Day Trip to Whistler - Aug 15th 2009

The Days went on a Day Trip - ha, ha, ha!! Fun with names!

Greg thought it might be fun to go up to Whistler for the day and since we'd really not done too much this summer with the girls I went along with the idea. We knew it was likely to be busy as Crankworx - a mountain biking festival - was going on, but we knew we wouldn't get another opportunity to see the mountain and all the new Olympic venues before the Olympics. Plus we figured the girls would like watching the crazy mountain bikers race down Whistler. WHY do people do that?! For fun?!?!

The last time we went to Whistler was to celebrate our 4th Anniversary - Paige was about the same age as Christine is now. Wow, time really flies!!

Our first stop was at Shannon Falls just outside of Squamish. It was a quick get out of the van, walk to the Falls (5 minutes), takes some pictures and load back into the van. I was reminded of road trips with my parents when I was a kid. Dad always stopped at EVERY "Point of Interest" sign to see what it was all about and to take pictures. Sigh! I've finally turned into my parents!!

This picture was taken at the falls viewing area. Two things of note: Marley is in her typical modelesque pose and Paige is doing something goofy. This is how things are at the moment. Paige either refuses to have her picture taken and tries to hide, OR she's only too happy to oblige as long as she can make a funny face or pull a funny pose! Marley on the other hand LOVES to have her picture taken and will strike a pose (usually this one above) as soon as she sees a camera! Too many episodes of America's Next Top Model I guess!!

This shot of Greg and Marley was taken after a series of attempts to get both the older girls with Greg but ... Paige being Paige ... we had to abandon that. All was not lost though as this is a great picture of the two of them!

Whistler was even busier than we'd anticipated so, rather than park WAY up Blackcomb and have to rely on a shuttle bus to get to the village, I coughed up big money for underground parking in the village. Considering how tired the girls and I were by the end of the day, it was worth every penny to know the van was close by! Our first stop was lunch and then we let the girls play on this playstructure in the village. Since Paige won't pose and smile nicely, we've adopted a "sneak attack" method of photographing her. Thank goodness for digital!! This cute one was snapped with this method! The one of Marley shows her living up to her nickname of Monkey!!

When we'd arrived at Whistler the clouds were lowish on the mountain top so we weren't sure if we'd be able to take the gondola up or not. We hoped so as we wanted to ride the new Peak to Peak gondola over to Blackcomb! As luck would have it, by the time we extricated the girls from the play area, the clouds had lifted enough that we figured we'd go up. Paige can be a bit timid on fair rides so we weren't sure how she'd react to the gondolas but she did great! They ALL did!!
Christine was just happy to be let out of the stroller I think, but she managed to charm our Peak to Peak gondola mates!

That Peak to Peak is something else!! A very smooth ride and you feel quite safe but holy moly you are up high!! It's hard to think that the only thing keeping you from crashing down into the trees are a few cables suspended over a valley! Great views though. I highly recommend it!
After we returned down Whistler, we walked over to Blackcomb (we couldn't go DOWN Blackcomb with the stroller - chair lifts not gondolas) so the girls could play at the Adventure Zone. Greg and Marley went on the Toboggan run and Paige bounced to her hearts content in the Bouncy Castle. That pretty much wore them out so we headed back to the van and Ladner.
It was a really fun day and the girls travelled pretty well. Christine complained about how much time she spent in a stroller or car seat in a way only she can. Lot's of loud screaching!! But all in all, a good time was had by all.