Editor’s note: this story first appeared in The Squamish Chief’s Squamish Holiday Gift Guide 2023, published in November.
Some gifts you hold in your hearts, not in your hands.
When people think back on holidays past, it’s often the shared experiences with loved ones that they remember most vividly—a brisk winter walk, maybe, or playing board games with family until late at night.
These are the experiences that make a lasting impact in your psyche, and bring people closer together. And as the gift-giving season approaches, there are plenty of opportunities to create memories with the people you love in the Sea to Sky Corridor.
“I love the concept of giving activities or experiences as gifts personally, and the Squamish area is such a great place for that. We have kid-centric activities like … the kids’ programming at the Britannia Mine Museum, and who doesn’t love the gift of ice cream from our popular Alice + Brohm creamery?” said Shawna Lang, manager of destination marketing and member engagement with Tourism Squamish.
“It’s about giving the gift of time to your family, because we don’t always have that, and it creates memories that you can’t put a price on. In my family, we do a Christmas draw where you enjoy an experience rather than giving a gift, and it can be anything from going to the theatre or doing wine-making to getting your nails done together.”
Squamish is also full of local eateries to serve the famished kids. They can check out Fergie’s Cafe, the Crabapple Cafe or White Spot—then follow it up with doughnuts from Fox and Oak, or ice cream from Alice + Brohm.
Lang feels the Squamish area is the perfect place for this sort of gift-giving because there is such a wealth of local winter attractions. Whether you give someone tickets to the Sea to Sky Gondola, take them to the Whistler Olympic Park or maybe even share a flight with them over the mountains, you’re creating lasting memories that will last long after the final present is open.
In the case of the Britannia Mine Museum, which was revitalized and opened in 2010, it gives visitors the opportunity to learn about over 100 years of history. During its operation over 60,000 people lived and worked there, making it one of the largest copper mines in the world.
Taking a loved one or a group of kids to experience it could fill up an entire day, with a break to dig into a hearty picnic from Peak Provisions Mountain Grocery and Goods.
Meanwhile, the gondola is not only a scenic adventure, transporting visitors high over the trees, it also gives you the opportunity to take in the local landscape and escape the rainy weather of the lower elevations.
With live music events, a cosy lodge, and plenty of tracks to go cross-country skiing or snow tubing, there are multiple ways to fill up your family’s day with fun and wonder.
But it isn’t just families who can enjoy this kind of gift-giving, according to Lang. The area is also ripe with potential experiences to share with new romantic partners, or your lifelong spouse. Whether you’re looking for a pulse-quickening adventure or just a cosy meal, Squamish offers plenty of opportunities to grow closer to the significant other in your life.
“For couples, we have exciting romantic activities like taking a Blackcomb helicopter tour. We have lots of amazing hikes and picnic spots, where you can stock up at our local grocery store and then take in a beautiful vistas,” she said.
“People in this area like to work hard and use a lot of energy, going off on adventures, but we also like to indulge in our breweries, distilleries and doughnut shops. When you work hard, you want to reward yourself and lots of people may come here for rock climbing or mountain biking and then afterwards enjoy a really nice dinner at a high-end restaurant like the Salted Vine.”
Lang notes that the corridor is a relatively small area that happens to contain eight provincial parks, and that all the epic wilderness can be experienced for free. But adding an additional element, such as bringing a professional photographer along on a hike to see Shannon Falls or Alice Lake, can make that experience extra special. Or you could surprise your family with a multi-generational party, renting out a local venue and decking it out with seasonal decorations.
When it comes to snow sports, you could consider giving the gift of snowshoeing, tubing, cross-country skiing and even snowmobiling.
Local company No Limits Motorsports rents out their sleds, which are meant to be operated in deep snow off-track, and offer to knock off the rental cost if you ultimately decide to purchase one.
Renters can also pick up a trailer, giving them easy access to all the lush wilderness throughout the Sea to Sky Corridor. Using a snowmobile to transport you to an otherwise inaccessible spot, you can plan everything from a snowy picnic to an elaborate marriage proposal, and bringing along a camera is a great way to make sure the memories are immortalized.
“In Squamish, we’re well known for our hardcore outdoor activities, but there’s so much more to offer—from soft to hard adventure and everything in between. We have amazing food and beverages, and everything from free to paid attractions. Sometimes people forget what a wide breadth of experiences we have here, and any one of those could be turned into a gift,” she said.
For more ideas, Tourism Squamish keeps a list of local attractions at exploresquamish.com.
