Ok you have made your reservations and decided Sun Valley is going to be this year’s Christmas destination. After being ranked #1 Ski Resort the last 3 years (!!!) by Ski Magazine your pick is an excellent one.
Now what to do? My wife and I lived in San Diego for many years before moving back to Idaho and we packed a lot into the 10 or so days we would visit family here for our Christmas vacation.
Here is our guide to make the most of your holiday season… without further ado The Top 10 things to do in Sun Valley over the holidays! (PS. If you fit all this in, take the month of January off to sip margaritas at the beach and not look at your credit card statement! The “How to Recover from taking the Family Skiing in Sun Valley” list to be posted shortly)
- No holiday visit to Sun Valley is complete without viewing the Torchlight Parade on Dollar. This is a popular event for locals and visitors alike so plan early on where best to view. Pro tip: Pack up some hot chocolate and hot toddies, grab the kids and hike up the hill to the north of Dollar or up Penny Hill (aka Hospital Hill for all of the annual sledding accidents) for an evening and a view not to be missed. Dress as if you live in the arctic!
- Night Skiing at Rotarun – family fun for all Friday evenings. If you haven’t had enough fun during the day, then pack up a cooler, dry off the ski gear and head east of Hailey out Croy Canyon for some big fun at the smallest ski hill in the area. A DJ is usually at work to keep the vibe stoked, firepits are a blazin at the base with non-skiers telling tales, and the wait in line to get onto the classic poma chair provides some good laughs as not all are equally adept at riding successfully.
- A horse-drawn Sleigh Ride to Trail Creek Cabin is an unforgettable experience. I remember as a kid jumping off behind the sleigh and running with my brother to keep up in the snow. Meet in Sun Valley, bring a hot beverage, dress warmly and prepare for an uber Christmasy experience. Pro tip: print out your favorite holiday carols prior to the event and pass around for all to get into the holiday vibes… “Dashing through the snow…!!!”
- Rent Snowmobiles at Smiley Creek for an exciting adventure ripping around the Sawtooth Basin in winter. You can hire a guide for a full or half day adventure or go at it alone if you know your way around a snowmobile. Follow a groomed trail to a high mountain lake for lunch or rent one of their high power machines for an adrenaline fueled rip. You can even spend the night soaking in more of the alpine goodness.
- Fondue at Roundhouse – If I told you how many days of skiing turned into a 3 hour fondue lunch at Roundhouse last year you would be worried about my cheese and white wine intake. Regardless this iconic spot fires on all levels: cozy, friendly, uber chic yet unpretentious. Best bartenders on the mountain… actually best bartenders in town. One word: GO.
- Shopping and Dining in Town – Everyone needs a mellow day walking around Ketchum to recover from a late night at The Pioneer Saloon. The ideal tour includes breakfast at The Kneadery or grab a coffee at Maudes and stop by Silver Creek Outfitters, Huck and Paddle, Sturtevants and The Picket Fence. If your shopping energy ends at Silver Creek Outfitters, head across the street to Lefty’s Bar and Grill to catch a game and wait for the real shoppers to join you.
- One of the unique things about the Sun Valley Village is that locals like to come here as much as tourists as evidenced by all the familiar faces at the Duchin Room and Hemmingway Husky Families at The Village Station. The Holding Family has poured so much into this valley making Baldy, Dollar and the Village just shine. Much of this culminates in the Winter Wonderland Festival hosted by Sun Valley where you can enjoy a European style market, ice carvings and even find yourself humming along with the Sun Valley Carolers to “It happened, in Sun Valley, not so very long ago…”.
- Cross Country Ski and Lunch at Galena Lodge – the makings of a memorable day in the mountains IF you leave your little ones behind. Nothing says “Parent Fail” like taking young kids cross country skiing for the first time. Rent gear and pick a loop to glide through the great white yonder. If you make it to a trail named “Rip and Tear” there is a good chance you will do just that. Soup of the Day at the cozy Galena Lodge after is heaven. If you do bring kids there is a small sledding hill.
- While it will not compete with a farm grown tree or a dare you, a fake one, heading out into the woods to Cut down your Own Christmas Tree is a family tradition that will not be forgotten. Make sure to get your permit at the Forest Service office or online. Our family tries not to take the solo tree in a meadow but rather find one that is already crowded out by others giving them a better chance to thrive. Pro Tip: The size of the tree always grows substantially from the perfect tree you spot outside to your living room – so don’t go too big.
- A Guided Backcountry Skiing Tour and Yurt Overnight – The ultimate overnight stay in Sun Valley is not the Hemingway Suite at the Lodge… it’s in one of the Sun Valley Mountain Huts Yurts (our favorite is Coyote) with support from the best backcountry skiing guides in town at Sun Valley Guides. After a long day of backcountry skiing nothing beats a hearty meal in a yurt surrounded by good friends. Plan this one up to a year in advance and start training as these adventures are not for couch potatoes!
Give us a buzz if we can help you with anything at 858.245.9783.
