Ski Lesson – The Whistler kids ski program has been labeled as one of the best in the world and it probably is but with a price tag of about $170 for everything, we just couldn’t justify spending that much money on a 5-year old for one day who would rather go snow tubing. We have spent a whole lot less for lessons in California and Utah which we planned to do a few months later. So, we didn’t put our kids for ski lessons at this resort but the Whistler kids snow school website has more information.
We did see the Whistler Kids ski area on the Blackcomb side and it was huge. Whistler offered discounts of up to 30% off for their snow school during Discover Whistler Days starting on their opening day and on select date ranges but is not available on holiday weekends and school breaks. Unfortunately, we were here during a the MLK weekend so no discounts for us.
If your little ones have taken previous lessons and they need a bit of a practice before going on the lifts, there was a small magic carpet at the Blackcomb side. They could go up for free and go down on a little bunny slope. My daughter was perfectly content warming up here since it had been a few months since ski lessons.
We took the free shuttle bus to the Blackcomb side from the Whistler village which gave us a nice tour of the area. There was also a pedestrian path that connected the two villages. It was very scenic including a covered bridge, a frozen river and if you’re lucky a snowman — a great place for kids to explore and do a mini hike.
Discount Lift tickets – For discount pricing, get your lift tickets at various 7-11 stores in Vancouver. There were a few we passed on the Sea–to-Sky highway and also at the town of Squamish. My Washington state friends also bought discounted tickets at REI (will count towards dividends for REI members). There was also an EDGE card for Washington residents and Canadians.
Whistler Blackcomb Coca Cola Tube Park – A winter trip with kids won’t be complete without some snow tubing. The resort has an 8-lane tubing park with varying difficulties, a fire pit and play area. It was accessible by taking the Excalibur Blackcomb gondola from Whistler village (get off the first stop). Children under 12 must be accompanied by adults and the height restriction is 36” for the Mini Tube Zone.
A discount was available if you reserve and pre-book your tickets online at least 3 days before your desired date. There was a family discount of 10% if buying 4 tickets but one person has to be at least 19 years or older.
Tickets could also be purchased at all resort ticket windows. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to go tubing here since it rained all day during our scheduled date. The tube park was on standby since it was raining and made for some very slick conditions. They do have some flexible hours and were open until 8 PM. Contact: 1-888.403.4727 
TreeTrek Tour – This adventure high above the trees will surely be a memorable one. This was offered by Ziptrek Ecotours for adults and kids starting at $30 for a 2-hour duration. Infants are permitted if carried in backpacks.
Zip Trek also offered other types of tour adventures but cost a little bit more and have more age and weight restrictions. Check their website for more information. This wasn’t open yet during the weekend we were here but sure looked like a great adventure for the whole family. We would love to do this on our return trip.
Ice Skating – For some indoor winter fun, there was an Ice skating rink at Meadow Park Sports Centre Arena which was a few miles from the resort. Skate rentals were available. If you don’t have a car, it was accessible by Whistler’s local transit. The facility also had pools for kids and adults to enjoy.
Contact: 604.935.7529 Address: 8625 Highway 99 Whistler, BC
Peak 2 Peak Experience – This multi-million dollar gondola connected the two mountains (Whistler & Blackcomb) in the resort that offered a unique view of the mountains. While it was free to ride with a purchased lift ticket, you could also ride this 11 minute, 4.4km/2.73 mile marvel by buying 1-day sightseeing tickets. My husband was the only one who got to go on this ride and he said the views were magnificent.
Free Whistler Winter Activities with Kids
Village Playground – I remembered hanging out with my toddler at this playground 6 years ago but they have completely renovated it and was a lot bigger. The centerpiece was a tree house for kids to explore. It was within a few feet from the marketplace and right behind the Olympic rings plaza. Kids could slide, swing and spin. My kids didn’t want to leave this place despite the freezing cold.
Excalibur Blackcomb Gondola ride – After most of the lifts closed at 3PM, we went up this gondola and got off the first stop. There was a wide open area for snow play and snowball fights. It can also be taken all the way to the top of the mountain where there were some restaurants. You could make a roundtrip excursion out of it too. The kids loved the short ride and being higher than everyone else.
Fire & Ice Show – This free show occurs every Sunday night at 6:30 PM by the Whistler Village gondola with snowboarders and skiers doing some awesome stunts and ending with fireworks. It was a very family-friendly show and try to get there early to stand in the front of the fence as it got pretty crowded.
They also gave away prizes from 7-11 gift certificates to zip line tickets. The six kids in our group ranging in age from 5-17 were so entertained they stayed in the front of the fenced area the whole time in the rain with no complaints whatsoever.
Olympic Rings – The Olympic Rings near the Market Village made for a great photo opportunity of the whole family. The kids (and adults) had a lot of fun climbing on it. It made for great monkey bars for kids although the Olympic sponsors would probably be horrified at that thought. This was a very popular spot for visitors even at night.
Free Mountain Orientation Tours – If someone in your group is an intermediate or expert skier or snowboarder, the resort offered free orientation tours daily meeting at 11:15 AM at the Guest Satisfaction Centre at the Alpine Lightboard (top of the Whistler Village Gondola). The Blackcomb Orientation Tour & Blackcomb Glacier Tour meets at the Guest Satisfaction Centre (top of the Solar Coaster Express). What a great way to explore the resort!
* The following activities (Dog sledding, sleigh rides, snowcat tours) are a bit costly (think at least $100 per person) but may be worth it for a great experience and for those with bigger vacation budgets.
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