If you know about Whistler, it’s typically because it’s North America’s largest ski resort offering 200+ trails over 8,000 acres. But it’s just not in the winter that Whistler excels. The summer months are beginning to eclipse their cooler counterparts as people discover Whistler’s hiking, lakes, and world-class biking scene. Then there are the few who know that Whistler’s “quieter” seasons, spring and fall, have their specific charms.
My point is, that Whistler is a year-round destination that offers a diverse range of experiences, adventures and activities, and they are on-trend for what travellers are looking for. Condé Nast Traveler magazine recently reported that some of the top things travellers are looking for in 2025 are athletic adventures, family summer sabbaticals and indulging in a love of food. Let me show you how Whistler delivers on these top travel trends.
1. Athletic Adventures
Whistler is a place where people revel in sports – they play hard and workout hard. In the spring, there’s a small pocket of time where you can do a multi-sport day that includes skiing on Whistler Blackcomb, biking in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park AND golfing at one of Whistler’s award-winning courses in ONE day. Some people even add a paddleboard in for good measure!
“According to its trend forecasting report, 18% of Brits are planning to travel to participate in sports, which coincides with a 50% uptick in searches for “workout holidays” over the past year.” The Biggest Travel Trends to Expect in 2025 by Sarah Allard, January 3, 2025, Condé Nast Traveler.
Whistler’s gyms and studios are filled with enthusiastic trainers who love to get people ready for a day (week/month/year) in the mountains, so if you’re training for something specific see what programs they’re offering or speak to them about developing one just for you.
If you’re looking to connect with locals, one of the easiest ways is at a WORCA bike night or by joining the We Run Whistler group (they run all year round). Take a look at the races happening in Whistler and consider building your travel around one of those.
2. Female Thrill-Seeking Sojourns
Women-specific nights, camps and clinics have been growing exponentially in Whistler, both in the winter and the summer. Want to ski steeper lines, learn to do drops on your bike, or simply feel more confident? There’s a camp for that.
“A new report by the Adventure Travel Trade Association reveals that more than half of those booking adventure travel are now female. As this trend grows, it will push hospitality providers to prioritize inclusivity and safety, ensuring that adventure travel becomes a more welcoming space for all identities.” The Biggest Travel Trends to Expect in 2025 by Sarah Allard, January 3, 2025, Condé Nast Traveler.
We asked an experienced coach why she thinks women’s camps are so important and gaining traction. The three reasons she gave were that they give women a chance to commit to themselves, create incredible camaraderie, and inspire others. Read more in 3 Reasons Why You Should Do a Women’s Camp. Read Women’s Weekend Ski Camps, Exploring Whistler’s Backcountry, Fall Getaway and Wellness Getaway for more ideas.
If you’re bringing a group of women to Whistler, speak with Whistler.com who can help you choose accommodation and book activities.
3. Travel Gets Lit
I can’t take credit for this title, that was all Condé Nast, but what Whistler can take credit for is its literary festival which started in 2002 in a local’s living room and grew to selling out the ballrooms of the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Typically happening in late October, the Whistler Writers Festival brings together book lovers, readers, writers, thought-leaders and creatives for a weekend of literary fun all in an intimate, mountain setting.
“Blame it on the collective sense of so-called “brain rot”—Oxford University Press’s word of the year for 2024—but books are having a street-style moment. Shots of celebrities from Dua Lipa to Jacob Elordi zipping through the airport show them gripping paperbacks like they’re designer accessories. BookTok—a category of TikTokers focused on literature content—is putting fresh momentum behind the ancient concept of book tourism.” The Biggest Travel Trends to Expect in 2025 by Sarah Allard, January 3, 2025, Condé Nast Traveler.
4. The Long Honeymoon
For couples craving adventurous experiences they’ll never forget, Whistler has them in droves. In the winter, you could learn to ski or snowboard, or if you’re an established rider, think about adding to those skills with a clinic or camp. In the summer, switch that with mountain biking at one of the best bike parks in the world.
“The term honeymoon was initially used to describe the first month of marriage (because it is meant to be the sweetest). Later, it was co-opted to mean the first holiday a newlywed couple takes. Yet in recent years, couples have eschewed the once-traditional white-sand beach retreat for staycations or mini-moons to short-haul destinations. With many couples now able to work remotely and many hotels opening luxury residences, travellers can commit to longer-term stays in the destination of their dreams.” The Biggest Travel Trends to Expect in 2025 by Sarah Allard, January 3, 2025, Condé Nast Traveler.
On top of that, there’s bungee jumping, ziplining, snowmobiling, ATVing, ice climbing, Via Ferrata, hiking, snowshoeing and more. Whistler is the perfect place for a long, adventurous honeymoon, where lounging by the lakes, hitting up the hot tub and forest bathing provide the relaxing ying to that adventurous yang.
Check out our blog on where to work remotely in Whistler and talk to a local travel guide at Whistler.com to get accommodation that feels like a home away from home.
5. Herstory Lessons
One of the current exhibitions at the Audain Art Museum is CURVE! Women Carvers on the Northwest Coast. It is a stunning exhibit of 127 pieces of artwork spanning 80 years bringing unknown and under-recognized Indigenous female carvers to the forefront. To learn more about the exhibit and its effect on the permanent collection at the Audain read our dedicated blog.
“Fresh perspectives are letting us see the world through a female gaze. Cultural spaces spotlighting women’s influence on spheres from the arts to politics are championing pioneers who’ve shaped history in often overlooked ways.” The Biggest Travel Trends to Expect in 2025 by Sarah Allard, January 3, 2025, Condé Nast Traveler.
Another place where female voices are being celebrated is the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. Whistler sits on the shared territory of the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations, each with their own distinct history and living culture.
We had the honour of speaking with T’ec Georgina Dan, Lil̓wat7úl, Cultural Leader of the Spo7ez Performance team and a graduate and co-facilitator of the Indigenous Youth Ambassador Program at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) about cultural sustainability. You can visit the SLCC, connect with a Cultural Ambassador and learn about their tie to the land you’re enjoying, their history and art.
6. Accessible Adventure Travel
Whistler strives to be an inclusive mountain resort for people of all abilities and has become a hub for adaptive sports. This February, Whistler is hosting the first winter Invictus Games. Set up in 2014 by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, the games support the recovery and rehabilitation of international, wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans through sport.
“Accessible adventure is transforming how Disabled people and our friends and families are able to experience the great outdoors and the world at large. From innovative adaptive sports equipment to more inclusive tour operators, the trend focuses on making outdoor adventure pursuit—everything from skiing and hiking to kayaking, rafting and mountain biking—accessible by removing both physical and attitudinal barriers.” The Biggest Travel Trends to Expect in 2025 by Sarah Allard, January 3, 2025, Condé Nast Traveler.
Whistler Insider, Sean Marihugh has written about his experience of reuniting with sports as he grapples with the changes in his body due to Becker Muscular Dystrophy. Whistler Adaptive Sports has been an incredible resource for Sean, which he encourages people connect with before their trip here.
The Whistler Museum’s current exhibit is Accessible Peaks, which documents the strides Whistler has made in accessibility over the years, and where it still has some opportunities to progress (on display until April 29, 2025).
For more information on accessibility in Whistler, including a very handy map, visit our dedicated Accessibility page.
7. Summer Sabbatical
I came to Whistler for a winter season and I am still here 20 years later – that’s quite the sabbatical. There’s so much to do in Whistler, especially in the summer, that you could easily fill a whole summer (or 20).
“Whether you’re at a crossroads in life, marking a major milestone—a 40th birthday perhaps—or you’ve paid off the mortgage and fancy an interlude, with or without the family (the so-called grey or midlife gap year), sabbaticals can be transformative, educational experiences.” The Biggest Travel Trends to Expect in 2025 by Sarah Allard, January 3, 2025, Condé Nast Traveler.
Imagine waking up and going for your morning run around Lost Lake, with a stretch out on one of the docks overlooking the Coast Mountains. On your way back, you grab a coffee from your new favourite cafe, check your emails, tick off some tasks and then head into the Whistler Mountain Bike Park for some lunchtime laps.
You power through your work in the afternoon so that you can tee off in the cooler part of the day or push a paddleboard into the water and watch the sunset as you cruise. You’ve checked out Whistler’s award-winning dining scene and peppered in a few choice reservations for any milestone dates, you’re planning to attend all the free, summer concerts in Olympic Plaza and there’s not a patio you won’t have visited for a cold one.
Family Summer Sabbticals
There’s nothing like adventuring with the family. I have three, young kids and last year we took the paddleboards on a few adventures around Whistler, which ended in cliff jumps (safe ones) into crystal clear waters and picnics amongst the old-growth forest.
We pedalled the Valley Trail stopping off at viewpoints to see if we could spot birds and beavers and to pick up much-needed sweet treats along the way. They went to their first music concerts at Olympic Plaza, where they danced under the stars while eating ice cream. What a life.
There are also lots of camps (bike, tennis, drama, multi-sport, sailing, etc.) where they can make new friends and learn new skills, to make adventuring with you even better!
8. Intrepid Supper Clubs
Okay, okay, we might not be able to call having fondue at 6,000 feet in a rustic, alpine cabin a “supper club” BUT it is a fantastic dining experience and that’s the underpinning theme of this trend.
“Gastronomic experiences continue to hit new heights, and those seeking superb food are constantly looking for untapped ingredients and previously unexplored places to dine on them. From the edge of space to deep under the sea, many are going way off grid to try new foods, eclectic settings, and ethereal culinary sensations.” The Biggest Travel Trends to Expect in 2025 by Sarah Allard, January 3, 2025, Condé Nast Traveler.
See what I mean? We check the boxes for off-the-grid places to dine, including heli trips for picnics on ancient glaciers, an evening snowmobile trip to a hidden cabin in the backcountry for a steak dinner, an ATV ride to a mountain-top salmon bake and vodka tasting in a sub-zero ice room in a world-class restaurant. Check out our posts on adventure dining in Whistler in the winter and summer for more details.
With the farming community of Pemberton only 20 minutes north you can join some incredible al fresco, long tables put on by award-winning restaurants like Wild Blue and Araxi. You’ll also find local produce and wines featured on the menus at Christine’s and Steeps, Whistler Blackcomb’s two, full-service, on-mountain restaurants where you certainly get lunch with a view.
9. Cowboy Core Travel
When you think about Canada a lumberjack is probably what pops into your head versus a cowboy, BUT they both enjoy plaid so roll with me here. A lot of Whistler’s white-settler pioneers would have travelled here on horseback, which you can learn more about at the Whistler Museum.
If you travel about 20 minutes north of Whistler to Pemberton, you’ll be met with a Wild West-styled village where you can live out some of those cowboy dreams including multi-day horseback riding trips.
“Whether you’re streaming Yellowstone or America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, listening to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter or donning a fringed suede jacket, there is no escaping the fact that there’s a global fascination with all things cowboy right now. This love of the Wild West also influences how we travel, with cowboy-adjacent trips gaining popularity, from ranch stays and horse-riding trips to camping under the stars or holidays to country music festivals.” The Biggest Travel Trends to Expect in 2025 by Sarah Allard, January 3, 2025, Condé Nast Traveler.
Just remember to pack your plaid!
10. JOMO
Someone called me an OG the other day and I had to look it up, which probably wasn’t very OG of me. I also had to look up JOMO, which stands for the joy of missing out and I must admit I love this mindset.
“You may be all too familiar with Fomo, or fear of missing out, but in a hyperconnected world where it’s a struggle to juggle busy schedules, a holiday should be the last place we’re replicating that angst. Yet a relatively simple mindset shift could shape your next trip. Enter Jomo travel—the joy of missing out—a type of “soft travel” that sits alongside the more familiar “slow travel.” It’s less about the pace of seeing a place and more about doing less, feeling more, and sinking into the experience, the people you meet and who you’re with.” The Biggest Travel Trends to Expect in 2025 by Sarah Allard, January 3, 2025, Condé Nast Traveler.
The mountains are the ideal place to sink into. I know some of the examples I’ve given you in this post would call for an action-packed itinerary, but you could also just not do that and see where the day takes you.
Maybe a stroll to a lake leads to an impromptu canoe trip, or with a pad in your backpack, it will be the perfect place to write or draw. An e-bike could take you to Function Junction where you meet a local brewer or artist. A chance chat with a barista could see you buying a ticket to a comedy night that has you roaring with laughter.
We touched base with local yoga teacher, Emily Kane to get her thoughts on slowing down for fall in Whistler. We also have a blog on five active relaxation ideas that combine that ying and yang.
The point is, that you can lean in and/or out in the mountains whether you’re looking to battle FOMO or embrace JOMO. Travel trends may change, but what really matters is what kind of trip you want. Whistler has many sides to it and these adjust with the seasons, so take your time exploring what feels right to you and we’ll see you in the mountains sometime soon!
We put together some of the things you might want to consider when choosing when to come to Whistler and divided them into winter and summer. And then, just for fun, we also did them by star sign!
Come for spring skiing and every third night you book between March 1 and April 30, 2025, receive a free $75 CAD Whistler Après Voucher. Stay longer and save more, book now and save up to 25% on lodging and up to 35% on gear rentals.
Come experience Whistler Blackcomb’s extensive terrain and adventure at every turn to see why we're known as one of the best resorts on the planet. Secure your mountain getaway with Whistler.com for personalized service and the local knowledge of our Whistler-based team. If all this has you dreaming of Whistler, enter the Find Your Edge contest to win a six-night trip, including flights, accommodation and adventures.
