The summer season offers visitors the option of enjoying the splendor of the Wood River Valley’s scenic views from the comfort of some of the best patios and decks for dining. Whether it’s post-golfing on the patio of Sun Valley’s Clubhouse or enjoying free music on the deck at Bellevue’s Mahoney’s, these are the best spots to grab a sip or a bite and soak up some summer rays. Ketchum and Sun Valley When settling on a deck or patio to enjoy in the Ketchum and Sun Valley area, there are a few questions to consider. How much sun are you looking to get? Are you heading for an afternoon drink or want a full meal? Do you want to hear music? Lefty’s For those looking for the most sun for their buck, the deck at Lefty’s can’t be beat. With the afternoon rays hitting the area directly, you’ll find this deck packed with locals and visitors alike on weekday and weekend afternoons all summer. Musicians play here sporadically and fare includes basic pub food like burgers and drinks of the mostly beer persuasion. Grumpy’s Another mid-day local’s favorite is Grumpy’s, home of the schooner and classic pub fare. The …
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Eating Healthy & Sustainably in Sun Valley
While the Wood River Valley may be a bit lacking in options when it comes to big bulk goods, it is abundant with opportunities for eating healthily and sustainably. As exhibited by retirees you’re sure to find passing you seemingly effortlessly on the Nordic or bike trails, this is a community that cares exceptionally about health, and it also shows in the many local efforts to bring healthy eating to our little town. 5B Fruit 5B Fruit, located downstairs in the Leadville building offers a wide array of smoothies, juices and bowls crafted with all kinds of antioxidant berries and seeds as well as unique add-on options such as bee pollen, bamboo charcoal, hemp protein and more. You’ll also find a slew of 3oz “shots” tailored to cure your hangover, cold or post workout dehydration. What’s more, 5B fruit grows organic kale and spinach in their greenhouse located south of Bellevue, and at the end of the day their juicing pulp and compost is used to enrich planting soil or feed free range chickens. GLOW A fusion between a health food store and café, GLOW is completely plant-based. In addition to a variety of smoothies, bowls and juices, GLOW also provides a …
Dance in the Mountains: From Classical to Cutting Edge
Sun Valley’s arts and culture scene used to be one of its best-kept secrets, but the word is starting to get out…and we couldn’t be happier about that. From venues like the Argyros Performing Arts Center and the Sun Valley Pavilion to festivals like the Sun Valley Center for the Arts’ Summer Concert series and Ballet Sun Valley, the Sun Valley area offers plenty of ways to immerse yourself in the performing arts. While music and theater have been a mainstay of the Sun Valley cultural scene for years, the opportunity to see professional dance used to be sporadic at best. But we’re happy to say that those days are long gone. Whether you’re in the mood for classical ballet or the cutting edge of choreography, you’ll find it here. Ballet Sun Valley The Sun Valley Pavilion, an outdoor amphitheater in Sun Valley’s village, was designed for live music. But a few pioneering individuals saw that the setting—with its open-air seating, stunning architecture, and undeniably magical ambiance—would be perfect for dance. In 2009, the Trey McIntyre Company, the former Boise-based contemporary dance company led by choreographer Trey McIntyre, performed a two-night engagement at the Pavilion. The company set the standard, showcasing what …
This is the Sawtooth Botanical Garden
Discover the Sawtooth Botanical Garden in Ketchum, Idaho where you’ll find several south-central Idaho biomes, a prayer wheel blessed by the Dalai Lama, a variety of classes and more.
Sun Valley 2019 Summer Concert Playlist
Get a taste for the musicians that will be playing shows in Sun Valley, Idaho this season with our 2019 summer playlist. Highlights include Ryan Bingham, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Jackson Browne and more. We hope you’l join us this summer for some great concerts!
What We’re Made Of: Wood River Valley Studio Tour President – Suzanne Hazlett
Suzanne Hazlett personifies someone who is simultaneously left- and right-brained. The financial consultant and former vice president of Merrill Lynch is also an artist and co-founder and president of the Wood River Valley Studio Tour (WRVST), an annual event that allows the public to visit the working studios of the many professional artists in the Valley. Not an easy feat, Hazlett manages her own business while striving each year to elevate the experience of patrons of the Tour whether that means changing the time of year of the event to allow the maximum number of people to experience it or changing how information on the Tour is published. A powerhouse and expert multitask master, Hazlett truly personifies the entrepreneurial spirit of Sun Valley, furthering the town’s reputation as a world-class arts destination. Although deeply enmeshed in the Sun Valley arts scene—both as a professional artist and as president of the Tour—Hazlett has spent the majority of her life working in finance. After graduating from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, Hazlett went on to get a Master of Business Administration from the Albers School of Business and Economics at Seattle University. She earned her Certified Investment Management Analyst, CIMA …
What We’re Made Of: Squash Blossom Farm Owners – Sara & Ed
Ranching is a way of life in Idaho, and when driving into the Sun Valley area it’s hard to miss the thousands of acres planted with malted barley, alfalfa, and seed potatoes. But if you look closely, you’ll find something else: small farms that work to create products—meat, vegetables, and fruit—for the local community. Squash Blossom Farm, located in Bellevue, is one such farm. When Wood River Valley native Sara Berman first learned about sustainable agriculture in a high school class at the Community School in Sun Valley, she didn’t yet know how that knowledge would shape her path through life. The class sparked enough interest for Berman to pursue the subject through college, and then spend time working on different types of farms and ranches across the globe. When Berman met Ed Zinader, who shares her passion for agriculture, the pair began to dream about creating a small, sustainable farm to grow to produce for their friends, family, and the community. They began searching for the right property with patience and determination. When the opportunity arose to purchase a home with acreage just blocks off of Main Street in Bellevue, they jumped at the chance. “I didn’t think we’d …
Sun Valley Mountain Bike Advocate – Adrian Montgomery
Let me tell you a secret about Sun Valley’s mountain bike scene: it’s kind of fun to fly under the radar. It’s not that we don’t love sharing our trails (we do) and it’s not that we aren’t proud of what we have (we are), but there’s something cool about being that place that people whisper about in hushed tones. And for the last decade, says local mountain bike advocate Adrian Montgomery, mountain bikers, in particular, have been whispering to each other on the trail, “Hey, have you been to Sun Valley?” The Sun Valley area has over 400 miles of singletrack (300-plus of which are accessible from downtown Ketchum), two closed-loop pump parks, over 40 miles of multi-use graded trails, and lift-serviced downhill mountain biking on Sun Valley Resort’s Bald Mountain. The trails range in difficulty from beginner to extreme, but they all have two things in common: they won’t be crowded, and you won’t be able to get enough of them. At least that is how Montgomery, a consultant at Ketchum-based CrankTank and former marketing director at SCOTT Sports and Backcountry.com, felt when he first landed in Sun Valley in 2004. “After six years of traveling for the …
Ketchum’s Coffee Culture
Dubbed the “best city in America for coffee lovers,” Berkeley, California, boasts one café per 2,073 people. We hate to steal your thunder, Berkeley, but with roughly one coffee shop for every 580 people (calculated on a coffee-stained napkin, no less), we think we have you beat. When you’re in Sun Valley, you’ll never have to worry about where your next dose of caffeine is coming from. Whether you’re on the hunt for that perfect latte to kickstart your morning or need a spot to hunker down and catch up on work emails, we invite you to explore Ketchum’s coffee culture. Maude’s Coffee and Clothes 391 Walnut Avenue, Ketchum For that “hang with the locals” vibe head to Maude’s Coffee and Clothes. Maude’s serves locally-roasted organic coffee and espresso drinks alongside tea, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and pastries. The atmosphere at Maude’s is lively, so grab a table and catch up with a friend. When you’re done with your drink, wander through Maude’s “closet,” a clothing retailer that offers vintage and contemporary pieces. Java on Fourth 191 4th Street West, Ketchum Java on Fourth might well be considered an institution in Ketchum’s coffee culture and is known for its rich, deeply flavorful drinks. The …
How to Maximize Your Dollar in Sun Valley This Summer
At the time, Sun Valley has the perception of being too expensive to enjoy. But like anything in life, there are usually affordable or free ways to find a good time, even especially in Sun Valley. And while we’re not saying you’re a dirtbag, the following are tips on how to live the most…money averse couple of days in Sun Valley in the summer. Getting Here Flying directly into Hailey’s Friedman Memorial Airport can be pricey over the 4th of July week but there are often deals run at various points throughout the year. We recommend checking out our Getting Here page or scoping airfarewatchdog.com for your best and most affordable options. Flying into Boise or Twin Falls and renting a car is also a viable route. Places to Stay Summer is full of inexpensive or free options to stay, the cheapest being camping. There are campsites out Sun Valley Road at both Boundary Campground, a traditional campground with bathroom facilities and grills that costs $10/night. This is a great spot as it is located close enough to town to bike if you’re really looking to cut costs. North of town by the SNRA is the North Fork Campgrounds for $16/night and have water and bathroom facilities. …