The best Fab 5 you’ll ever find is right here in America’s Original Destination Mountain town, Sun Valley. That’s especially so if you’ve got an active family and like to do really cool and memorable stuff together. Dig in to 5 fabulous Winter Activities for your family that are unique to Sun Valley, Idaho.
Off-Mountain Winter Family Fun
While Bald Mountain may be the hub of activity during the winter in Sun Valley, there are still lots of entertaining options to be found off the mountain, too. When your family needs a break from the slopes, it’s easy to keep the fun times rolling right along. Here a few ideas to keep the smiles and memories going strong. Go Climbing Mountains aren’t the only things you can climb around here. The climbing wall and bouldering cave at the Wood River Community YMCA in Ketchum are a blast. Just about any age climber can enjoy bouldering, while older kids and parents can find climbs of varying challenge using the Y’s Grigri belays. After climbing around, the Y also offers an expansive indoor Aquatic Center that includes water slides, a lap pool, a hot tub and a steam room. Hit the Wood River Trail on Ski or Wheels Sun Valley is known as “Nordic Town USA” for good reason. There are over 25 miles of groomed cross-country and skate-skiing trails locally, with another baker’s dozen worth of groomed snowshoe miles along the Trail Creek Golf Course at the Sun Valley Resort. Nordic skiing and snowshoeing are both pretty easy for …
The Dark Skies of Sun Valley, ID
The Sun Valley, Idaho area is blessed with small town vibes and a big heart, endless outdoor activities for every season, and some of the best Dark Skies in the entire world. In fact, the skies are so special that the Sun Valley is part of the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, which is the only International Dark Sky Reserve in America! Come see what makes this place so special.
A Piece of Sun Valley: Spots to Grab Unique Souvenirs
While the memories made in Sun Valley will last a lifetime, sometimes it’s fun to bring home a little personal souvenir of your time or bring something back for friends so they can have a small taste of what you experienced. The Sun Valley area is chock-full of unique souvenirs whether it’s merch from your favorite bar or restaurant to local delicacies to just funny oddities. photo: The Board Bin | SVPN Magazine Clothing There’s no easier souvenir than a t-shirt and Ketchum has plenty that will either inspire a trip down memory lane whenever it’s donned or a good laugh at the slogan on it. Head to skateboard/snowboard shop The Board Bin for any of a variety of “Idahome” shirts, a local favorite started by a Ketchum native. Also available at the Board Bin are other Ketchum-related shirts including one making fun of Ketchum’s name similarity to ketchup, complete with ketchup bottle or shirts depicting the state with the moniker “Iowa” under it. Many of Ketchum’s favorite bars and restaurants have t-shirts for sale, some simply depicting the establishment name and logo, others with more fun slogans. Famous coffee shop Java sells t-shirts including the popular “Wake and destroy”, …
How to Plan the Perfect Sun Valley Wedding
Sun Valley, with its rustic elegance and tangible charm, is an idyllic setting for a wedding celebration. From a luxurious ceremony for 500 to an intimate dinner affair for 20, Sun Valley has the venues and services needed to provide the perfect experience on your special day.
Take a Wellness Weekend in Sun Valley
Wellness is the pursuit of a healthy life, nourishing both mind and body. Call us biased, but there’s no better place to restore a healthy outlook than Sun Valley. Between relaxing spas, invigorating workouts, and simple but delicious meals, you’ll realign your outlook on life. Only have a weekend? That’s plenty of time. Here’s our recommendations for two perfect days of wellness in Sun Valley. Where to Stay Did you know that lack of adequate sleep is associated with a shorter lifespan and the development of serious medical conditions? That simply won’t do. Catch up on some much needed shut-eye with a stay in Sun Valley. Dive into soft sheets, nestle in a pile of pillows, and let the quiet mountain air lull you to your best sleep in weeks. Knob Hill Inn The remodeled Knob Hill Inn is a European-style hotel with serious charm and luxurious details. Limelight Hotel Ketchum Newly opened Limelight Hotel Ketchum is in the center of the action on Main Street in Ketchum. Sun Valley Lodge The Sun Valley Lodge is not only the epitome of luxury, but its world class spa and year round outdoor pools are close enough to access without removing your …
Après 101: An Insider’s Guide to The “What Comes After Skiing” Culture
Après is hands down every ski town’s favorite French word. In Sun Valley it is taken quite seriously and the options to properly revel in the glory of a day in the mountains can be an overwhelming bounty. After you’ve skied or snowboarded yourself into a crumple of sore legs and blissfully glowing cheeks, your inner Frenchman/woman comes out and you find the magnetism of the bar calling your name, ski boots and all. While one may see après skiing a merely an afternoon bronzing booze-fest, it is in fact time honored tradition as culturally significant as sitting for an espresso after visiting a museum digesting in conversation that which one has witnessed. Just like in art, as skier’s and snowboarders, “it” basically didn’t happen if you didn’t sit around afterwords and recount it over cocktails, beers, or a glass of vino. So we struck out on a perfect morning to ride some great snow with the promise of a top notch après guide as our goal.
Mountain Collective Road Trip
Ahh, the coveted Mountain Collective Pass, your golden ticket to skiing some of the best resorts in the world, two days at a time for one mighty reasonable rate. The perks associated with the $579* price tag should make pulling the credit card out easier than grabbing the first round of après drinks. The only buyer’s remorse that might be associated with the purchase is figuring out which ski hill to hit first. With eleven top-rated destinations spread throughout North America and another thirteen scattered around various other reaches of the world, pinpointing stop #1 can be a daunting task. Not to worry though, we’ve laid out the perfect Mountain Collective road trip that will drop you into a diverse range of jaw-dropping, close-proximity terrain while at the same time giving you the best bang for your buck. Tucked in the heart of the intermountain west lies a primo group of adjacent ski resorts worthy of being at the top or your Mountain Collective checklist. Snowbird/Alta, Snowbasin, Sun Valley, Grand Targhee, and Jackson Hole are chock-full of credentials, including big vertical descents, diverse terrain, and heaps of snow. To top it off, these mountains all sit within a five hour or less drive from one another (1hr flight if driving isn’t your thing) making them prime real estate for a Mountain Collective road trip. Here’s how to tackle these beasts in …
Art in the Sky
Imagine casually carving turns down Baldy when all of a sudden you spot the moon streaking across the sky. No, you’re not hallucinating from the lack of oxygen but rather catching a glimpse of the most-recent of two unique art installation on the Roundhouse Express Gondola. The gondola wrap project kicked off several years ago as a joint venture between the U.S Forest Service, the BLM, the City of Ketchum, and the artists as an effort to draw attention to the importance of arts and culture in community. In-part, the Ketchum Art Commission’s (KAC) public art project was conceived to expose people who otherwise would not step into a gallery or museum, to art and artist in unexpected places. KAC has been integrating art into the daily life of the community for years. You can see their efforts around town with art covered utility boxes, sculptures and more uniquely, gondola cars. The first gondola wrap project kicked off several years ago with an image by artist and local legend Ralph Harris. An illustrator and long time ski instructor, Harris’ art has graced the pages of skiing magazines; Ski, Skiing and Ski Racing, stamps, and Forest Service posters around the region celebrating life in the West. His artwork hangs in museums around the country. “To our knowledge, …
How to Beat Cabin Fever in Sun Valley
When the weather is too cold to recreate outdoors and not yet snowy enough to ski, cabin fever can challenge Sun Valley residents and visitors alike. Beat the shoulder-season blues with this holistic guide to mind, body and soul-filled wellness.