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50 Free things to do in Whistler

Plus seven more things that don’t cost anything

By Naomi Dunaway

As the ski season comes to an end and Whistler begins its annual exodus of transients and Australians, you may be one of the faithful few sticking it out to scramble for new roommates or make decreasing pay cheques stretch like spandex bike shorts. Or you may think you’re destined to languish in weather-cursing boredom during the interim season when the snow lingers just enough to cover bike trails but not enough to cover ski hills.

But don’t reach for that TV guide yet. There is a plethora of activities in your own back yard that don’t require lift passes, mountain bikes, or balanced bank accounts. I found not 50 (which I thought would be a task equal to that of Hercules’ 12), but 57 FREE things to do in Whistler. No strings, frills, deposits, whistles, or bear bells attached. So swallow your skepticism and read on.

Around Town.......

1) It’s polar bear dip season! Swallow your pride and fear of hypothermia and dive into one of Whistler’s recently thawed lakes. Hey, you might even get someone to pay you to do it!

2) If you’re like most humans and wouldn’t jump into a glacier lake for a million bucks, you might know where and how to sneak into a hotel hot tub and pool area. Of course, I can’t disclose any more information on that subject.

3) Try out the latest liquor sample at a Liquor Store near you. But don’t go too far...

4) FREE ACCOMMODATION for drunks at the drunk tank. The amenities are sparse and the decor may not be up to snuff but it could be more roomy than the closet space you’re paying through the nose to sleep in now, and given the condition one must have to earn this free gift from our RCMP, you’ll sleep like a log all night.

5) Starting to smell? Fibre Options offers samples of sweet-smelling organic, home-made soaps.

6) Slip on some earphones and be serenaded by your favourite musician at Bestsellers’ listening booth.

7) Take in a little culture at Whistler’s many art galleries.

8) No-one around to give you that tingly, pins & needles feeling? Check your blood pressure at Pharmasave in the Marketplace. Just remember what I forgot: the upper arm goes in the cylinder, not the lower arm. And if you’re not in danger of having a heart attack any time soon, go nuts with the smorgasbord of free samples offered at various Whistler shops...

9) Spirit of the North usually has Maple Shortbread Cookies or Assorted Chocolates with Nuts on sample trays. Mmmmm!

10) Ask for a free courtesy cup at 7-Eleven and fill it with your choice of coffee, cappuccino, soft drinks, or slurpee.

11) Head to Rogers’ Chocolates and try one of their famous and delectable sweets.

12) Free ice cream samples at Cows! Need I say more?

13) Release your finger tension after a "gripping" day on the mountain or at the climbing gym and get a free hand massage at Lush.

14) And while you’re there, see a bath bomb demo. Oooooh.

15) Find out what shade of cosmetic will cover up that goggle tan. The Body Shop offers free make-overs. Call in advance.

16) After you’ve had your pampering and you look like a million bucks, go to the Chateau Whistler lobby and look like you have a million bucks. Wander over to the Lending library bookshelf and, after selecting a romantic French novel, sit back with an aura of deep-pocketed satisfaction and remark that the Chateau is almost as enchanting as your villa in Italy.

17) Attend a little free concert, so to speak. On Sunday mornings Cameron Chu (of the Cameron Chu jazz trio) plays at the Chateau Whistler for brunch from 10 to 1. You don’t need to have brunch to hear him play.

18) Ever played a digiridoo? Pop into Whistler Music around the corner from Starbucks in the Whistler Village Centre and try out one of their many instruments.

19) The Brew House brewery offers tours and tastings every Wednesday and Saturday at 3 p.m.

20) Conversation is always free! Hang out at Village Square on a sunny day and make a new friend.

21) Get up early and check out the Free Stuff section in the Pique. You never know what you might find....

22) People-watching can be creative and fun. Try to guess the number of days a person has been on the mountain by the intensity of their goggle tan. Are those guys lounging on their lodge balconies naked or just shirtless?

23) The Community Centre (Myrtle Philip Community School) has a fooseball table. Grab a friend and have a table soccer tournament!

24) There is no cover charge for church. Drop into any of the following on a Sunday morning:

Whistler Community Church meets at Myrtle Philip Community School at 10 a.m.

Whistler United Church meets at Whistler Secondary School at 9 a.m.

Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church on Lorimer Rd. meets at 8:30 a.m. Sundays and 4:30 p.m. Saturdays.

25) Make a dog’s day and have some company on the trail. Show up at WAG between 10 a.m. and noon or 3-5 p.m. for drop in dog walking.

26) Meet new people of all ages at a monthly S.O.U.L. (Seekers Of Universal Love) meeting. The group meets at a member’s home for dinner and there is a new discussion topic each month. The next session is Tuesday, May 1. Contact Dianna Habkirk for more info.

27) Since the tourists are leaving it’s time for us to take their places! Declare Tacky Tourist Day at your workplace and hand out wacky prizes for the most outrageous outfits.

28) Find your inner balance. Go to Ross Rebagliati Park and balance stones on top of each other by the river’s edge to create "Organic Graffiti."

29) While you’re in the area, check out the skaters doing their stunts at the skate park.

At The Library...

30) A good book, a bench, and warm sun on your back are perfect ingredients for a lazy day off. Check out a book on a subject you’ve never read about and let springtime bliss take over.

31) Overdue fines have you barred from the video store? Rent a movie for free at the Library.

32) The Library also offers free Internet training for the cyber-illiterate, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Call 932-5564 to pre-register.

33) Surf the net or connect with pals overseas. There are three computers available for Internet time and one for checking e-mail. Sign up early to get a slot.

Outdoors...

34) Try a little bouldering beside the Meadow Valley trail north of Nita Lake. You don’t necessarily need climbing shoes for this one.

35) Ever tried Frisbee golf? To find the course start on the trail to Lost Lake from the cross country ski booth. On your left you will see a yellow UNMARKED HAZARDS sign. Take that trail, hang a right, and you will find a small clearing for practice. The first target is upwards to your right and there are 18 in total. Bring your own Frisbee, beware of bears, and be sure to take out your garbage.

36) If this obscure place eludes your best trail navigating efforts, the snowshoe trail is a nice meandering walk along the creek. It starts near the Lost Lake trail, to the right of the outhouses.

37) Play tennis or basketball at Alpha Lake Park, Myrtle Philip School, Meadow Park, or near the bike wash at the head of the Lost Lake trail.

38) Dust off your baseball gear and play a game at the Spruce Grove or Myrtle Philip School baseball diamond.

There are hundreds of trails in and around Whistler which are, for now at least, completely free of charge. Here are just a few points of interest. Remember that there may still be snow on most of these hikes.

39) Cal-Cheak Suspension Bridge/Brandywine Falls : about 4.5 kilometres south of Function Junction, turn left to the Cal-Cheak recreation site. The bridge is near the start of the trail and continues 2.5 kilometres to Brandywine falls and a viewpoint.

40) Whistler Interpretive Forest: this one is accessible by bus! At Function Junction, go left and take an easy walk up to Logger’s Lake or along the Riverside Trail. There is a suspension bridge here as well, although a little harder to find. The Riverside Trail continues on to Cheakamus Lake (6 km return) and is great for trail running as it is relatively flat.

41) Parkhurst Ghost Town: this small cluster of decaying buildings on the north-east end of Green Lake can be accessed from either end of the lake. From the north, drive past Emerald Estates and find a forest service road on the right just past the heliport. Walk south along the train tracks and when you see a large rusting piece of machinery look for buildings up the hill to your left. From the south, you can take the Centennial Trail from Lost Lake Park. After you pass Nicklaus North continue for about 2.5 km and go left when it forks.

42) Ancient Cedars Walk: turn left at the Cougar Mountain sign 2 km past Emerald Estates, drive another 2-3 km and take a 40 minute hike to a grove of giant cedar trees.

Events...

43) FREE DINNER Sunday, April 29 at the third UHF Christian event. This week’s featured Vancouver band is The Wildings. UHF is at Whistler Racquet and Golf Resort (on Northlands Boulevard., across from the Marketplace). Doors open at 7, dinner is at 7:30. Donations to cover costs are gladly accepted.

44) Westbeach Classic Ski and Skate Jam comes to town May 18-20th. To watch the ski competitions requires a ski pass, but the Skateboard Street-Course Contest will be absolutely free for spectators who want to wander over to the skate park and watch competitors vie for $5,000 in prizes.

45) Free admission for mothers to Meadow Park Sports Centre on Mother’s Day May 13.

46) Free admission for Fathers to Meadow Park Sports Centre on Father’s Day June 17.

Volunteer......

47) If you are attracted to the short, dark, and hairy, volunteer for WAG 1-2 hours per week helping to clean, feed, and brush the animals. Call 938-8642.

48) Free furniture, clothes, ski boots, books, etc. Volunteer at the Re-Use it Centre and earn $10 worth of stuff for every hour worked.

49) The Whistler Children’s Art Festival on May 26 and 27 at the Myrtle Philip Community Centre is looking for volunteers who love to work with children, have an art background, or would simply like to help. There will be workshops for kids on dance, theatre, reading, writing, and sculpting, among others. Volunteer for the weekend and receive pre-registration for your kids! Contact the Whistler Arts Council at 938-0498.

50) Volunteers are needed for the Giant Garage Sale, Saturday, May 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Myrtle Philip school. Help out with set up, door, the bake sale, concession, or cleanup and get first perusal of all the cheap goods. Call Sana Marsh (932-2016) or Karen Williamson (932-1181) for more info. Admission for non-volunteers is $1.

For Kids...

51) Not sure what to do with all those carrots and Brussels sprouts that Junior refuses to eat? Take a trip to Edgewater and let him feed them to the horses who will be returning in mid May.

52) Pre-school Storytime is held at the library on Fridays at 10:30 a.m.

53) Yummy in My Tummy! Delicious stories, songs, and rhymes about food, held at the library on Sunday, May 6 at 10:30 a.m.

54) Barnyard Fun: Stories, songs, and rhymes about farm animals, held on Sunday June 10 at 10:30 a.m.., also at the library.

55) Don’t miss the Teddy Bear Picnic for children aged 6 and under, June 23, 10:30-12:30 at Myrtle Philip school.

Night Life...

56) Drop in to Second Cup for their Open Mic night on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.

57) Who says you have to drink at a bar? Get in for free and watch everyone else get smashed. If you get a ride home you will have had a night out without paying a penny. AlpenRock House and the Cinnamon Bear Bar don’t charge cover; Buffalo Bill’s Bar and Grill is usually cover-free midweek; Ladies get in free at the Boot throughout the summer starting in May; Maxx Fish is free before 10:30 and on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and Moe Joe’s has no cover on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesdays is disco night with a chance to win $250 for best costume!



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