As an option to driving directly out of North Vancouver along the Upper Levels Highway (Hwy 1), consider driving Marine Drive through West Vancouver, the very scenic lower coast road out  to Horseshoe Bay. It is quite a bit slower, but provides lovley waterfront views. Stop briefly at Whytecliff Park to look out over Howe Sound and Georgia Straight. Keep your eyes peeled for whales and dolphins.

From there, head back past the village of Horseshoe Bay and get out onto Highway 99 to head north to Porteau Cove, enjoying the stunning coastal vista. Get out for a little stroll at the provincial park and watch the scuba divers. Just a bit further up the highway is Brittannia Beach, home of the BC Mining Museum. Take a couple of hours to tour the museum.

Drive on past Murrin Provincial Park (a great place for a quick swim if it's a very hot day) and towards Squamish. Take in your first, breathtaking glimpse of the impressive Stawamus Chief rock face. Pull into Shannon Falls Parking lot (pay parking) and do the 10 minute walk to the base of the falls. The trail is steep, but paved. This is one of the most amazing waterfalls, lots of good interpretive signage and a well- maintained trail. Two minutes up the road, you can pull over to watch rock climbers on the face of the Chief. This can be impressive, not to mention frightening, to watch.

Now in Squamish proper, there is a really nice tourist centre on the north end of town, but be careful because the turn off is before the building, so it's easy to miss. There is also the West Coast Heritage Railway Park for fans of the iron horse. Also worth a couple of hours.

The Tantalus viewpoint is amazing and well worth the stop.The viewpoint on the northbound side is easy to miss, because you don't see the view until you come around the corner, so you don't know why you might stop there. Watch for the pull out and just take it, providing its a clear day. It's well worth it. Or make sure to take the pull out on the way south again, when you can anticipate it better because the view takes your breath away!

Back on the highway, you head up into the mountains proper. Next stop is Brandywine Falls. A completely different kind of waterfall and a different perspective, but every bit as amazing. It's a longer walk to the falls from the parking lot, but flat all the way this time.

From there, it's through Creekside, the southern access to the ski hills and on into Whistler Village proper.

That should give you lots to consider. It's not the destination, it's the journey!