Whistler Offers deals, events and Olympic legacies for families all summer

Summertime in Whistler means endless family activities and great accommodation deals - offering families the ultimate summer getaways for weekends, week-long getaways or extended visits.  

 Hiking, biking, golfing and dining - along with skiing and snowboarding on Blackcomb Mountain (until late July), as well as festivals and events - all combine to provide the quintessential summer Whistler experience. 

And while the spring sun has melted the valley snow, Whistler's 2010 Winter Games venues will be opening their doors to summer visitors. Although the Winter Games are behind us, you can still have a taste of the Olympic spirit. 

The Whistler Sliding Centre (WSC) opens June 25 with self-guided and guided walking tours, as well as a new "Behind the Scenes" shuttle bus tour that transports guests from the village to the WSC- from top to bottom.  The centre's facilities will also be available for events and meeting space bookings starting in June. 

Warm, sunny weather has transformed Whistler's valley into a lush playground and hundreds of kilometres of mountain biking trails are now in ideal condition after a snowy winter. Families looking for a free scenic cycling experience can enjoy the Valley Trail system, offering 35 paved kilometres through lush forests and past glacier-fed lakes, surrounded by mountains. 

In addition to village-based biking and hiking trails that access Whistler's temperate rainforest, a network of trails atop Whistler and Blackcomb mountains makes for hours of exploration the whole family can enjoy.  Amazing views of the Coast Range mountain peaks and glaciers, alpine meadows and wildlife habitat - including black bears and hoary marmots - are provided along more than 50 kilometres of trails accessible via the PEAK 2 PEAK Alpine Experience. 

Family-friendly events taking place this summer in Whistler:

•·All summer, Whistler Street Entertainment presents free juggling acts, circus performers, musicians, bike stunt riders, dancers and acrobats attractions and performances every weekend in the heart of the Village.

•··July 17 and 18 is the Whistler Children's Art Festival, with lots of free activities, popular children's performers, wandering musicians and characters, and hands-on workshops led by professional artists in fine arts, crafts, theatre, multi-media, dance and music.

•·The Whistler Dragon Boat Festival takes place July 3 and 4. This year's event will also feature the Canadian National Dragon Boat Championships. Join the teams for a weekend spent in some of the most spectacular scenery in the world filled with beating drums, fierce paddling, cheering spectators, and live entertainment

Whistler.com can tailor a package for your family.  For more information, call toll free 1.800.WHISTLER (1.800.944.7853) to request a no-obligation quote or visit http://www.whistler.com/ for more details and offers.

Whistler is Canada's premier year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Consistently rated the top ski resort in North America for the past 12 years in a row, Whistler was the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The resort offers an extensive range of accommodations totaling 10,000 bedrooms among 24 hotels as well as townhomes, condos, B&Bs and chalets.  Whistler boasts more than 100 restaurants and bars, 200 retail shops, 25 spas and countless activity options from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and watersports. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 9,000 permanent residents.