Celebrating Presidents' Day

Today, we celebrate our nation’s presidents. What began as a celebration of George Washington’s Birthday has morphed into a holiday where we honor all of the leaders of our country, mostly due to a push from advertisers and retail businesses who pleaded for the change in the name from Washington’s Birthday to President’s Day; their change has made a pay-off.

While most businesses shut their doors and take the day off on federal holidays, Presidents’ Day is a different story in Sun Valley. With the throngs of visitors in town for the holiday weekend, businesses will be having sales galore. Town as has been packed all weekend, with plenty of people getting up on the mountain as well.

Shopping and skiing aside, Sun Valley does have a bit of history when it comes to U.S. presidents, and politicians in general. Former President Gerald Ford often brought his family out to hit the slopes on Baldy, former presidential nominee John Kerry and his wife Teresa Heinz often frequent the valley, members of the Kennedy clan where known to take ski vacations here, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been a part-time resident for years.

While we agree you should take advantage of the long weekend, remember what we are really celebrating, the past and present leaders of our country. And come November, we will have a new leader to honor next year.