I've been in Whistler for two days now, and so far it's living up to my expectations.
The village actually reminds me a lot of Chamonix, but bigger and more Americanized (think Gap Kids and Spaghetti Factory).
I arrived Sunday night and settled into the Westin, which has been great on all fronts except
one: The air conditioning. Turns out Whistler doesn't often get 90- to 100-degree highs, so the air conditioning isn't really equipped to handle that kind of heat. Thankfully, the weather cooled down to the 80s, so my thermostat has actually gone below 74 today.
I spent my first day doing strenuous things like sleeping in, doing yoga, getting a massage, laying out by the pool and napping. I did manage to drag myself out to dinner at a French restaurant called Val D’Isere, which I highly recommend. The food was fantastic, and the outdoor seating offers great people-watching.
Today, I opted for a slightly more active day, with a trip to Whistler Peak. The ride up the Gondola took at least 20 minutes, 
and then there was a hike and an additional chairlift ride to get to the peak, which is more than 7,000 feet above sea level. 
The views were gorgeous, including a slice of an actual glacier, although I have to admit the most breathtaking sight was on the very steep final leg of the chairlift.
After checking out the peak, I hiked the Harmony Lake loop, which was great going in - downhill, great views, culminating in the arrival at the 
beautiful Harmony Lake. As you may have deduced by now, however, the return was not so fun. A steep uphill climb the whole way back, with the sun beating down on me and mosquitos that swarmed every time I paused to catch my breath. Blech. 
But it was worth it for the stellar views. Which is easy to say now that it's over.
More photos at http://babas.typepad.com/photos/great_northwest/.
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