Fall in Whistler, Canada, is this the wrong time to be visiting this world renowned Ski Resort Rosie asked herself as she settled in for a month on her own whilst The Operator was back in New Zealand? Random people we had spoken to in Vancouver were quite vocal on how boring it would be as everything shuts down after summer before the winter season opens. Everything, asked Rosie with a look of horror on her face? Everything, they solemnly nodded back. Oh no! Rosie was going to be staying in a ghost town!
Thank goodness this wasn’t true! You know how anxious Rosie gets when after having booked a place in a foreign land, on the other side of the world she has never set foot in and only ever seen online, to stay in for one month, on her own. Rosie hopes her apartment is in a good location as she has to walk everywhere. Is the apartment as advertised and not a dump instead, is the area safe and the location going to be interesting enough for a month. Rosie hasn’t been disappointed yet and was not this time either….check out my host Karlie’s website if you are thinking of going to Whistler, you wont get a better spot! https://www.whistleriscalling.com/
Fall, or as we call the season in the Southern Hemisphere, Autumn is a perfect time to visit Whistler….along with any other time of the year. This town does not close down but the mountain does for about six weeks from mid October till the opening of ski season on the 25th of November. So if you particularity want to come to Whistler to partake in summer mountain biking or winter snow sports….plan accordingly outside this tiny window.
If however you are like Rosie and are here for a break to marvel at the beautiful autumn colours whilst walking the tracks around the village, explore the shops, sample the fine food at an abundance of world class restaurants, work your way around the brew and cocktail bars while seeing the occasional movie or listening to all the action out on the town from bed on the weekends. Fall is for you!
The added bonus, this town has the most amazing Fall Specials on because lets face it, it is the slow season. Although you wouldn’t know it because the number of visitors to this town hasn’t dropped from the beginning to the end of Rosie’s time here. Part of the reason is because accommodation in Fall is the cheapest it will be during the year in the village, right now!
Restaurants and bars all have crazy Monday to Thursday specials on, fixed price 3-5 course menus for as little as $25 – $40 and these are menus from the top, most popular and hippest places in town, couple that with a Happy Hour before going out for dinner and you have one special, cheap night out.
These nightly specials may have evaded Rosie on her own but she sure takes advantage of the lunch specials from the the same fancy places. Her favorite, Bar Oso a trendy Spanish Tapas Bar, number 8/136 on Tripadvisor is where she will go for lunch occasionally and tuck into a Bocadillo (sandwich) of the Day, the slow roasted pork jowl is divine with a bowl of the most delicious Pesto Tomato Soup and a glass of Peach Sangria for $12.
Come and visit Whistler over the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, in October and the massive Fall Turkey Sales are on in town. So many sales, so many reduced prices, so many people! The ski shops are selling last years models of skis and clothing before the new stock comes out and wow, they are reduced!
The trees were still red and yellow and there wasn’t a scrap of snow on the mountains yet everyone in the village that weekend was walking around with skis on their shoulders and toting multiple carrier bags. Rosie noted that you could buy a set of skis for as little as $129!
Whistler in Fall is not all about shopping eating and saving. It is about the beauty of the season as well. Rosie has never seen so many red, yellow and golden trees shimmering in the light breeze above the still bright blue sky.
The village looks magical with the colour that surrounds it and the still mild, yet cool weather of Fall. Even though the mountains might be shut there is still plenty of wilderness to discover and explore as Rosie did on foot and there are plenty of walking, cycling and jogging trails in and around the Village to enjoy this beautiful paradise on.
The beautiful pathways and tracks take you on adventures through the forests, along rivers, to lakes where you can explore their swimming beaches and nosey at the beautiful houses that surround them. Breath in the fresh crisp air and discover the beautiful artworks along the trails and interesting…installations.
Rosie was musing to the owner and chef of Bar Oso over her Peach Sangria one lunchtime as to why they are still open, why not shut down and take six weeks off in sunny Thailand to recharge the batteries before the crazy busy winter season starts?
It is too hard on our staff he said. If we close, our staff which are mainly foreigners that come to Whistler to Bike in summer and Ski in winter, have no income during the six week season transition, they will leave and find work elsewhere. Filling job vacancies is so hard here we want to retain our well trained staff from season to season. They have bills and rent to pay in between seasons and rely on us for an income so we cannot let them down by closing.
There you go, in a nutshell. Everything is still open in Whistler over the Fall except the mountain….it is the only thing in town that needs a wee bit of rest and recovery before the next seasons assault of people.
The Operator is due to return to Whistler in a couple of days and we have six days here together to enjoy those cut price restaurants, Happy Hours and explore a bit more of the beautiful paradise that surrounds Whistler together. Rosie is so looking forward to it….but kind of dreading it….her winter puffer jacket is already bursting at the seams….and its getting colder.
