There are so many great things to do with toddlers and little kids in Whistler during the summer months. From hikes to beaches to playgrounds to unique attractions, we’ve created a list of our top summer activities for kids in Whistler. This list is specifically geared to young children, approximately age 2-6 years old, but most of the destinations and activities will be enjoyable for the whole family.
Related: The Best Stops for Kids on the Sea to Sky Highway
Brandywine Falls
Approximately 15 minutes south of Whistler on the Sea to Sky Highway is Brandywine Falls Provincial Park. This is a great place to stop and stretch those legs on the way into town. The falls are beautiful and the trail to reach the viewpoint is extremely family friendly. The short 500 metre trail to the viewpoint is a wide, stroller-friendly path. To reach the falls, you will cross a covered footbridge over a creek, then turn right and follow the path through the forest and alongside the creek.
There are outhouses near the parking lot, but not flush toilets and no drinking water available in the park.
For more information about Brandywine Falls Provincial Park, click here.
Lost Lake
Lost Lake is an amazing place to spend the day with the whole family. The lake is reasonably warm and has a great sandy beach. There are docks in the middle of the lake that are fun to swim to and jump off. There is also a stroller-friendly trail that wraps around the lake. We also enjoy that there are bathrooms in the park and a grassy area beside the beach for sand-free picnics.
In the summer months, there is no parking in the lake lot so you can access the lake either via a shuttle from town or by walking or biking the approx 1.5 km trail from Parking Lot 5 in town.
For more information about Lost Lake, click here.
Alta Lake
Alta Lake is the largest lake in Whistler and has three beach/day-use areas. Our top choice for families is Lakeside Park. Lakeside Park has a parking lot right beside it. There are bathrooms, a concession, and boat rentals available, including SUPs, kayaks and canoes. Most of Lakeside Park is grassy, but there is also a small sandy strip for little ones to play. We also love that there is a little playground!
For more information about Alta Lake, click here.
Peak to Peak Gondola
The Peak 2 Peak Gondola in Whistler is just… WOW. The views from the gondola are incredible and that’s just the beginning. The Peak 2 Peak experience actually includes three gondolas. We rode up Blackcomb, across the Peak 2 Peak and down Whistler Mountain.
The Peak 2 Peak Gondola is impressive in so many ways. It is the world’s longest and highest continuous lift system at 4.4 km long and 436 metres high! And 3km of the trip is unsupported – the cabins are literally just dangling for most of the 11 minute trip between the two mountains.
In addition to the unbelievable views, there are also beautiful, easy hiking trails and restaurants with fantastic patios at the top of both mountains. One of the highlights of our Peak to Peak experience was spotting tons of wildlife, including a bear while we were on the gondola!
The cherry on top is that children 6 and under ride for free!
For more information about the Peak 2 Peak gondola experience, click here.
Alpine Loop Trail
Looking for a fabulous hike for kids in Whistler?! The Alpine Loop Trail takes a bit of work to get to – it’s at the top of Blackcomb Mountain. But, we combined it with our trip to the Peak 2 Peak Gondola & it made for the perfect day of adventure!
This hike offers incredible views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. It is a manageable distance for little legs at just under 1.5km round trip and is also stroller friendly (trail or jogging style stroller). There are also tons of engaging features to keep little kids interested, including boulders to climb and snow to play in (yes, there was still snow even on our visit in July)! The trail also provides the opportunity to see wildlife, we saw tons of birds and even a marmot on our hike!
The trailhead is right at the Rendezvous Lodge where there are also bathrooms, a restaurant and patio.
Stroll Through the Village
A simple, but super fun activity for toddlers and little kids in Whistler is an easy stroll through the village. The walkway is stroller friendly and connects all of the shopping and restaurants in the village. There are also several features that are specifically engaging for young kids, including bridges, creeks, the olympic rings and a stop at the Great Glass Elevator Candy Shop! The Whistler Village Playground is along the village stroll and is also fantastic! More details on the playground can be found below.
Whistler Playground
The Whistler Village Playground is an amazing place for kids to play. The playground consists of two treehouse play structures – one larger structure for older children and one smaller for toddlers. Both structures have slides, climbing features and little clubhouse spaces. There is also a bobsled for kids to play in, a water feature and musical instruments. Our only complaint about this playground is that it gets extremely busy – so if you can, try to visit during a weekday or at off hours like early morning.
Hotel Pool
Last, but not least, one of our favourite summer activities for toddlers and little kids is swimming. There are tons of hotels with great swimming pools in Whistler. On our last stay we chose the Delta Hotels by Marriott Whistler Village Suites. The hotel has an indoor/outdoor swimming pool with a great pool deck for lounging. We also loved that there were suites large enough to very comfortably accommodate our family of 5!
Know of other great things to do with kids in Whistler in the summer? We would love to hear from you!
I’ve recently found the night time Vallea Lumina that my 4 yr old is just going to love. Planning on going in July!