Part time local Irwin Sentilles plays in the snow.
Take a break from the slopes at Seattle Ridge Lodge.
Learn to nordic ski at the Sun Valley Nordic Center.
Ladies who lunch love Cristina's.
Flying tandem over the city of Ketchum with Fly Sun Valley.
Visitors | Getting Here | Weekend | 7 Days | Kids | Facts
Planning a week in Sun Valley may seem like a simple task. You ski, you eat, you ski, you eat, you sleep, you wake up, and you ski some more. Multiply that schedule by seven and you are set. While that isn’t the worst way to spend your time, there are other things to do besides ski Bald Mountain. If you do ski, but not every day or you actually hate the sport and your family dragged you here against your will, we’ve got the perfect seven day plan for you.
Day 1: Welcome to a Winter Wonderland
You finally made it, despite the snow and the bumpy prop plane ride. Welcome. Settle in to your lodging of choice and fill up with a scone and a famous "bowl of soul" at Java on Fourth Street in Ketchum. This sweet concoction of espresso, coffee, Mexican hot chocolate, and whipped cream is a Sun Valley must. Pick up a Discovery Map and cruise around town, sticking around Main Street and Sun Valley Road, that's where you will find most shops. Make sure you get your picture taken sitting on the massive wood chair in front of the Toneri Hink Gallery. If you’re bundled, try walking; Sun Valley is not that big. If not, take the bus.
If you didn't bring your own, you can rent skis at one of Sturto’s three locations or visit PK’s. But get there early to make sure you get your gear. Get a board, boots and bindings from the Board Bin on Fourth, right across the street from Java. Forgot your hat or gloves? Pick those up at the Elephant’s Perch.
Have happy hour in front of the fire at Sun Valley Wine Company. You can find wines from all over the world by the bottle or glass, order the cheese plate so you don't get too tipsy before dinner. Dine at the Sawtooth Club on Main Street in Ketchum for dinner. You can sit downstairs and eat off of the bar menu which includes burgers and vegetarian spring rolls, or dine upstairs with fine wine and local trout.
Day 2: Explore the Mountain
If you’re the skiing type, hit the slopes early. There are two ski mountains in Sun Valley: Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain. Dollar Mountain is for newbies and tots, while Bald Mountain is for the rest. All lodges open at 8 a.m. and the lifts open at 9 a.m. so you can ski all morning and then have lunch at Seattle Ridge Lodge at the top of Bald Mountain. Their chicken chili is amazing and the views aren’t too shabby either.
After lunch, get back on the slopes and explore the mountain. For first time skiers, stick to College, a continous green from top to bottom. For the intermediate types, try Warm Springs, a top to bottom run on the other side of Baldy. If you are more advanced, try Picabo's Street, named after Sun Valley local and downhill ski racing legend, Picabo Street, or test yourself on the steep slopes of Limelight Run. If you’re wiped out (or you just wiped out yourself), go to River Run Lodge at the base of Bald Mountain, sip on a hot toddy and listen to live music.
If you don’t ski, you can still go up on Bald Mountain by purchasing a foot passenger ticket. Go to the Round House for lunch and enjoy cheese fondue and live accordion music. For dinner, go fancy and French at Michel's Christiana and Olympic Bar. The owner, Michel Rudigoz is an ex-Olympic skier and Ernest Hemingway used to spend hours drinking at the bar.
Day 3: Get Out of Town
We suggest Perry’s for breakfast. They have a fabulous Eggs Benedict with avocado. The hash browns and toast are standard and delicious. And, for the kids (or the kid in you), order a ball of raw cookie dough. Get your coffee to go for the drive up north to Galena.
Head north for 24 miles on Highway 75 to Galena Lodge. You can cross-country ski, snowshoe, stay overnight in a yurt, a wooden tent of sorts, or just sip hot chocolate by the fire. If you’re really tough, snowshoe before lunch at the lodge then go for round two in the afternoon.
For dinner, try Ciro’s for its relaxed and warm atmosphere. Order the grilled artichoke with aioli for an appetizer and the seafood risotto for an entrée. Kids are more than welcome, but it can also be quite romantic; reservations are recommended. If you aren’t too tired, visit Whiskey Jacques’ on Main Street in Ketchum. There is karaoke on Wednesdays and live music on Fridays and Saturdays. Or, head to Sun Valley Village for a nightcap. The Boiler Room and Duchin Room often have live music.
Day 4: Rest in the Lap of Luxury
Take the day off. Really. Get a massage or a spa treatment, or both; Idaho has the highest number of body therapists per-capita. The best places are Sun Valley Lodge, Zenergy, or Il Sogno Spa & Wellness Center. Splurge at Cristina’s for lunch where the food is divine. Try the seared Ahi, the roasted beets platter, or the tomato bisque. But pace yourself; the fresh-baked bread alone is enough to hold you over.
To help digest your afternoon meal, head down Warm Springs Road to Frenchman’s hot springs. The hot springs are free and open to the public. Stay clothed, don’t drink and don’t go after dark. After your soak, start off the evening with drinks at the Pioneer Saloon because there is usually a wait. Then, get your fill of steak and potatoes for dinner. Go big with the baked potato also known as the Jim Spud with includes bacon bits, cheese, and best of all, top sirloin. Welcome to Idaho.
Day 5: Get Your Cross-Country Ski On
Begin the day off right by eating a big breakfast at the Rustic Moose or the Kneadery. The portions are big, the food is fresh, and you’ll have enough fuel to get through the day.Then pull on that spandex and hit the cross-country tracks. You can drive north to Galena again or use the Sun Valley Nordic Center, a much better place for beginners. Rent skis at the Nordic Center or Galena Lodge.
If you stay near Ketchum, make sure to hit up Grumpy’s for a schooner of beer (32 ounces) and a basket or two of fries. Located on Warm Springs road just north of Ketchum, this hole in the wall is a Sun Valley institution.
Step up a bit for dinner at Rickshaw. Begin with the sake mojitos, which are perhaps the best you will ever have, even if you do not normally enjoy sake. Order a round of their small plates and be prepared to share. Pearl balls, Thai snapper, baby bok choy with sesame seeds, everything on their Asian-inspired menu is delicious.
Day 6: Play Like a Kid
Grab a quick bite to eat at the Coffee Grinder on Fourth Street in Ketchum. Their pastries are flaky and delicious and their oatmeal is perfect for a cold winter day.
If the kids don’t feel like strapping in on the slopes, take them tubing on Dollar Mountain. Each pass comes with a cup of free hot chocolate with all the fixings. Or you can really tire them out by climbing Penny Hill on Sun Valley Road. Pick up a plastic sled at the one and only Chateau Drug; they have all the staples and then some.
Have lunch as a family at Bald Mountain Pizza or Konditorei at Sun Valley Village before spending the afternoon skating at Sun Valley Lodge outdoor rink. Sure, it can be chilly, but with Bald Mountain in the background and the promise of hot drinks at the end of a long day, it is well worth it. You can also catch the young figure skating rockstars practicing.
If you’re spent and tired of the cold, visit the Sun Valley Opera House to watch a movie. Or, shop 'til you drop at the Sun Valley Village. You can find books, candy, souvenirs, ski gear, and of course, fancy clothes. Stay in the Sun Valley Village for dinner. Try the Ram and build your own burger or eat at the Sun Valley Lodge Dining Room and really feel on vacation.
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