In The Footsteps Of The 100 From Vancouver To Whistler

The 100 quickly became one of our favorite shows with its twisting story lines and fierce female characters, so upon returning to Vancouver we were determined to find some locations to visit. We already had an overnight in Whistler planned and turns out, on the way up there there are several The 100 locations within easy reach that also offer lots of fun exploring and activities.

The drive alone is well worth your time. The Sea-to-Sky Highway offers 75 miles of breathtaking views as it snakes from Vancouver to Whistler, nestled between the Pacific Ocean on the one side and steep mountains on the other.

We’ve also included a few stops along the way that, while not directly related to The 100, are definitely worth checking out if you have the time. All the stops are listed here in order from South to North, but to fully experience all that this amazing route has to offer, you’ll be best off dividing them, some on the way up to Whistler, the rest on the way back.

SPOILER WARNING! This post contains spoilers from the show up until the season 3 finale, so if you’re not caught up, proceed at your own risk!

The 100 in downtown Vancouver

We begin our journey in the heart of Vancouver. Though The 100 is most often filmed in more rugged surroundings, in season 3 the City of Light needed an urban setting. Most of the action takes place in Oceanic Plaza, a central square which has been used in several other productions as well.

Another location is the Seawell Stairs that lead from the Vancouver Convention Centre down to Harbour Green Park. You can enjoy a leisurely stroll down the waterfront and check out the fountains in the park.

While you’re downtown, make sure to check out the views over the city from Vancouver Lookout which is just a few blocks away. Also very close by is our favorite attraction in Vancouver by far: Flyover Canada. Sitting in seats suspended in air you’re taken on a simulated flight ride over the most breathtaking views of the country. It really does feel like you’re flying! If possible, ask to be seated in the middle section. We’ve done the ride a couple of times and the experience is wildly better in the middle seats!

Capilano Suspension Bridge

If you’re not too afraid of heights, this thrilling attraction just outside of Vancouver should be your first stop along the way. While not a filming location, the bridge and the cliffwalk both offer stunning views of scenery very reminiscent of the show.
Originally built in 1888 out of hemp rope and cedar planks, the bridge soon became a favorite for adventurous travelers. A few years later 1903, the original structure was (thankfully) replaced by a wire cable bridge that made the attraction safer while maintaining the thrill of heights. Today, Capilano Suspension Bridge has grown into a full-blown attraction complete with gift shop and other daredevilish activities.

The newest addition is the cliffwalk, a series of narrow walkways jutting out of the granite cliff, suspended above Capilano river. In some parts of the cliffwalk it is only a strong glass that separates you from the canyon far below, and yet I was a lot more terrified on the suspension bridge. The relatively stable cliffwalk seemed like the safer experience compared to the bridge that sways and shakes with the movement of dozens of people.

Whytecliff Park

This is another stop on our roadtrip that is not actually a filming location for The 100, but has been home to both the Arrow and Once Upon a Time filming crews. The beaches at Whytecliff Park with their rugged high rocks offer lots to explore and again, the views are unmissable. Enjoy a picnic in the park or stop for coffee in the picturesque Horseshoe Bay Village. We’ve written an entire article on Whytecliff Park that you can check out here, so for now we’ll just leave you with some stunning scenery.

The 100 signal lights near Britannia Beach

Now this place is a bit tricky. We won’t even give you the exact location because technically we weren’t even supposed to go there… First, our map app told us to go to the wrong place. When we figured out the right place thanks to Google Maps it was still quite a long walk from where we could park the car. When we finally found the right spot that looked familiar from the show, we also spotted some “NO TRESSPASSING” signs all around and panicked. But given the two separate drives to even find the place, not to mention the miles of walking we’d done, first looking in the wrong place and then to get here, we just couldn’t leave without a couple of sceneframes! After we snapped our photos we quickly and quietly made our way back to the car, certain that we could be seen by some hidden security cameras and that the police would soon be after us.

Luckily we managed to escape without an encounter with law enforcement but out of respect for the owners, there are two things we’d like to say: 1) We sincerely apologize for trespassing on your private beach. It was lovely though, and we hope we didn’t disturb you. 2) We strongly discourage anyone from following in our footsteps. Instead, enjoy these sceneframes that we took and go explore all the rest of the amazing places the Sea-to-Sky Highway has to offer!

Britannia Mine Museum

This place is a must-visit for anyone who’s interested in the area’s history as well as any film tourists. Once a working mine, the Britannia Mine Museum now serves as a very immersive museum that gives visitors a unique glimpse into the life of a copper miner, while also educating about the adverse effects of copper mining on the environment. The tour starts with a visit to the exhibition, after which you board a small mine train that takes you inside the dark and damp caverns. The rest of the tour is done on foot and you’ll get to see several mining machines in action. Keep in mind that it can be quite chilly deep inside the mine even on warmer days, so dress accordingly.

The gloomy tunnels of the old mine are also often used as a filming location. Shows like Supernatural, The X-Files and The Flash have all shot some scenes here, but The 100 practically set up camp here during its first two seasons. It was here that the fearsome reapers dwelt and our brave heroes have both fled from and attacked Mount Weather through these tunnels.

Sea to Sky Gondola

I suffer from a (not-so-)slight fear of heights and often times our entire Great Movie Roadtrip seemed to be designed to challenge that fear. The Sea to Sky Gondola, while on the tamer end of the spectrum, was no exception. Looking up at the cableway from the foot of the mountain it seemed to be just a short ride, but once we cleared the first peak we realized the fun had just begun. The gondolas zoom ever higher and higher and the views just keep getting better and better. On the way up to the top you pass the Stawamus Chief granite dome which you might recognize as Mount Weather from The 100!

Once you get to the top you can take in the views and enjoy some drinks and snacks in the cafe or buy the necessary souvenirs in the gift shop. More importantly, if you’re not done braving the heights you can cross the Sky Pilot suspension bridge.

Whistler and Superfly Ziplines

Upon first arriving in Whistler, we were stunned by the beautiful fall foliage and the quaintness of the main village. We checked into our hotel, the Summit Lodge Boutique Hotel, which is conveniently located in the heart of Whistler. It’s a great base of operations for any activities you have in the area, and if like us, you just wanna relax and chill after a long day, they’ve got you covered too. The rooms are equipped with a kitchenette so you can prepare your own meals (there’s a grocery store just across the street) and the outdoor pool and hot tub were perfect for soaking our tired feet.

There’s lots to do in the charming town of Whistler but as we were short on time, we were there for one reason and one reason alone: the Superfly Ziplines. We’d done a few smaller ziplines during our stay in Minnesota and absolutely fell in love with the activity. However, nothing could’ve prepared us for what Whistler had in store…

When we first saw the teaser video for the zipline, we couldn’t escape the parallels to the opening credits of The 100, soaring over a landscape that looks a lot like the forests of British Columbia.

The experience was sheer joy and excitement from start to finish, with just the right amount of healthy fear thrown in to spice things up. The fun starts with a 4×4 ride up the rough roads of the mountainside to get to the start of the ziplines. Even if climbing higher and higher in an open jeep doesn’t get your heart racing just a bit, the view from the first platform will certainly do that.

But once you get going, man. We both agreed that this is the Best. Thing. EVER. Despite speeds that can reach up to a 100km/h, it’s a really smooth ride (at least until the brakes hit at the end) and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, the scenery is just breathtaking. The first line is over a kilometer long and there are four lines in total but even so, once we got going it all seemed to go by way too fast. We could’ve ziplined all day and then some.

(The one on the video was the shortest and tamest of the four lines but you get the gist of it)

The route and the locations

Getting there

This was just part of our massive Movie Roadtrip 2016, but you don’t have to do a massive roadtrip to get there: if you’re visiting from Europe, Icelandair flies to Vancouver daily from many major cities. You should also definitely look into their StopOver deals. This way, in addition to an awesome roadtrip, you’ll get to spend a night or few in magical Iceland at no extra flight costs!

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This is a collaboration post: Our stay at the Summit Lodge Boutique Hotel as well as entrance to all the attractions mentioned were complimentary thanks to Tourism Vancouver, but the content (including photos, opinions and the experience itself) are 100% our own. We keep it honest at all times. One simply can not buy our love!