Story and photos by Aefa Mulholland.
I narrowly avoided suffering my first ski-related injury as I trotted up bustling Village Stroll. With 3000 gay and lesbian ski, snowboard, and party enthusiasts in town for Whistler's annual WinterPride, it's hard not to get distracted by some of the athletic eye candy and almost walk into the skis they shoulder.
Soon, however, my color-coordinated luggage and I made it to the Westin Resort & Spa (604-905-5000), a truly enticing, two-tower, 419-room, all-suite resort, just a minute’s lope from the gondolas up Whistler and Blackcomb.
I love my suite! There’s a cozy fireplace, a view of snowy pines, swift WiFi access, a really generous bathroom, and loads and loads of room. If I’d managed to persuade my +1 to accompany me north, I would have been entirely happy to stay in tonight and order up from downstairs’ hip FireRock Lounge.
Open since 2000, the Westin’s spacious suites all feature a Jenn-Air dishwasher, Sub-Zero fridge, Jenn-Air oven, Thermador stove and Kitchen-Aid microwave. I can easily imagine rustling up a meal, a few appetizers, or some killer martinis here before heading out to paint the town pink at some of the smorgasbord of parties and events on the WinterPride schedule.
But, since I’m solo this weekend, I’ll skip playing chef and head out to join those boys on the bus, 7000 feet up Whistler Mountain at the Mountaintop Dance.
