SUN VALLEY Round Up-- Stay, Eat, Drink, Shop, Ski. Where to do all of the above.
We are still glowing from our four nights in Sun Valley for cousin Lisa and Caspar's wedding. It was a beautiful, romantic (it snowed heavily during the ceremony-- gorgeous and cozy!) and fun wedding celebration and we were honored and thrilled to be a part of it! We also left rather in love with Sun Valley. It is a charming ski town that runs smoothly, isn't overcrowded and has some of the nicest facilities on the mountain, as we mentioned in an earlier post making Aspen, Vail and Mammoth look like public high school cafeterias. The Sun Valley Resort has restaurants and rental facilities scattered around the mountain that have soaring wood beamed ceilings, crackling fireplaces, attractive and new carpeted floors and top notch restrooms. And the terrain is fantastic and diverse and we only waited in one lift line on the Sunday of President's Day Weekend -- and it was a short one!
So aside from skiing in the winter and mountain biking and hiking in the summer on the mountain, here's what else you need to know....
STAY
Cheerful rooms, a gigantic "hot pool," a nice spa, ice rink, bowling alley, bar and restaurant make this historic hotel the place to stay. Very reasonable rates as well.
EAT
The KneaderyBreakfast is the most important meal of the day, and this is especially truein the mountains. The Kneadery combines rustic charm with fresh, wholesomeorganic ingredients and has been a local favorite since 1975. Breads rightout of the oven, fresh fruit, huge omelets, decadent pancakes all make theKneadery the perfect breakfast spot. It is also open for lunch, so ifyou're craving a delicious burger or need to fuel up with a salad theKneadery has something for you. 260 Leadville Avenue Ketchum, ID 83340 - (208) 726-9462Hours: 8:00 AM - 2:00PM Cristina'sCristina's is one of the cutest and the most delicious restaurants in town forbreakfast or lunch.They also serve dinner Friday and Saturday.Cristina grew upin Tuscany and opened her namesake restaurant in 1993. She has authored severalcook books as well so you can try to recreate the deliciousness at home!The baked goods are insane as is really everything else. The RoundhouseWe gave the Roundhouse a lot of love the other day after a festive, unique dinneron the top of the mountain (reached by the gondola at night). During the day, itwas almost cozier-- and you feel you've earned your fondue and wine as you swooshin off the slopes. The only trouble is wanting to swoosh down after....There's always the gondola. Pioneer SaloonVery authentically "Wild West" and rugged, the "Pio" serves up meat, seafood and burgers.And booze.No reservations.
DRINKWhiskey JacquesAn upscale dive bar with karaoke... CornerstoneWe never made it here, but a lot of the wedding group had gourmet pizzaand too many drinks here one night. Housed in the only building in townto be on the National Register of Historic Places, it looks like the perfectblend of of old meets new. We'll definitely check it out next time! SHOP Panache We weren't really expecting such hip and chic clothes we'd wear in LA in thislittle unassuming boutique in the Sun Valley village! Intimate yet stocked withHaute Hippie, Inhabit, Velvet, Nanette Lepore, as well as Spanx, bras, etc.Panache is quite a find! Maison et CadeauxOwn and run by our friend Nina's mother, the ever charming and chic(and French) Marcelle West, Maison et Cadeaux is full of beautiful giftsand housewares all imported from France and Italy.
