Whistler Family Fun: Year-round Activities Bring Everyone Together
Whistler ranks among the best ski resorts in Canada, but this spot is also a favorite for family activities throughout the year. Various outdoor recreation, museums, trails and escape rooms all provide visitors a place to play and spend time together. Keep reading to learn about Whistler family fun and find things to do.
Whistler Family Fun: Vacation Ideas for All Ages
Winter Outdoor Recreation
While Whistler offers four seasons of outdoor recreation, winter is a top tourism season due to the area’s ski and snowboard options. Those traveling with children can enroll them in Whistler Kids Ski School. Kids will then work with professionals to learn how to ski and snowboard based on their age and abilities.
Other winter outdoor activities for children include riding the gondola, winter ziplining, snowshoeing, ice skating, sledding and tubing. The tube park allows families to snow tube more than 1,000 feet, and opens from December to April. Families with teenagers may want to book a helicopter tour such as the heli ice cave and ice cap explore. This option tours Canada’s largest southernmost ice cap and frozen natural wonders.
Summer Outdoor Recreation
During warmer months, snow melts and a whole new playground emerges. Whistler ranks as a top place for mountain biking as well as hiking, summer ziplining, golf and gondola rides.
Those looking for water activities have access to five lakes and nearly a dozen parks. Many lakes in Whistler have sandy beaches, docks, playgrounds, grills and picnic tables. For more action, head to the parks. Families can visit traditional parks where kids play sports and walk paths. More adventurous souls enjoy Whistler Olympic Plaza, Whistler Skate Park and Whistler Skills Park. Each offer a place for children to practice their favorite activities such as skateboarding and biking.
Hiking is another popular pastime. The area has dozens of hiking trails suited for all ages. Short trails cater to those with younger children. Longer trails test fitness levels and keep everyone moving. In addition, families can book guided hikes and explore waterfalls, the train wreck site, backcountry and other natural attractions.
Meadow Park Sports Centre
Meadow Park Sports Centre provides a place for families to enjoy fun activities year-round. Visitors enjoy trying new workouts and classes at the fitness center and playing squash and basketball. The aquatic centre offers a place to swim laps, splash in the leisure pool and relax in the hot tub. For more fun, lace up ice skates and join a public skate or play hockey. Single-day admission and passes are available.
Visit Museums
Whistler also has a rich arts and culture scene. To sample the area’s diversity and history, explore some museums. The top Whistler museums pay homage to artists, different cultures, local history, sports and live entertainment. Whistler Public Library also welcomes families to attend seminars and movie nights.
Vallea Lumina
In addition, Vallea Lumina delights families as it provides a multimedia night walk. Guests will immerse into an interactive light show set in a forest near Cougar Mountain. While walking through the light show, visitors will hear about hikers and local legends.
Play Escape Whistler
Ranked among the top Whistler family fun activities, escape rooms encourage groups to work and play together in a safe place. For example, Escape Whistler has four room options. Pirate Ship is perfect for beginners, and buried cabin, pinball machine and rabbit hole cater to intermediate and advanced players.
Never played? Expect to be locked in a room in groups up to six people. From there, solve puzzles, riddles and clues within 45 minutes to escape.
Forged Axe Throwing
Forged Axe Throwing also ranks among the top Whistler family fun picks for its Canadian experience. Groups can enjoy one-hour sessions or rent the venue for three hours of axe-throwing excitement. In an hour, guests ages 10 and older learn one- and two-handed throws and fun games. Forged Axe Throwing also hosts tournaments.
Start planning a trip to Canada, and find spacious Whistler vacation homes near skiing, hiking trails, shopping and other attractions.
Main photo: Photo by Max Harlynking on Unsplash