When on vacation anywhere, the best advice anyone can give or take is to live like the locals do; they know the best food and drink spots, the best ways to navigate town, and by living like they do, you’re sure to get the best experience of that place. Ketchum is no different and while the tourist economy is how this town survives, it’s the locals that make it thrive. Take a few tips from us and by the time you leave, fellow locals will be asking you, “Don’t I know you from somewhere?…” Ditch the Attitude People enjoy small towns for a reason and it’s that small-town-charm. Give yourself a dose of it and you’ll find that a little goes a long way in Ketchum. Slow down, be nice, ditch the attitude. Be humble, polite, tip your bartenders, servers, and baristas, have some patience, don’t honk your horn, be aware of your surroundings when using the crosswalk, smile. And don’t park like an idiot, otherwise you might end up on Ketchum’s Facebook group “Ketchum Elite” that makes fun of those who think they can park on sidewalks and going against traffic. Keep it Ketchum Casual There’s no need for …
Getting Hooked on Winter Fly Fishing in Sun Valley
For those of us brave, slightly crazy and over-dressed folks who like to fly fish in the winter, it’s pretty tough to top Sun Valley. To help you make the most out of it, here are a handful winter fly fishing tips.
Go Sledding Sun Valley-Style
There’s something about going sledding that screams “Winter Fun!” Flying down a snowy slope on a sled brings out the giggling kids in all of us. So if you’re looking for a good place to have some sledding fun then you’re in luck. Sun Valley has all kinds of places to go sledding. To help you make the most out of it, here some Sun Valley sledding basics. photo: Sarah Keefer Where to Get a Sled The best bets in to pick up some sleds in Ketchum are Sturtevant’s, Chateau Drug or The Toy Store, which also has a shop in Sun Valley. Just a short stroll down the Sun Valley Village from The Toy Store, Pete Lane’s Mountain Sports also sells sleds during the winter months. The local thrifts stores, The Gold Mine in Ketchum and the Barkin’ Basement in Hailey, also usually have selections of used sleds to choose from. What to Wear The key to any outdoor fun during the winter in Idaho is to be dressed properly. Layers are the way to go, especially wearing outers layer that can handle moisture. Good gloves and solid winter boots are also a must. Sun Valley and Ketchum offers all kinds of shops to buy everything …
Guide to Winter Fat Biking in Sun Valley
Two-Wheeled Winter Fun It is rare in the world of winter sports for a new activity to gain a foothold alongside alpine skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. But over the past couple of years, fat biking has managed to do just that. Here in Sun Valley—where mountain biking reigns supreme during the summer—we jumped into fat biking with reckless abandon. Want to join us? Here is all about how to enjoy a day of winter fat biking in Sun Valley. What is Winter Fat Biking? Winter fat biking is the act of pedaling a bike with super-fat tires over a packed trail of snow. A fat bike’s signature tires, which are typically over 4 inches wide, provide a loft and float that allows the bike to glide over groomed snow trails. Fat bikes are beefy in size and stable in their construction. If you can ride a bike on the pavement, you can ride a bike on the snow. Where to Ride in Sun Valley You’ll find no shortage of places to ride a fat bike in Sun Valley and its neighboring communities. With over 60km of trails groomed for fat bikes, the world is your (snowy) oyster. Sun …
Winter Events in Sun Valley, Ketchum & Hailey, Idaho
Let’s face it, there are only so many hours in the day that you can spend on the ski/snowboard hill this winter in Sun Valley. There will be plenty of time for eating, sleeping and relaxing. You’ll most-likely still have a solid chunk of down time to fill. Fortunately, there is a slew of great events and happenings going on all winter in Sun Valley, Ketchum and Hailey that are bound to keep you entertained. Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find this season. Christmas in Sun Valley It’s a special time of year in the Valley and the area goes all-out with the festivities. In fact, there are so many daily happenings that we’ve created a separate blog specifically dedicated to the holidays in Sun Valley. Check it out below. Guide to the Holidays in Sun Valley Winter Outdoor Events December 21 | Starry Solstice Social January 6 | Ski Free Day on the BCRD Trails January 19 | Baldy Banked Slalom January 31 – Feb 3 | Sun Valley Nordic Festival & Boulder Mountain Tour February 15 – 17 | Stanley Winterfest February 23 | Snowball Fat Tire Bike Race March 6 | Sawtooth Regional Gelande Quaffing Championships Winter Arts …
Guide to Renting Ski, Snowboard, Nordic and Snowshoe Equipment in Sun Valley
Whether you’re new to town and didn’t bring your own gear or a local just looking to try a new sport, there exist a myriad of rental options in the Wood River Valley for skis, snowboards, Nordic, and snowshoes as well as a host of shops waiting to tune, deliver, and help you learn more about all your gear! Check out our guide below for all your winter rental needs. Ski Rental Gear Sturtevant’s With locations in Ketchum, Hailey, Sun Valley and at the base of Warm Springs, Sturtevant’s is perhaps the easiest venue to find for ski gear rental. They offer rentals and demos and event season leases on their skis and snowboards. Ski rental options include their Adult Sport package for beginner to intermediate skiers, Adult Performance Demo package, a line-up of best-selling, all-mountain retail models, Adult Premium Demo for testing Sturtevant’s entire selection of skis, Junior Sport package for first-time skiers up to advanced junior skiers, and Junior Race and Twin Tip package for advanced and expert juniors. All types of rental reservations are available online through their online rental program. PK’s PK’s Ski and Sports offers ski rental packages for kids, adult sport (for softer, recreational skiers), adult performance (for …
What it Takes: The Making of the Winter Hyperlapse Video
We sat down with Stellar Media to get some behind-the-scenes perspecitve on what went in to making the Sun Valley winter hyperlapse video series.
5 Winter Walks for Families in Sun Valley
5 fabulous winter walks in the Sun Valley area suitable for everyone from families to dog walkers.
What We’re Made Of: Sun Valley Guides Owner – Zach Crist
A Local Legend Some folks are legendary in Sun Valley and some folks are lifers. Zach Crist is both. A Ketchum native, Crist has been through all iterations skiing has to offer—riding professionally, being featured in Warren Miller movies, coaching, owning a backcountry guide company—all while still living in the place he wouldn’t dream of not calling home. Now married to Emilie DuPont and father to four kids (ages 1, 3, 8, and 12), Crist has settled into his newest role as the owner of Sun Valley Guides and couldn’t be happier. Crist is evidence that you might think you’ve done all this town has to offer, but there’s always a new angle to enjoy the culture of Sun Valley, Idaho. The Educational Years Though he was technically born in California, Crist is an Idahoan through and through. He moved to Ketchum with his parents and siblings Danielle and Reggie (also a former professional skier) when he was 6 years old. With his experience on skis since he was 2, Crist ended up joining the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation and was eventually picked for the U.S. Ski Team, joining his brother Reggie on the World Cup Tour. After seven …
A Dozen Family Fun Activities for the Winter
It’s school vacation time and you’re lucky enough to be in—or at least a short, scenic drive away from—Sun Valley. So what do you next? Pretty much whatever you want. This is America’s original ski resort, for crying out loud! Crying is just about the only thing that we don’t really allow around this fun-filled place, unless, of course, they’re tears of joy. To help make your family time in Sun Valley more joyful, here are a dozen ideas. Go Sledding In our mountainous section of Idaho there are oodles of places to go sledding during the winter months. The popular “Sledding Hill” across from the Sun Valley Stables is usually a good spot, but Sun Valley is literally surrounded with the two main ingredients for great sledding action: hills and snow. There are places to sled from Hailey up to Galena Lodge and lots of local shops sell a variety of sleds. Sledding also gives you a great excuse to get some hot chocolate afterwards—add some peppermint schnapps and make into a “Ski Lift” for mom and dad. Go Nordic Skiing Nordic or cross-country skiing is a surprisingly enjoyable activity for active families. It’s easy to learn. It’s a great way …