Mom and Dad took us on a road trip to British Columbia, Canada. 1,690 miles from Arizona through Utah, Idaho and Washington and three months later back through Oregon and California to Arizona. Adding two more States to the list for a total of 19 and the West coast completed. Thank you, Oregon and California for your warm welcomes!

For three months, Modela and I lived in Whistler. High on the mountain we explored the trails, wildlife, Village festivities, lakes, parks, people, adventures and food!

A few things we noticed on our adventure:

1. Bears are real and they do walk through your backyard without permission. Bears also roam the streets, ski mountains, and golf courses. Be careful you don’t leave food unattended, as was the case of one man’s sandwich left in a golf cart. Share the streets, share the mountains, share the courses, and wear a bell. The bells deter the bears, as Mom learned after Modela became fascinated with dogs wearing bells on their collars.
2. Whistler is expensive. Gas, groceries, restaurants, merchandise, parking. Get the money while the tourists are enjoying the summer mountain biking, zip lining, kayaking and seeking adventure. Save up, it’s worth every Loonie!
3. Cyclists have tunnel vision. “Walk bikes through the village.” Most of the cyclists we have seen ride their bikes through the village. The trails are for going as fast as you can. Keep a short leash on your dog. Hold your kiddos close. Alert the wildlife; the cyclists are coming through.
4. Nature is beautiful. From the green forests to the walking trails, you will find beauty everywhere. The lakes and the mountain ranges are stunning. Whistler is a beautiful place in Canada.
5. Whistler is HOT. And many of the homes do not have air conditioning. Thankfully, Canadian Tire sells standalone units. They come with the tube you put through the window. Then, you stuff the edges with towels. The only downside is the unit sounds like a jet engine. So, you are cool at night, but you are awake.

My favorite day

The day I went to Rainbow Park. Like I have mentioned, I don’t get out often. When I do, it is with as little interaction with other dogs as possible. I lose my mind. I’m big and strong and I have a great bark. But the translation of those things doesn’t always work out to my advantage.

On this day though my parents took Modela and me to Rainbow Park. There is a beach, lake with a dock, and a big grassy area. All for dogs. It was so much fun!

I don’t like to swim. I don’t like to play or dive off docks into lakes. But I do love a good sniff around the grassy areas, occasional bum, and “marking” all things possible.

Mom and Dad still haven’t forgotten about the day at the beach in Cabo. I was just starting to be the explorer I am today. How would I know the young girls didn’t want me to “mark” their beach belongings? Well, 100 pesos later and a very quick walk to the jeep ended my beach day.

Modela’s favorite day

Everyday! Well, most days, because they start out with an 11km walk around Lost Lake, swim and a few sniffs, before heading back up the mountain for breakfast. And that’s all before 9AM.

The “spit” at Green Lake has become a favorite way to cool down too. Just behind the golf course a short walk on a lightly forested well-maintained path. That’s where lies a dog’s delight of sandbars and lake. There are ducks and sunbathers, other dogs, and a really large area to run and run and run between swims. It’s also fun to watch the float planes coming and going.

Must Eats!

Definitely a must dine for breakfast, brunch, lunch and happy hour is Southside Diner. Unbelievable staff – shout out to Nikki and Kelly for making our time here so welcomed. The diner is located in an old air stream. It has been converted to an open kitchen concept with a few booths and half a dozen bar stools. The menu is simple and well-made. It’s perfect for a one-to-many cocktail night. Even if you simply feel like a home cooked burger, classic club sandwich, and ice-cold beer, they have you covered.

Hys. It’s a chain, but a damn good one if you like happy hour and lobster rolls. It is a traditional steak house. Mom and Dad preferred the happy hour snack before dinner. The snack included prime rib sliders, scallops on pork belly, and the highlight lobster roll. Pull a stool up to the bar and enjoy!

Rim Rock. Do you like salmon? Mashed potatoes? Medley of fresh cooked veggies? Ask to reserve table 2 with Jason. Friendly but not familiar he will take you on a journey of the Rim Rock culinary experience. Offering unique specials and desserts with the ultimate wine pairing. You will not be disappointed.

Roland’s. Sports bar with an attitude. Very low key. It has hard wood flooring and the world’s smallest pool table. Enjoy pub grub and cold brews. Watch just about any sport on one of the many TVs. It’s the place you go if you want everyone to know your name.

Brewhouse. Nestled in the Village next to Olympic Plaza with some of the best servers we have met. Large, comfortable patio with umbrellas to protect you from the scorching sun. The menu is pub fare with a BBQ twist. It offers a wide variety of shareable snacks. It also has a host of comfort food. Our favorite is the Pepper Glazed “Carne de Res” Taco. It comes with smoked pulled beef, pico de gallo, crispy iceberg lettuce, and charred lime. It also has microgreens with a side of pepper hot sauce. Little sweet, with a little spice, yummy!

Adventure Seekers

Crankworx – The ultimate experience in mountain biking. Watch from the patio of GLC. Be amazed by the athleticism of these athletes competing at the top of their game. Fearless. Brave. Amazing. 10 days of action-packed entertainment for the whole family.

Kayaking – Highly recommend renting a kayak and cruising down the River of Golden Dreams. Stunning nature views, wildlife sightings and adventure through, over and around the beaver dams. If you aren’t the kayak type, you can paddle board too.

Mountain Biking – Whistler and Blackcomb are two side-by-side mountains. They offer over 200 marked runs and 8,171 acres of terrain. The area also features 16 alpine bowls and 3 glaciers combined. If you are a thrill seeker, book a lesson, rent the gear and get on the lift. We stuck to the green “easy” trails for our half-day lesson and had a blast. A little scary for first time old timers, but well worth the experience. We had three runs and explored a variety of terrains with each run taking about 30 minutes. Doesn’t sound like much, but trust me, unless you have mountain biked Whistler before, you are in for something special.

Peak-to-Peak with Suspension Bridge – After an incredible ride up the mountain via gondola, you arrive at the Roundhouse Lodge. Here, you can have a meal, take in the views, and meet up with friends. This can be done before or after heading to the Cloudraker Skybridge. Enjoy unbelievable panoramic views of the mountains.

What you won’t find and maybe you didn’t know

1. Good sushi – Did you know, BC law requires all raw fish to be frozen for two days?
2. Air conditioning – Ha! What’s that?
3. Shopping mall – It’s a day trip to Vancouver.
4. Movie theatre – Stream it.
5. Bowling alley – Try axe throwing in Function Junction instead.

But why would you need the indoors when you have everything you need outdoors.

Thank you, Whistler, for a memorable Summer 2024!