Everything You Need to Know About Sun Valley Idaho

For your information: Ketchum is the name of the town, and Sun Valley and Elkhorn are the names of adjacent resorts. Yet everyone living in the beautiful Sun Valley refers to it by this shining name. It might be one of the best ski towns in the world, nestled in life-changing mountains that are either golden or evenly coated with frosting-like snow. Nobody locks their doors, it’s dog friendly, and you can say hi to celebrities like Jamie Lee Curtis in the grocery store. And that’s only the beginning.

There’s an airport in the nearby town of Hailey, but winter weather conditions render flying to Sun Valley unreliable. You can fly into Boise, rent a car, and drive the three hours or so into town. If you want to be in the middle of the Sun Valley resort culture, stay at the Sun Valley Lodge. Averell Harriman built it in the 1930s to save the town after Ketchum’s mining boom ended. He managed to get a railroad built running into Sun Valley, and it soon became famous. The lodge is currently lined with photos of celebrities that have visited Sun Valley over the ages, such as the Kennedys and the Hemingways. The lodge has a cabin/ski lodge theme, was recently renovated with more rooms, and boasts a 20,000 square foot spa.

Winter is the most obvious season for a Sun Valley visit. There are three ways to ski: if you’re a beginner, you can go to Dollar Mountain and level up through their ski school (kids can even take a "magic carpet" if they’re afraid of the chairlift). If you’re an intermediate skier or better, Baldie is massive and challenging, with warm ski lodges hidden throughout the mountain. You can also investigate the Sun Valley Club for all your cross-country skiing, skate skiing, and snowshoeing needs.

Aside from skiing, there’s much to do––you can get a paraglide ride with Fly Sun Valley and float above all the skiers. You can rent a sled or inner tube and find a mountain to conquer. If you’re young––or young at heart––you can take a sleigh from the lodge to Trail Creek Cabin, which is a restaurant at the base of a hiking trail. 

On Christmas Eve, you can witness the Dollar Torchlight parade, where a hundred skiers holding red torches ski down simultaneously on Dollar Mountain. Imagine––pitch-black sky, white mountain, and a red streak that you know are dozens of yelping, happy humans. Combine with your favorite wine––perfection!

Sun Valley is also home to numerous hot springs to contrast the biting cold air. This is your opportunity to marvel at the snow-covered mountains around you in the comfort of piping a hot bath from Mother Nature. A lot of springs can be found on the appropriately named Warm Springs Road, one of the most famous being Frenchman’s Bend.

In regards to luxury dining, there are many options. Wrapcity Cafe used to be a tent next to a bike shop, but now it’s housed in a legitimate building. You can buy all their items in either a wrap or bowl––try one of their exciting flavors like Chinese chicken salad, curry chicken, or sausage and egg scramble. Java on Fourth has an inviting mustard-colored atmosphere for brunch and coffee; try the giant muffins and avocado toast. For a European twist, try Konditorei, a quaint Danish bakery that has its storefront built into a small tower. They serve special exotic desserts, such as crepes, by the light of a massive fireplace. 

Michel’s Christiania is an upscale French eatery with tall ceilings. Il Naso is an intimate, candlelit dining room serving italian food. Enoteca is a pizzeria and wine bar done in a hip "future cabin" style.

Like any charming town, there are plenty of quirky stores. I highly recommend Iconoclast Books, a top-notch cafe and bookshop carrying cultured titles. Willow Papery sells stationery, bracelets, and notebooks in a charming, modest storefront. For clothing, Sway is a contemporary clothing boutique with a minimal layout. Jensen Stern Joaillier sells unique and mysterious jewelry. Madeline + Oliver sells products for a luxurious private life, including lingerie, bedding, soaps, and towels. If you’re more sports inclined, Silver Creek Outfitters has a bias towards lovers of fly fishing and hunters––they even sell flies and rifles. Yes, rifles. You didn’t come to Idaho thinking there would be no rifles, did you?

For Related Articles Try:

Salamander Resort and Spa

5 Places to Visit in Canada

Lansdowne Resort Review