VERDICT: We gave 5 out of 5 tickets and here’s why!
This guide forms part of our complete Canada Travel Guide featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across the UK.
This article is part of Exploring Vancouver – Ultimate Guide: We’ve explored some of the Vancouver’s most popular locations, from Stanley Park, Granville Island to Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain! Along the way, we’ve discovered spectacular coastlines and the unforgettable city experience. Explore our firsthand Vancouver travel guides to help plan a better, more informed Canadian vacation.
- Discover British Columbia
- Stanley Park
- Steveston Fishing Village
- Crescent Beach White Rock
- BC Ferries – Explore nearby islands
Waterfalls, Mountain Views and Iconic Stops from Vancouver to Whistler
This is the perfect road trip from home. Abbotsford to Whistler takes around 2.5 to 3 hours when traffic cooperates, but with so many spectacular viewpoints along the way, we often turn the journey into a full-day adventure.
From Abbotsford, we take Highway 1 west toward Vancouver, continuing through the Lower Mainland and across the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing. From there, we follow Highway 1 west through North Vancouver before joining Highway 99 North — the Sea to Sky Highway — toward Squamish and Whistler. Beyond Horseshoe Bay, Highway 99 hugs the coastline of Howe Sound, which is absolutely stunning.
For this trip, however, we drove directly to Whistler so we could make the most of the entire day, arriving at the Westin Resort & Spa before noon.
It is one of British Columbia’s great scenic drives, with mountains, ocean views, waterfalls and numerous worthwhile stops making the journey almost as memorable as Whistler itself. We were immediately pleased with our suite that had a large, spotless bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchenette, fireplace, even laundry facilities.
We enjoyed our stay there (except we discovered we were placed in the pet section of the hotel(we have allergies & had said so), and had to listen to a dog barking for hours as their owner had left them alone in their suite (not allowed). We went to the little nearby market to get some fresh food items, we had brought the rest with us.
We enjoyed at 4×4 Jeep trip up Blackcomb Mountain with Canadian Wilderness Adventures. The photo ops were amazing. We only stayed briefly at the top though, as there were tons of mosquitoes.
We did the Peak 2 Peak gondola ride where we took in 360-degree views of Whistler Village, mountain peaks, lakes, glaciers and forests. We also stopped to have a beverage at the Umbrella Bar. It was interesting to learn there are 50+ km of hiking trails!
We thought we would do a tour by kayak on Green Lake. It was a gorgeous day & we thoroughly enjoyed seeing the area from the water with Whistler Eco Tours.
On our last afternoon, after taking the Whistler Village Stroll, we decided to have a drink and dessert. We found a spot on the patio of All Seasons Grill, Mr. MRT had his favourite – cheesecake & Chardonnay and I had a GF chocolate almond cake, with a Rum & Coke.
As our trip came to a close, we decided to stop at viewpoints along the way home:
Brandywine Falls – a 15-minute walk from the highway to a 70-meter waterfall dropping into a perfect bowl. The viewpoint platform is right at the edge – we could feel the spray.
We stopped along the roadway to get photos of Stawamus Chief. There’s a pullout just south of Squamish. When we parked and looked up – that 700m granite wall was wild!
Next was Shannon Falls – BC’s third-tallest waterfall at 335 meters. We could hear it from the parking lot! We took the 10-minute walk to the lower viewing platform. The falls are massive, especially after rain. (If you want the full view, hike 20 minutes to the upper viewpoint — you get the falls with Howe Sound behind).
The Tantalus Viewpoint was about 20 mins from Squamish. There was a tiny signed pullout with maybe 4 parking spots, then a short walk and suddenly the entire Tantalus Range was right in our faces – jagged, snowy, huge. Best mountain-only view on the whole highway.
This route goes from valley flatlands to ocean fjord to alpine in under 3 hours — it’s why the Sea to Sky is consistently rated one of the top 10 drives in the world. And why we’ll do it again & again!
Explore More of Whistler: our Top Ten Recommendations
Shannon Falls Provincial Park: An easy forest walk leads to the impressive 335-metre Shannon Falls, just south of Squamish.
Sea to Sky Gondola: Ride above Howe Sound for spectacular mountain views, hiking trails, viewing platforms and the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge.
Stawamus Chief Provincial Park: One of the Sea to Sky corridor’s signature landmarks, with challenging hiking routes and spectacular views over Howe Sound.
Brandywine Falls Provincial Park: Take the short forest trail to viewpoints overlooking the dramatic 70-metre waterfall and surrounding mountains.
PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola: Travel high above the valley between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains for one of Whistler’s signature experiences. Seasonal operating dates vary, so check before travelling. Whistler Village Centre: Explore Whistler’s pedestrian village, filled with mountain scenery, shops, restaurants and lively public spaces.
Lost Lake Park: Walk or cycle the trails surrounding this beautiful lake, only a short distance from Whistler Village.
Train Wreck: Hike through the forest to colourful abandoned railway cars beside the Cheakamus River.
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre: Discover the history, traditions and living cultures of the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations.
Audain Art Museum: Explore an outstanding collection of British Columbia art, including historic Indigenous works and celebrated BC artists.
Nearby Attractions
Planning your trip?
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With every trip, we offer feedback to travel companies along with honest views for you, the reader. We rate adventures on a scale of one to five tickets, judged on quality, service, memorability, and price. A perfect ‘Ticket Rating’ of a five-ticket score means the experience was flawless and we’d eagerly return. Your desire to go back is the ultimate measure of a trip’s worth. Exclusive to My Return Ticket.
