Suddenly, the hulking mountain looked like a lair for mythical winged creatures. The misty blue islands seemed to be floating freely in the placid grey waters. Huge boulders were no longer just rocks, but the remnants of a battle between giants.
And the highway I was travelling on, the famous Sea-to-Sky that runs between Vancouver and Whistler, bore traces of an ancient trade route.
This appropriately named roadway wends its way along the dramatic coastline of British Columbia as it ascends into the Coast Mountains. The views around each curve are more stunning than the last, making the journey almost as rewarding as the destination. And it is a journey worth taking for many reasons.
Whistler’s reputation as one of the world’s top-ranked ski destinations is beyond question. Many of the 2010 Winter Olympics events were held here, and it’s consistently ranked the number one mountain resort in North America.
But I visited in summer, which draws even more tourists and recreation enthusiasts. Hiking, wildlife viewing, mountain biking, relaxing, and dining are some of the main draws. The name Whistler comes from the sound a hoary marmot makes. Apparently, hoary marmots whistle.
Whistler is not only surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery, it is spectacularly clean and well-maintained.
When I got off the bus in the centre of the small town, another smaller shuttle bus was waiting there to take me to the Four Seasons Hotel. The driver of the big bus smiled at me as I got off, and the driver of the shuttle bus smiled at me as I got on. After the gorgeous scenery, the second thing I noticed about Whistler is that everyone smiles. A lot.
The Four Seasons is at the far edge of town, at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, and it’s a spectacular destination on its own. A handsome wood-and-stone structure, it is the top-rated luxury resort in town. It elegantly captures the mountain resort look-and-feel with native art and other artifacts on display.
