Whistler is one of the best getaway spots for Vancouver as it’s only a 2 hour drive and offers something for everyone. Although it’s better known as a winter destination, I researched a bunch of new summer activities and am so glad to have experienced some of them personally! There are a lot of fun things to do in Whistler in summer especially if you are ready for an adventure!
Read more of my local BC adventures
1. TAG Whistler Aerial Obstacle Course
I’ve always wanted to try out my agility on an obstacle course (have you ever watched The Floor is Lava on Netflix?) and was super intrigued by the Aerial Obstacle course. This 3 hour outing was one of the highlights of my trip!
There are 70 different challenges nestled between platforms. You’ll need to use your balance, upper body strength, and a strong core to get across! You are in a safety harness the whole time so no need to worry about falling. It was a really challenging but unique experience and I highly recommend this!
Most of the challenges involved stepping across ropes or logs and you can balance by an overhead line for the harness. There is a group instruction that happens at the beginning but for the remainder you can go at your own pace.
$74.99 per person Book online at TAG Whistler
2. Alpine Views in Peak 2 Peak Gondola
The Peak 2 Peak Gondola includes 3 separate lines, 2 going up the mountains and 1 connecting Blackcomb and and Whistler mountain. This year, due to Covid precautions, each party will get a gondola to themselves! I think it would be super fun to enjoy the mountain views in a private gondola! Although I didn’t get a chance to do this on my recent trip, the experience looks amazing.
Once you get to the top, you can hike a number of trails to explore alpine lakes, enjoy wildflowers, and admire the ancient glaciers. If you get tired, there is a restaurant at the Whistler Mountain peak and they have a gorgeous patio called the Umbrella Bar. The only disappointing part is that the Gondola is not open to the very top where the Inukshuk and Skybridge is located. Maybe I’ll get a chance to do it next summer and all the viewpoints will be open.
$75 per person on weekdays and $80 on weekends Book online at Whistler
3. Ketel One Ice Room
Vodka is hardly my first drink of choice, but the Ketel One Ice Room is a unique activity in Whistler. Wearing the arctic expedition parka and standing in a room full of ice, I felt like I achieved the iconic Whistler moment! I don’t know why I wore open toe sandals though, and I highly suggest you be smarter about your footwear.
I had a chance to taste 4 different vodkas each inside the -30 degree Celsius room! The parka really kept me feeling cozy (except my toes)! There are around 20 vodka bottles to choose from including some classics like Belvedere, Grey Goose and Ciroc and some more unique ones from Japan, Iceland, and Russia.
To be honest, I was a tiny bit disappointed with the experience but it might be that I was distracted that my toes might fall off from the cold! The couple before us had such a great time and my friends have had nothing but good things to say too! I thought the vodka would taste drastically different in the room and I’d be able to identify various flavours, but the only difference I noticed was that it burned less.
$48 per person + 15% gratuity. Book online through Tock.
4. Night Walk at Vallea Lumina
A new attraction that opened in Whistler in the last few years, Vallea Lumina is a mystical night walk with beautiful lights and music. A neat story line of finding two long lost hikers was an intriguing way to tie everything together. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this experience!
During the summer time, the shows start at 9pm and go until 11pm. It’s a perfect way to add in another activity in the evening after dinner time. The weather will be a bit chilly so definitely pack a sweater. You can meander through the forest at your own pace, observing the lights and music that fill up the night sky. The sound system must be using the newest technology as it seemed to surround the forest and was so realistic.
Towards the end of the walk is this bridge and all you can see are flashing lights in the darkness. It felt surreal and I stayed for a long time in one spot just enjoying the connection to nature.
$34.99 per person, or $25 per person if you book another activity such as rafting, ziplining, or the obstacle course we mentioned above! Book onine at Vallea Lumina
5. Massage at a Spa
The most iconic spa in Whistler is the Scandinave Spa with it’s stunning outdoor pools. However, they charge a pricey admission fee of $70 or $220 for an RMT massage. If you don’t want to shell out that much money, try the Spa at Nita Lake Lodge instead!
The Spa at Nita Lake Lodge has two outdoor hot tubs with really nice patio furniture. For covid rules, only one party is allowed in the hot tub at a time. They also have an eucalyptus steam room which smelled so heavenly. I like that you can control the temperature yourself. Lastly, their relaxation room is quite beautiful and I enjoyed the free tea and fruit water.
I really recommend the Spa at Nita Lake Lodge because I had one of the best massages of my life there! I chose the RMT option which was $160. my therapist was very diligent and used some new techniques that were super relaxing on the muscles!
Book a service online at Nita Lake Lodge
6. Bobsleigh down Olympic Park
This might be for the most adventurous activity I found but how cool is this experience? The track is the exact same that was used in the 2010 Olympics and you can zip down either in a bobsleigh or a skeleton! No experience is required for this once in a lifetime opportunity.
For the bobsleigh, you would be a passenger and a guided driver will take you down the track reaching speeds of 125 km/h. For even more adventure, you can go down by yourself headfirst on a skeleton. Both of these activities are $189 and start dates for 2020 will be determined soon.
More information available online – Whistler Sliding Center
7. Outdoor Climbing Lessons
I’ve always wanted to try outdoor rock climbing! As a first timer, you can try the Rock Climbing Taster tour with Mountain Skills Academy for a safe adventure. There’s no experience required and all the equipment will be set up for you by the instructors.
The Sea to Sky corridor is famous for rock climbing and bouldering. If you enjoyed the taster course, there are further classes you can take to improve your skills!
$99 per person for the Rock Climbing Taster course.
I had a lot of fun researching new and exciting things to do in Whistler. Hopefully you enjoyed one of these tips and will add it to your next trip!
I received a media trip for the Aerial Obstacle Course. Thanks TAG Whistler!