Located on Sun Valley Road is a small business that packs a big punch: 4 Roots, a breakfast andlunch café that serves up food for any and all dietary restrictions, from gluten-free to paleo andvegan and everything in between. What started for owners Beth Sluder and Chris Steen as ahealth journey through diet for their daughter with an autoimmune disease became an endeavorinto providing healthy, sustainable dining options for patrons—an embodiment of the café’sslogan “We have your health in mind.” How it Started Twin Falls locals, Beth and Chris began eating at 4 Roots in Twin after their now seventeen-year-old daughter began getting sick starting at the age of two. After learning that their daughter’snutrition may affect her symptoms, they became obsessed with cleaning up her diet, which ledthem to the café they would eventually buy years later. At the time, 4 Roots was a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant, with a small menu, lawn furniture for seating, and a kitchen set up for basichome cooking. But the family of three loved eating there, to the point that the owner eventuallyoffered to sell them 4 Roots in 2017.Thought it wasn’t what either Beth or Chris were involved with at the time the …
How to Travel Responsibly
Traveling allows people to explore new places, experience different cultures, and enjoy unforgettable moments. However, it also comes with a responsibility to protect the environment, respect local communities, and support sustainable tourism. Responsible travel ensures that future generations can enjoy the beauty of the world without harming it. If you want to make a positive impact while traveling, here are some key ways to do so. Choose Eco-Friendly Transportation The way you travel affects the environment in many ways. Airplanes contribute significantly to carbon emissions, which harm the planet. Choosing trains, buses, or shared rides whenever possible is a more eco-friendly option. For shorter distances, walking or biking is a great way to explore while reducing pollution. Travelers renting cars can opt for electric or hybrid vehicles to minimize their environmental impact. Public transport is another smart choice. Many cities have efficient metro or bus systems that help reduce traffic and emissions. Not only does this lower your carbon footprint, but it also allows you to experience the destination like a local. Support Local Communities Tourism can bring economic benefits to local communities, but only if travelers make conscious decisions. Staying in locally owned hotels, dining at family-run restaurants, and …
24hrs with a Local: The Flourish Foundation’s Ryan Redman, March
Flourish Foundation’s executive director and co-founder (with his wife, Paige) Ryan Redman leads the kind of calming, wellness-centered lifestyle many in Sun Valley strive for. From dedicating hours of his early mornings to himself before work to just truly cherishing every part of living in this town, Ryan exudes contentment. Ryan’s Flourish Foundation is no different, with its vision to inspiring systemic change through heartmind cultivation, promoting personal well-being, benevolent social action, and environmental stewardship. Since its conception in 2010, the Flourish Foundation has facilitated programs that nurture life skills and transformation through ethics and values like meditation. Ryan has studied meditation and Yoga from an early age and teaches yoga in Sun Valley in addition to his work at the foundation. We asked the passionate leader, yogi, devoted husband and father of two boys what his perfect 24hrs for March in Sun Valley looks like. How does your ideal day in Sun Valley start? Ryan: After an incredible night’s sleep, I open my eyes and feel tremendous gratitude to have a human body, to live in such a beautiful place, and to be healthy and capable of providing service to the world and serving myself. Then, after my thoughts …
24hrs with a Local: 5b Fruit’s Katja Peller, February
Wellness-focused couple Parker Morris and Katja Peller have taken their passions and turned them into two thriving businesses, 5B Fruit and 5B Floatation. After hiking Baldy on a hot summer day, the two were craving a healthy smoothie. Not finding one that satisfied them, the two opened what they thought would be a small smoothie stand and turned it into the popular shop it is today. While their days are busy behind the counter at 5B making delicious smoothies and bowls, they still have time to enjoy raising chickens and their dogs Tilly and Garth on their farm south of Bellevue where they’ll be getting married this summer. Learn how Katja spends the perfect day in Sun Valley! How does your perfect day start? Coffee/breakfast somewhere? Easy morning at home? Katja: Usually, mornings start very early to make sure things are taken care of around the farm. The drive from my house to Ketchum is about 40 minutes so I listen to a podcast to start the day off. Then I stop at Lizzy’s on my way into town. A day can’t start and is not complete without a cup of coffee. My favorite way to start the day is …
24hrs with a Local: Gather Yoga’s Danielle Fuller, January
Going into the new year, Danielle Fuller has her intentions set around being mindful and grateful, especially for this beautiful town we live in. The mom of three (and three step kids!) is often busy running errands, doing the pick-up/drop-off for her kids, as well as running her business, Gather Yoga & Studio. After completing her yoga teacher training in 2009 and moving from Portland to Ketchum the same year, Danielle opened her studio in 2013 and since then has been teaching yoga alongside her studio’s other teachers. See how this busy woman does it all while still having fun and staying healthy in this editions of 24hrs in Sun Valley, January edition. How does your morning start? Danielle: Just coming off the holidays, I’m trying to stay true to my New Year’s intentions around health and well-being. I start the day early, around 6:30, with a morning dog walk in the sunshine and snow out East Fork, where I live, while listening to my favorite podcast. I walk my favorite loop and get in the mindset for the day before heading up to town to catch a yoga class with Cathie Caccia at Gather to get my body, mind, …
Ways to Capitalize on Remote Learning in Sun Valley
Schools shut down? Kids enrolled in online courses? Taking some online courses yourself to work on that masters? If the traditional classroom environment looks different this fall then Sun Valley is the best place to be. Not only does the Valley have all the resources needed to achieve academic success, it is also a great opportunity to expand beyond the standard curriculum and learn about life and Mother Nature. Work Spaces If a quiet place and fast wifi is what you need to crank out some assignments or to log on to a video conference then the library is probably your best bet. Newly remodeled and full of little work zones to try out, the library and its many resources are available to anyone with a free library card. If some background noise is more your style then the coffee shops and hotel lounges offer up a variety of locations to crank some productivity. Just remember to bring a mask and possibly check in at the front desk before you dive in. The Community Library Java on Fourth Starbucks Limelight Hotel Sun Valley Lodge Ketchum Town Square Ketchum Works Hailey Coffee Different Kind of Classroom Some of the best lessons …
What We’re Made Of – The Sun Valley Wellness Festival
In 1997, a group of wellness-minded community members in Sun Valley decided to host a small event over Memorial Day weekend. Since then, the annual Sun Valley Wellness Festival and Conference (SVWFC) has grown into a major event as well as the longest-running wellness festival in the world. Each year’s festival and conference draws roughly 1,500 people to see speakers such as Ram Dass, Deepak Chopra, and Arianna Huffington, and to the festival portion which includes movement classes, vendors, and the experience park. This year’s 25th annual event will be held from June 10-13, and will focus on COMING HOME. It will explore how social health & well-being define the foundation of our collective wellness, illuminating what it really means to be a community. History After its founding in 1997, the formative team behind the festival started the non-profit arm, the Sun Valley Wellness Institute (SVWI) in 2005. The festival is now run by the institute as well as a Board of Directors, Advisory Council, and current Executive Director Andria Friesen. Over the years, the date of the SVWFC has changed from taking place during the slack month of May to a busy summer event. Its location has varied over the …
Idaho BaseCamp: An Outdoor-Oriented Learning Oasis
Located halfway between Ketchum and Mackay up Trail Creek is Idaho BaseCamp, an oasis for both children and adults to explore the outdoors through education, workshops, and experiences, all while staying in one of the camp’s funky yurts or camped out in the maze that winds through the riverfront property. Founded in 1998 by Mathew Gershater, Idaho BaseCamp is an educational non-profit specializing in the building of one’s knowledge of environment, community and individual impact upon nature. In our modern world, connecting to nature has become even more of a priority, something that Gershater and Idaho BaseCamp recognize and seek to remedy through group and individual experiential and academic study. 5thGrade Outdoor Adventure Program While Idaho BaseCamp is a resource for people of all ages, the camp is particularly dedicated to educating our youth. Their 5th grade outdoor adventure program is free to every 5th grader in the Blaine & Cuter County School to make sure that youth in the area can have a chance to create a connection to Idaho’s wilderness and work on BaseCamp’s core values: personal responsibility, courage, and respect for all. Students spend three days and two nights at BaseCamp, starting the day with morning mindfulness in …
The Wood River is Not Your Typical YMCA
It’s Fun to Visit Our YMCA! Much like everything else in our small mountain town, our local YMCA is not your average gym; it’s not even an average YMCA where typically concrete abounds and people are looking to get in and get out rather than stay a day. The Wood River YMCA is so much more than just a gym, it’s a community center, an activity hub, and a truly integral part of life in the Valley. Whether it’s working out and doing group classes, catching free screenings of movies, giving kids an area for after-school, or learning new gardening skills, the YMCA offers more than just dumbbells and yoga mats. What They Offer Opened in late 2007, the YMCA has been offering family-friendly workouts, equipment and more for over 10 years in the Valley. The gym itself is open Monday through Friday from 6am-8pm, Saturdays and Sundays 10am-6pm. During that time, access to the upstairs gym is always available where you’ll find a mix of cardio machines including elliptical, treadmill, stair master, erg machine, and stationary bikes. Strength training machines are set up for easy transitioning between sets and there is a dedicated space for free weights and benches. Yoga mats …
The Best Outdoor Hot Tubs and Pools of Sun Valley
Growing up in Ketchum, there was no greater joy in the winter season than grabbing a few friends and sneaking into a heated pool or hot tub, making as little noise as possible and hoping not to grab the attention of the owners or worse, the police. But with so many great options for (legally) getting your “aahhh” on in Sun Valley, there’s no reason not to do a “tub-crawl” at one of these great outdoor heated pools and hot tubs in the area. After a long day of enjoying Sun Valley via skiing, mountain biking or any of the numerous physical activities the area boasts, there’s no better way to relax than a nice soak. Whether your muscles are sore or you just want to bask with some friends and relive the day, these are the best spots in town for gorgeous views and delightful temps. Hotel Ketchum While Hotel Ketchum is located on Main Street at the north end of town with easy access to all the great things Ketchum has to offer, the hotel’s complex that includes shops, dining, Hangout Lounge, and a great outdoor heated pool and hot tub is so complete you may never leave. …