Whistler, Canada
Planning your first family ski trip? Not sure if you can ski with little ones? Look no further than our personal review of skiing in Whistler, Canada with young children. Here, we will share our experience of our first ever family ski trip with a 2 and 4 year old from Florida. Not only is this trip doable, but it can be enjoyable too. Read on for all of our recommendations, ways to prepare, and what to pack for a Whistler ski trip with young kids!
Why We Chose Whistler
I have always dreamed of visiting British Columbia, preferably in the summertime for its well-known scenic hiking. Whistler came up in my search for a solid home base that’s in close proximity to some iconic trailheads. In doing research on best ski resorts for families, Whistler kept popping up. It felt like a no brainer when reading about the highly recommended ski schools, lack of altitude sickness, and incredibly beautiful runs. Not to mention, we had 5 free Marriott night awards to use at the Westin Whistler Resort & Spa.
After countless positive reviews and recommendations, we decided to make the journey out to British Columbia. Not having to deal with altitude sickness while skiing was a huge factor. Additionally, skiing in a beautiful place that was actively snowing in November made a massive impact. We booked the trip last minute after seeing a forecast with snowfall. Our winter wonderland soon became a reality!
How Long Should The Trip Be
Deciding how much time to spend in a ski town depends on what you plan to do. We wanted to be home two days before thanksgiving and decided on 5 nights. To lighten our travel duration, we spent the first night in Montreal. Unfortunately, Air Canada cancelled our flight (due to “mechanical issues” at 4 am) and we lost one night. Ultimately, our trip ended up being 3 nights in Whistler and one night in Vancouver. If coming from a far destination, like the east coast, I would plan at least 5 days for a long weekend. For all that travel time, you want to get some good quality ski time there. If coming from out west, I think 3 nights is plenty.
Preparing Young Kids For A Ski Trip
If your young kids are new to skiing, try to incorporate some excitement around the sport prior to your trip. Anything you can think of to hype your child up will be crucial for their first day on skis.
Ways to get your child excited to ski:
- Watch other kids ski (YouTube & IG are your best friend here. Also, videos of family or friends work too)
- Blippi has a great ski episode
- Cocomelon, for younger children – we used to brush our teeth to their ski song
- Let them pick out cute winter clothes and gear ahead of time. Maya loves choosing her own outfits and was not thrilled that the boots weren’t pink. We did our best to let her choose her ski base layers each day and pick the print of her snowsuit
- Try winter gear on BEFORE. I had the girls put their coats on prior to our trip, but not small things like socks. Luna hated the wool socks and was yelling “TOO TIGHT!” the entire time 😂 I regretted not testing these out before or at least have a different type
- Play any type of snow or ski kids songs
- Read books about skiing (we never did this but it would’ve been a good idea)
- Talk to your child. Hype them up by telling them what your vacation plan is and all the activities to expect. Explain to them that it will be cold and you have to wear more clothes than normal to keep you warm. This was especially true for our girls coming from a vastly different climate like Florida
Ultimately, being honest with your little ones on what to expect while also getting them excited for a new adventure is your goal. Try not to make skiing sound scary, but assure them that if they practice, they’ll build confidence and enjoy it. Kids feed off of your energy, so remember that and you’ll all have a blast!
Where To Stay
10/10 recommend staying at the Westin Whistler Resort & Spa! The location is superb, there is a ski rental shop downstairs, cozy rooms, and excellent customer service. I thought the cost of the resort was very reasonable considering the hotel’s proximity to the gondolas and other amenities.
The Location
Location, location, location! We could not even believe how incredibly close the resort was to the gondolas. It was difficult to tell on google maps, but if you exit the proper door, you are at the bottom of the Whistler mountain gondola. If you walk another 2 minutes, the Excalibur gondola to Blackcomb mountain is right there. This is also where you meet your ski instructor if signing up for ski school.
To our surprise, the most popular aprés ski spots were also right there. Basically, the base of the mountain is right behind the Westin and every thing else is also.
The Staff
To start, the Westin staff upgraded our room before we even checked in. The one bedroom suite with two young kids was much appreciated. Not to mention, I had an issue with canceling the original booking and had to speak with the reservations team multiple times and they were awesome in assisting me. Lastly, we arrived late and had to drop off our rental car. The Valet guys offered to pick Gregg up after, so he didn’t have to walk back or call a cab. Thank you to the Westin staff for being amazing!
The Food
KIDS EAT FREE! Yes, the expensive breakfast buffet opens at 6:30 am and is free for kids (under 6 I believe). This was a win in so many ways. Gregg and I usually split something off the menu as we dud not want to eat too much before hitting the slopes.
How to get an Epic Pass
Getting an Epic pass was surprisingly a little more complicated than I thought. I’m not sure why, but maybe because I have never bought a lift ticket before. Skiing in Whistler with young kids was not cheap. Every body going on the gondola needs an Epic Pass, no matter the age. So, even though Luna was not skiing, we still needed to purchase a pass. I was under the impression that both girls were free and only purchased two adult passes. This was not only a waste of time, but we also had to wait in line three times! Make sure you pay for every family member before going to pick up your passes. If you purchase passes online at least 14 days in advance, your passes can be automatically uploaded to the Epic App. This is a lot easier than waiting in line for your pass first thing in the morning, especially with small children.
How To Rent Gear
Renting gear was a breeze through Can-Ski at the Westin. Simply choose what you need (skis, boots, helmet, poles, etc) and select your dates. You can rent your gear ahead of time through Epic Mountain Rentals. I would recommend renting it ahead of time. You can also call the hotel concierge and they will help you make an appointment to get your gear fitted when you check in. The shops hours are 8 am to 8 pm. It can get very busy in the morning, so try to get there early.
Pro Tip: Arrive one day before skiing and allow plenty of time to try on your gear at the rental shop and get your Epic passes. Make an appointment with the shop through the hotel for your fitting.
Due to our canceled flight, we missed the first preparation day. We were fortunate enough that the shop opened at 7:45 am that first morning and were somehow able to get fitted AND get our epic passes in time for our 8:30 ski school. Try not to do that as it was a stressful, rushed morning with two young kids. Unfortunately, the situation was out of our control, but it still worked out very well!
Where to Pick Up/Drop Off Gear
Pick up: Our hotel had a rental shop right downstairs. Each morning we would pick up our gear from the staff. It was very convenient!
Drop off: The Westin had a tent at the base of the Whistler Gondola where you could drop your skis off at the end of the day. We kept our helmet, poles, and boots in our room. If one of us wanted to go back and ski after lessons, there were plenty of racks in Whistler village to safely leave our skis and poles while we grabbed lunch or brought the girls back for a nap.
What To Pack
Packing for winter trips is our biggest challenge traveling with small children. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to pack light with bulky winter gear. I do my best to make sure I have everything the girls need to keep them warm, yet rewear as much as possible. Due to the sheer bulk of snowsuits and winter coats, there is no way of packing light for a ski trip. Although there are winter gear rental companies, there is a lack of children’s clothing rentals. Try your best to have the children wear the same base layers and don’t forget to layer! Below is an example packing list of items that we brought for 5 day Whistler ski trip with young kids.
How to Dress Young Kids for Skiing
I grew up in Massachusetts, but haven’t skied in years. Needless to say, I was so nervous about dressing the girls appropriately. The only thing more miserable than have freezing feet is having a toddler with freezing feet. No child is going to want to ski if they’re cold and uncomfortable. The trick is to layer up! Even if you don’t have the most high end, latest edition ski gear, you can still keep your babies toasty!
The 3 Layer Rule:
The 3 Layer Rule is well known to outdoor lovers in winter climates. This rule applies to not only young kids, but adults as well. Properly layering allows you to enjoy the cold outdoors comfortably.
- Base Layer – preferably Merino Wool. This is the warmest and most breathable base layer fabric. However, it is expensive and may not be worth your investment if infrequently in winter conditions. Fleece is a great second option, but can get warm. Be sure to have layers to remove if your child gets too warm. Check out websites in off season and around Black Friday for deals. We scored some incredible gear over the summer from Reima and Helly Hansen! Patagonia and Northface have great renewed adult and kids clothing worth checking out. Also, I was able to find some barely used snow boots for our entire family through Poshmark and Ebay!
- Mid Layer – this can be a sweater or fleece jacket
- Outer Layer – a waterproof, winter jacket or snowsuit
Tip: Practice layering up at home if you do not live in colder climates. This will allow your children to get used to wearing more clothes than normal. Make it fun!
Ski School
What an incredible experience we had with the Whistler Blackcomb ski school! Our instructor Tom was so wonderful with Maya and to our family. It was a bit of a challenge doing lessons with both girls and carrying all of our gear. Tom was super helpful in holding some of our skis while we all got on the gondola. The lessons itself were extremely helpful. Although they are not cheap, if you are new to skiing or need a refresh, I think this is a must do before hitting the slopes! Even just one half day is plenty to refresh if you’ve skied before. However, lessons are a must for young kids, unless you are advanced and comfortable teaching.
Book your snow school lessons here in advanced. You can book private or group lessons. The private lessons are more expensive, but well worth it for a short visit and include the most one-on-one time. These are also perfect for small families/groups.
Can kids under 2 years old take lessons?
No. Snow school lessons are for children age 3 and up. However, 2 year olds are allowed to ski or snowboard, but you will need to bring your own gear. Since we are not frequent skiers, we decided to wait until Luna is older and can do lessons properly. The nice part was that she could hang at the ski school area with us while we alternated lessons. She did better than expected, but didn’t last long. More than two hours is a lot to ask for a toddler to sit in the cold and watch. Luna definitely had FOMO! Don’t forget that every body needs a gondola pass regardless of if they are skiing/snowboarding and age! Unfortunately, we made this mistake and wasted a bit of time the first morning.
Don’t forget that every body needs a gondola pass regardless of if they are skiing/snowboarding and age!
How To Get To Whistler
Getting to Whistler may be the biggest factor that deters many families. It is definitely a little bit of a journey for those who don’t live out west. Essentially, you need to fly into Vancouver and drive about 2 hours to get to Whistler Village. You can rent a car or take a shuttle. The shuttle is certainly the cheapest and easiest way to travel to Whistler. However, the shuttle times didn’t work for our original flight and we decided to rent a car. We picked up from the Avis Vancouver and dropped off at the Avis in Whistler village. It was honestly pretty seamless, but we hit some traffic departing and arriving into Vancouver. For this reason, the shuttle is nice and care free.
Another option is to book a private transfer from Vancouver to Whistler. These run upwards of >$500 and may not be in everyone’s budget. Plus, car seats are not always a guarantee.
Check out www.flightconnections.com for the most direct flight paths from your home!
When to visit Whistler
A last minute trip cancellation led us to planning a ski trip to Whistler the week before Thanksgiving. This time can be challenging for a ski trip, as not all slopes are open due to a lack of snowfall. Being early in the season, we were fortunate enough that Whistler received a bunch of snowfall the week prior. This year whistler opened up on November 21st. However, the best time for ideal slope conditions is February or March. Last year, a staff member said, they did not receive snow until January! We took advantage and booked our flights the minute we saw the forecast!
Keep an eye on the opening dates and follow the mountain on instagram for daily updates. Whistler Blackcomb wasn’t supposed to open until the 23rd, but opened early due to heavy snowfall! Check the Whistler Blackcomb website for updates.
Toddler Tips
When planning a Whistler ski trip with young kids, there’s a bit of extra preparation that needs to go into the planning. Below are some tips that we found helpful or learned along the way to make your family ski trip as smooth as possible. Don’t forget that you’re still traveling with toddlers and that patience is key. Don’t go in expecting to ski all day, every day unless you plan on bringing a family member or nanny service ☺️
Dress kids warm
Follow the 3 layer rule as stated above. The only thing that will definitely prevent a child from having fun is being cold! I prefer snowsuits for little ones. Even though they’re a pain to take on and off, I find they kept snow out better than a two piece.
Use first day to prepare
We planned to do this, but with our flight cancellation, we were rushed on day one. Make sure you have an entire afternoon to try on your gear rentals (if using), pick up your Epic Passes (unless available on app), pick up snacks, and set out clothes/necessities for the next day.
Where to find toddler supplies
Finding supplies for young kids such as diapers, wipes, snacks, etc is the conveniently located pharmacy, Rexall. It is located in Whistler Village right next to a grocery store as well. This was about a 5 minute walk from our hotel. Here, you can find anything you need for traveling with a toddler or baby.
What is the youngest age kids can ski/snowboard?
Kids can ski at any age if they have their own gear. The youngest age that kids can participate in snow school and rent gear is 3 years old and 5 years old for snowboarding school.
What to bring on the slopes?
We brought our Osprey daypack bag (find our toddler travel gear here) each day that was filled with diapers, wipes, snacks, water bottle, extra layers for warmth or in case clothes got wet. Some parents had hiking carriers or wagons to carry their little ones, which was pretty smart. It allowed them to have hands to hold their skis and poles. However, I’m not sure how difficult getting on the gondola would be with a wagon? I feel like that only works to get you to the base of the mountain. We were fortunate enough that our instructor Tom helped us carry our skis up, so that way we could hold the girls. The hiking carrier is a great option if you don’t have an extra set of hands to help out!
Should I book a half or full day of lessons with a young kids?
I would highly recommend booking half days if you’re planning a Whistler ski trip with young kids. A half day is 3 hours, which is plenty of time for little ones to get see some action on the slopes. I feel like 6 hours is a long day for an adult, let alone a small child. Maya fell asleep on the gondola after her first lesson and that was only 2 hours! I’d suggest doing 2-3 half day lessons for young kids.
Who needs a lift/gondola ticket?
EVERYONE. Infants are not excluded. We did not know that Luna (2) and Maya (4) needed passes also. Make sure you pay for every one going on the gondola, even if they are not skiing/snowboarding.
How to get around with young kids
Whistler Village was extremely easy to get around on foot. It would be unnecessary to rent a car here we dropped our off as soon as we checked into the hotel and walked everywhere. As long as you’re staying in Whistler Village or near the base of the mountain gondolas, you are in a great spot!
Can I après ski with young kids?
Yes and no. Most restaurants at the mountain base will allow children in until a certain time. For example, The Longhorn Saloon was the most lively après ski atmosphere, but kids were only allowed in before 3 pm. Plus, I wouldn’t recommend bringing children into a place like that during party hours. We went to Garibaldi Lift Co. for dinner and drinks by the fire pits. It was a nice atmosphere, but not wild. This spot was perfect for families who want to go out, but not be in the party. You could still watch The Longhorn Saloon from a distance and the location was perfect.
Whistler Blackcomb overall is an incredible destination to plan a family ski trip. We fell in love and now with a direct flight to Vancouver from Tampa, will definitely be returning one day! We hope this guide helps you plan the ultimate Whistler ski trip with young kids 😊
