One Weekend in Sun Valley

Visitors | Getting Here | Weekend | 7 Days | Kids | Facts

You’ve got your plane tickets and booked your hotel, but what are you going to do with your weekend in Sun Valley? Plum has it all mapped out. To be close to all of the action, you've probably booked your stay in Ketchum or at the Sun Valley Resort. Most restaurants, shops and galleries are in these areas and the mountain is just a short walk or bus ride away. So what's a the weekend traveler to do?

 

Day 1: Get to Know the Local Favorites

A hefty breakfast at The Kneadery is a must. You name it, they have it from Belgian Waffles to multiple versions of eggs Benedict, one of which is served with local smoked trout. The portions are big and the wait can be long so be prepared to spend some time there. If you get hungry while you wait, there is always a big plate of fresh-baked cookies, and who doesn’t like sweets for breakfast?

After you are nice and full, strap into your board or click into your skis and hit the slopes on Bald Mountain. Costly yes, but you can’t beat the fresh powder on a bluebird day. Regular season lift tickets are $79 for adults and $45 for children, and totally worth it. Refuel and relax with a schooner and a burger with fries at Grumpy’s on Warm Springs Road. This cash-only shack with no phone is a Sun Valley staple and the burgers are to die for. You can play pool, rock out to the Juke Box or catch the game -- they do have a tv.

Spend the afternoon shopping around town. Check out the art galleries and get a yummy caramel apple from Rocky Mountain Chocolate, and if they're playing, be sure to head out to the Sun Valley Resort to catch a Suns Hockey Game. They were almost undefeated last year, with one final season loss, and everyone attends the games.

For dinner, head to the Pioneer Saloon. It doesn’t get much more Idaho than the Pio, as the locals call it. Huge Idaho baked potatoes and delicious steaks are on the menu, and the entire restaurant is under the watchful eyes of all of the animal heads on the wall. The Pio doesn’t take reservations and the wait can be long, but sitting at the bar and people watching is an event in itself. After your steak and potatoes, head across the street to Whiskey Jacques for some live music. Whet your whistle with a 44 north cocktail, made from huckleberry vodka from the Rocky Mountains. Whiskey’s also has pool tables, foosball and a real Sun Valley game, Buck Hunter.

 

Day 2: Hit the Road

Splurge on brunch at Sun Valley establishment Cristina’s, or the gourmet buffet at the Sun Valley Lodge Dining Room. If you want to go cheap, grab a bagel and a "bowl of soul" from Java, their famous chocolatey coffee drink with homemade whipped cream.

If you have a car, head up about 24 miles north on Highway 75 to snowshoe or cross country at the picturesque Galena Lodge. There are awesome views of the Sawtooth Mountains and the lodge is cozy. If you don’t have wheels, go to the Sun Valley Nordic Center at the resort to snowshoe and cross country trails through the golf course; rentals are available at both places. If you make it to Galena, have a late lunch at Galena Lodge, and don’t forget the hot chocolate. Staying in town? Grab a sandwich and cup of soup from Perry’s. The sandwiches are hearty and the soups are always fresh and seasonal.

Spend the afternoon relaxing. Get a massage or other spa services at Zenergy at Thunder Springs (make sure to book ahead) and then catch a matinee at Magic Lantern Theater. This quaint cinema is right in Ketchum and has a great selection of beer and wine to enjoy while you watch a flick.

Start the night off swanky with cocktails at Cavallino. This is probably the most city-like bar in town, but it is still packed with laid-back locals. Try the gin gin mule or the French 75. The drinks are pricey, but they sure pack a punch. Get your upscale Italian fix with dinner at Il Naso, some of the Valley’s best Italian food. Il Naso serves local meats and fish with an Italian flair; they also have a great wine list. Cap off your evening, and your weekend, with a lager from Sun Valley Brewing Co. and game of shuffleboard at The Cellar, a casual and friendly local bar.

One weekend in Sun Valley gives you a great taste of what the area has to offer, yet there is so much more. For more activities and restaurants visit our Lodging and Dining guides, and our events calendar.