It's hard to believe that the Winter Olympics were held in our backyard just a few months ago.

Most of us had an amazing time and were sad to see them go, but it's nice to know that some of that Olympic spirit is still lingering around -- you might just have to drive a couple of hours to find it. Which is exactly what I did last week, when a friend and I headed to the FIBT Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup, Nov. 25-27, in Whistler to cheer on Canadian athletes and enjoy some of the attractions that make the mountain town such a great place to visit.

We arrived at the impressive Whistler Sliding Centre on Thursday night, just after Canadian Olympic bronze medalist Melissa Hollingsworth had finished placing second in women's skeleton. She got the party started, sabering a bottle of champagne in the heated VIP tent set up by fine dining restaurant, Bearfoot Bistro.

Situated right next to the finish line, the lounge was equipped with television screens to catch every angle of the competition. We made ourselves comfortable and checked out the two-man bobsleigh, while sipping on Moët & Chandon champagne and dipping into a delicious Gruyere and Emmental cheese fondue. The atmosphere was celebratory and there was plenty of reason for it, as Canadians Lyndon Rush and Neville Wright slid into second place, just 0.19 seconds after the Germans. The excitement spilled over into the next night, when beloved Canadian Olympic champion Jon Montgomery -- the beer guzzler -- topped the podium once again in men's skeleton. Watching him whiz past the finish line was pretty awesome and made it easy to believe that this is the world's fastest track -- a reddish blur is all I could make out. Olympic gold medallist Kaillie Humphries and Heather Hughes ended the evening on a high note with a bronze in women's bobsleigh.

Buzzing off the good vibes, my friend and I headed to Bearfoot Bistro for dinner. The VIP tent had already whet our appetites, and we were excited to see what was in store. To our delight, we were taken into the restaurant's extensive wine cellar -- home to more than 20,000 bottles -- and invited to sabre a bottle of champagne. Apparently, this is somewhat of a tradition at the Bearfoot -- owner Andre Saint-Jacques holds the Guinness World Record for sabering 21 bottles in under a minute. We brought our newly popped bottle of bubbly back into the dining lounge, and started on a five-course tasting menu prepared by executive chef Melissa Craig, crowned Canada's best chef at the Canadian Culinary Championships in 2008.

Dinner would best be described as a culinary adventure. Dishes like smoked mackerel and avocado with cauliflower, yuzu and puffed rice; and duck rillette and celery root, served in a small glass with huckleberry and apricot, were a feast for the eyes and taste buds. Each course was also expertly paired with a wine, many of them local flavours. As if that weren't enough, the restaurant features a Belvedere Ice Room that stores 50 vodkas from around the world. We headed into the sleek, -18 C space sporting down parkas and fur hats, and each took a shot of Belvedere to cleanse our palettes before the main course of Angus beef tenderloin. The evening was topped off with a bowl of nitro ice cream, made tableside using fresh cream and liquid nitrogen, like a really delicious science experiment.

Our remaining time in Whistler was spent snowboarding on the newly opened slopes. I headed up to Blackcomb on Friday, working through the fresh powder, which was still coming down steadily. Beginner that I am, I also managed to book in a lesson for Sunday on Whistler, which has more green runs to choose from. The skies were clear and gorgeous, making for a perfect day.

Resting our tired limbs was no problem at Four Seasons Resort Whistler. Their luxurious rooms included a bed I had to be pried away from (and am still missing today), and a majestic view of the forest. And there's nothing quite like melting into an outdoor hot tub, surrounded by snow-topped evergreens. It was postcard-worthy.

If you're looking to put the holiday in the holiday season, consider taking a staycation in Whistler. For information on accomodations and attractions go to www.whistler.com.