Whistler 2: this time with kids
We went to Whistler two weeks ago for a week. We spent our honeymoon there four years ago so there was some nostalgia there. Whistler was better this time than four years ago, honestly. The big issue we had last time is that the service everywhere was terrible, especially waitstaff. This time it wasn't like that.
We loved loved loved Howe Sound Brewery (and pub) in Squamish. We stopped there on the way up and on the way back. Everything about it is fantastic. Great beer, great food, great value, great with the munchkins, and great service. Best item was probably the fiddlehead pizza I had on the trip home (from their spring specials). Fiddleheads are delicious but they're such a PITA to prepare that they make great restaurant food.
El Furniture was a great place to watch the Habs win game seven against the Bruins. We were seated right next to some enthusiastic young French Canadian men. It was amusing to hear "MAIS OUI" and "ET LE BUUUUUUUUUT" etc. Just like being in Montreal! It was 25 cent wings day and the wings were fantastic, but the burgers were kind of gross. They looked good when we saw other people order them, but the patties were those frozen spongy weird cheap kind. I know the burger and fries were only $5 (El Furny's schtick being its cheapness) but honestly it was not worth $5.
We went to the Southside Diner in Creekside the next day after a epically failed attempt to get to Rainbow Beach (bad directions, then got lost, then the road was CLOSED). My lamb burger was soooooo good and comforting.
We had our fancy pants anniversary dinner at 21 Steps. We went early and the place was so quiet that we felt a bit awkward at first. But we loosened up and had a good time. The shrimp appetizer wasn't great (it was advertised as spicy but definitely wasn't at all), but the rest of the food was good (salmon with vegetables for me and a bison steak for Gordon). The best part was actually the cocktails. I had a Negroni and Gordon had a whiskey sour. They really knew how to make a good sour with the egg white and everything. I think if we're in Whistler again we would just go to the bar.
We didn't do anything big or exciting. We went to the pool, and the library, and some local lakes. My mother and I went to Scandinave Spa for a morning. So rejuvenating. We also went to the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre, a Native museum that was surprisingly fun for Pippa, due to its kid area containing several drums. Also the food at the cafe was fantastic and it actually had a reasonably priced gift shop. We got Pippa an orca hand puppet, Mary-Alice a beaver bath toy and me a wallet.
I've figured out that you have to stay away for at least a week for a trip with little kids to be worth it. The timeline is like this:
DAY -1: This was a mistake.
DAY 1: This was a TERRIBLE mistake.
DAY 2: ~stupor~
Day 3: Oh, I am a human being?
Day 4: Fun?
Day 5: Fun!
Day 6: We are fun human beings!
Day 7: Urgh travel again but oh well.
Day 8: I planned to have this day off. I am wise.
We loved loved loved Howe Sound Brewery (and pub) in Squamish. We stopped there on the way up and on the way back. Everything about it is fantastic. Great beer, great food, great value, great with the munchkins, and great service. Best item was probably the fiddlehead pizza I had on the trip home (from their spring specials). Fiddleheads are delicious but they're such a PITA to prepare that they make great restaurant food.
El Furniture was a great place to watch the Habs win game seven against the Bruins. We were seated right next to some enthusiastic young French Canadian men. It was amusing to hear "MAIS OUI" and "ET LE BUUUUUUUUUT" etc. Just like being in Montreal! It was 25 cent wings day and the wings were fantastic, but the burgers were kind of gross. They looked good when we saw other people order them, but the patties were those frozen spongy weird cheap kind. I know the burger and fries were only $5 (El Furny's schtick being its cheapness) but honestly it was not worth $5.
We went to the Southside Diner in Creekside the next day after a epically failed attempt to get to Rainbow Beach (bad directions, then got lost, then the road was CLOSED). My lamb burger was soooooo good and comforting.
We had our fancy pants anniversary dinner at 21 Steps. We went early and the place was so quiet that we felt a bit awkward at first. But we loosened up and had a good time. The shrimp appetizer wasn't great (it was advertised as spicy but definitely wasn't at all), but the rest of the food was good (salmon with vegetables for me and a bison steak for Gordon). The best part was actually the cocktails. I had a Negroni and Gordon had a whiskey sour. They really knew how to make a good sour with the egg white and everything. I think if we're in Whistler again we would just go to the bar.
We didn't do anything big or exciting. We went to the pool, and the library, and some local lakes. My mother and I went to Scandinave Spa for a morning. So rejuvenating. We also went to the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre, a Native museum that was surprisingly fun for Pippa, due to its kid area containing several drums. Also the food at the cafe was fantastic and it actually had a reasonably priced gift shop. We got Pippa an orca hand puppet, Mary-Alice a beaver bath toy and me a wallet.
I've figured out that you have to stay away for at least a week for a trip with little kids to be worth it. The timeline is like this:
DAY -1: This was a mistake.
DAY 1: This was a TERRIBLE mistake.
DAY 2: ~stupor~
Day 3: Oh, I am a human being?
Day 4: Fun?
Day 5: Fun!
Day 6: We are fun human beings!
Day 7: Urgh travel again but oh well.
Day 8: I planned to have this day off. I am wise.