When planning a family vacation in the summer, going to a ski resort doesn't seem to make much sense. After all, how much fun is a ski resort without snow? Are these places even open during the summer? If the ski resort in question is Whistler/Blackcomb in British Columbia, there will be no shortage of activities at any time of year.
Family Vacation at Whistler/Blackcomb
Located in southwest British Columbia, Whistler/Blackcomb is an ideal place to escape the heat of summer. When the snowflakes subside, the biggest ski resort in North America makes use of all the lodging facilities and ski lifts.
Some of the activities that could be included in a family vacation in this picturesque alpine setting include hiking, mountain biking, golf, wildlife viewing and even skiing. (There are 3 glaciers in the area)
Whistler and Blackcomb Mean More than Skiing
Whistler and Blackcomb are two separate mountains that are located side by side. Their chair lifts are used in the summer to bring hikers and mountain bikers up the mountain. There are more than 200 ski trails on the mountains, and many can be used for mountain biking and hiking.
The Peak 2 Peak gondola allows a quick and scenic trip from Whistler to Blackcomb. The 28 passengers who fit into each gondola cabin can enjoy a 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains while contemplating a couple facts:
- The Peak 2 Peak gondola has an unsupported span of more than 3 kilometers.
- At some points along the way, the floor of their cabin and a quarter mile of air are all that separates them from the valley floor.
By the way, both of those statistics are world records.
In addition to the trails and lifts, a maze of roads wind their way up and around the two mountains. These roads lead to another popular family vacation activity at Whistler/Blackcomb: Wildlife viewing. Some 50 black bears call the two mountains home, and they can be seen from the safety of 4 wheel drive vehicles that traverse the two peaks.
Golf at Whistler/Blackcomb
Several golf courses in the area take full advantage of the scenic views and undulating landscape. Among these is the Nicklaus North Golf Course. This par 71 course has all the goodies that a golfer on holiday might expect, including full service golf shop, GPS on every cart and a 20,000 square foot dining room and lounge. It also can lay claim to something that no other golf course in the world can: It bears the name of the man who designed it: Jack Nicklaus.
Whistler/Blackcomb didn't forget the future hackers of the world. An 18 hole mini-golf course is part of the Blackcomb Base Adventure Zone, which features attractions for the whole family. These activities include a luge track, rock climbing wall, batting cage, go-cart track and bungy trampoline, to name a few.
Given the cost of running a ski resort, using the available facilities to bring in some extra tourist cash in the summer makes perfect sense. Many ski resorts, such as Telluride in Colorado or Sun Valley in Idaho take advantage of the lifts, lodging and mountain scenery to provide family vacation possibilities at all times of year.
At a ski resort the size of Whistler/Blackcomb, those possibilities are almost endless.
Dave Lovejoy - Dave is a graduate of the University of Nebraska. He is involved in farming and has a custom made furniture business that has customers ...
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