Top Ten Most Awesome Autumn Activities 2011
Autumn is here, evidenced by prix fixe menus in restaurants around town, mumblings of Sober October and the emergence of locals in the Village. Here are the Top 10 Most Awesome Autumn Activities in Whistler according to our contributors and voted on by the readers of Whistler Is Awesome…counting down to the No.1, most popular activity! Also, check out this link for our Whistler event’s guide “The Paste Up.”
Photo Credit: Vince Shuley, vinceshuley.com
10 Read
Yep. Reading is No. 10. Check out Armchair Books in Whistler Village or, of course, Whistler’s beautiful public library for a literary fix that will get you through the rainy season.
09 People Watch In A Coffee Shop
This may be one of Whistler’s most underrated activities. With coffee shops sprinkled liberally throughout Whistler Village, Creekside and Function Junction, it is always easy to wile away an hour nursing a latte and surreptitiously people watching from behind a book or laptop.
08 Cornucopia Whistler
This yearly event celebrates food and wine, and is a weekend of extreme indulgence in Whistler for locals and guests from around the world. This year, the legendary Bearfoot Bistro Masquerave is back to blow minds and a slew of other food and wine inspired events will make this weekend a special one indeed. Cornucopia Whistler takes place November 10-13, 2011. More information here.
07 Winter Preparations
Getting ready for winter in the biggest ski resort in North America is no joke. Whistler locals take their winter preparations very seriously. From waxing the boards, and hitting the gym (HARD), to researching and purchasing the best gear for the upcoming season, winter preparations are a crucial Autumn activity. Once the entire kit is assembled, donning everything and standing in front of a mirror and pretending to shred is a prerequisite.
06 Hiking
Despite chilly temperatures, soggy weather and a steadily creeping downward snowline, hiking is a very popular autumn activity. With hundreds of vertical feet to ascend, hiking is a great way to get the legs conditioned for the winter season while keeping an eagle eye on the snowpack in the backcountry areas.
05 Scandinave Spa Whistler
This huge outdoor facility opened right before the Olympics in February 2010 and has warmed its way into many a local’s heart. Spread over three acres, Scandinave Spa Whistler offers a Eucalyptus steam bath, hot baths and wood burning Finnish sauna to warm the body and ease weary muscles and minds; as well as Nordic waterfalls and cold baths to cool the body down. After the hot and the cold, relax in a gorgeous solarium with the latest snow mag for the ultimate wind down. Locals’ passes and special deals for the shoulder season make Scandinave Spa Whistler an aaaaaah-mazing deal in the Autumn season.
04 Whistler Film Festival
Every December Whistler rolls out the white carpet for the Whistler Film Festival. This festival feels small but features some huge names and some huge films. In it’s 11th year, the Whistler Film Festival has become one of the top film festivals in Canada, and is a must-attend for many filmmakers who love the intimate nature of the festival, not to mention the nightlife, networking and on-mountain fun. The Whistler Film Festival will take place November 30-December 4, 2011. More information here.
03 Mountain Biking
It is no surprise to see mountain biking in the top three! With crowds diminishing, and trails sporting tacky conditions and “hero dirt”, the mountain biking in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park (closing Monday, October 10, 2011) and on the valley XC trails are all time. Check out www.whistlermountainbike.com’s trail wiki for more information.
02 Ski/Snowboard Movie Premieres
You know it’s Autumn when new ski and snowboard films are dropping faster than the leaves on the trees. Once September hits, every other weekend boasts a ski movie premiere…whether it is a world premiere like the epic launch of Sherpas Cinema’s All.I.Can on September 23, or one of countless Whistler premieres taking place in Millennium Place or one of the bars in town. Check the W.I.A. events listing “The Paste Up” for what’s coming up.
01 Whistler’s Dining Deals
The shoulder seasons are so beloved in Whistler for mainly one reason, prix fixe dining promotions offered at most Whistler’s fine dining establishments. Best bet is to check the local newspapers to peruse the restaurant advertisements – menus and price points are usually listed. If you have a particular restaurant in mind, feel free to give them a call and ask about their shoulder season offering. Most eateries in town offer menus starting at $19 and going up to $49 + wine pairings. For a variety of dining experiences ranging from cheap and cheerful to ultra fine-dining, eating like a king in Whistler on the cheap can’t be beat during the Autumn season.
*Awesome Autumn stuff that just missed the list:
11 Yoga
12 Drink
13 Whistler Readers & Writer’s Festival, October 14-16, 2011
14 Halloween
15 Road Trip
16 Farm Harvesting
17 Hot Tub Poaching
18 B-Grade Horror Fest, October 30, 2011
19 Frisbee golf
20 Zip-lining
