Whistler Blackcomb

Bigger really is better at Whistler Blackcomb, where the numbers do the talking. Try 5,280 feet of vertical on for size — the longest drop in North America by a long shot — and more than 8,000 acres of terrain. There's also the long season, with lifts running through June, summer skiing on Blackcomb Glacier and six separate terrain parks. And if that's not enough, Whistler Heli-Skiing (www.whistlerheliskiing.com) will whisk you off to some of its 1,500 square miles of untracked powder (starting at 750 Canadian dollars per person).

"The king of all ski resorts" will officially assume its crown as the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Extensive preparations are well under way, including the breathtakingly high Peak 2 Peak gondola, which offers an 11-minute ride between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Other than the gondola, the only connection between the two massive ski areas (aside from one lift ticket) is the resort village that serves as the gateway to both mountains.

The town of Whistler is mostly made up of the large base village that, during ski season, is reminiscent of an amusement park or the themed facade of a Las Vegas casino. There's something distinctly manufactured about it, a little too new, a little too shiny, more than idyllic. But it does have a cosmopolitan flair, with an international clientele. On one hand, it's Pacific Rim (popular among Japanese tourists); on the other, it's still Canada, so there's never a shortage of beer. Bottom line is if you love to ski you'll love Whistler, the undisputed leviathan of the North American ski scene.
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Essential Information

Vertical Drop 5281 ft
Top Elevation 7496 ft
Skiable Acres 8172
Trails 200
Terrain 17% Green  55% Blue  28% Black
Lifts 38 ( 19 chair lifts 16 surface lifts )
Cable cars 3
Half Pipes 3
Terrain parks 5
Snowmaking 14%
Total X-Country 32 km
Restaurants 93
Information +16049382769
More Info +6049323434
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Whistler Blackcomb