This weekend we were up in Whistler for their annual health and wellness festival: Flourish. This is a month long affair with workshops, seminars, fitness classes, and seated dinners. Topic presented and discussed during this period includes aging, menopause, gut health, and mindfulness techniques. We centred our time around food adjacent topics with a workshop and long table luncheon, where we learned how to make better and more informed food choices.
But we first checked in at Adara Boutique Hotel Whistler, where we would be spending one night and two days. We had a two story loft on the third floor. The first level was the washroom by the door; the bar that included an abbreviated coffee station, mini fridge and microwave; and the living room with tv and fireplace, but only for ambiance.
The washroom included a walk-in shower stall with its half glass covered in a pattern of cross cut logs. Inside and affixed onto the wall was a collection of shampoo, conditioner, and body washes by local Canadian company: Rocky Mountain Soap. I found the products of good quality with my skin and hair left soft after using both. The shower itself was a soothing rainfall with three setting of fall. There was also a wand for more precise cleaning rituals. There was plenty of towels and enough racks and pegs to hang them all on. Most memorable was the toilet paper fixture. Instead of a roll, it was dispensed as sheets, like how you would grab paper towels at a restaurant table.
The bar had a mirrored back splash and included a shelf for displaying your collection of bottles high up on. However, we kept all that we brought for the weekend chilled in the mini fridge, although there was an ice machine on the second floor, should we needed any. Although there was no bucket in the suite to put it in. This counter and space we would utilize for both drinks and food. The latter being cup noodles that we prepared using hot boiled water from the in-suite kettle and the room’s microwave.
We ate and drank in the living room, watching basic television and flipping through the room’s reading material, a compendium of 2026 Whistler restaurants. With high definition photos and glossy pages it made us hungry and inspired our next meal. The vaulted ceiling made the space feel grandiose, with an ever spinning ceiling fan to keep the room feeling fresh.
The bed was a climb up narrow stairs. I was worried about having to come down it to use the washroom in the middle of the night. Under these stairs served as storage space with fold out ironing board and extra pillows.
The bed felt intimate, as the lone fixture fitting perfectly within this isolated space. It was firm with fluffed up pillows and sheets.
Past the queen bed was a private balcony. This was a tucked away space in-between tall walls that gave the unit privacy, away from any eyes. If you leaned along the edge you got a faint look at the Village in the distance. Otherwise this served as a peaceful oasis where we enjoyed drinks on the available patio furniture.
There is a hotel restaurant, but we never got a chance to try it. Instead we headed up the Blackcomb Whistler gondola for our first Nourish Whistler event, and after it decided to stay. The travel is 30 minutes and our ride pass only allows for one back and forth travel. We remained to enjoy the one of a kind view of the green grass and trees of summer meeting the icy snow covered mountain peaks of winter. Not only is this a view point, but a bar and restaurant with open patio seating. However, be warned and don’t make the same mistake as I did, it is still cold up there despite the sun’s shine. So dress warmly in layers as they do not turn the fire pits on and there are no blankets to borrow.
We had a gap in our schedule, so enjoyed this venue over a couple of cocktails as we waited for our dinner seating at the Mountain Top Summer Feast. Their slogan is “Come for the dining and savour the views.” Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; for the summer season, the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain hosts an incredible, mountain-top dining experience with live music. This is an all you can eat buffet where guests can expect mains, fresh salads and desserts at 1,800m (6,000ft). There is something for the whole family.
The buffet closes at 7:15pm and last call at the Umbrella Bar is also at 7:15pm, with last drinks served at 7:30pm. Guests of the Mountain Top Summer Feast are permitted to upload via Whistler Village Gondola starting at 4:00pm. Then are required to be on the final Gondola download at 8pm.
This is a ticketed event where you purchase yours based on your desired dinner start time. Ours was the second, and as a result, by the time we got to the buffet it was already picked through and slow to refill. Whereas the first seating, and the one before ours were invited to remain eating and stay as long as they liked to pick up more. Other than that I appreciated the offerings with a carve station of roast beef and ribs, salmon on wooden planks with indigenous dishes, flambé shrimp with vodka, vegetable and potato sides, desserts, and a kids table. I stocked my plate, but sadly was too cold on the patio to properly enjoy it at my leisure. We would finish our meal inside, with hot coffee and tea and a side of cakes and fruits for dessert.
Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain – access via Whistler Village Gondola
Whistler Blackcomb
4545 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC V8E 0X9
604-938-7669
whistlerblackcomb.com
After, we took the 30 minute gondola ride back down to our hotel, conveniently located in the middle of The Village. This is where we would remain for the rest of the evening, after stocking up on some snacks and late night eats. We enjoyed our comfortable night in, cozy in our branded hotel robes. We partook in happy hour on our private patio, then moved indoors to the warmth of the living room with Champagne and fireplace. We would watch public access television with facial masks, munching on chips, and slurping up instant noodles late in to the night.
Then when we tired, we crawled into our shared lovely firm bed, before waking up earlier the next day to take advantage of the hotel’s outdoor pool and hot tub. This is overlooking the hotel restaurant’s bar and was busy when we attempted to partake the night before. However, this morning with our late check out and everyone else leaving well before, we had the pool area all to ourselves. A pool just large enough for laps, but not deep enough for diving. And an intimate hot tub with bubbling jets, dry towels, and beach chairs for sun bathing on. This was a lovely way to end our time at Adara, before we cleaned up and headed out for our last Nourish event to end our time away on.
Adara Hotel Whistler
4122 Village Green, Whistler, BC, V8E 1G9
604-905-4009
adarahotel.com
