Whistler's Best Shopping

The Black Tusk Gallery features native artworks from the Northwest coast. Items for sale include traditional masks, paddles, bowls, totem poles and jewelry.

The Plaza Galleries feature a variety of fine artworks. In addition to sculptures by Bill Mack, there are paintings by Picasso and Hollywood legends Anthony Quinn, Tony Curtis and Red Skelton. There is also a large selection of works by Canadian artists.

This is the best place in Whistler to pick up regional guides, maps, wildlife directories, and nature books. Armchair also carries all of the latest and best hard- and soft-cover editions of fiction and non-fiction. An ideal destination if you want to catch up on your reading after a day on the slopes.

An upscale store popular with the fashion-conscious twenty-something crowd. Roots offers its own brand of casual wear, ideal for folks wanting to impress-with-the-dress when they hit the nightlife scene. Styles vary seasonally, featuring everything from preppy knits and slacks to Euro-style sweaters. Men's and women's accessories are also available, including Roots' signature scents, sure to draw attention your way.

Evolution's founders couldn't have chosen a better setting for their sporting goods store, which is located at the base of Whistler/Blackcomb. The high-end snowboard and mountain bike shop — it really depends on what season it is — is where serious thrill-seekers gather to gird up before a day of close-calls and near-spills. In addition to gear and equipment, Evolution carries rack after rack of cutting-edge street apparel.

Everything in Mount Cashmere is 100% pure cashmere. You'll find sweaters of course, in every style and color imaginable, from v-neck pullovers to hoodies in hues ranging from earthy browns to vibrant fuchsia. But you can also splurge on a wide assortment of other luxurious items — scarves, gloves and mittens, hats, blankets, shawls — for women and men. A small, Vancouver based chain.

Quality ski wear is pricey, to say the least. If you ski or snowboard only a couple of times a year, it's probably not worth the money to purchase your own apparel. At Whistler Winter Wear you can rent high performance outerwear for a fraction of the cost of purchase. Rent a full suit or just a jacket; goggles, pads, helmets — you name it, for any number of days. Their rates are extremely affordable and they can fit any size or shape, including kids. They also sell top quality long underwear and fleece. Plus, they deliver, and no order is too small. Advance reservations are recommended, but not absolutely required.

A full service fly shop, with a full array of flyfishing gear and guidebooks, local flypatterns, art, outdoor clothing and maps. But the folks here are also experts in the field and offer classes and excursions in and around Whistler. Learn to flyfish in a day or take a 2-4 hour refresher course. Women will be pleased to note that one of the staff, Terry Macdonnell, is one of the most dedicated female guides and instructors in Canada and offers women-only courses and workshops. Flyfishing isn't just for the guys!

All ski boots are not created equal. Many are uncomfortable at best, and some are just downright painful, affecting every aspect of your time on the slopes, from performance to stamina. If this sounds familiar, try Surefoot. A custom fitting session takes about an hour and the end result is high performance boots that keep your feet comfortable. Their own boots come in twelve models and a variety of colors, and they also offer additional quality brands, customizable with liners and orthotics. Got slope-crazy kids? Surefoot has customizable kid's sizes, and if your child outgrows them within two years you can return the boots for credit towards a new pair (50% of the original purchase price!).

Odd name aside, this shop is tops for yoga clothing and other athletic apparel for women and men. Its racks are stocked with fashionable and functional clothing that appeals especially to hip and healthy 20- and 30-somethings. So whether your activity of choice is yoga, cycling, running or something else entirely, chances are you can find the perfect clothes here. Founded in 1998 in Vancouver, the chain has expanded to include about 75 shops all over North America.