SOUTHWESTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 334

town Vancouver and Green Lake (just north of Whistler Village) for $199 one-way. The
baggage limit is 25 pounds plus $1.25 for every extra pound.
Vancouver International Airport, 130 kilometers (81 miles) to the south, is the main
gateway to Whistler. Perimeter (604/717-6600 or 888/717-6606, www.perimeterbus.com )
provides bus service between various Vancouver locations (including the airport) and
Whistler up to 11 times daily; adult $79-95, child $40-55.
Getting Around
Once you're in Whistler, getting around is pretty easy—if you're staying in Whistler Vil-
lage, everything you need is within easy walking distance. Whistler Transit System (604/
932-4020) operates extensive bus routes throughout the valley 6am-midnight daily. The
seven routes radiate from the Gondola Transit Exchange in Whistler Village south to Whist-
ler Creekside and as far north as Emerald Estates on the shore of Green Lake. Fare is $2.50,
senior and child $2 (exact change only). A 10-ride WAVE Card is adult $20, senior and
child $18.
For a cab, call Whistler Taxi (604/938-4430). Most visitors traveling to Whistler by
rental car pick their vehicle up in Vancouver, but Avis (604/932-1236) does have an outlet
in town.
Gold Nugget Route
The route north between Whistler and Lillooet is best traveled in good weather—the
scenery is so spectacular, you don't want to miss anything. See white-topped peaks all
around you and big glacier-colored rivers. If you have the time, stop at provincial parks
along the way for always good scenery and outdoor activities.
Make your first stop north of Whistler at Nairn Falls Provincial Park, on the banks of
Green River, where a wooded trail leads to a waterfall. Stay overnight at the campground
(mid-May.-Sept., $18), where around half the sites can be reserved through Discover
Camping (519/826-6850 or 800/689-9025, www.discovercamping.ca ) .
The small mountain community of Pemberton (population 2,200) is growing rapidly as
a cheaper housing alternative for Whistler workers, who commute the 32 kilometers (20
miles) south. Surrounded by mountains, trees, lakes, and rivers, Pemberton sits in a fer-
tile valley known for its potatoes. It's only a short distance south of the Lillooet River,
a main transportation route to the Cariboo during the 1860s' Gold-Rush days. Today's