10 Things to Do in Whistler with Kids

Whistler Olympic Plaza is a full-fledged winter wonderland that’s also big on family fun in the summer. Long after hosting the winter games in 2010, the plaza continues to keep the winter sports spirit alive. The grounds in front of Olympic Podium freeze to become an ice rink, attracting skaters of all skill levels. 

Mondays and Wednesdays are usually family days, when tobogganing hills are built around the plaza and children’s games are scheduled. In the summer, the plaza is great for strolling – gardens bloom beside big playgrounds, and the podium regularly hosts concerts. 

Whistler’s Peak 2 Peak Gondola takes you on an 11-minute cruise over 4 km of lush valleys and alpine terrain. Stretching between the peaks of Whistler and Blackcomb, the 25-minute chairlift up to the gondolas is also fun and gives you a taste of what’s to come.

In the summer, you’ll admire breathtaking panoramas of surrounding valleys, glaciers, and snow-capped peaks. It’s good for all ages. Tickets are about $63 for adults, $32 for kids between 7 and 12 years, and free for kids aged 6 and under. 

The Adventure Group (TAG) in Whistler operates an exciting aerial treetop course, where active kids can easily lose a sense of time honing their motoric skills. Grownups can revisit their favourite childhood obstacle courses as well as new sets of challenges here.

The tree course has over 70 different elements, each tailored according to age group and skill level. Once you’ve slapped on a harness and safety gear, you’ll be swinging between ropes, skipping over balancing beams over 15 metres high, and taking in Whistler’s lush nature. 

The Whistler Olympic Park was where the cheers, thrills, and action of the 2010 winter games took place. Since then, the park has been attracting budding and experienced skiers of all ages in winter – even toddlers don’t get left out of the snowy fun. 

If you have tots in tow or kids who are just too young to ski, you can enjoy a classic winter pastime: tobogganing down the gentle slopes within dedicated family sections at Olympic Park.

Loads of fun playtime awaits you at Whistler’s Family Adventure Zone, a dedicated family recreational area with features geared towards keeping the little ones entertained. You can take the kids for an ATV ride, enjoy a round of mini golf, jump on bungee trampolines, or hop on a downhill luge known as Westcoast Slider. 

There are plenty of restaurants around, as well as shopping spots where you can briefly unwind in between the thrills. Each ride will set you back about $11.

Meadow Park Sports Centre is where you can skate, swim and keep fit in Whistler – regardless of the weather. Meadow Park’s indoor aquatic centre has a 6-lane lap pool complemented by a kids’ pool, as well as saunas and steam rooms for leisure.

There’s a National Hockey League-sized rink where you can skate, a full-fledged gym, squash and basketball courts where you can sweat out some calories, squash and basketball courts, and dance studios with regular classes. Single-day passes are about $8.75 for adults and $4.50 for kids aged between 4 and 12. 

Whistler’s Fire and Ice is a long-running live show featuring stunning manoeuvres and big air jumps by professional skiers and snowboarders. It takes place every Sunday evening at Skiers Plaza in the Whistler ski resort village. The show is free to watch. 

The kids will be transfixed by the amazing antics that unfold before them – boarders and skiers doing their flips and crazy jumps through fire hoops and fire dancers adding to the dramatic effect against the night sky. Fireworks are usually added into the mix.

The Whistler Core Climbing and Fitness Centre is home to an impressive 510-sq-m indoor climbing wall. It’s where you and your kids can learn the basics of rock climbing and try to conquer some challenging obstacles. There are different sections for varying skill levels. 

It’s a great way for getting a taste of what rock climbing is like in the great outdoors. The bouldering zone is where you can hone your skills and navigate through many ways across the myriad of slabs and holders. 

The great outdoors are simply one of the top things to do in Whistler with kids. Besides offering exciting nature walks against a stunning alpine backdrop, Alta Lakeside Park is great for swimming, kayaking, and picnicking. It has a good range of facilities along the shore such as barbecue spots and wooden piers for lake fishing. 

Summer weekenders depart for the lake from the boat ramps north of the beach. Lakeside Park itself is a wonderful place to catch a dramatic Whistler sunset gradually descending over Mount Sproatt.

Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre is a great place to learn about the vibrant arts, culture, and history of 2 First Nations tribes that live in the Whistler and Blackcomb region. The little ones can enjoy fun hands-on exhibits, like drums they can play and traditional canoes that they can sit in. 

Multimedia displays screen short videos that introduce you to the Squamish and Lil'wat tribes, and you can explore a real life-size longhouse full of artefacts or witness live arts and craft demos or storytelling. Tickets start from $18 for adults and $5 for kids aged between 6 and 12.