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Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter

Choosing Where to Stay for Your Visit to Sun Valley

When choosing where to stay in Sun Valley, the obvious choice seems like it would be…well, Sun Valley. But the “Sun Valley” area actually encompasses four distinct towns—Bellevue, Hailey, Ketchum, and Sun Valley—all with their own distinct places to stay, restaurants for dining, sites for visiting, and room to explore. Ketchum The heart of it all, Ketchum will give anyone staying here the feel of what it’s like to really live in this area. Whether summer or winter, the close proximity to Bald Mountain allows visitors quick access to skiing, hiking, mountain biking, or even just a gorgeous gondola ride to the top. Ketchum is also easily walkable so no need to rent a car to explore the town. And while the price for accommodations here might be a little higher, they’re definitely worth it. Hotel Ketchum Ketchum’s newest addition to the hotel scene, Hotel Ketchum is a modern, boutique hotel located on Main Street within walking distance of all that Ketchum has to offer. The completely remodeled building now features beautiful community spaces including bar “The Hangout”, a fitness center, year-round outdoor heated swimming pool and hot tub and is home to events like pop-up shops and live music …

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Bucket List, Skiing & Snowboarding, Winter

5 Reasons why Sun Valley is Nordic Skiing Nirvana

The toughest thing about writing this post is to keep the list to five! One trip here is all it will take for you to understand our dilemma. In no particular order, here are our top 5 Reasons why Sun Valley is Nordic Skiing Nirvana. 1. The Views! Yup — they are everywhere. Stick close to town and you will have the ever-present view of our beloved Baldy. That is, until you turn and face the other direction–and then you may feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. And chances are, you will have all of this to yourself. 2. The Trails… All 200km of them! Not only do we have 40km of trails right in town, there are another 160km just outside of town. From the undulating trails at the Sun Valley Resort to the up, down and around trails at Galena to the slight inclines of the Harriman trail, just match your trail selection to your energy and mood. Try the aptly named Psycho or Rip and Tear trails at Galena on a high energy day! 3. The Grooming — Every Day! Another thing that sets Sun Valley apart is the impeccable and predictable grooming. Just get …

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Dining, Winter

Three, One-of-a-Kind Winter Dining Experiences

When it comes to dining in the mountain oasis of Sun Valley, Idaho, good food isn’t hard to find. Outside of the stunning mountains, small town charm, and seemingly endless outdoor activities, Sun Valley also offers three dining experiences that can’t be matched. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind, out-of-the-box dinner with great, seasonal food paired with breathtaking scenery, be sure to consider these options that are ready to leave a memorable impression.   Galena Lodge’s Full Moon Dinner For a night of food and fun surrounded by sky-high mountains, lush forest and a night sky full of seemingly endless stars, look no further than a full moon dinner at the historic Galena Lodge. Located 23-miles North of Ketchum, the Full Moon dinner is offered three consecutive nights around each month’s full moon during the winter season only, typically November through March. Head Chef Don Shepler and his wife Erin, invite guests to sit by the fire in the rustic lodge as they prepare a four-course meal highlighting seasonal ingredients. The communal-style seating offers diners the chance to start conversation and make new friends, and the four-course meal with a choice for entree starts at just $45/person, excluding wine or …

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Dining, Winter

Dine Around Sun Valley

Bobby and Alli here from Traveling Newlyweds, letting you in on a little secret. We may talk about how we came to Sun Valley to ski… but we really came to eat. The food in this little romantic town is absolutely incredible, and every place has a story and an ambiance that’s out of a movie!! While it’s nearly impossible to narrow down our favorites, we’ve compiled a list of our top ten favorite places to dine in Sun Valley! 1. The Pioneer Saloon  If you’ve been to Sun Valley before, chances are you’ve dined at The Pioneer Saloon, and chances are you waited in line at least forty five minutes to do so. (It’s that good!!) Built in the 1940s, The Pioneer Saloon is a hopping spot for locals and visitors alike, and famous for their prime rib. The Western decor and friendly ambiance makes it quite the experience, and their food really is amazing. We ordered as we were directed and were not disappointed – the prime rib and the Jim Spud (the biggest potato you’ve ever seen). Come hungry… they have big portions, and everything is hearty!   2. The Roundhouse   Fondue by the fire? Say no more! Located at the top …

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Family, Winter

Ice Ice Baby: Ice Skating & Hockey in Sun Valley, Idaho

When you think of winter activities Northern Rockies, skiing predominantly dominates the scene. While downhill and cross-country skiing pursuits take center stage, the ice skating and hockey realms are not to be overlooked here in Sun Valley. This should help explain why so many regulars at Lefty’s and Grumpy’s look like they’re extras from the movie Slap Shot. It should also help explain why Sun Valley offers year-round ice skating, both indoors and out.  No matter what the weather’s doing, you can always go skating in Sun Valley. To help you carve turns of another sort, here’s a rundown of the ice skating action in and around area.   Christina Potter’s Ice Rink Skating at Christina Potter’s Ice Rink at Atkinsons Park in Ketchum each winter is a right of passage for most longtime locals and visitors.  Covering more than a soccer pitch, it’s one of the largest manmade outdoor ice rinks in the region. The views of Baldy and the surrounding mountains are as good as you’ll ever find for a skate or a game of pick-up hockey. Everything, including skates and sticks, is free and the rink is open daily from late-December until the ice starts melting –usually in February . There’s even …

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Winter

Ditch the Car for Your Sun Valley Visit

If your ideal vacation includes sitting in traffic or getting lost trying to drive around a new town, then Sun Valley may not be the right place for you. You see, we don’t like to waste a lot of time driving around when there’s so much fun and adventure to be had right out our front door. While it can sometimes be a challenge to get to our winter oasis in the Northern Rockies, once you arrive in Sun Valley it’s easy to ditch the car. From the slopes to the shops, from the airport to Sun Valley resort to Galena Lodge, it’s easy to get around without having to get behind the wheel of anything, except a bicycle. It’s nice to go someplace where you can leave the car behind and still easily get wherever you and your family want to go. To help you get around, here’s a rundown of the local transportation options.                         Enjoy a Mountain Ride When some of us hear the phrase “take the bus to the lift” we have bad flashbacks to slow rides in yellow school buses at Heavenly Mountain.  The Free Town Bus in Ketchum and Sun Valley is more …

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Bucket List, Winter

Your Guide to Snowmobiling in the Sun Valley, Idaho Area

Karl Malone Powersports HaileyNeed for speed? Craving the sights of jagged snow-capped peaks? Sun Valley sledders do too. With the enormous and vast swath of carefully zoned Forest Service managed backcountry terrain surrounding the area, snowmobilers can enjoy the ranges and rarely see another group of riders. It’s a hidden gem for experienced rippers who can navigate the high elevations yet still memorable for those relegated to the groomed trails. Some folks even strap their skis to the sleds to access deeper and more remote backcountry skiing. The beauty of our riding mecca is ease of access for all ability levels from guided trail rides to technical side-hills through tight trees to deep powder meadows. Sun Valley is a place for sledders to seek out. What we ask in return is that you know where the designated snowmobile access points are and continue to be good stewards to the multi-use resource. photo: Amy David | rider: Jeremy Lato Now that you’re fired up to venture to Sun Valley for some snowmobiling action, we’re going to give you the run-down on the basics for snowmobiling out here in Sun Valley, Idaho. Rentals and Guides photo: Smiley Creek Lodge Smiley Creek Lodge is the Sawtooth Valley …