Ziptrek Ecotours

Metro Vancouverites’ backyard playground

Last Updated on Tuesday, 19 July 2011 13:58

There’s always something new at Whistler each summer. This year it’s a tree top canopy walk tour through an ancient rainforest.

Original Article - The Vancouver Province - July 11, 2011, Postmedia News

The Tree Top Canopy Walk is a new guided tour through Whistler’s rainforest.

Whistler, B.C.

For the past decade, the world has beat a path to the alpine door of this four-season resort.

But in many ways, Whistler is still the backyard playground for Metro Vancouverites seeking R&R from urban life it has been since the Seventies. And thanks to the 2010 Olympic legacy that is the vastly improved Sea to Sky Highway, road trips to the mountain village are quicker, safer though just as scenic as they were before the half-billion dollar upgrade to the 45-year old stretch of blacktop.

Long before the 21st Winter Olympics touched down in Whistler, the village itself had undergone decades’ worth of upgrades to its accommodation and recreational facilities.

Those have slowed if not all but stopped since the global economic meltdown of 2008, with tourist numbers down, particularly from the all-important United States.

But despite that, there’s always something new or improved for visitors to take advantage of, especially for families. And for package deals.

Canopy Walk

New to this summer season is the Tree Top Canopy Walk, a stunning guided tour through Whistler’s ancient rainforest operated by ZipTrek Ecotours of Canada.

Utilizing the same series of boardwalks, suspension bridges and platforms overlooking Fitzsimmons Creek that the ZipTrek tours use, the canopy walk provides bird’s eye views 200 feet above the glacier-fed creek bed. Though not quite as heart-pounding an adventure as the ziplining experience, the canopy walk’s swaying suspension bridges strung between 800-year old trees do increase the pulse level a little. In addition to the canopy level views, the two-hour tour is an education in the fragile yet resilient ecosystem provided by enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides.

For this first season of operation, EcoTrek has teamed with the Fairmont Chateau Whistler to offer a two-night Tree Top Eco Walk package.

Tee it up

Rightfully known as a world-class ski and snowboard destination, Whistler is also a golf mecca of sorts, with its three courses all ranked among the top 50 in Canada in annual surveys.

Nicklaus North, the Whistler Golf Club and the Fairmont Chateau course — designed by legends Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Trent Jones Jr. respectively — are challenging yet not punishing resort courses that cater to all ages and levels.

Deals also abound at all three courses, particularly for B.C. residents and kids, and the Whistler Golf Club’s special five-holes for $15 after 5 p.m. is a great way for a family of four to cap a day in the mountains. Children are also encouraged to take to the links, with all three courses offering free rounds to kids accompanied by paying adults.

Another excellent package for B.C. and Washington State residents is the Golf Whistler Passport, that starts at $199 and provides a round at all three courses. And for $375, you can have a wonderful few days by playing all three courses with two nights accommodation.amccredie@sunprovince.com

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