written and photographed by Hayden Seder For a small town, Sun Valley has a wide variety of ice cream options, from year-round shops to seasonal stands to locally made flavors available for purchase. With the summer heat in full swing, it’s time to learn about the best spot for grabbing a scoop, cone, or shake to satisfy your ice cream cravings. The Sweet Spot Located next to Ramen Cowboy (and under the same ownership) is The Sweet Spot, a Japanese-inspired ice cream shop serving taiyaki ice cream and a variety of imported candies, treats, novel beverages, and savory snacks. Taiyaki is a popular Japanese style of ice cream that uses a crispy, mochi fish-shaped cone to hold the icy delights rather than a traditional waffle cone. These delightful-looking cones are made on a griddle behind the counter, so you can see your fish-shaped cone coming to life as you wait. The shop offers classic flavors as well as more adventurous Japanese ones, like ube, and non-dairy options are available as well. From the cone–shaped lights to the cone itself to the shop’s outdoor courtyard, practically every moment of eating ice cream at this shop is memory (and Instagram) worthy. Leroy’s …
Searching for Sun Valley
What We’re Made Of: Ketchum Run Club
written by Hayden Seder It’s hard to imagine in a town as active as Ketchum that there’s never been a run club before, but indeed, before this summer, this was the case. Enter Ketchum Run Club, the Wood River Valley’s newest way to socialize, meet new people, and, of course, run. How It Started Ketchum Run Club (KRC) is the brainchild of two area natives, Meggie Rose and Madison Hendrix. Rose is a personal trainer and group fitness coach at The Mill SV in Ketchum and also offers a variety of online training programs through the Solin app. Despite her obvious love of fitness, running is a relatively new hobby for Rose. Though she did cross-country running in high school and ran on and off in her twenties, it wasn’t until signing up for a half-marathon in Jackson Hole in spring 2024 and getting into the training of the sport that she really fell in love with it, both for the mental clarity and the freedom it provides. Although Madison Hendrix also grew up in the area and thus is plenty active outdoors, it wasn’t until signing up for the Standhope Ultra Challenge 30k two years ago (a lengthy trail …
4th of July Week in Sun Valley – 2025
Why You Should Come Why should you come to Sun Valley for the 4th of July? Well, let us set the scene for you. It’s a warm, dry 78*. The sun won’t set until well after 9pm and the twilight glow will linger until 10pm. Scents of sage and lupine waft delightfully through the air. The Valley is vibrant with visitors and locals alike enjoying abundant outdoor recreational opportunities. Restaurants are maximizing patio seating and fresh regional ingredients are highlighting the special menus. And, there are some of the best arts and cultural events, shows, and exhibits happening. Still looking for more to draw you in? Keep reading to dive deeper into what the 2025 4th of July week in Sun Valley is all about! Activities With the first week of July, pretty much every mountain activity you could think of is ready for action. The golf greens are pristine, the mountain bike trails are tacky, the fishing water may be a bit high but is becoming manageable, the hiking trails are flush with wild flowers, and white water north of town is in prime condition. Don’t forget about the more mellow activities out there such as the fine art …
Guide to White Water Rafting Near Sun Valley
Rafting on any of the numerous sections of rivers surrounding the Sun Valley area can be the experience of a lifetime. Taking in the beauty of Idaho from the swirling waters of its beautiful rivers is truly a unique experience to our area. While for many, a white water rafting trip is synonymous with a multi-day trip, complete with nights around the campfire and food fresh from the Dutch-oven, there are plenty of half- and full-day rafting opportunities in the Sun Valley area. Half- and Full-Day Trips Sawtooth Adventure Company Sawtooth Adventure Company specializes in whitewater rafting trips for the entire family on the Salmon River. SAC has a variety of half-day and full day trip offerings on the Main Salmon and multi-day trips Middle Fork of the Salmon. One of SAC’s unique offerings is their Twilight Dinner Trips offering top-shelf experience on the Salmon River reserved for private groups. Twilight trips Dutch Oven entrees, creative salads, grilled meats, beer, wine, live music and s’mores. For a complete line-up of their offerings, be sure to check out Sawtooth Adventure Company site. White Cloud Rafting Adventures Offering half- and full-day trips on various sections of the Main Salmon River, …
24 Hours With Local Amy Mattias
Practically everything that Amy Mattias does, from her job to her hobbies, revolves around locally grown food. The Executive Director for the non-profit Future Roots has been with the organization for five years and before that worked for Nourish Me, Lava Lake Lamb, Idaho’s Bounty, the Wood River Sustainability Center, and Kray’s Market. As the ED of Future Roots, Mattias manages three programs that the institute is the overarching body of: the Impact Idaho Fund, which invests in locally rooted ideas and entrepreneurs; the Local Food Alliance, which raises awareness of the local food system and puts out the Wood River Valley Locally Grown Guide, which lists all the farms, ranchers, restaurants, retail stores, and farmers’ markets that source local food; and 5B Resilient, a program about empowering everyday climate action at the individual and household level. Amy Mattias has lived in the Valley for almost ten years, the last two of which have been spent in her new home in the Bellevue Triangle, where she lives with her husband and born-and-raised local Chris Mattias, their dogs Susie B and Ripper, and eight hens and one rooster. Their property has lots of fruit trees, plants, and a big garden, which …
Eating Local: Tips on finding locally-grown meals in Sun Valley
Idaho may be best known for potatoes, but the Gem State culinary scene offers a lot more than just a single vegetable. In fact, it’s easy to enjoy healthy and delicious locally-grown food for every meal of the day around here. The Snake River Plain, just to the south of Sun Valley, has become one of America’s true breadbaskets. From ranchers running sheep and cattle through the foothills to farmers growing everything from asparagus to zucchini, eating local is a part of life in Sun Valley. Numerous local restaurants offer meals sourced from farms and ranches within 150 miles. To help you make the most out of eating local, we asked Amy Mattias for some advice. A self-described “locavore,” Amy is the Executive Director of Future Roots (formerly the Sun Valley Institute for Resilience), which features many of these regional farms and ranches in its Locally Grown Guide. Amy has worked with numerous farm- and ranch-to-table producers in the region for the last seven years. “I’m a devotee to local food systems,” Amy said. “And there are a lot of local places to enjoy Idaho’s bounty.” Coffee, Breakfast & Morning Treats The hardest part about finding a cup of …
Galena Lodge: Where You Should Take Your Family This Summer
Galena Lodge has all the ingredients for an awesome and memorable family day in the mountains. Take advantage of mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, great food, cool vibes and breathtaking views all at the special Galena Lodge.
Golfing Around Sun Valley, Idaho
“This is not all about golf,” is inscribed in a stone marker at the 5th tee box of Sun Valley Resort’s White Clouds golf course, words spoken by the Resort’s owner to commemorate his vision when he dedicated the parcel of land for the golf course. While the Sun Valley area is certainly not all about golf, it’s certainly holding its own in the department with three Sun Valley golf courses—Trail Creek, White Clouds, and Elkhorn—as well as Bigwood and The Valley Club courses. Read on to learn about which style of course will suit your fancy and which clubs have the best afternoon drinks and bites to soak up rays after hitting the links. Sun Valley Resort The Sun Valley Resort is home to three golf courses, each with their own terrain and appeal. Combined, these three courses offer up a total of 45 holes with two driving ranges and putting practice putting opportunities. Sun Valley golf was most recently recognized by Golf Digest as one of the Best Courses in the PNW. Trail Creek The Trail Creek golf course is located at the Sun Valley Club House and is the resort’s signature course. The 18-hole course was designed by Robert …
Best Places to Camp Around Sun Valley
We’ve compiled a starter guide to camping around Sun Valley, Idaho. You’ll find information on public campgrounds, dispersed camping, RV parks as well as details on where to grocery shop, where to grab a shower, dump stations, dinner spots and camping supplies.
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.