A Winter Escape with Summit Lodge Whistler
Over the holiday season, I decided go on snowy staycation.
I had made the trek home to Vancouver to spend some quality time with friends and family, whom I haven’t gotten to see nearly enough in the past 2-3 years of being abroad often.
Since I was in town, I wanted to make the most of it and enjoy some nature and mountain air. I had spent the past year living in London and city-hopping around Europe, so it was nice to get away for a bit.
I’ve been to Whistler quite a few times over the years but I think this was my favorite trip of all!
This blog post is about places to eat, things to do, and a review of Summit Lodge, the lovely hotel that made my trip so much better.
The Trip to Whistler
Distance: 120km
Driving time: 1 hour and 45 minutes, depending on road conditions (it can get pretty snowy along the way)
Route: From downtown Vancouver, drive down West Georgia St, across the Lions Gate, and west then north along Highway 99 until you reach Whistler Village
Fun fact: The highway from Vancouver to Whistler is called the Sea to Sky, aptly named as the drive takes you from the ocean into the mountains. The highway was reworked for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. A number of my friends were studying Civil Engineering at UBC during this time and worked on the project.
While driving to Whistler is preferred since it makes it easier to get around to the nearby lakes and towns, I unfortunately don’t have a car at the moment!
Thankfully, there are a lot of shuttle services that run throughout the day from Vancouver to Whistler. Just do a Google search and you’ll find options from Downtown Vancouver, Vancouver International Airport, UBC, and various locations around the city.
We went with Epic Rides, which costs $35 for a round trip. I’ve used this company before and found them probably because they have great SEO (oh, the mind of a marketer!)
Other companies such as Pacific Coach, Whistler Rides, and Snowbus also offer trips.
Where to Stay
Summit Lodge Whistler
Website: www.summitlodge.com
Address: 4359 Main St, Whistler
In Whistler, I stayed at Summit Lodge, a boutique hotel at the north end of the village. I wanted something cozy and local instead of an international chain.
Summit Lodge was voted “Canada’s Best Ski Boutique Hotel” for the past four years running, “Best Boutique Hotel in North America”, and “Best Lifestyle Hotel in Canada.“
The hotel designates itself as “handcrafted for the playful”—I mean, how could I not stay there?!
Amazing Welcome & Staff
We arrived at around 1:30 in the afternoon and were greeted by lovely staff. They told us that our room wasn’t quite ready yet and took down my number so they could give me a call once the room was.
We decided to go for a pint at the Brewhouse down the street and I got a call that the room was ready shortly after we got our drinks.
No Detail Spared
One of my favorite things about Summit Lodge are the details. The lobby offers beautifully presented complimentary coffee, hot chocolate, fruit infused water, and even a candy bar!
I was told that the hotel manager has a background in interior design, and it’s easy to see among the aesthetics throughout the hotel.
The Accommodations
I stayed in the Deluxe Studio at Summit Lodge. The studios are small, very cozy, and a bit quirky.
As I flopped down among the feather pillows on the king-sized bed, I thought to myself, I’ve been mostly living out of a suitcase for the past three years. If I could own a studio flat that looks just like this, I would be so so very happy.
Studios include:
- Bed (with stuffed animal…still haven’t figured out what it is)
- Full kitchen with microwave, stove, and fridge
- Bathroom with large tub for soaking (definitely had a bubble bath) and MALIN+GOETZ skincare products
And when I say no detail spared, I mean no detail was spared!
There was a handwritten letter welcoming me to the hotel, and I was provided with an Instax Mini camera to use during my stay, as well as a loaf of locally baked bread with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and sea salt.
I had been introduced to a drink called the Aperol Spritz while in Italy earlier in the year and had been making everyone I met up with in Europe try the Italian cocktail.
Having sipped the bubbly drink together around Europe during the summer, we were delighted to find Aperol mix at the BC Liquor Store nearby and decided to have a little room party.
Behold: The Spread!
Pool & Spa
What’s better than soaking in an outdoor hot tub on a snowy day, and having a balcony overlooking the pool surrounded by snowy woods?
Unfortunately, Whistler had a relatively slow onset of winter this season—the slopes were snowy but the Village not so much.
Nevertheless, I went for a very relaxing soak. And by the way, the pool is heated as well!
I didn’t get a chance to enjoy the services at the spa (was too busy outside exploring), but stuck my head in to take a few photos. The receptionist was lovely and let me poke around to my heart’s content.
Where to Eat
Brewhouse
The Brewhouse is a Whistler staple, occupying a large space right beside the Olympic Plaza, and is one of the most popular spots in the Village year-round. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, there’s a cute toy train system that runs along the ceiling, and the staff are super friendly. The restaurant and bar serves large portions of comfort food and craft beer.
Purebread
The Summit team recommended stopping by Purebread, a cafe and bakery near the hotel. There were so many delicious-looking sweets I didn’t know where to start! I ended up (eventually) deciding on a chocolate and peanut butter bar.
21 Steps
For our first night in Whistler, we decided to be a bit fancy and check out 21 Steps. The restaurant was busy when we arrived right at dinner time, but we were nevertheless seated quickly. We ordered one of their signature cocktails, Fresh Mussels with Thai red curry broth to share, and I simply had to get the Wild BC Salmon Fillet as my main (I had been deprived of good salmon all year living in London). Everything was delicious and I felt super sated after the meal.
Elements Urban Tapas
The Summit team recommended Elements Urban Tapas for breakfast, saying that their benedicts were “legendary.” I ordered the benedits with sautéed spinach, goat’s cheese, and sundried tomato hollandaise and it was indeed legendary! The plate was even served with a shot of melon juice.
Cows
Cows is a Whistler-staple sweet shop that serves some of the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted. Even though it was freezing outside, I still had to get a cone and was met with a “Really? Ice cream in this weather?” Since my birthday had recently passed, I got the birthday cake flavor. I complained about being cold shortly after while walking around the village and got and was laughed at. Worth it!
Pasta Lupino
The Summit team also recommended that I eat at Pasta Lupino, a casual Italian restaurant across from the hotel. I felt like a traditional spaghetti and meatballs and didn’t even come close to finishing my meal…so it was pasta for breakfast the next day as well.
Mongolie Grill
Mongolie Grill is a chain restaurant around Vancouver with a large, cozy space in Whistler. I always like the DIY aspect of it. They have a bar where you pick your own meats, veggies, and sauces, and the chefs cook your food in front of you.
What to Do
See the Olympic Relics
If you didn’t get to experience the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, I feel sorry for you! Those two weeks were some of the best times of my life. Never had I seen a city so alive and full of ecstatically happy people. And if you weren’t downtown when Canada won gold in ice hockey against the US, you missed out on a truly magical moment.
During the Olympics, I was out every day cheering my country on. I modeled in one of the Victory Ceremony shows showcasing well-known local designers and got a center stage pass to the Nelly Furtado concert after. I also drove up to Whistler one evening on a whim on saw another Victory Ceremony, with Our Lady Peace performing.
And so anything related to the the 2010 Olympics holds a special place in my heart. Whistler hosted a large portion of the Games and must-see iconic relics remain throughout the Village.
Ice Skating in the Whistler Olympic Plaza
The stage at Olympic Plaza, which held the nightly Victory Ceremonies, has now been converted into a skating rink during the winter while hosting concerts throughout the summer. It started snowing when we went! Skating among falling snow and Christmas lights really made my holiday season.
Admission: Free
Rental skates: $6
Also, I had just gone ice skating several days prior at the rink by the Tower of London for my office Christmas party. I’m not great at skating (or any sport) but literally all of my colleagues were worse! It definitely gave me a newfound interest in winter sports. It was funny to compare the ice skating skills of the British in London with those of Canadians in Whistler!
Skii and Board
I’ll tell you a secret. I’ve never skied in Whistler before. Why? Because I’m not very good at it and don’t think it’s worth paying for a lift ticket to ski Whistler or Blackcomb Mountains just so I can tumble down. If I move back to Vancouver, I’ll practice on the mountains closer to the city (that have much cheaper lift tickets) until I’m good enough to give Whistler a go!
Lift tickets: Around $130 (details here)
Hike to Lost Lake
Lost Lake is a lake located relatively near the Village. We thought about going cross-country skiing through the trails but the snow wasn’t quite thick enough so we decided just to hike it instead. There’s a lodge at the entrance of the trails that rent out skis and snowshoes.
It was wonderfully calming and therapeutic to walk among a dense forest of pine trees covered in snow. I felt at home and at peace. I really am Canadian at heart!
Wander Around Whistler Village
The first time I went to Whistler during the winter, my immediate thought was that I had walked into a snow globe. The village is quaint, cozy, and looks like a winter fairytale. During the holiday season, the trees are decked out in colorful lights, making the Village seem that much more magical!
I always love wandering around at night and seeing the falling snow.
Whistler was an amazing way to celebrate my belated birthday and kick off the holiday season!
A very special thank you to Summit Lodge for making all of this possible.
To book a room for your Whistler trip, just visit the Summit Lodge website.
