This winter, a group of us, including my husband, my brother and sister-in-law, and some good friends that we enjoy traveling and skiing with, tried a new-to-us ski area: Sun Valley, Idaho! Having skied in Colorado, Montana, and Utah a few times each, I can confidently say that Idaho is now right up there as one of my favorite areas. I truly believe the views are the most beautiful I have ever seen. I think this is in part to the more remote location, and the position in the mountain range. It also helps that Sun Valley boasts 250 sunny days a year. While we didn’t have sun every day of our trip, the weather was more moderate than most of our other ski trips, though that can obviously vary dramatically.

Getting to Sun Valley

We flew into Hailey, Idaho (SUN) and made the quick 27 minute drive into Sun Valley to settle in at our Vacasa. We rented a one-bedroom condo that was a short 5 minute walk to the Warm Springs base and lodge at Sun Valley Resort. From our condo, we were able to easily pick up our ski rentals at Pete’s Lane at the Warm Springs base. At the base, we were also able to store our skis overnight and our soft boots while out on the slopes.

Sun Valley Resort

Sun Valley is known as America’s “first destination ski resort” and is home to historic lodging and excellent skiing. It is also home to The Spa at Sun Valley, which I highly recommend if you take a day off off from the slopes. I’ve decided at almost 40 that I no longer need to ski every day and that I enjoy myself much more if I give myself a day off. The ladies on the trip decided to all book massages – when you book a service at the Spa, you get access to the spa facilities for the day, which includes the gym, pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room, the “shower experience” (jets all around and on the ceiling) and the locker rooms.

The spa called me the day before my service to let me know that my assigned therapist was sick, which made logistics a little more difficult, since we had all booked massages at the same time and I had to go several hours earlier. However, the customer service was very accommodating and even offered to comp my service. I made the most of my day by starting with a short 15 minute workout before I got ready for my morning massage. When my sister-in-law and friend arrived, we had lunch at the Poolside Cafe and then spent the afternoon enjoying the rest of the facilities. After our services, we walked around the resort and did a little shopping. We got hot chocolate at the Chocolate Foundry and picked up some souvenirs at the Sun Valley Store. Other attractions at the resort are ice skating, the Toy Store, and sleigh rides.

Skiing

Sun Valley is renowned for its skiing, featuring Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain. Bald Mountain, or Baldy as the locals call it, is considered one of the best ski mountains in the country. With over 2,000 skiable acres and 64 runs, the 13 lifts on the mountain send skiers up 3,400 vertical feet to a summit altitude of 9,150. We loved that the lift lines were never very long and we were able to maximize our time on the mountain.

I would note that Baldy is not for beginners. The terrain breakdown is as follows: 27% beginner, 44% intermediate, and 29% advanced/expert. However, I’d caveat that many of the greens skied more like Colorado/Utah blues and many of the blues skied like blacks due to the runs being steeper and groomed less frequently. I’m a solid intermediate skier and I felt more challenged than usual. That being said, we thoroughly enjoyed the long runs (up to 3 miles!) and stunning vistas.

Dollar Mountain is the other mountain in Sun Valley, which is dedicated for beginners. We never visited it, but I’ve heard that the terrain is ideal for learning to ski and snowboard and is a great place for kids and families.

Dining

Whenever we ski, we like to do a mix of meals at the condo and meals in town. The “town” closest to Sun Valley is Ketchum, Idaho, which is the historic mining town most famous for being the home and final resting place of Ernest Hemingway. It is also home to some great restaurants and bars! These are the ones we visited:

Ida Thai has delicious and authentic Thai food served in large portions. We ordered takeout for our first night as we were all tired from travel and didn’t want to cook.

Apples was one of my favorite spots. The local favorite serves fantastic burgers and tots near Warm Springs base. Great apres vibes after a day on the slopes. We enjoyed the patio and even with a dusting of snow, we were kept warm by the heaters.

Whiskeys on Main has upscale pub fare and is the spot if you’re trying to catch a sports game. It also offers a great selection of craft beer and cocktails.

Pioneer Saloon is the quintessential spot for a hearty steak or seafood dinner in Ketchum. Filled with history, mounted game, and natural woods, you’ll feel like you stepped back into an old saloon the moment you walk in the door. Pioneer Saloon doesn’t take reservations, so it’s best to show up early to get your name on the list (the bar opens at 3:30 pm and the dining room is open for seating at 5 pm).

After dinner, check out TNT Tap Room for craft beer, wine, and games.

I am dying to return to Idaho in the summer, to enjoy warm weather activities like hiking, fly fishing, and star gazing. If you’ve visited Idaho, do you prefer it in summer or winter? What is your favorite place to ski?