Gay Travel Whistler
Whistler is best known for being the mountain host of the 2010 Winter Olympics, and it has built quite the resort destination irrespective of the season. During the winter, Whistler and Blackcomb mountains combine to create the largest skiable area in all of North America. During the summer, mountain bikers careen down corners while couples hike through meadows of wildflowers and cannonball into mountain lakes. For the outdoorsy gay, Whistler is a dream destination.
Photo Credits: Carlos Blanco
The WhistlerBlackcomb experience includes more than just skiing. Get out and explore Cavanaugh Valley on a snowmobile or snowshoe. Go ziplining over Fitzsimmons Creek, where it’s like zipping through a snow globe. Take a spa day at the luscious Scandinave Spa, or have an Olympic moment at Whistler Olympic Park. The resort has done a fantastic job at diversifying, and making Whistler a world-class, year-round destination.
Whistler Village has also expanded to accommodate the growing interest of international visitors, with top-notch restaurants appearing alongside more casual après-ski venues. The Village is cute and compact, offering everything a traveler needs within a five-minute walk: groceries, restaurants, bars, boutique shops, and hotels are all spread out through the Lower and Upper Villages.
Weather is appropriately seasonal, with heavy snowfall regularly gracing the slopes in the winter and sun showers blanketing the very same slopes in the summer. Consider yourself blessed if you are able to visit often because the Village reinvents itself for each season!
What do you want to discover?
Top Things to See and Do in Whistler
MUST DO: Attractions & Activities
MUST VISIT: Gay-friendly Bars & Nightlife
Local Expert: Gay Scene in Whistler
Whistler has a fabulous gay scene accompanied by an award-winning mountain resort community that gives you a sophisticated, gay-friendly array of hotels, inns, resorts, bars, and clubs.
Whistler has been welcoming gays for decades, and with its newfound Olympic glory, the resort has become a top destination for the active gay.
Whistler Village is surrounded by the vast peaks of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains and is a well-designed, livable space that merges seamlessly with its natural surroundings. Shopping is surprisingly robust, with Lululemon and North Face among the brands that have set up shop in town. Food is varied, from world-class elegance to homey goodness.
One of the most popular times to visit is during February’s WinterPRIDE celebrations, a ten-day event that brings people from all around the world to Whistler Village. It is one of the largest ski weeks, taking advantage of the largest skiable terrain in all of North America, and runs a wonderfully diverse schedule that reflects the many tastes of the community. If you aren’t a skier or snowboarder, you can try your hand at snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or ziplining. Or perhaps you’d like to do a tasting tour of Whistler or soak through a spa day at the Scandinave Spa?
Photo Credits: Tourism Whistler
Whistler is also equally entertaining in the summer, when mountain biking, hiking, and lake swimming bring in a huge wave of people invigorated by the mountain air and the warm sun.
Best Time to Visit Whistler
Any time is a great time to visit Whistler, depending on the activities that you have planned, planning ahead will ensure an unforgettable experience. If you are looking to camp and go hiking, June and July will be great for the perfect sun and clear trails. If you are looking to Ski, January to March would be ideal weather for skiing and snowboarding.
Photo Credits: Jess Aston
Top Things to See and Do in Whistler
MUST DO: Whistler Attractions & Activities
Whistler is an outdoorsman haven. There is plenty of outdoor activities along with great leisure activities with a stunning backdrop of natural beauty. In the spring and summer months, you can go on one of its many hiking trails and see what the wilderness has to offer. You can also end your hiking trip by taking a quiet picnic next to a crystal-clear lake and enjoying the fresh breeze running through your hair. In the winter months, there are snowboarding and ski events happening throughout the winter. There is even snow hiking and mountain climbing for the more adventurous traveler. For the not-so-adventurous traveler, there are plenty of leisure activities such as spas, hot tubs, bars, and more. Finally, make sure to take some time to take in the night sky. Plan a stargazing trip while you're there, or take a little time to take a quick walk and look up.
Photo Credit: James Wheeler
MUST EAT: Whistler Gay-Friendly Dining
There are plenty of different varieties of food you can try while in Whistler. From pub burgers to contemporary fine dining, there are different types of food to choose from. You can spend your time bouncing from restaurant to restaurant trying different takes on modern sushi, Italian, and contemporary American cuisine. If you had to try just one dish, it should be seafood. With its close proximity to the ocean, you are guaranteed to have some of the freshest seafood you can get.
MUST VISIT: Whistler Gay-Friendly Bars & Nightlife
Depending on the time of year, Whistler holds many different LGBT events depending on the time of year. During gay ski week, there are a ton of different events, soirees, and mixers that happen around that time period. Also, some hotel bars offer weekly LGBT nights that many people come from all over to join in on the fun. Make sure to do a bit of research and ask the hotel concierge before you go. That way you will be up to date on all of the fun events happening when you visit.
Travel Safety Tips
Whistler is considered a very safe and fun place to visit. The scenery is beautiful year-round and the air is crisp and clean. While visiting, it's always smart to plan ahead and pack accordingly. If you are going during the warmer months, bring sunblock and drink plenty of water. During the winter months, pack accordingly and make sure your hiking gear is working properly. This way you can ensure a fun and memorable time while visiting.
The Gay Scene in Whistler
Whistler has a fabulous gay scene accompanied by an award-winning mountain resort community that gives you sophisticated, gay-friendly array of hotels, inns, resorts, bars, and clubs.
View the Gay Scene in Whistler
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