Whistler for Kids
What to do with children when they are not on the mountain, where to eat with them and who to call for a night off
Whistler is easy with children in the obvious ways: ski school, the Village stroll, the lakes in summer. The harder question is the third afternoon, when the small ones are tired of lessons and the teenagers want something with an edge. This is our list of the activities, restaurants and services that work, tested on our own families and our guests' over many seasons.
Minimum ages matter more than anything else when planning with children, so they are noted throughout. Anything with a booking page on our site links through to it.
Planning a family day
Little ones
The Tube Park at Base 2 on Blackcomb takes anyone over 36 inches and needs no skill, with a mini lane for the smallest riders. Vallea Lumina, the illuminated night walk, welcomes all ages, though it is carriers rather than strollers. In the Village, Whistler Olympic Plaza has a playground in summer and, in winter, a skating rink and the free Snow Zone for sledding. On warm days the lakes do most of the work: Lakeside Park and Alpha Lake Park both have a beach and a play structure. Ski school starts at three with kids' daily lessons, and we can have a Pack n Play and a high chair waiting in your home.
School age
This is the age Whistler suits best. Both zipline companies start at six, dog sledding takes children from four alongside two adults, and on the Callaghan Cruiser snowmobile tour ages five to twelve ride free as passengers once they reach 48 inches. In summer, add the River of Golden Dreams canoe paddle for confident swimmers, the Peak 2 Peak and Cloudraker Skybridge for the view, and the paved Valley Trail on rented bikes. The escape rooms and a stone carving class cover a wet afternoon. On snow, daily group lessons and the week-long Ski Adventure Camps run for ages three to twelve.
Teenagers
Forged Axe takes throwers from ten with a parent present and Whistler Bungee jumps under-sixteens with parental consent. White water rafting on the Green River, the shooting range and Ziptrek's two kilometre Sasquatch line all start at ten, and the escape rooms suit any age that can read a clue. On the mountain, teen group lessons for ages 13 to 18 mix park, pipe and big mountain terrain with riders their own age.
An evening off
When the adults need a night out, our childcare partner Blackcomb Babysitting sends sitters to your accommodation, for children from six months up; see babysitting in Whistler.
Tube Park
Seven lanes and a conveyor lift at Base 2 on Blackcomb, with lights for the evening. One and two hour tickets.
Vallea Lumina Winter
The illuminated forest walk on a short, flat, groomed trail from about 5pm, with a warm drink at base camp first.
Winter Ziplining
Superfly's four side-by-side lines over the snow, two and a half hours with a free shuttle.
Dog Sledding
A Callaghan Valley sled ride where the children help harness the team.
Snowmobiling
Children ride as passengers with a paying adult, and on the Callaghan Cruiser ages five to twelve ride free.
Snowshoeing
A guided walk among the old-growth trees of the Medicine Trail, or a shorter outing that ends at a campfire cookout.
Lakes and the Valley Trail
Beaches and docks at Lost Lake and Alta Lake, canoe and paddleboard rentals, and fifty kilometres of paved car-free trail between them.
Vallea Lumina
The night walk in its full summer form: 1.5 km of illuminated forest with stairs, so carriers rather than strollers.
Ziptrek and Superfly
Two zipline companies: Ziptrek from the Village over Fitzsimmons Creek, Superfly on Cougar Mountain with lines over a kilometre.
Peak 2 Peak and Cloudraker
The gondola between the mountains and the suspension bridge at the peak of Whistler, reached by the Peak Express.
River of Golden Dreams
A gentle guided canoe paddle from Alta Lake through the wetlands.
Bikes for the Valley Trail
Cruisers, e-bikes, children's bikes and tow-behind chariots to rent, for a car-free day between the lakes.
Escape! Whistler
Six themed rooms, 45 minutes each, for two to six players. It suits any age that can read a clue.
Stone Carving at Fathom
Carving classes at the Westin where children shape and finish a piece to take home. Daily, by appointment.
Axe Throwing
An hour of coached throwing at Forged Axe in Function Junction. The reliable answer for teenagers.
Fire and Ice Show
Skiers and riders jump through a ring of fire in Skier's Plaza, with fireworks to finish. There is a New Year's Eve edition too.
Whistler Olympic Plaza
A playground beside the Olympic rings in summer. In winter, an outdoor rink with skate rentals and the Snow Zone for sledding: bring your own toboggan.
Whistler Public Library
Children's books, free WiFi and regular family programmes in a calm timber building in the Village. An underrated stop on a wet afternoon.
Meadow Park Sports Centre
A year-round indoor rink with public skating, a leisure pool and a hot tub, four kilometres north of the Village.
Whistler Olympic Park
A tobogganing hill and easy cross-country and snowshoe trails at the 2010 Nordic venue.
Museums
The Audain Art Museum and the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre, both on Blackcomb Way within walking distance of the Village.
Hunter Gather
Smokehouse plates, big tables and a relaxed room. Always a safe bet with a mixed-age group.
Splitz Grill
Build-your-own burgers at a counter. Fast, cheap and beloved by every child who has visited.
Peaked Pies
Australian meat pies with mash and peas. Quick lunch before the afternoon session.
High Mountain Brewing Co
Pizza, burgers and a big patio, with the brewery next door for the adults.
Braidwood Tavern
A relaxed tavern at the Four Seasons with a children's menu and room for a big table.
Pizzeria Antico
Wood-fired pizza in a casual room. Reliable, fast and popular with locals.
Caramba
Mediterranean plates, pasta and pizza in a bright, noisy room that does not mind noisy children.
Old Spaghetti Factory
The dependable big-family dinner: set meals, quick service and something for everyone.
Creekbread
Wood-fired organic pizza in Creekside, worth the short trip for the atmosphere alone.
Babysitting in Whistler
Blackcomb Babysitting is the childcare partner we recommend. Their fully insured, First Aid and CPR certified sitters come to your accommodation for an evening out or a full day on the mountain, for children from six months up.
