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The Local’s List: June

Arden Thorne

Yoga

June is wellness month in Whistler and this year, it’s the launch of the new Nourish Whistler Wellness Series. Offering 30-plus unique events throughout the month, it’s a culinary and wellness event series designed to nourish the body and mind. Join illuminating masterclasses and speaker series, indulge in nutritious meals, tap into your creativity at art events, connect with nature and move your body. Dive into the Nourish Whistler Wellness Series details in our Insider’s Guide.

June is also National Indigenous History Month in Canada, a time to recognize the rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. A trip to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre should be on every Whistler visitor’s to-do list all year round, but it has special resonance this month as we celebrate National Indigenous History Month (June 1 to 30) and National Indigenous Peoples Day, on June 21. Experience immersive cultural programming all month long, artists’ markets and kid’s crafts, plus free admission on June 21 thanks to their sponsors CIBC and RMOW.

Here’s what’s happening this month in Whistler.

Outdoor Adventure

You’ll find us:

  • Rolling down the rocks in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park with the Garbo and Creek Zones opening on June 8. Read our 101 Guide if you’re thinking of heading into the park for the first time this summer and always check the bike park hours of operation page before making your biking plans.
  • Running our hands along the snow walls on Blackcomb Mountain. Whistler Blackcomb snowcats carve a canyon out of the snow that you can walk through for a short period of time in the early summer. Read more in our blog on the Whistler snow wall experience.
  • Heading up the Whistler Blackcomb Ascent Trails for Hike for Health on Sunday, June 16. Last year the event raised more than $86,000 for the Whistler Health Care Centre, and this year it’s raising funds for mental health services within our community.
  • On our bikes for the WORCA Toonies (chiller and thriller trail options), which happen weekly on Thursdays and in the Whistler Bike Park for Phat Wednesdays.
  • Pushing ourselves on any one of the races and challenges happening in Whistler this month including the Whistler Half Marathon, Comfortably Numb, Back Forty Marathon XC MTB Race, Trans BC Enduro, Tenderfoot Boogie Trail Race, XFONDO, Canada Cup XCO and BC Championship XCO. Phew! Read the Going the Distance: Running Events & Races blog for more information!

Adventure Lite

You’ll find us:

  • Heading up Whistler Blackcomb for the Summer Alpine Experience. Sightseers can upload the Blackcomb Gondola in the Upper Village starting May 21. The PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola and the Whistler Village Gondola will open up for Sightseeing on June 15, opening up access to both mountains. The Peak Express Chairlift, Cloudraker Skybridge and Raven’s Eye are currently due to open June 15, but always check the hours of operation before you plan your trip so you know what’s open.
  • Getting our bodies moving at one of the many free movement classes as part of the Nourish Whistler Wellness Series, such as Tai Chi with Master Sun Ying, dance classes with ALGN Whistler, a guided forest walk with Society of Trees, plus free workout and yoga classes. There are eight unique movement & mindfulness event offerings, so be sure to check out the full line-up to learn more!
  • Connecting with the beauty of our surroundings on horseback, at the Copper Cauyse Women’s Wellness Retreat, June 20 to 23. From morning yoga to chef-prepared meals, this retreat is a place to connect with the earth and each other. Be sure to book your spot, as this retreat is popular!
  • Going on a self-guided tour to explore the Art & Storytelling of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Líl̓wat7úl. This is one of the tour options on the Go Whistler Tour app and takes strollers to nine locations that are culturally significant to the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Líl̓wat7úl Nations. Weaving its way through Whistler Village, it starts and ends at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC).
  • Teeing up for a round of golf at one of Whistler’s incredible golf courses. Check out our 10 Reasons to Golf in Whistler blog and get swinging!

    More ways to get outside.

    Family Fun

    You’ll find us:

      • In the trees with Ziptrek Ecotours. Their family-friendly Bear Tour (for ages six and up) and TreeTrek (all ages – kids five and under go free) canopy walk are back this summer, with the Eagle Tour and Sasquatch (the longest zipline in Canada and the US, opening June 15) for families with older kiddos.
      • Exploring Whistler’s River of Golden Dreams with Backroads Whistler. The five-kilometre river journey goes from Alta Lake to Green Lake, weaving through lush and abundant wetlands with snowcapped mountains as the backdrop. We recommend the Twilight Trip, as this is when you’ll likely see the most animal action (we’re hoping to see a Beaver)!
      • Crafting with the family at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. June is National Indigenous History Month, and June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day. The SLCC has a wide variety of programming including interpretive forest tours, crafting workshops, indigenous tea offerings, and more throughout the month, including free admission on June 21.
      • Riding gondolas, hiking to train wrecks, splashing around and hitting the pump track with our little ones. For more on these ideas, read 5 Young Family Adventures in Whistler.

    More family-friendly activities.

    Arts & Culture

    You’ll find us:

    Eating, Drinking & Shopping

    You’ll find us:

    • Attending the Nourish Whistler Wellness Series signature events. We will start out at Soulstice: A Fresh Beginning, on June 21, a unique alcohol free event set to light up the night with exhilarating performances and interactive experiences. On June 22, we will be at the Nourish Market, a culinary journey where wellness meets gastronomy. Visit culinary stations and indulge in delicious, healthy plates while sipping on refreshing mocktails (alcohol will be available for purchase). There is also the Women’s Longevity and Hormone Optimization clinic with Dr. DeRosa on June 22, a enlightened discussion and three-course lunch event let by a world renowned leader in women’s health. It’s going to be a packed weekend!
    • Grillin’ and Chillin’ and doing Sunday Brunch lakeside during the Nourish Whistler Wellness Spring Series. These are just two of the food & drink events happening during the series and tickets are going fast. For more details, check out our Nourish blog post.
    • Crafting our own vibrant mocktails at the Sober Sips: Mocktail Masterclass on June 1, or hands-on learning about fermentation at the Beyond Pickling: Fermentation Masterclass on June 15, both part of the Nourish Whistler Wellness Series. 
    • Kicking off our weekends at Fairmont Fridays at the Mallard Lounge at Fairmont Chateau Whistler from 5 PM to 7 PM starting May 24 until November 1. They have live music, cocktail specials and tapas-style appetizers.
    • Dining at one of Canada’s Top 100 restaurants, Wild Blue. It made the list for the second year in a row! We’ll also be grabbing a cocktail at one of Canada’s Top 100 bars, The Raven Room, which also made the list this year.
    • Getting our fruit and veg directly from local farmers at the Whistler Farmers’ Market. Head to the base of Blackcomb Mountain in the Upper Village on Sundays through the summer to sample fresh produce, and artisan foods and crafts.

    More on Village shopping, dining and arts and culture.

    Save the Date

    Whistler Summer Concert Series | Select dates throughout July and August
    ÖTILLÖ Swim & Run Race | July 7
    Crankworx Whistler | July 19 – 28
    Wild Blue Long Table Dinner Series | July 7 and August 18
    Araxi Longtable Dinner | August 11

    Be a Responsible Traveller: Don’t Love It to Death

    • Whistler is bear country. Take a read of our Bear Aware blog post so you can act responsibly on behalf of these beautiful, wild creatures. Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear.
    • Wildfires are a very real risk to Whistler, even in early summer. Whistler’s fire danger rating gets updated daily by the BC Wildfire Service and when it reaches High or Extreme, Stage 2 and 3 open fires of any kind are banned (check it on our weather page). If you see a fire call 9-1-1.
    • If you’re using the hiking and biking trails around Whistler regularly, consider donating to or joining WORCA, a local organization that maintains Whistler’s trail system.
    • BC Parks Day Passes are required for access to Garibaldi Provincial Park and Joffre Lakes Park. There are three Pipi7íyekw Reconnection Celebration periods happening in the summer when Joffre Lakes Park will be closed to recreational access and the general public, and no day-use passes or camping reservations will be available. For more information visit the BC Parks website.
    • Help keep Whistler green by choosing tap water over bottled water, avoiding single-use plastics, leaving the car at home, choosing active transportation and sorting garbage properly to reduce your waste.
    • Be AdventureSmart and always practice Leave No Trace principles.
    • Consider our Responsible Travel pillars, Respect Nature, Think Environment, Don’t Love It to Death and Support Local.
    • Whistler Alert is the official emergency notification system used by the RMOW to communicate with residents and visitors during emergencies via text message, phone and email. We encourage you to sign up for it while you’re here (just in case). When you register, you will be asked to provide your contact number and the date you plan to leave Whistler so that you don’t receive alerts when you’re back home.

    If You’re Driving . . .

    • Take a read of Go Car Free: 8 Reasons to Ditch the Car on Your Whistler Trip in case we can convince you that you don’t need your car! Plus, public transit in Whistler will be free on weekends and holidays this summer starting June 15.
    • Help reduce congestion on the highway by travelling during non-peak times. Peak travel times on the Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler include Friday afternoons and evenings, weekends and holidays. To avoid this busy time, plan to visit Whistler midweek when the highway and the resort are typically quieter. Extend your weekend – plan to arrive on Thursday night and leave on Monday morning to avoid the weekend traffic. If you’re visiting Whistler only for the day, plan on staying for dinner to avoid the rush of day traffic leaving the resort after the mountain closes.
    • Always check DriveBC for current road conditions before getting on the road. Follow @DriveBC on Twitter and listen to MountainFM for the latest updates.
    • Paid parking is in effect in all the Day Lots although there is complimentary parking from 5 PM to 8 AM. Overnight parking is now allowed in the Day Lots, but no overnight camping or sleeping in vehicles. Please check the RMOW website for more information on parking.
    • Marketplace parking has tariffs; $1 first 30 min and $2 first hour (15-minute, storefront parking remains free). For shopping at Fresh St. Market, register your license plate in the machine prior to shopping and they will reimburse you for 1 hour with a minimum $25 purchase.

Book your Whistler stay between May 1 and October 31, 2024, and save up to 20% on lodging and 15% on activities. Secure your mountain getaway with Whistler.com for personalized service and the local knowledge of our Whistler-based team. If this post has you dreaming about Whistler, enter our Feel It All in Whistler summer contest to win a trip for two!

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