Grouse or Whistler?
Jul 12th, 2014, 04:27 PM
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Grouse or Whistler?
Traveling a Seattle, Victoria, Vancouver loop, and trying to decide where to get a "mountain" experience. I know Grouse is much closer, but we do have some extra time and I was thinking Whistler might be a better experience. I assume there is no reason to do both? Where would you go?
Jul 12th, 2014, 06:39 PM
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Well, it's July, but we don't know when you're going on this trip...
Grouse gives you the stunning views of Vancouver, to which you would be able to relate after spending some time in that city.
The path from Vancouver TO Whistler certainly has its appeal, but Whistler itself could be said to be overpriced, and perhaps not optimized in the summer.
Vancouver is so great that I think I'd lean toward not straying far, and opting for Grouse.
Grouse gives you the stunning views of Vancouver, to which you would be able to relate after spending some time in that city.
The path from Vancouver TO Whistler certainly has its appeal, but Whistler itself could be said to be overpriced, and perhaps not optimized in the summer.
Vancouver is so great that I think I'd lean toward not straying far, and opting for Grouse.
Jul 13th, 2014, 05:10 PM
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horlander - I just answered your ferry question on another thread. I think it would make sense to go to Grouse and take the ferry into Horseshoe Bay from Victoria (or vice versa).
There is a gondola that will take you up to the top of Grouse Mountain, where some easy walking will give you spectacular views, lumberjack and birds of prey shows, and some really stunning gigantic wood statuary. Oh, and a couple live grizzlies. And still it is not Disney-esque fakery, it's beautiful natural surroundings.
Whistler in the summer is not all that much, IMO. But if you wanted, you could do a day trip and be up there in an hour or two. The drive up (Sea to Sky road) would be the best part.
There is a gondola that will take you up to the top of Grouse Mountain, where some easy walking will give you spectacular views, lumberjack and birds of prey shows, and some really stunning gigantic wood statuary. Oh, and a couple live grizzlies. And still it is not Disney-esque fakery, it's beautiful natural surroundings.
Whistler in the summer is not all that much, IMO. But if you wanted, you could do a day trip and be up there in an hour or two. The drive up (Sea to Sky road) would be the best part.
Jul 15th, 2014, 10:59 AM
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Whistler would be my recommendation, absolutely. There is absolutely no comparison.
Grouse Mountain is a tourist attraction that happens to be located on a mountain. It's a novelty experience to be located on a mountain so close to the downtown core of a city, but.. it's super super touristy... like Disneyland touristy. If you want to be entertained, great - it has restaurants, gift shops, lumberjack shows, grizzly bears in pens, etc. If you don't want to leave Metro Vancouver, it will do.
But if you're looking for an authentic mountain experience with nature and hikes, trails, and a sense of being out in the mountains, scrap Grouse. In fact, if you just want to stay local, I'd recommend driving up Mount Seymour instead and going on the Dog Mountain trail, which is about 2 hours each way, taking you from the parking lot (at the top of the mountain) through the alpine forest, past a small picturesque alpine lake, and then ending at a rocky outcropping that overlooks all of Metro Vancouver (where ravens and whiskeyjacks often lurk, looking for handouts). That is my favourite local mountain experience.
If you're choosing between Grouse and Whistler, and you have time to go to Whistler, go to Whistler! There is no comparison. Whistler has two mountains (Blackcomb and Whistler) which are much, much higher than Grouse. Whistler village is actually is more vibrant in the summer than in the winter with festivals and bustling patios... and if you take the gondola to the top (which is an absolute MUST) - the alpine flowers will be in bloom, and you really get a sense that you've transported yourself away to the Alps or somewhere. If you just base yourself in Whistler village without going up to the mountain, you're not going to get that mountain experience.
Also, the drive up to Whistler is half the attraction. The Sea to Sky Highway follows along Howe Sound, which is an ocean fjord. You can stop off at Shannon Falls and Brandywine Falls along the way - well worth it.
Grouse Mountain is a tourist attraction that happens to be located on a mountain. It's a novelty experience to be located on a mountain so close to the downtown core of a city, but.. it's super super touristy... like Disneyland touristy. If you want to be entertained, great - it has restaurants, gift shops, lumberjack shows, grizzly bears in pens, etc. If you don't want to leave Metro Vancouver, it will do.
But if you're looking for an authentic mountain experience with nature and hikes, trails, and a sense of being out in the mountains, scrap Grouse. In fact, if you just want to stay local, I'd recommend driving up Mount Seymour instead and going on the Dog Mountain trail, which is about 2 hours each way, taking you from the parking lot (at the top of the mountain) through the alpine forest, past a small picturesque alpine lake, and then ending at a rocky outcropping that overlooks all of Metro Vancouver (where ravens and whiskeyjacks often lurk, looking for handouts). That is my favourite local mountain experience.
If you're choosing between Grouse and Whistler, and you have time to go to Whistler, go to Whistler! There is no comparison. Whistler has two mountains (Blackcomb and Whistler) which are much, much higher than Grouse. Whistler village is actually is more vibrant in the summer than in the winter with festivals and bustling patios... and if you take the gondola to the top (which is an absolute MUST) - the alpine flowers will be in bloom, and you really get a sense that you've transported yourself away to the Alps or somewhere. If you just base yourself in Whistler village without going up to the mountain, you're not going to get that mountain experience.
Also, the drive up to Whistler is half the attraction. The Sea to Sky Highway follows along Howe Sound, which is an ocean fjord. You can stop off at Shannon Falls and Brandywine Falls along the way - well worth it.
