If you’re looking for a honeymoon destination with a sense of adventure then make sure you take a look at the Canadian resort town of Whistler, not far from the bustling city of Vancouver. With it’s world class ski facilities and intimate atmosphere it’s the perfect place for active newlyweds…
Where is it?
After a few days in Vancouver, you may feel the need for an adventure – this is the time to catch the award-winning Rocky Mountaineer. The Rocky Mountaineer travels all around Canada with trips up to Jasper, through the Rocky Mountains and more. It really is the best way to get around. Although more expensive than a coach, the views you get, comfort and great service, is worth its weight in gold. One of the shortest trips is from Vancouver to Whistler, which takes roughly three and a half hours.
As you ride through the Canadian mountains, keep an eye out for native brown bears – there’s loads of them around!
What is there to do?
Ask any snow sports fan to name their favourite place to ski, and Whistler will probably be top of the list. Renowned for its incredible mountains, it has become a top tourist attraction around the world. Whistler was also one of the locations used for the 2010 Vancouver winter Olympics!
On arrival we took a look around Whistler Village. It’s quite a surreal place, with full bars in the middle of the day and a huge mountain set right in the middle of it! Whistler mountain offers some of the best piste in the world, which is skied on throughout winter and the perfect winter honeymoon destination for active types. There are plenty of other snow activities available too, including dog sledding, snow mobiling, horse led sleigh rides and heli-skiing. After a long day on the piste, it’s pretty much law that you have to crawl the village bars for aprés! Everyone is so friendly, but you’ll find in winter that most of the residents aren’t actually Canadian as the tourists take over!
In the summer, Whistler is enjoyed by bikers who will ride down the steep mountain tracks. You can also zip trek just outside the village. This is basically zip lining from tree to tree and having a tree top eco tour in between each line. It’s so much fun and will give you a real rush. If you want to relax, visit the Scandinave Spa. This incredibly tranquil place is set among the mountains with hot pools, saunas and treatment rooms.
The views are beautiful, the treatments are great, but you must remember to be quiet! For a couple’s massage like no other, visit the ultra luxurious Four Seasons Resort Hotel. You don’t have to be staying here to experience these treatments, which is good as room prices are high. That said, when you see the quality of the suites, you’ll know why!
For dining, you could try the romantic Aura; a newly refurbished hotel/restaurant set next to Nita Lake. The food is delicious! If you’re looking for a purse-friendly option, my personal favourite is Mongollie Grill where you pick all the ingredients yourself and a chef will cook it right in front of you on a huge hot stone. Fabulous!
Where to stay?
Well, to be honest, most of the hotels in Whistler are pricey. The Four Seasons Resort Hotel is worth the money if you can afford it, with celebrities regularly flocking here for a relaxing break. We stayed at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler. This is, without doubt, the nicest hotel I’ve ever stayed in. The suites are again, so luxurious with your own vanity area, walk in wardrobe and more. The bathroom is bigger than most ground floor flats and you have a private concierge waiting on you hand and foot – whether you fancy a glass of bubbly, or want to borrow a laptop or iPad it adds a real luxury feel to this honeymoon destination!
Can you get married there?
Yes! I’d recommend Whistler over Vancouver, purely because of the relaxed atmosphere and unbeatable views. You can get married with an intimate ceremony at the Lady of the Lake church, go for luxury at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, or for something a little out there, try the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre for a wedding to remember!
Most romantic moment?
Whale watching in Vancouver or overlooking Whistler mountain with a glass of Champagne in the Fairmont Chateau – pure honeymoon bliss.
