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5 girlfriend's getaways in BC
Grab your girlfriends and head to BC, for any kind of adventure.
By Yuki Hayashi
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4. Get high (and mighty) in Whistler
Remember: she who climbs up, must come back down again, whether it's via skis, snowboard, mountain bike or Zipline. Regardless of time of year, outdoorsy pals can have a blast in Whistler. The mountain town, a two-hour drive from Vancouver, will host alpine events at the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games – so get there before the madding crowd.
Where to stay: Whistler's not cheap and neither are its vacation homes, but renting one gives you the freedom to make your own food and snacks, or sprawl out with the gang in front of the plasma TV. The housing stock is high-end but you'll thank yourselves for splurging when you sit in your outdoor hot tub gazing at the stars and mountain. Wild Flower Lodging Company has nice rental listings.
The Summit Lodge & Spa is located in Whistler Village where all the (off-slope) action is, and offers spacious suites where you and your girls can plan your next adventure. Or play hooky at the onsite Taman Sari Royal Heritage Spa.
What to do: Between late November and early June, it's a no-brainer: You head to Whistler to ski or snowboard at Whistler Blackcomb. The resort's 200 marked runs, 13 bowls, three glaciers and terrain parks have earned it the reputation of being North America's best ski resort.
If your pack's idea of fun is white-knuckled summer adventure, try the mile-high, thumbing-nose-at-gravity antics of bungee jumping into a gorge, or zip-lining far above Fitzsimmons Creek, between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. ZipTrek Ecotours offers a variety of tours from $99 for a three-hour+ session that includes an eco-tour and bussing to the mountaintop.
Whistler Mountain Bike Park is open from mid-May to early October and has 44 lift-serviced runs, plus skills centres where everyone from beginners to she-devils can work on their technique. You can rent a bike onsite for $100 a day.
Where to eat: The Fifty Two 80 Bistro at Four Seasons Resort Whistler is named in honor of the 5,280 feet of slope on Blackcomb mountain's vertical mile. Fresh regional cuisine, a beautiful setting and outdoor fireplace combine to make this a place to linger over meals.
Sustainability, small-scale agriculture, and artisan foods drive Après, a contemporary French restaurant and a founding member of the Whistler Slow Food Convivium. The chef offers cooking lessons, BTW, if you and you and your pals are ready to kick your menu planning up a couple notches.
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