Canada: Whistler in the summer

Whistler is a renowned skiing resort in winter, but don't underestimate its charms come summer. Photo / Supplied

Canada's famous resort town draws in winter skiers but it's worth a look in summer, writes Winston Aldworth.

It's renowned as a winter destination, but Kiwi visitors to Whistler, in British Columbia, will find plenty to do in the summer.

The lost lake
Whoever gave the Lost Lake its name can't have been trying very hard to find the thing; Whistler's worst-kept secret is about a 20-minute stroll away from the village. It's a cracking spot for a fresh-water swim or a spot of sunbathing. The floating dock on the northeast corner of the lake is popular for clothing-optional sunbathing and skinny-dipping. Go on - set your inner-Scandinavian free.

In winter, the trails around here are filled with the fizz of cross-country skiers. In the warmer months, bikers and hikers take to the paths, while local families picnic and hit the waters for a dip. On Sundays (and Wednesdays in July and August), there's a terrific farmers' market nearby.

Whistler Village beer festival
It's hard to imagine a more pleasant beer festival anywhere in the world. For one hoppy weekend in September, Whistler's Olympic Plaza - home to the medal ceremonies at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games - plays host to a couple of dozen of Cascadia's best brewers. Cascadia, since you asked, is the area stretching from California up to British Columbia. It takes in much of the liveliest craft beer regions of Canada and the US. Beers from this area make up the lion's share of the festival content and - hoppy as all hell - they'll appeal to fans of New Zealand craft beers.

Visitors to the beer festival wander among the stands, chatting to pleasant, easy-going West Coasters, and pausing occasionally to take in the lush green mountain scenery, burp quietly under their breath and enjoy the pleasant buzz of being gently boozed among happy strangers.

They like a chat. The guy doing sales for Phillips Brewing Company is the brewer's brother-in-law and has a day job as a firefighter in Vancouver. "I'd like to do this full-time."

Me too, mate.

Mountain biking
Serviced by the chairlifts that carry skiers in winter, Whistler Mountain Bike Park is among the biggest in North America - there are runs here for all levels of experience.

In my group of half-a-dozen beginners, I tucked in alongside a grandma and grandpa who had driven their motorhome down from Alaska. I'll be able to hide my averageness here, I figured, maybe I could even help these two along. Bad move: they were downhill demons.

The bike trails use the open fields of the ski areas, but also duck and weave among the trees.

Up Whistler Peak
The tracks along the summit of the ranges offer superb views. There's a steady flow of hikers - and a few keen mountain bikers to boot - taking the gondola all the way to the top of the hill.

In this barren, lunar landscape there are hours of rambling in all directions - make sure you keep track of the time because if you miss the last chairlift back down to the village, you'll have a long, knee-shattering walk down the hill to home.

Signs warn about the wildlife: If you see a bear, don't run, back away slowly. Another sign says there are cougars around, but offers no advice on what to do if you see a cougar (Smile? Offer to buy her a drink?). A Canadian wildlife guide I met at the excellent Knight Inlet Lodge advises me that the big cats are more likely to hear you coming and make themselves scarce.

CHECKLIST

Getting there: Air New Zealand flies non-stop from Auckland to Vancouver.

Details: For information on the Whistler Beer Festival, go to gibbonsevents.com

The writer travelled courtesy of Destination British Columbia.