Mancations in Whistler - cocktails, oysters, fine dining, golf ..

Cool #whistler options for a #mancation; cocktails, oysters, fine dining, golf. 

Whistler, B.C. - Clinking artisan cocktails, slurping freshly shucked oysters and outdoor dining are just some of the Whistler delights awaiting guests this summer season.

Whether seeking the ultimate ‘mancation', a relaxing visit to the mountains or an adventure on the links, there are a variety of exceptional experiences awaiting the senses in Whistler - where fine dining is taken to an entirely new level and the local links await your tee-off.

Some of the world's best oyster shuckers will gather in Whistler this July for the Bearfoot Bistro World Oyster Invitational. Hosted by Whistler's award-winning Bearfoot Bistro restaurant, the competition is by invitation only with international contestants from countries including Australia, Belgium, Japan, the U.S. and Canada. The event takes place on Sunday, July 10 at 2 p.m. at the Bearfoot Bistro in Whistler. Complete with live entertainment, fine wines and delicious bites the first year of annual event is not to be missed. Tickets are on sale for $45 with net proceeds being donated to the Canadian Red Cross relief fund for Japan. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.bearfootbistro.com/invitational/

Prizes will be awarded for first ($5,000), second ($1,000) and third-place ($500) winners and contestants will also have the opportunity to challenge the Guinness World Record for oyster opening (current record is 38 opened in one minute). Once the record has been confirmed, the winner will receive the $1,000 prize award. There will also be a ""best mignonette"" contest, open to all competitors. The creation of the mignonette sauce is open to the shucker's interpretation, with the best narrowed down to three finalists by the guests of the event. The finalists will be judged by the Bearfoot Bistro World Oyster Invitational judges and Bearfoot Bistro Executive Chef, Melissa Craig. The winner of this competition will receive $500.

For those who enjoy an outdoor dining experience like no other, the Araxi Longtable @ North Arm Farm launches this summer. Featuring the ‘outdoor kitchen' of Araxi Executive Chef James Walt, the series takes place a short drive north of Whistler at North Arm Farm. This event is a natural progression of Araxi's partnership with and commitment to the local farming community. 

North Arm Farm offers 60 sprawling acres of certified organic produce, featuring multiple varieties of vegetables, stone and berry fruits and herbs. Many of the items grown here are featured in Araxi's menu items, supporting the ""from farm to table"" culinary approach.

The inaugural year kicks off with four events: Saturday, July 2, Saturday, July 30, Saturday, August 27 and Sunday, September 11. Guests will enjoy a four-course menu featuring the freshest ingredients from the Pemberton Valley and beyond. Each event will begin at 3 p.m. with a reception and farm tour led by North Arm Farm's Jordan Sturdy. Tickets are $160 per person, all inclusive of reception, four-course menu, wine, tax and gratuity. Return executive transportation from Whistler Village is available for $35 per person, including tax. To purchase tickets, email farmdinner@araxi.com

Indulging in the many fine dining options that Whistler has to offer will likely stir an appetite. And that is where the ‘greens' come in … the golf greens, that is.

Whistler provides a breathtaking and unparalleled setting for golf with four signature golf courses - designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Robert Trent Jones and Bob Cupp - feature sprawling fairways and spectacular views of the region's snow-capped mountains. 

Courses feature glacier-fed lakes, mountain streams and stands of ancient cedars that offer shelter for local wildlife such as brown bears, coyote, beaver, deer and birds. With average summer temperatures ranging from 9 to 23 degrees Celsius (48 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit) and some of the longest days of the year May through August, players can golf from dawn to dusk and log up to three rounds daily.

And, through July the resort also provides the opportunity to experience what's become known as the Whistler Trifecta: a full round of 18 holes, glacier skiing atop Blackcomb Mountain and mountain biking in the world-famous Whistler Mountain Bike Park - all in one day! 

If on the water is where you want to be, pack your swimsuit and fishing rods when you head to Whistler this summer. While mountain biking and hiking have traditionally dominated in the warmer months, watersports are quickly making their mark as the best way to cool down on a hot summer day. The list of aqua-focused activities in Whistler is as long as the glacier-fed rivers running through the resort. Jet-boating, wakeboarding and white water rafting are ideal for adrenaline junky crowds, while stand up paddle boarding, canoeing and kayaking allow visitors and guests to take in the alpine views. Those who prefer to spend their time in the water with angle and bait seeking salmon and trout can choose from several rivers and lakes for some of B.C.'s best fly-fishing. 

Whatever your activity and accommodation preference, Whistler offers amazing summer vacation packages. The Stay and Bike package starts at $99 per person; Stay and Golf packages start at $190 per person and Adventure Packages begin at $85 per person. Last-minute accommodation deals include moderate accommodation starting at $85 per night, deluxe accommodation at $99 per night and luxury accommodation at $119 per night.*

To find out more about what Whistler has to offer this summer or to book a customized ‘mancation', visit www.whistler.com or call 1.800.WHISTLER. Local reservation agents can help build the ideal vacation package.
*Rates are exclusive of taxes, and are subject to conditions and availability.

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Whistler is Canada's premier year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Consistently rated the top ski resort in North America for the past 12 years in a row, Whistler was the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The resort offers an extensive range of accommodations totaling 10,000 bedrooms among 24 hotels as well as townhomes, condos, B&Bs and chalets. Whistler also boasts more than 100 restaurants and bars, 200 retail shops, 25 spas and countless activity options from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and watersports. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 9,000 permanent residents.

Tourism Whistler is the member-based marketing and sales organization representing Whistler, operating the Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler Golf Club, Whistler Visitor Centre, as well as 1.800.WHISTLER and whistler.com - Whistler's official source for visitor bookings and information. As the convention and visitors bureau for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler represents more than 7,000 members who own, manage and operate properties or businesses on resort lands including hotels, restaurants, activity operators and retail shops.