Wokingham and Bracknell Lifestyle Feb - Mar 2022

offers a whimsical journey through a forest filled with light,
sound and special effects. This is definitely one for the kids!
The Fairmont Chateau
The catered ski chalet model we are used to seeing in
European resorts hasn’t really taken off in most of North
America and the few that do exist tend to be luxury
end offerings with a walloping price tag. However there
are still a good many of choices of accommodation in
Whistler, from the fabulous ski in-ski out Fairmont Chateau
(complete with ski hosts to take and store your skis from
you before you even step inside) to the more modern pod
hostel concept on offer within the Pangea Pod Hotel (still
located slap bang in the centre of the action in Whistler
Village and a short walk to the gondolas) there are hotels,
AirBnB apartments, lodges and hostels to suit all budgets.
EN-ROUTE
The typical route to Whistler is to fly into Vancouver
and then take a cruise along the Sea to Sky Highway, a
stunning route in itself on the days when visibility hasn’t
been reduced to a few hundred metres. Why not extend the
trip and build up the anticipation by stopping for a couple
of days in BC’s capital?
Vancouver manages to be at once isolated yet intrinsically
linked with its striking backdrop of the Coastal Mountains.
The town itself holds all the usual trappings of quirky
bars, eateries and museums, but where it excels is as a
platform to kick-off and ease you into the exploration of its
magnificent setting.
Start off in a gentile manner; hire a bike and ride the ample
cycle paths to Stanley Park where the city seamlessly starts to
blend into its surroundings. Ride, walk or ride the train along
the routes criss-crossing the 400 Hectare park of coniferous
forest, hidden lakes and beaches with views of the foothills
of the Coast Mountains dipping their toes into the Strait of
Georgia (keep an eye out for river otters!). For the slightly more
adventurous, take the free shuttle to the Capilano Suspension
Bridge Park; set around a cedar rainforest lined gorge, it
represents quintessential back country Canada. Treetop and
cliff-side hugging walkways have been added to complement
the historic suspended footbridge, the crossing of which,
with its slight swaying and bouncing, make the experience as
exhilarating as it is beautiful.
Once the bracing outdoor air has roused your adventurous
spirits, take part in a plethora of other outdoor activities,
which offer something for any age, weather or season;
snowshoeing and ziplines at Grouse Mountain, scenic
sea plane tours from the harbour, rooftop jeep tent hire,
canyoning, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, white
water rafting and more hiking trails in the surrounding areas
than you can shake a trekking pole at.
While I won’t be swapping my annual helping of tartiflette
for a portion of poutine for good any time soon, I’d
encourage anyone; family or not, to give more than passing
consideration to a winter trip West of the pond. See you
out there!
Destination Canada/Grant Gunderson
BOOKING YOUR TRIP:
Accommodation in Whistler was with the stunning
Fairmont Chateau - find out more and book at
www.fairmont.com
More information about the resort can be found at:
www.whistler.com
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