Summer Fun in Whistler

Getting to Whistler is half the fun. The BC Rail's Caribou Prospector has an early morning train from Vancouver to Whistler at 7:00 a.m. and returns at 7:05 p.m. The trip is relaxing and beautiful and costs Canadain (about U.S.).

A 3 hour Hummer tour of the back country up to Cougar Mountain is a great adventure for young and old alike. The Cougar Mountain at Whistler tour company is located within Whistler village and a 3 hour wilderness tour costs Canadian (about U.S.). There are 4 seats outside on the back of the Hummer and 3 inside which participants alternate in.

The driver is knowledgeable, competent, and willing to structure your tour to meet your desires of "let's see what this thing can do" and "let's take it easy". Our group consisted of ages 16 to 60 and all enjoyed it. Whistler Village is charming and relaxing with many restaurants, shops, and hotels.

Quick Tips:

Try to get a seat outside the Hummer for the best open air fun ride. You will have to switch around to share with other riders, but if none of them have a preference, go for the outside seats.

Take a bottle of water along on the tour because it gets very dusty on the way down the mountain. Go for the 3 hour Hummer Adventure rather than the 2 hour one. This gives you time once up on the mountain to drive around and see some sights, visit the log cabin and use it's outhouse if needed, and try out some "tricks" like vertical climbing with the Hummer.

This company has a 100% safety rating and are diligent in fitting and securing your shoulder harness and lap belt.

If coming into Whistler for the day, plan meals based on the fact that few restaurants open before dinner meal. This is a nightlife place, not early morning.

Best Way To Get Around:

By taking the train into Whistler, your fare includes not only a light meal on the train, but also a free shuttle bus into and from the village area. You are dropped off right in the middle of the shopping and restaurant area of the village with only a 3-4 minute walk to the Hummer tour. Once within the village, walking is the way to go.

We rolled into town on the morning train from Vancouver arriving about 30 minutes later than we'd planned and wanted to catch a quick bite, not too large, before heading out for our Hummer Adventure.

We found out that in Whistler, most restaurants do not open before 5:00. In inquiring at several restaurants and an information desk, we were repeatedly given surly answers that nothing much was open yet. It was about 10:30 a.m.

We finally managed to find Ingrid's Deli on our own after being seated at a cafe next to it that was open and then again being treated like we were bothering them when we asked if we might be able to get something to eat in about 45 minutes time. When a disbelieving "no" answer came, we all got up and moved next door to Ingrid's Deli.

This is a very small deli that has 2 tiny tables inside and several small tables and counters outside. Their menu consists of sandwiches, soups, and other hand held foods like donuts and fruit.

The staff here also seemed like they'd gotten up on the wrong side of the bed and hadn't yet been put into drive. The older woman, she may have been the owner, was outwardly friendly at the expense of speed. It took us over 30 minutes to order and receive our 2 sandwiches, Samosa (Indian curry and vegetables in a pastry), drinks, and fruit.

The food was non-descript and the turkey sandwich was heavily laden with mayonnaise when no mayonnaise had been requested. The bread rolls used in the sandwiches was beginning to dry out. The Samosa was requested to be heated, but only the outer edges had any warmth. The bottled drinks and banana were fine.

It was not the best start to a day of vacation fun. With no competition open in the morning, I guess they don't have to maintain quality. Our average bill per person ran about $7 CDN. Save your money and shop at the grocery convenience store or bring food on the train with you. Who needs this frustration. We began to wonder if everyone in Whistler had a chip on their shoulder.

We happened upon Zeuski's Taverna meerly by accident. It was about 5:00 p.m. on an overcast August day. We had had a light early lunch and were looking for a quick meal before boarding the train for the return trip back to Vancouver.

There are not many restaurants open before dinner time and Zeuski's seemed to be one of the few that we found. It is located on an inside corner of Deer Lodge in the heart of Whistler Town Plaza.

They had just opened and were preparing for dinner diners and we appeared to be one of their first customers of the day. We were immediately seated, sans a reservation, in their cozy heated outside dining area with views of both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.

Zeuski's is billed as Mediterranean Cuisine and is heavy on Greek food items. From our table we could see the interior dining room being prepped for the evening meal with the decor of Mediterranean influence including arches, murals, and fountains. I especially liked the strings of lights adorning the walls. I'm sure this is a beautiful restaurant in the evening.

The menu consists of soups, salads, appetizers, meats and seafood, and a new item I had not previously heard of, souvlaki - skewers of meats and vegetables. The lunch menu that we selected from was mostly soups, salads, and sandwiches. Traditional Greek entrees such as Moussaka and Spanakopita as well as lamb dishes were offered. The Spanakopita, spinach and feta cheese layered in filo pastry, was outstanding at $9. It was just the right amount to fill me up without large amounts left over.

The Kalamari appetizer was lightly breaded and served with their signature tzatziki sauce. Although it was listed as an appetizer, it was large enough to serve as a meal to one person in our group with extra to share around the table. It too was $9. The soup of the day, a white bean, was hearty and filling, $5, and the Greek Salad a classic, $9.

The waitress was helpful in assisting us with our menu selections and brought the meal and all needed items in a timely manner. The dining experience was relaxing and intimate.

Though not our most remarkable meal during our week's vacation, it was our best meal in Whistler and one that was quite enjoyable. I could well imagine that dinner at Zeuski's Taverna would be even better with it's romantic atmosphere.

What fun this was! I was a bit hesitant to book the 3 hour Hummer tour of the back country up Cougar Mountain from Whistler, worried that we'd get bored by the end of 3 hours. Boy, was I wrong. We were all begging for more.

The Hummer is billed as the "world's most serious 4 X 4" Its 16 inches of ground clearance and low center of gravity makes it possible to navigate any terrain and that's what you get to do on this tour.

Making reservations ahead of your visit is a good plan to assure a seat at the time you wish. There are 9:00 and 6:30, 2 hour tours, and 11:30 and 3:00, 3 hour tours, each holding only 7 people, 3 inside with the driver and 4 outside. They will ask you to arrive about 15 minutes early to sign a liability waiver form, which seemed a bit intense, but nonetheless required to go on the adventure.

Once all participant's shoulder and lap belts are snugged up, you are off for a 10 minute drive to the off-road cutoff point. From there you spend 3 hours bouncing, bumping, climbing, and speeding along dirt and rock pathways up to the top of Cougar Mountain.

The views are magnificent and your driver will make several photo seat- swapping stops and will gladly stop anywhere else you ask.

Our driver, Matt, was a young man who was quite personable and informative for every topic of Hummer ability and mechanics to bear deterant spray and plants recognition.

Going in mid-day as we did, we were not fortunate to see any wildlife on such a warm day, but if time permits, an early morning or late afternoon/evening tour might be more fruitful.

Other than the lack of a bear sighting, we all couldn't have been happier with our experience. The personnel on the phone making reservations (I talked to several) were very helpful and kind. The young gal checking us in the day of the tour seemed a bit snippy, but once we got going with Matt we soon forgot all about her.

Because the other 2 members of our tour had had a mix up on being picked up at their hotel in Whistler, our tour was almost 20 minutes late getting started. Matt quickly put our minds at ease and said he'd add time onto the end to make up for it. He not only did that but added an additiional 15 minutes of sand dune climbing in the Hummer as well. Great PR move, Matt.

The 2 hour wilderness tour via Hummer is $89 CDN (about $54 U.S.) and the 3 hour tour is $109 CDN (about $66 U.S.). They are located in the Deer Lodge at Whistler in Town Plaza. Website is www.cougarmountain.ca

Just the name, Cariboo Prospector, fills one's mind with romance, with the clicking of the train over the tracks. While staying in Vancouver, choices to get to Whistler, about 2 hours away, were either to drive, take a tour on a bus, or ride the train. We were warned away from driving the winding narrow road, especially if the driver wanted to enjoy to trip as well.

We opted for the BC Rail train, the Cariboo Prospector which makes a daily run, leaving Vancouver at 7:00 a.m. and winding its way along the coast of British Columbia before it heads inland to Whistler. There are no reserved seats, so arriving early, about 45 minutes before is advisable to secure your place in line. Tickets, however, should be purchased ahead of time since they sell out with only one train a day making this run. You can buy tickets online at www.bcrail.com.

Once on the train you sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery. This is definately a tourist run. A well informed and personable employee makes regular announcements about what is coming up outside the windows and its historical or current event significance. They are very friendly folks.

A light breakfast is served of yogurt, bagel, and juice included in the price of the ticket. You can't help being lulled to sleep in the rocking chair motion of the train.

Once you arrive in Whistler, a bus is waiting to take the group into the village, about 3 minutes away. You are dropped off and told when and where to meet your bus driver for the return trip on the bus to catch the 7:05 p.m. train back to Vancouver. You have approximately 7 hours in Whislter to explore and dine.

The return trip again is narrated and a light snack is served enroute. We all came away feeling happy, relaxed, and glad to have experienced the beauty along the tracks and for the ease of the trip. Cost is $79 CDN, approximately $48 US. I'd definately do it again, but next time I might try their Moonlight Express complete with dinner and dancing aboard the train.