Ski Sun Valley | Vacation Packages

Sun Valley - tradition, comfort and wow!

4.3

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lthough it is hard to describe a place that was the first destination ski resort in the US to be established (in 1936) as a hidden gem, Sun Valley could easily fit into that category. It is an amazing blend of remoteness and accessibility, frontier and luxury as well as comfort and exhilaration. When you stand on the summit of Bald Mountain, there are mountain peaks in all directions. The only signs of human habitation that you can see are the resort and the nearby town of Ketchum. However, getting there is much easier than you would expect. There are direct flights to Sun Valley/Hailey from Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. Sun Valley is very proud of its history. There is still much evidence in Ketchum of the town past as a mining center and sheep ranching community. Sun Valley, just 2 miles from Ketchum, has long been a favorite vacation spot for celebrities which is evidenced by the photos in the hallways of the Sun Valley Lodge. When you visit, you can stay in one of two areas: Sun Valley or Ketchum. Sun Valley emphasis is on luxury and service. If you stay at the Lodge or the Inn, you will have access to a wide array of amenities including beautiful outdoor pools, full service spa, world class dining and an unforgettable sleigh-ride dinner in Ernest Hemingway old hunting lodge. Ketchum has a little more hustle and bustle but offers several excellent hotels, including the Limelight and Hotel Ketchum, which have a very high level of service in a more contemporary setting. The main ski area, known as Bald Mountain, is huge. If you want to ski long leg-burning groomers from top to bottom or jump into any of the lift-accessed bowls, you will have a memorable experience. Up on the mountain, you will probably never have more than a 30 second wait to get on a lift. For great on-mountain food, go to the Lookout Restaurant (also known as The Bunker) at the top of the Christmas chairlift. They have the best tacos in the area. If you haven't been to Sun Valley because it takes too long to get there or here’s no ski in/ski out places to stay, I urge you to reconsider. It’s easier to get to than you think and the lack of lodging on the mountain gives it a more pristine and unspoiled feel. The resort shuttle service is frequent and friendly and I guarantee that you will appreciate the open vistas and serenity of the area.

Sun Valley Resort

4.5

Excellent

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My first ski experience was in Sun Valley in 1963. I was a Bellman at the Sun Valley Lodge. The historic Lodge with the outdoor ice skating rink and 360* pool sits in the valley 1 mile to the delightful town of Ketchem. The original bowling alley in the basement of the Lodge is still open. Across from the Lodge is the beautiful sister hotel The Challenger Inn which has been totally remodeled. This hotel still has the original façade as does the Lodge. Sun Valley was the first resort built to be a Ski Resort in 1936, and the first chairlift in the United States is still standing. Sun Valley Resort is connected to the lifts by complimentary buses. There are also 1 to 5 bedroom condos in the Resort which are great for families. Ketchem offers both hotels and condos also on the free bus line. The hotels range from a Best Western to luxury Knob Hill. There are also many condos to choose for any budget. There is no ski in/out in Sun Valley, but transportation makes if very easy to go skiing, shopping, and dining. Ski School is in 2 areas. Beginner and children at Dollar Mountain(Sun Valley Resort), and at Mount Baldy the main Mountain in Ketchem. Parents need to be advised about this when selecting Sun Valley. Since Sun Valley base elevation is 6000 feet, altitude sickness is not concern. Their snowmaking is the most elaborate in the country, offering good conditions even in low snow years. Besides a great ski mountain, the history of Sun Valley takes you back in time to mingle with all the celebrities who flocked here for the beginning of Skiing. Their photos should not be missed in the Lodge. Sun Valley should be on your bucket list of skiing.

Sun Valley charm

4.5

Excellent

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What a charming destination: Sun Valley Village and Ketchum Idaho. Walking down the hallways in the Sun Valley Lodge and Inn you view the history of skiing and the celebrities that helped grow the sport. It was so entertaining looking at all the black and whites photos from Gary Cooper, Lucille Ball, and Janet Leigh to Peggy Fleming and Arnold Schwarzenegger. In our condo we watched Sun Valley Serenade again and again—what fun to see a young Milton Berle skiing in a raccoon coat and then having dinner at The Roundhouse on top of the mountain with Sonja Henie. We too ate dinner at The Roundhouse. We took the gondola up where we were kept warm and cozy with big horse blankets. Dinner was extraordinary; especially as we watched the almost full moon rise over the mountain range. Breathtaking! Sun Valley Ski area on Bald Mountain has three beautiful day lodges: River Run and Warm Springs at the bottom and Seattle Ridge on top. They were clearly all built with the dramatic mountain views in mind. The skiing was varied with bowls and wide open long runs too. Dollar Mountain is where beginners will be comfortable learning to ski or snowboard. The children’s ski school building is newly built and is clearly laid out with the kids and parents in mind. The meeting place is fun, bright and secure. The kid sized tables have bowls of animal crackers and gold fish all around. One side of the large room is dedicated to pint size ski and snowboard rentals-painless for the kids and parents alike. Go right out the door and start your lessons! The layout even makes it possible for parents or grandparents to watch the kids from a nice, warm spot inside Carol’s Dollar Mountain Lodge. Dollar Mountain also contains the various levels of terrain parks and a new SPT designed 22’ half pipe. They also have designed a great tubing hill and family race course that makes it great fun for all interests.

Sun Valley, Idaho is America’s Shangri la!

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I like places with a history, and Sun Valley ski resort has a storied one. Opening in 1936, it was the West’s first ski area, and they even installed the first chairlift in the world there. With a base area of 5,700 feet and a top elevation of 9,100 feet, Sun Valley ski resort boasts 4,400 vertical feet of skiing and 2,054 skiable acres. The lower elevation at Sun Valley makes it an ideal ski resort to visit for skiers that have trouble with the higher elevations. Sun Valley also boasts Dollar Mountain, a separate lift-served mountain that is exclusively for beginners. You will find Nordic skiing, tubing, snow shoeing, and sleigh rides at Sun Valley. In the summer there is hiking, mountain biking, golf, fly fishing and even trap shooting. Here is another secret: both summer and winter seasons offer some of the best celebrity spotting in the West!