August 31, 2011 @ 02:28AM

Whistler Village is a picturesque, European-style resort in British Colombia, Canada, located between the two mountains of Whistler and Blackcomb. The village is completely pedestrianized, making it an ideal destination for safety-conscious parents to take their children. Whistler Village is one of three plazas, the other two being Upper Village and Village North. With spectacular alpine scenery, skiing and snowboarding, a vibrant après-ski culture, golfing, and street performers including clowns, a family vacation to Whistler offers plenty of entertainment choices for both children and adults. The resort was the official alpine skiing venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The village offers every conceivable convenience. There are medical facilities, parks, museums and galleries, a library, a movie theatre, places to buy groceries and even a fire station and a police station. Most of the resort’s charms can be enjoyed by taking a walk along The Village Stroll, a stone walkway which runs from Lorimer Road in Village North to Skiers Plaza at the bottom of the mountains. Amongst the cultural delights that the village has to offer are its many festivals and events. These include the Summer Concert Series, the Great Canadian Run, Jazz on the Mountain, Cornucopia, ARTrageous, the WinterPRIDE Festival and the Whistler Film Festival. Other popular activities include biking, whitewater rafting, bungee jumping and enjoying a day at one of the resort’s spas. With over 50 black bears living in the mountains of Whistler and Blackcomb, a family vacation to Whistler is also a great opportunity to take a wildlife tour in a 4x4 vehicle.

Whistler shopping guide

With pedestrian access to a plethora of quaint boutiques and specialty stores, the resort is a paradise for shoppers. There is also no shortage of stores which sell up-to-the-minute skiwear; the area is home to Burton, The North Face, Quiksilver, Colombia and Colombia Kids. No Whistler shopping guide would be complete without a mention of Can-Ski’s buy-back program on children’s skiwear, which offers a voucher for 50% off next year’s purchase when you purchase a kid’s ski, boot and binding package, then return the items at the end of the season.