Your Kids Say They’re Bored: Now What? A Whistler Summer Guide
You’ve hit all the lakes, the Valley Trail and the village. Maybe your kids are more adventurous than average and hankering to join the high adrenaline crowd. If that is the case, here are some ideas that will have their cravings for high level excitement satisfied.
PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola and Hiking
The hiking trails on Blackcomb cannot be beat, and even young kids will enjoy the pace of the Alpine Walk Loop Trail overlooking the Fitzsimmons Valley. Take the PEAK 2 PEAK and yes, wait for the glass-bottomed gondola! You may be rewarded with the sight of a bear or two. Reward yourselves after your hike with a mountain top buffet, with treats like mouth-watering BBQ salmon, tasty salads, and decadent brownies. There is even live music to perfect the mountain-top experience!
Zipline like a Champion
Would just anyone attempt the Sasquatch? No, but your kids might. The Sasquatch is a zipline operated by ZipTrek EcoTours, an eco-adventure company which started in Whistler in 2002, and now operates ziplines in Quebec and New Zealand. Their latest offering – open to kids aged 10 and up – is the longest zipline in North America and only available during the summer season – so get on it! This zip is over two kilometres long and zippers can travel to speeds of over 100 kilometres an hour! Younger kids can try ZipTrek’s TreeTrek Tour.
Cruise Down the Downhill Bike Trails
Ever tackled the A-line bike trail in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park? Enroll the kids in one of Whistler Blackcomb’s downhill mountain bike camps to see if they have what it takes to crank it up on the trails.
Take a Day Trip
Those wishing to venture further afield can take a day trip to Joffre Lakes – a world-renowned provincial park with three of the most beautiful turquoise glacier lakes in North America. The drive from Whistler is just 90 minutes. Kids as young as five will love the well-maintained trails and gorgeous views. Bring your bathing suits: in summer, though brisk, the water in the second lake is refreshing and worthy of a family photo opp. In early summer, sometimes a chunk of ice can be seen floating in the middle of the third (and highest) lake. This sight alone is worth the final push to the top.
Up Close and Personal with Black Bears
Whistler’s bears are quite a sight to behold for kids and adults alike. Learn about the bears in their natural habitat with a bear tour on Blackcomb with experienced naturalist guides. The American Black Bear is the most common species of bear in the region and there are over 60 of them that call Whistler and Blackcomb home. This unique tour is recommended for kids ages 10 and up.
Ride the Rapids
Whistler has several excursions in its surrounding rivers, offering white-water (and white-knuckled) adventure. Rapids on the Cheakamus River are perfect for kids as young as six, whereas the more daring Green River rapids are suited to kids aged 10 and up. On a hot day you can be sure that you’ll all be refreshed as well.
No matter what summer activity you choose there is simply no excuse for your kids to say “I’m bored”.
Photo Credit: Tourism Whistler / Mike Crane
