Are you planning your winter short break and torn between the bright lights and great food of an urban escape and the adrenaline rush of a skiing holiday? My I suggest a visit to Vancouver and Whistler where you'll have the best of both. Choosing between a city break or skiing holiday can cause a real dilemma, because you need guarantee snow and that is not usually guarantee when combine with a city break, but! Fly to Vancouver and you can have your cake, eat it, and be on world-class slopes a few hours later, without breaking the bank.
Perched on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver has gained a reputation for its world-class restaurants, cutting edge art galleries and vibrant nightlife.
A great place to start is the FlyOver Canada experience, a 6,000km 'virtual flight' across Canada, while your feet dangle from a suspended chair. The FlyOver Canada is actually an immersive cinema featuring a four-story-high spherical screen and incredible special effects. The experience lasts approximately 25 minutes.
Vancouver's foodie scene offers everything from ocean-fresh sushi to quirky cafés. One of the best ways to experience it all is on the Guilty Pleasures Gourmet Tour (foodietours.ca), where you'll be treated to 14 tastings in three hours - all food whipped up by local producers.
One place you should check out is Cuchillo, located close to the harbour, its inventive, tapas-style dishes are delicious, try the scallops with dried apricot yam jam and morita chili port boullion.
Less than two hours drive away, is Whistler, one of the world's best ski resorts. Thanks to its proximity to the coast, there tends to be conveyor belt of weather fronts, which roll in off the Pacific, dropping their snow payload on the 200 runs across the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. you'll find everything from easy nursery slopes to knee-trembling off-piste bowls.
What's more, all of this is accessible within the resort boundary, mostly funnelling back to various swish hotels at the base of the mountain.
On the slopes, travelling between the two mountains is easy with a ride o the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, the longest and highest lift in the world, which gives unparalleled views of British Columbia's beautiful scenery.
There's plenty to do away from the peaks, too, including tobogganing at the Olympic Park, snowmobile tours and dog sledding that take you out into the wilderness.
Whether your days are spent notching up miles or mastering your first turns, come evening you'll be ready for some après-ski action in one of the many lively bars and eateries. And if you do happen to over-indulge, there's nothing like mountain air to clear the senses. Either that or a trip to the spa. So there you go Vancouver it is then. ☺