Whistler is a village built for pleasure in an old logging valley, and it knows it. The pedestrian village at the foot of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, with its cobbled lanes, hotels and rows of restaurants, was planned in the late 1970s and took off when the two ski areas were developed, and then hit the world stage when the Winter Olympics came here in 2010. The Peak 2 Peak gondola, which links the two mountains across a deep valley, opened in 2008 and holds records for its span and height. In summer the ski slopes become mountain bike parks, and in winter the village is packed with skiers from around the world.
The food is the reason to pause. Whistler has a good reputation for its restaurants, from cheap noodle bars to expensive tasting menus, and a rider coming from Vancouver or Pemberton will have no trouble finding a plate. Bakeries and coffee shops line the village stroll, and the local craft breweries, such as the ones in the village, are a popular stop at the end of the day. The village's atmosphere is lively and international, with young people from around the world working a season. Prices are high, so it is not the cheapest meal on the route.
For a rider, Whistler is the midpoint of the Sea to Sky Highway, about a hundred and twenty kilometres from Vancouver, and the pivot of the ride. North of the village, the highway runs through the Pemberton valley, flat and fertile, with farms and potato fields, and then, at Pemberton, the road to Duffey Lake turns east and climbs into the mountains. The valley is also home to several lakes, including Green Lake and Alta Lake, where people swim and paddle in summer. The Whistler area has dozens of kilometres of paved lakeside trail, which is closed to motor vehicles.
Black bears are common around the village, particularly in spring and autumn, and they can be seen in the meadows or even on the roadside, so keep a distance. Fuel is available at several stations on the highway at Function Junction and in the village area, but the best time to fill the tank is before heading north toward Pemberton. The best months are June to September, when the roads are dry and the sun is warm, though thunderstorms can come in the afternoon. Winter brings snow and heavy traffic on the highway.