The perfect vacation can start and end in just one day, especially when your journey takes you to the mountains of Sun Valley, Idaho. Offering that small-town charm that makes every visitor wish they could be a full-time resident as well as some of the most scenic views in the world, the only thing that could make this day trip better is a night’s stay (or more!) in our Abode Sun Valley vacation retreats. This guide to a Sun Valley day trip will enchant you, perhaps encouraging you to add many more days to your stay!
Good Morning, Sunshine!
We understand that you may have mixed feelings about waking before dawn and the thought that if you have seen one sunrise, you’ve seen them all may have crossed your mind, but we urge you to rethink. A mountain sunrise will change your life, and if you have already started your visit to Sun Valley with a stay in our mountain sanctuaries, to get the best views, all you will need to do is roll out of bed, throw on something warm, and head out to the balcony or deck and wait for the magic to begin. It is impossible to be unaffected by the breathtaking scene that awaits you in these early morning hours, and as your sleepy eyes brighten, you will know that you have waited your entire life for a moment like this. After the sun has lit up the landscape, you will also know that you are very hungry, which leads us to our next activity of your perfect day: the meal that will fuel your Sun Valley adventures.
A Breakfast of Champions
Before we get much further, let us say this. Your perfect day is going to involve many outdoor adventures, and although coffee and toast may be the way you are used to starting your morning, it won’t fly here. Your hike up the mountain should begin—no, needs to begin—with a hearty, stick to your ribs meals that will truly fuel your activities! Most restaurants in this area realize that and serve accordingly, but our recommendation for your breakfast of champions would have to be Bigwood Bread Bakery & Café. Located at 271 Northwood Way in Ketchum, this bakery/breakfast spot/café really knows the way to everyone’s heart, and their menu, filled with all-American favorites and some Southwestern superstars, will excite and delight. Their Big Breakfast, made with three eggs, hashbrowns, buttermilk pancakes, and your choice of meat, is the meal we can never get enough of, and we have a feeling it will be the same for you as you start to believe in the idea of “love at first bite!”
This Path Forks in Two Different Directions
Although there are four seasons, for the purpose of today’s tale, we are going to divide the year into just two, warm weather and cold weather, and that brings us to the metaphorical fork in the road. The Sun Valley area is known to be a winter vacation destination, so these next paragraphs will take you along the cold weather path, leading you into adventures that are best enjoyed while dressed warmly.
A Tale of Two Mountains
Sun Valley Ski Resort offers a tale of two mountains, Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain, each offering a ski experience that will never fail to please. Bald Mountain, affectionately called Baldy, is where more experienced skiers will want to spend their perfect day, offering a more advanced terrain that can be frightening to those who are new at the sport. Offering 12 chairlifts and over 120 trails waiting to be explored, it would definitely take more than a day to explore them all, but remember, every journey begins with a single step. Dollar Mountain is where history was made, as it is the location of the world’s first chairlift, as well as serving as a beautiful beginner’s ski slope. Offering five lifts, 16 trails, and one terrain park, Dollar Mountain offers a beautiful way to develop a love for the sport of skiing. Snowboarders are welcome at both mountains.
Lunch on the Mountain
Whether you are on Bald or Dollar Mountain, you will be having so much fun, there is no way you will want to leave the mountain just to go get lunch, but we can also tell you that as hearty as your breakfast was, it won’t hold you over until dinnertime. Fortunately, both mountains offer places you can eat, including The Roundhouse on Bald Mountain, a local favorite, and Carol’s Dollar Mountain Lodge (obviously on Dollar Mountain), offering delicious breakfasts and lunches all winter long. Carol’s is closed during the off season, but there are plenty of dining options that we will talk about later.
Afternoon Delight
You have another fork in the road to navigate here, and this one is all about the afternoon. Do you want to keep riding the chairlifts up and the mountain slope down until closing (sometime around 4 or 5), or do you want to experience what Sun Valley has to offer and explore more places? Either is a great answer, but for today, let’s imagine that you decided to explore the area a little more. The activities listed below are sure to make your winter day trip to Sun Valley an experience you will wish never had to end.
Winter Wonderland
Throughout the month of December, Sun Valley turns into a winter wonderland, offering a European style market filled with gifts and decorations just waiting to be owned by you. Carolers will be strolling through, adding an extra element of wonder to the experience and as your afternoon turns to night, the town Christmas tree will begin to sparkle. Santa Claus is known to make an appearance, posing for photos with excited children, and the Opera House is where you can go to watch festive movies that will make you feel festive and excited about the upcoming holiday. Hot chocolate is always available and the snow is plentiful, ensuring that this year, your Christmas will definitely be a white one.
Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides
Always fun and romantic, a horse drawn sleigh ride on a winter day will add shine to your day trip adventures. Sun Valley Stables, 1 Sun Valley Road E, offers daily sleigh rides through the stunning Sun Valley countryside offering an experience that the entire family will love. Blankets will keep you warm and a hot chocolate stop will warm your body and your soul on this magical day trip in Sun Valley.
Taking the Path That Leads to Summer
Now for our warm weather adventurers, your day trip to Sun Valley will look completely different than our cold weather friends, but trust us, your adventures will be equally exciting when the sun shines bright, but not too warm, and the trees, flowers, and plants are in full bloom. July is our hottest month, but even then, the mercury rarely rises over 81 degrees, and if you are traveling on a rare rainy day (on average it only rains about three days in this part of Idaho), you may be glad you were warned in advance to pack a jacket and long pants. The activities listed below will bring you memories you will cherish forever.
Take a Hike
The green of Sun Valley in the summer is as breathtaking as the white is in the winter, and a hike taken along many of the trails you may have skied down in the winter is the best way to enjoy your day in town. The Baker Lake Trail is one of the easiest ones, offering a 3-mile loop around Baker Lake without any gain in elevation, and we can assure you that the views will be just as wonderful as the ones you experience in some of our more difficult trails. On the other end of the hiking spectrum, the Long Gulch to Pioneer Cabin Loop is one that stretches out nearly 9 miles and features a gain in elevation of a whopping 3,018 feet. It will take the best hikers nearly six hours to complete this trail, so pack a lunch and make sure you have notified someone of your plans to hike the trail and your approximate time you expect to be back, just to be safe.
Drop a Line
Fly fishing is popular in Sun Valley, even in the winter months, but with the warm weather comes greater pleasure, at least that is how we at Abode Sun Valley look at it. If you aren’t quite comfortable about fly fishing on your own, especially in an area you’re not familiar with, Sun Valley Outfitters offers a fly fishing clinic and plenty of guided fishing trips, including half-day trips that allow you to cast your line, catch some fish, and still have time to explore more of what our Idaho home town has to offer. Their longer guided fishing trips (six hours and all-day) include lunch, so you might want to consider one of those as well.
A Night on the Town
If you didn’t get to start your day out by watching the sunrise, sticking around to watch it set is equally wonderful and a visit to the Knob Hill Natural Area offers a beautiful spot in which to sit, relax, and revel in the fire that takes over the sky. It’s been a long day, and by sunset you will be more than ready to pull up to a table and devour everything on the menu at Fiamma, located at 211 Leadville Avenue in Ketchum. Offering a fine dining experience, its menu, filled with all your favorite Italian dishes, makes for some really great reading material! Don’t forget to save room for dessert; their tiramisu will make you believe in the good of all mankind.
The Best Nights
The best nights are the ones spent with a cold beer, some pub grub, and music of some sort, whether it’s live or jukebox, and a visit to Whiskey’s on Main, 251 N Main Street in Ketchum, offers all of the above. An eclectic décor adds humor to your nighttime activities and a menu of pizza, burgers, wings, and more will never let you down. Live entertainment takes place many nights and on the nights there is no music, large screened televisions step up to the plate, ensuring your entertainment needs will be met!
In Most Cases
Now in most cases, a day trip means you drive into town in the morning and back out of town before it gets too late, but what if we told you your day trip should definitely include an overnight stay in our Abode Sun Valley Idaho retreats? These properties offer comfortable beds that will be just what your body needs after a long day of outdoor adventures, large decks that allow you to look out over the landscape you explored throughout the day, and a long list of amenities that will make you feel at home even if you are hundreds of miles away from your own home! We’ve listed some of our favorite amenities below, but don’t be shy; be sure to let us know if we missed something or if there is something you think should be included in our Abode Sun Valley retreats!
Hot tubs on the Decks, Jetted Tubs Inside
Hot water and bubbles, is there any greater combination? In many of our Idaho sanctuaries you will have both, but most offer at least one or the other amenity for your vacationing pleasure.
Game Rooms
The family (or traveling party) who plays together enjoys an unforgettable Idaho vacation, and many of our charming escapes will provide ways to play, sometimes offering pool tables, ping pong tables, arcade games, or even video game consoles.
Come Home to Abode Sun Valley
There are so many amenities that are offered in our Sun Valley sanctuaries, you should probably stop reading and start planning your Idaho vacation, ensuring that you don’t miss anything at all. Reserve your favorite property today!
