Nita Lake Lodge Whistler Creekside

Before you get to Whistler to enjoy the shopping, outdoor recreation, and cuisine, you’ll first come across the Creekside community along the Sea to Sky. Home to some Olympic and Paralympic alpine events during the Vancouver 2010 Games, families love the local restaurants and the activities you can enjoy along a string of fresh lakes.

Located between Alta Lake and Alpha Lake in Creekside, Nita Lake Lodge sits along the wooded shores of quaint little Nita Lake. The only hustle and bustle you’ll find at this seemingly secluded refuge is from the nearby walking and cycling trails. Paddles from stand-up boards and canoes break the glassy surface of the water as you sit out on the balcony of your room or enjoy a glass of wine on the lodge’s patio.

On a recent trip with media, I discovered the laid-back pace at Nita Lake and the fresh, local, mindful ingredients they use at their dining establishments.

On the patio at Cure

The boutique hotel with 77 cozy suites has plenty of options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Fix Cafe is great for a morning coffee, pastry, or breakfast sandwich. Cure Lounge‘s lakeside patio is ideal for fresh summer salads and a craft cocktail. Aura Restaurant offers a full menu with an extensive BC wine list that will satisfy every craving at dinner time.

North Arm Farm White Sunchoke & Potato Soup
Black Garlic Cream, Roasted Bread Crumbs

Grilled Bison Flat-Iron Steak with Turnip & Spring Onion Churros
Beat and Bacon Salad, Arugula Black Pepper Jus
(one of the best salads I’ve had this summer)

(Left) Cedar Sour cocktail
(actually tasted like roasted wood, evoking memories and warm fuzzy feelings)
(Right) Ice Cream Sandwich (giant macaron with chocolate mousse)

I stayed overnight in a studio suite, which was very spacious at about 500 square feet and our group toured the hotel to check out a few of the other rooms. Layouts included the impressive Rainforest Suite and Glade Suites which we heard were ideal for large families, events, and honeymoons.

There are soaker tubs in every room, free WIFI, flat screen televisions, hidden mini bars, and iPod alarm clock docks. The only thing missing is a full kitchen however the sinks and fridge plus all of the dining options in the lodge will leave you with plenty of options. A breakfast credit is also given at time of booking online or by phone. Rates right now (looking online today) start at just $149 a night.

I love boutique hotels and what impressed me the most about Nita Lake Lodge was how spacious it was, how beautifully it stood between mountain slopes and the lake, the free WIFI (still, this is always a bonus), the dining options, and the knowledge of our server at Aura Restaurant. She could tell us which farm our vegetables came from and the backstory of almost every Okanagan winemaker.

You’ll be outside of Whistler Village but Nita Lake has a free shuttle that can take you into town for the day and pick up you again. You can head out and do a TreeTrek Tour or the Peak 2 Peak, or stay in your room enjoying the tub and the views. Follow NitaLakeLodge on Twitter for packages, information, and the latest news from the lodge.

Until August 18, 2012 you can book a full summer getaway package from $659 per person that includes round-trip rail journey onboard Rocky Mountaineer’s bi-level dome on the Whistler Sea to Sky Climb from Vancouver, a $180 food credit for Aura Restaurant, a one-hour paddle boarding session with REO Rafting on Nita Lake, and two nights accommodation at Nita Lake Lodge.