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Spring

#SunValleyOnMyMind

From April 15 until May 25th share your favorite photos from Sun Valley to Instagram and use the tag #SunValleyOnMyMind. At the end of the month we will select some of our favorites and print out a large format to send to the winners. Below are some awesome pictures for inspiration and to feed your daydreams with. If your looking for more Sun Valley be sure to check out our Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and our Daydreaming Blog.

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Biking, Spring, Summer

Best Early Season Mountain Bike Rides in Sun Valley

Five months of snow-induced activities tend to leave one yearning for change. When the temperatures jump in to the 60’s here in Sun Valley, an eagerness to mix up the daily routine sweeps the town. This is a biking community after all and the first chance to hop on those beautiful two-wheeled mechanical devices is met with open arms. Nevermind the ghostly white legs, extra winter weight, creaking bike parts and dismal Strava times, it’s all about embracing the first glimpse of spring. We’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of the best early season mountain bike rides. Get out there and enjoy!

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Spring, Summer

Sun Valley Daydreaming: Waiting for COVID-19 to Subside

This too shall pass Do you have the wanderlust bug but you’re stuck in self-isolation? Well, just as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, eventually the COVID-19 pandemic will come to an end and life will return to its daily rhythms. In the meantime there are plenty of ways to stay busy like we listed here or you can start envisioning your next visit! To help you get your Sun Valley daydreaming on, we’ve put together a few things to help you map out your trip here when this is all over. Road Trip With oil prices plunging and gas prices expected to drop, the summer of 2020 may shape up to be the year people take to the road. With every highway leading to Sun Valley being designated a scenic byway what better way to enjoy getting here. Or use Sun Valley as your basecamp for the many great day trips just a short cruise away. America’s longest road, U.S. Highway 20, stretches from Newport, Oregon all the way to Boston, Massachusetts and passes only a half hour south of Sun Valley. As the ultimate cross country road-trip, be sure to plan a stop and …

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Spring, Uncategorized

Sun Valley COVID Resilience

We are undoubtedly dealing with some incredibly tough times these days. Amidst all of the negative doom and gloom news out there, there are plenty of uplifting moments. We’ve compiled a few shining moments of Sun Valley COVID Resilience to give you a little pick me up. We hope you too can start to look for those little wins as we get through this ordeal together. Howling for Front Line Workers Every evening at 8pm at you can hear the oowoooos and yips echoing off the valley walls from Bellevue to Ketchum. These howls are a beacon of appreciation for those COVID-19 frontline workers. It’ll put goosebumps on your arms and make you smile from ear to ear. If you’re in the Valley, we encourage you to join in. Even the Blaine County Sheriff’s dogs are showing their support. A Perk for Healthcare Workers The Argyros Performing Arts Center has raised funds to purchase 250 gift cards and are donating them to St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation. These cards will be given to health care workers. Recipients of the cards can be used for any of the Argyros’ future performances. “As the Argyros remains dark until we all feel comfortable …

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24hrs with a Local, Spring

24hrs with a Local: Hunger Coalition’s Kristin McMahon, April

In this monthly series, we check in with one of our adventurous locals to find out how they would spend a perfect 24 hours in Sun Valley – April edition. This April isn’t quite what we expected. Far from skiing the corn on the Baldy Bowls and drinking Bloody Mary’s at River Run, here in Sun Valley, we are sheltered-in-place and trying to make the most of our new reality. For this special edition of 24hrs in Sun Valley – April, I caught up with Kristin McMahon, the Communications and Development Supervisor at The Hunger Coalition. The Hunger Coalition “builds a healthy community through access to good food and addresses the root causes of food insecurity in collaboration with key partners.” Over the past few weeks, The Hunger Coalition has served twice as many people as usual at their curbside Food Pantry, which is open three times a week. Kristin and I chatted about what her typical day sheltered-in-place looks like, and how The Hunger Coalition is supporting the community during this uncertain time. With the shelter-in-place order in effect, what do you do first thing in the morning? I made sure to stock up on coffee, so I start out …

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Fall, Fly Fishing, Spring, Summer

Fly Fishing in Sun Valley, ID – The Ultimate Guide

The Sun Valley area offers an incredible diversity of fly fishing opportunities for everyone from the casual novice to the ambitious expert. Time to buy a stack of postcards for Mom, because you’ll have plenty of fish stories to tell after wading our local waters.  

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Fall, Family, Spring, Summer, Wellness, Winter

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 7am-6pm, 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 …

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Dining, Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter

Late Night in Sun Valley

Some say that Sun Valley is a sleepy town, but those folks are just the ones who go to bed early. What the area lacks in night clubs and velvet ropes it makes up for in pure, humble fun that keeps going after hours. Take a gander at this list of key locations. Just make sure you eat something before you go out. You know, to fuel the dancing. The Ketchum Crawl A typical evening out starts at Grumpy’s or Lefty’s for “real food,” before diving down Sun Valley Road to The Cellar for evening drinks. Once you’ve imbibed and remembered how good at dancing you are, walk down to Whiskey Jacques. Once the band is done playing and the fat lady has sung, follow her onward to close the night at The Casino, Sun Valley’s legendary dive bar. Whiskey Jacque’s When it comes to lineups and lines out the door, Whiskey’s is a standard favorite for cutting the rug. The classic bar and dance floor has a wild west cowboy flare but is no stranger to strobe lights and regular DJs. Play it safe and dress for an occasion between the two (#discocowboy). Upcoming Events Summer Concert Series When it …

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Spring

Shoulder Season Specials

Shoulder season in Sun Valley, Idaho is the ideal time of year for snagging a bargain. Hotel room rates are significantly more affordable, dinner specials can be found throughout the Valley and retail stores use deep discount sales to move their past season inventory during these transitionary months. To top it all off, the weather tends to be delightful and the crowds have yet to venture in droves. Won’t you join us this shoulder season? In order to get the most out of your stay, we’ve compiled a list of deals, specials and happenings to take advantage of:  Lodging Deals Limelight Hotel Idaho Local’s Rate April rates start as low as $119/night or save up to 30% off higher room types Valid now through June 20, 2018 Hotel Ketchum 20% off spring stays Valid on all stays April 16 – June 13, 2018 Sun Valley Resort Early Birdie Stay & Golf Package Includes lodging, a round of golf at either Trail Creek or Elkhorn (with cart), a complimentary round on the 9-hole White Cloud course (must be played same day), and range access Starting at $144 per person based on double occupancy Valid now through June 17th, 2018 Alpine Lodging Early season rates with …

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Biking, Bucket List, Dining, Fall, Spring, Summer

Tour de Suds: Sun Valley’s Bike-to-Brewery Tour

Bikes and beers go together like bacon and eggs, Batman and Robin, or hot summer days and ice cream cones. Like most ski town dwellers, Sun Valleyites have a penchant for cold brews, especially after a long, hot bike ride in one of the surrounding five mountain ranges. Sun Valley and the surrounding areas offer a plethora of places to quench a hard-earned thirst with local beers. So grab your bike and make your own Strava segment to and from these thirst-quenching locales. For the ultimate tour de suds, we suggest starting in Ketchum and making your way to Hailey.