Summer Vacation - Whistler

After all the fun in Seattle we boarded a train for Vancouver.  Yes, a train!  Not our usual mode of transportation and  not quite equal to the experience we had on the overnight train in Vietnam years ago.  But, a nice way to travel.

First, an early morning walk to the train station, luggage in tow

On the train!

When we arrived in Vancouver we drove up to Whistler and stayed at the Fairmont.

We did some swimming, hiking, shopping, and playing.

Crowded pool full of Canadians thawing out from the winter
(You can actually see Frank down there on the left side in the orange shirt.  The girls are walking in front of him.  I didn't even realize they were in the picture until after I looked at it.)

Hiking out and around a small lake

Emily and Marcy built a baby Inukshuk

Crossing the VERY cold creek

At the Blackcomb Adventure Zone

Bungy Jumping

Mini Golfing

 Luge-ing

Shopping in Whistler Village

We heard reports of bears around Whistler while we were there.  I didn't put much stock in it until we went for our hike.  Some guys playing tennis at the courts we were passing said there was a bear up in the woods just past.  Then the bear came out of the woods ambling down the path.  No big deal, we were meant to cross the street and take another path.  Wouldn't you know it, the bear crossed the street and took our path.  Another lady out walking said we could take a driveway leading to some condos and catch the path further down to avoid the bear.  Then that bear decided to just come right through the woods, directly to that driveway.  Frank and Marcy were a bit ahead and took some steps up to the path.  Emily and I were stuck standing on the porch of a condo waiting to see where he would go when he came out of the trees.  But, Emily freaked and made a run for it.  Not the right choice for bear safety.  I had to follow.  Luckily the bear had no interest and came out of the trees headed in the opposite direction.  Here is our bear friend at a less tense moment as he crossed the street:

We would definitely like to make a winter visit to Whistler for some skiing.  Looks like a great resort with Whistler and Blackcomb together.  But, this guy did not want to wait for winter and went up for year round glacier skiing.  It looked so funny to see skiers standing in the lift line behind summer tourists.