Whistler balances laid-back activities with big-mountain fun for the perfect combination. You’ll find nature walks, biking, fishing opportunities, and festivals at your fingertips. Don’t worry, though, if you run into a day when the weather is too cold or rainy for outdoor fun: Whistler simply moves the party indoors.

Visit one of the area’s many spas for a yoga class, massage, or just to enjoy the sauna or hot tub. Other options on the long list of indoor activities include cultural events, concerts, and the area’s eight-screen movie theatre. We also discovered the award-winning First Nations Cultural Centre, and numerous art galleries as we explored the region.

While out and about, we found delicious dining in pet-friendly restaurants overlooking the splendor of the mountain range. I have to recommend that you don’t forget retail therapy either, since Whistler is well known for its fantastic shopping opportunities. Ultimately, we guarantee if you visit Whistler during autumn, you will fall in love with it just like we did!

Where to Stay in Whistler

One of the best places to stay in Whistler for your fall getaway is Crystal Lodge Whistler. The warm welcome at their modern mountain lodge will make you feel right at home while you are at the epicentre of Whistler Village.

One of the best features of Crystal Lodge Whistler was that it’s pet friendly, which is a must for us as we always travel with our dog Brandy. You’ve probably been there yourself a time or two, getting that polite, “we’re sorry, but…” answer when trying to reserve top-shelf accommodations with a pet. Not only is Crystal Lodge pet friendly, but they also don’t charge you additional fees for your pet. Your pet-friendly room comes with treats, dog towels, and bowls.

We loved that Crystal Lodge is smack dab in the middle of everything. Centrality is something to keep in mind when you’re making reservations because obviously, the more convenient your hotel location is, the easier it will be to follow your vacation itinerary and get the most out of your activities.

You literally walk out the door and you are on the beautiful Village Stroll. This made it easy to go exploring, enjoy the shops, and plan the next day’s activities. Additionally, the service was fantastic. We can’t say enough good about the staff, who were always on top of everything.

Crystal Lodge underwent a major rebranding in June 2020.  Introducing a modern Scandinavian feel through contemporary furniture paired with light tone millwork and black fixtures in the bathroom, the updates maintain the modern, mountain cabin feel true to The Crystal’s long 30+ year history in Whistler.  

I love all the little things that make a big deal to our overall experience, like chargers in the alarm clocks for phones (or if you are like me, hearing aids!).

I absolutely loved the bright bathroom. As I get older, there is nothing like good lighting to help a lady put on her best face.

A must-have in every hotel bathroom for those of us who’ve hit the reading glasses stage of life is a magnifying mirror. I was so excited to see one included in our beautiful well-lit bathroom. It’s the little things that make a big difference for me in hotels.

The table was plenty big enough for Steve and I to work at while we were there. We brought takeout back and had access to all dishes and cutlery we needed.

As far as amenities, we’ll put it this way; if you decide to have a day “at home” and not go anywhere, this hotel has everything you can imagine and you really don’t have to leave the facility on any given day if you don’t want to.

There was a hot tub (although closed while we were there), an outdoor pool, a sauna, and a fitness centre.  We also noticed that the hotel offers on-site ski storage, which you’ll find advantageous if you’re a fan of the sport. If you’re taking a long break, you’ll be happy to discover there’s a laundry and dry cleaning service on-site. Don’t forget to check out the fabulous deals on food, drinks, and shopping when you stay at Crystal Lodge Whistler!

Things To Do in Whistler

There are so many Things to Do in Whistler, but for this trip, Steve and I focused on exploring the Whistler Waterfalls. Here are a few of our faves:

Nairn Falls

Just a short drive towards Pemberton, you will find the stunning Nairn Falls Provincial Park. This hike will take you about 1.5 hours to complete.

Brandywine Falls

Heading the other way towards Squamish, you can take a short stroll to see Brandywine Falls.

Alexander Falls

Heading up towards Whistler Olympic Village, you can literally hop out of your car and onto the viewing platform for Alexander Falls.

Mamquam Falls

A quick stop in Squamish on the way to or from Whistler will take you on a spectacular scenic hike to Mamquam Falls.

Best Ever Guide to Whistler

Read more about the Best Things to Do in Whistler

* Thank you to the fine folks at Crystal Lodge for hosting our 2-day stay. We loved it so much, we booked another day ourselves to explore all the amazing Things To Do in Whistler!