The Mountain Retreat That Gets It Right

I'll be honest: when Four Seasons Whistler pitched me on their curated wellness afternoon—complete with painting, plant-based dining, and something called a "sound bath"—I was skeptical. It sounded like the kind of thing that looks better on Instagram than it feels in real life. But sometimes being wrong feels pretty good.

The day started with a gentle walk to Lost Lake, where our guide handed out easels and brushes like we were all destined artists. I haven't painted since elementary school, but there's something disarming about trying to capture a mountain's reflection in still water when you're surrounded by people equally out of their depth. The focused quiet was unexpectedly meditative, and by the time I'd mixed what I generously called "mountain blue" with "lake silver," something had shifted. My painting looked like a kindergartner's fever dream, but I was oddly proud of it.

Painting at Lost Lake

The real revelation came at dinner. The long communal table was set up on the resort's lawn, string lights overhead, mountains doing their dramatic backdrop thing. I was prepared for the usual plant-based suspects: quinoa, kale, maybe some sad cashew cheese. Instead, what arrived challenged every assumption I had about vegetables playing supporting roles.

The roasted cauliflower came first, its golden florets nestled against a butter bean and beet puree that was somehow both earthy and elegant, lifted by chimichurri that had the right amount of herbaceous bite. It was the kind of dish that makes you reconsider what vegetables can do when someone really knows how to cook them.

The Japanese eggplant that followed was a masterclass in texture: silky, almost custard-like, paired with an almond ricotta that was creamy enough to fool anyone who wasn't looking for dairy. Between courses, a Campari sorbet appeared, its bitter-sweet complexity a sophisticated palate cleanser that felt very grown-up.

Then came the meatless meatballs, and I had my doubts. But these weren't trying to be meat; they were confidently their own thing, hearty and satisfying, swimming in a marinara that tasted like it had been loved for hours. The kind of dish that makes carnivores pause and think.

The apple tarte tatin that closed the meal was heaven on a plate: caramelized apples with that perfect balance of sweet and tart, nestled in pastry so flaky it seemed engineered for maximum butter fantasy, despite being entirely plant-based.

But here's what surprised me most: the conversation. Seated family-style with new friends, we found ourselves actually talking about the afternoon's painting disasters, about the food, about why we'd all ended up here. There's something about sharing a meal outdoors that strips away the usual social armor. Maybe it was the mountain air, or maybe good food just makes people more generous.

Sound bath at Four Seasons Whistler pool

The evening's finale was the sound bath by the heated pool. If you'd told me a month ago I'd be floating in warm water while someone played singing bowls at sunset, I'd have rolled my eyes. But there's something about the combination of physical weightlessness and the strange, resonant tones that quiets the mental chatter. The vibrations seemed to move through the water and into my bones, and for once, I wasn't thinking about emails or deadlines or what I'd forgotten to do.

When I finally pulled myself out of the pool, I felt both energized and deeply relaxed, a paradox that probably has some scientific explanation I don't need to understand to appreciate.

The next morning brought two final acts in this wellness symphony that felt perfectly calibrated to ease me back into the world. The forest bathing session started early, our small group gathering in the lobby before being led into Whistler's quiet morning woods. Unlike the previous day's painting walk, this was pure meditation in motion—no destination, no creative output, just the simple act of moving slowly through dappled sunlight while focusing on breath and presence. Our guide encouraged us to notice textures, sounds, and scents with the kind of attention usually reserved for wine tastings, and I found myself genuinely fascinated by the rough bark of an ancient cedar and the way morning light filtered through the canopy.

The communal breakfast that followed at Braidwood Tavern felt like the perfect bookend to our long-table dinner. Driving back to Vancouver, I kept thinking about how the experience had been engineered without feeling engineered. Each element—the painting, the meal, the sound bath—could have been precious or performative. Instead, they felt genuine, like someone had actually thought about what might make a person feel more human rather than just more relaxed.

Sometimes the best meals aren't about the food at all, but about the reminder that slowing down doesn't have to be boring. Whistler had served up that lesson with a side of surprisingly good meatless meatballs, and I wasn't mad about it.

Summer Experiences at Four Seasons Whistler

Paint the Peaks Alfresco Take a scenic gondola ride up Whistler Mountain for a guided painting session with mountain views, available June 24 – September 2, 2025, for CAD $150 (minimum four guests).

Sunset Sound Bathing at the Pool Float in the heated pool during a tranquil sound bath under the stars every Thursday from 9:00-10:00 PM, June 24 – September 2, 2025, included with your stay.

Nature Walk & Paint Your View Explore Lost Lake trails followed by a peaceful plein air painting session, complimentary with stays on select dates June 26 – August 28, 2025.

Forest Bathing Experience guided meditation in nature with breathwork and sound healing, included with stays on select dates June 26 – August 28, 2025.

Rooftop Beekeeping Experience Learn about bee colonies and honey production during hands-on hive visits, complimentary with stays on select dates June 26 – August 28, 2025.

Create Your Own Spa Scrub Craft personalized spa scrubs using local botanicals in this sensory wellness workshop, included with stays on select dates June 26 – August 28, 2025.

Sea to Sky Beer Tasting Sample craft beers from local breweries in guided tastings, complimentary with stays on select dates June 26 – August 28, 2025.

Summer Package: From Canada with Love Enjoy complimentary valet parking, lunch at Braidwood Tavern, and daily breakfast for suite guests during your mountain escape.