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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Skiing & Snowboarding Sun Valley On a Budget
Believe it or not, many of the mountain lifestyle luxuries can be experienced while on a budget. This guide dishes out the inside tips of how to keep costs down while capitalizing on skiing America’s relatively undiscovered ski & snowboard resort destination.
The Fab 5: Winter Family Activities in Sun Valley
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”, …