The Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler

The Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler

"If the Westin Resort and Spa at Whistler is good enough for Olympic athletes, then it’s good enough for us. The perks of this winter retreat, which played host to the 2010 Winter Olympics, aren’t hard to parse: It's at the base of the mountain, right up against the gondola, and sits conveniently dead-center of buzzy Whistler Village, where the après-ski scene is one for the books (grab a sub-zero glass of the hard stuff at Bearfoot Bistro’s Ketel One Ice Room, and thank us in the morning). The stone-faced resort is enormous—a cavernous cluster of clean, crisp rooms piled up high on a mountain—but it doesn’t sacrifice service or style for size. Winter may be peak season here, though there’s plenty to do when the temperatures rise. Not only does the retreat sport a golf course and pool, but warm-weather activities like ATVing, RZRing, multi-day hikes, and ziplining through the woods (and a spa, if you'd rather sit out the sweat session) make it a good alternative to more conventional, crowded beach locales. Book it here in early fall, and you’ll catch the annual beer festival."