Last month, I had the wonderful honor of being invited to Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler, B.C. to celebrate their tenth anniversary. As a first-time visitor to Whistler, I was excited to see what all the hype was about and actually place myself in the many photos I've seen of this beautiful mountain town. Almost as soon as we rolled in, we were off to the exciting and exclusive 10th anniversary dinner at the lodge's well-loved restaurant, Aura. After a long day of train and bus travel, I was more than ready for a five-course meal—especially since there was a special vegetarian menu available. Afterwards, we got to enjoy the afterparty and live band at Cure, Nita's cozy lounge.

After our fast and fun introduction to the property, we woke up to a beautiful sunny morning and couldn't wait to hit the ground running. We had heard Aura also offered an incredible breakfast, so we wandered our way downstairs to pancakes, avocado toast, scrambled eggs and fried potatoes. It was definitely the hearty mountain breakfast we were looking for before the day's activities. It was even more magical to be there in the daylight, and enjoy our meal overlooking the lake and snowcapped mountains.

We then spent some time walking the property discovering where the trails led and watching people walk on the frozen lake...although you would never catch me doing that when it's above thirty degrees! The stunning vistas are undeniable—after all, you're right in the middle of the mountains. Nita Lake Lodge has the unique title of being the only lakeside lodge in Whistler. I can't imagine a better view!

Before we made the trek up to Whistler Village, we spent some time exploring our own back yard. Nita Lake Lodge offers free snowshoe rentals at the front desk, and although there wasn't any fresh powder for us to trek through, we decided to try our hand at climbing some hills around the property. Even though the conditions weren't ideal, we still had a blast. I haven't gone snowshoeing since I was a kid, and it was definitely on my bucket list to try again. I already want to go back up on a weekend with snow in the forecast!

Between the relaxing hours we spent at Nita Lake Lodge and the more adventurous time we spent up on Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, we fully packed our limited time in Canada. During our quick tour of Whistler, we also made our way up the mountain for some quality "aprés ski" time. Little did I know I would be terrified of the ski lifts, so the twenty-five minute ride up was heart-racing peril, but once we got to the top the views were absolutely worth it. The hot chocolate up there was some of the best we've ever had—I was tempted to ask for the recipe. 

Michele then talked me into riding the Peak to Peak Gondola, which is almost 2 miles of completely unsupported cable line between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. It doesn't go fast, and it's extremely safe, but it definitely wasn't for me. The views, again, were incredible, but it is definitely a thrill. Thank you for the once-in-a-lifetime tickets, Tourism Whistler!

Spending the weekend at Nita Lake Lodge was my first ski-town experience, and I have to say, I loved the vibes of the mountain. Although you'll never get me in a pair of skis or strap me to a snowboard, it was amazing to watch so many thousands of people enjoying the sport at the same time. And after spending an afternoon in the thin mountain air, it was so relaxing to come back and enjoy the outdoor hot tubs at Nita. Perfect for soothing a skier's muscles in crisp winter air.

I've spent a lot of time in the snow after living in Minnesota for five years, and heading back to the cold for a winter wonderland getaway was just what this snow bunny needed. 

Congratulations to Nita Lake Lodge on a successful ten-year run, and here's to many more!

Thanks to Nita Lake Lodge for partnering on this post.