Quick Spring Trips: Whistler, B.C.
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The Hook
For starters, Whistler offers more terrain deeper into spring—and, yes, summer—than any other resort on the continent. (Whistler Mountain will stay open into April; Blackcomb until June 8.) And the place is so ridiculously big (8,171 acres, 17 bowls, three glaciers) that you can be sure to find skiing to fit any appetite or ability. And Whistler has nearly single-handedly redefined the spring ski vacation during the past decade by offering a nonstop schedule of events, anchored by the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival (April 11–20).
Convenience Quotient
Moderate. Flying into Vancouver is a haul from the East Coast, though not from the West. Then it’s about a two-hour drive. But after you arrive, this mega-resort comes as close as any to offering everything for everyone. Reminder: Don’t forget your passport.
The Deal
Stay two nights at the luxurious Four Seasons Resort Whistler after April 13 and receive your third night free (fourseasons.com/whistler).
Don’t Miss
Fly among the treetops like Peter Pan with a Ziptrek Ecotour. Suspended in a harness from a cable up to 200 feet off the valley floor, you’ll soar through the temperate rain forest. Between flights, guides take you on a tour of old-growth giants via a series of trails and suspension bridges (ziptrek.com).
MARCH/APRIL 2008