing when you can enjoy a ride like this?!
Whistler Village’s with Christmas lights at dusk
GO TOBOGGANING
Tobogganing at Whistler’s Olympic Park is another fun, affordable activity to add to your itinerary off the ski slopes. There’s no need to purchase tickets online beforehand, just show up at the Park entry gate and pay the $15 fee for access per vehicle. Entry payment includes rentals (although you can also bring your own) and access to the toboggan hill. Keep in mind that those under the age of 18 must wear CSA approved helmets, although helmets are recommended for all. Head to the on-site Day Lodge to enjoy hot chocolate, delicious hot food and indulgent treats.
It’s pretty clear there’s so much more to Whistler than simply skiing and there are many more great activities that don’t involve a pair of skis! Click here to find out more.
Enjoy Whistler…
Guest post written by Rachael Hopwood Jarvis. Photos provided by Whistler Tourism
College football may have officially started last week but for me Football season doesn’t really start until the Rocky Mountain Showdown [especially since then I can pretend CSU’s brutal beating to Hawaii didn’t happen].
Tailgating at the Showdown was always one of my favorite things in college and now that I’m an Alumni I love going to the game because it doesn’t require a drive up to Fort Collins.
I shared my favorite breakfast tailgate recipe last week, Tailgate Breakfast Tacos, and today I’m cooking up BBQ Bacon Burgers on the Discada for lunch. Burgers are a tailgate staple but using the discada allows you to punch the dish up a level by frying bacon, sautéing onions and toasting the buns. It’s a classy way to tailgate!
Discada’s are made from a recycled plow disk and welded in the center so they can act similar to a wok when placed on top of a burner stand. I’m using the 22″ Discada and 12″ burner stand from Carolina Cooker. This set up is big enough to cook 10 – 12 burgers at a time.
This is another recipe I wrote before starting Whole30 😉
BBQ Bacon Burgers
Everyone loves burgers when they are tailgating and this recipe elevates you from tailgating rookie to tailgate graduate student.
You’ll want to mix up your patties before you head to the game. You can make them up the night before and store in a ziplock baggy with waxed paper in between each one.
For 1lb of ground beef I used 1/4 cup of Carolina Cooker’s Sweet with a Little Heat BBQ Sauce. After that I mixed in 1/2 an onion and 2 chopped Anaheim peppers. This will make 4 burgers and you can easily multiple the recipe for the number of people you plan to visit your tailgate.
Once the burgers are shaped its time to head outside to heat up the discada. I used a medium high heat for the bacon and allowed it to cook for 10 minutes. As soon as the bacon was finished I added the burgers to the already hot pan.
Burgers should cook for 5-10 mins or until the center temperture reaches 160 degrees. If you want to add additional toppings the leftover grease is perfect for sautéing onions and you can toast your buns around the outside edge of the discada.
[tasty-recipe id=”2597″]
Disclaimer: I received a product sample from Carolina Cooker to inspire this post. All content, opinions and thoughts are my own.
I can’t believe it’s already August. I feel like the year has flown by and we’re already racing towards the winter months. As sad as I am for the end of summer, one of my favorite things about fall is college football and I can’t wait to get back up to Fort Collins for some tailgating at the new Canvas Stadium.
Last summer I went to visit family in New Mexico and was introduced to cooking on a Discada. Discada’s are made from recycled plow discs that have been welded in the center. Similar to a wok, the steel provides a hot surface that is perfect for cooking a wide variety of items, making it the ideal tool for a supreme tailgate.
I am so excited to introduce you to my new favorite way to tailgate, cooking on a Discada from Carolina Cooker. My set up is a 12 inch stand with a 22 inch discada. If you’d like something a bit taller, they also have a 22 inch stand available but I really love the portability of the 12 inch stand. For the next few weeks I’ll be sharing a few of my favorite tailgate recipes that you can whip up in a discada and impress the whole crew this season.
I put this recipe together before starting Whole30 so don’t get excited thinking I gave up so quickly.
Tailgate Breakfast Tacos
We all know tailgating in the morning is hard. You have to get up early, find parking and then start cooking. I am the kind of person who needs to have a real breakfast as the first meal of the day, so breakfast tacos are the perfect solution for early kick off times.
Start off by heating the discada on a medium flame. You want it warm enough to be able to easily saute the sausage but not so hot things start to burn.
Brown the sausage in the middle of the pan. Once the sausage is fully cooked, add the onions. Allow the onions to cook in the drippings from the sausage.
Add the bell peppers.
Once all the veggies are fully cooked it’s time to add in the eggs. If you wanted to use a bowl to scramble ahead of time you could but I prefer to make less mess while tailgating and scramble directly in the discada.
Season to taste with Carolina Cajun Seasoning.
Once the eggs are fully cooked, warm the tortillas on the edge of the pan. Top with salsa, cheese and your favorite toppings and head on into the game!
[tasty-recipe id=”2575″]
Disclaimer: I received a product sample from Carolina Cooker to inspire this post. All content, opinions and thoughts are my own.
I’m a whole 10 days in and as challenging as it has been I’m surprised to be nearly 2/3 of the way through the entire 30 days. Now that I’ve established a routine, it’s a lot easier to get through each day without always trying to determine what my next meal plan would have to be. Meal planning is definitely the key to not being stressed out throughout the day. Continue Reading…
Welcome to My Bliss
