Skiing, Sleigh Rides, Gondalas, Eating & Drinking in Sun Valley, Idaho

Photos from top to bottom: Sun Valley Barn via TripAdvisor; The Slopes, The Roundhouse at night, Sleigh Ride to Trail Creek all via Caspar von Winterfeldt (featured with his lovely wife, our cousin Lisa); The Nordic Center via Sun Valley Blog;  The Sun Valley Club; Vintage Restaurant via Sun Valley Magazine; Interior of Vintage; Sun Valley Lodge via NY  Times Travel; the Rink outside the Sun Valley Lodge via Trazzler.

Sun Valley, Idaho truly is a winter wonderland made easy.  There is no shortage of activities for the adventurous to explore, in addition to plenty of cozy, fireside spots for relaxation. The Sun Valley Lodge is the place to stay.  Built in 1936, this luxury hotel embraces an old world charm, while offering every amenity a skier could ask for:  spa, salon, hot pool, bowling alley, and skating rink.  Buses run regularly to the slopes, Nordic center, town and house cars are readily available to help guests get where they need to go.  Look for the amazing deals that the lodge frequently offers, where ski passes are included in the room rates.

We spent the days skiing, enjoying fun lunches at the Roundhouse, and apres-ski drinks in the hot pool.  One snowy day, however, we opted for something new and headed to the Nordic Center,  housed in the Sun Valley Club, to try cross country skiing.  The trail runs along a picturesque creek, and it was not only absolutely beautiful, but an invigorating and inspiring way to explore the landscape. We enjoyed a lovely and well-deserved, late, lunch at the Sun Valley Club after our expedition.

Don't miss fondue dinner at the Roundhouse, located at the top of the gondola - the ride up and down make it even more worth it.  The sleigh ride to dinner at Trail Creek Cabin is also an experience.  Bundle up for the ride and know that the hearty dinner is worth braving the cold for. Order hot-spiced wine to stay warm, while you appreciate the twinkling stars  on the ride home.  For a cozy and delicious dinner in Ketchum make a reservation at Vintage (it only seats 20) and is definitely a culinary treat.

Sun Valley is the ideal ski town!  Accessible with perfect amount of authentic charm.