Spring Skiing for Spring Break: April 1-7 2024 in Whistler, BC and Vancouver, BC.

Snow in April. Yes! If you’re in Northwest Canada.

Our family of 4 flew direct for 3 hours from LAX to Vancouver, British Columbia on United Airlines on April 1st. On our walk to the Enterprise rental car pick up we grabbed hot dogs at the famous Japadog airport trailer location. Japadog is one of the most iconic street foods in Vancouver! We tried the Kurobata Terimayo…kids had regular all beef dogs. Great snack! http://www.japadog.com

We picked up a rental pick up truck at Enterprise, threw the luggage and skis in the back and headed through Vancouver downtown and the cherry blossom trees blooming in Stanley Park to the Trans-Canada Highway, aka the Sea-to-Sky Highway, to get to the Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler. In good weather (no snowstorms) this drive takes 1 1/2 hours and it’s beautiful. Don’t miss the waterfalls and the lush green forests. My 7 and 9 year old daughters, who just watched the Twilight movies, said the scenery looked like the movie set; appropriate since they did film Eclipse and New Moon north of Vancouver.

Hotel

The Westin Resort & Spa is conveniently located in Whistler Village, a 5 minute walk from the main Whistler Gondola, the Fitzsimmons Express chair and Excalibur Gondola (takes you to Blackcomb Mountain). We stayed in a one bedroom with a fold out couch; adequate for our family of four at about $550 USD per night. They offered a 2-bedroom suite at check in for $1,250 USD per night, but we turned it down. Travel tip: remember to check the exchange rate. Canada was about 30% off relative to the USD during our trip. On sale!

We opted for the free breakfast buffet for two daily at the Westin’s Grill and Vine restaurant vs more Bonvoy points. This didn’t cover the kids, but the fee was minimal. The breakfast buffet had something for everyone including an omelet station and fresh pastries. Other family friendly conveniences…Westin keeps skis overnight and has a ski drop off station at the base of Whistler at the end of the day; an indoor outdoor pool and jacuzzi and a washer/dryer on each floor except 3rd. http://www.marriott.com

Ski

I’ve skied Whistler/Blackcomb periodically since I was about 9 years old with my family. It’s grown up A LOT in 37 years. There are two mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb, to explore. Both mountains are perfect for all skill levels.

In April, as the snow at the bases starts to get slushy, it helps to have 5,000 ft vertical at Whistler with 19 ski lifts and 5,200 ft vertical at Blackcomb with 12 ski lifts. There’s over 8,000 acres of skiable terrain combined. We take the Whistler gondola up in the morning and then ski halfway down all day until the lifts close OR cut over to Blackcomb on the Peak 2 Peak gondola. The Peak 2 Peak connecting the two mountains holds the Guinness World record as “highest cable car above ground.” The longest run is the Peak to Creek on Whistler at 7 miles long. Skiing here is the experience of a lifetime for passionate skiers!

During our 4 ski days in Whistler, we had a couple days of snowstorms then two days of sunshine and blue skies. The conditions were excellent…and again, it was April. Whistler is known for early season snowfall and opens typically in November. They have a long running season!

Apres Ski and Activities

Both villages are loaded with ski and clothing shops, coffee shops, ice cream parlors, bakeries, restaurants and parks. There is also a robust apre ski bar scene in the two main villages, Whistler and Blackcomb. Longhorn Pub is the hub in Whistler, with a DJ and dancing, but doesn’t allow anyone in who is under 18 after 1PM. Garibaldi Lift Co is the primary family apres ski spot in Whistler Village, no reservations taken. Blackcomb’s Longhorn equivalent is Merlin’s. I’m not an expert in this scene anymore…but http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com is on top of the latest nightlife.

Restaurant Recommendations

Whistler

Sushi Village: we walked 5 minutes from the Westin to Sushi Village on our first evening in Whistler. We put our name in and explored for about 30 minutes until the hostess texted me that our table was ready. They seated us in one of their tatami rooms and this is DEFINITELY the way to go with a family: private rooms where shoes are left outside. We had a bunch of apps, sake, beer and sushi…all great. Kid-friendly! http://www.sushivillage.com

Quattro Restaurant: also walkable from the Westin, Quattro is classic Italian and so good. We all ordered pasta and caesar salads…kids’ pasta was inexpensive and thoroughly enjoyed. http://www.quattrorestaurants.com

Lift Coffee Company: great spot to grab a breakfast sandwich and espresso before hitting the Whistler Gondola line. About a 2 minute walk from the Westin and convenient! http://www.forecastcoffee.ca

Two restaurants to avoid: Mongolie BBQ and the Teppan Village. Mongolie charges by the pound and can get very expensive. And Teppan Village had terrible fried rice, low quality meat and high prices.

One we missed…Bar Oso. The wait was too long both times we tried to get in. It’s Spanish tapas and supposed to be amazing. http://www.baroso.ca

Blackcomb Village – a 10 minute drive from the Westin Whistler

Four Seasons – Sidecut Steakhouse and smores: expensive, but well worth it. We like to pick at least one “splurge” night while on vacation with the kids. The Four Seasons staff absolutely catered to our daughters, including offering free smores from the courtyard food truck while we sipped cocktails and waited for our reservation. The exceptional service continued into the dining room where crayons and multiple coloring sheets were supplied frequently for the girls. Our waitress was kind and accommodating. We split a kobe beef burger with foie gras and one of the pastas…and a bottle of wine. The kids’ menu had an impressive variety of options including salad, salmon and steak. http://www.fourseasons.com

Portobello Market & Fresh Bakery: one of my favorites. Kid-friendly options and excellent selections for adults. I loved the Lox everything bagel sandwich and my husband loved the Farmers burrito. Great for breakfast/lunch/dinner. http://www.portobellowhistler.com

This is certainly not a comprehensive list, but it’s a start!!!!

Do spend some a couple days in Vancouver if able to. There are beautiful parks to explore, especially during Cherry Blossom season, early March to mid-April. Granville Island is a great place to explore and eat with kids too. http://www.granvilleisland.com