Seattle's Great Escapes: Ketchum Sun Valley

Most people hear Sun Valley, Idaho, and think of Hollywood power and mountain powder. But there’s more to do at the Sun Valley Resort and in its neighboring city of Ketchum in spring and summer than in winter, with or without the glitterati. Nestled in the picturesque Sawtooth Mountains, the former mining town of Ketchum is an outdoor aficionado’s mother lode, boasting an average of 250 sunny days a year. Here’s a partial checklist of available activities: golfing, horseback riding, ice skating, fly-fishing, hiking, biking, skateboarding and whitewater rafting. And for the more sedentary: chairlift riding.

Travel time from Seattle: About 2 hours by air and 10.5 hours by car

What’s New:
The Sun Valley Pavilion outdoor concert stage, opened in 2008, hosts performances all summer long. See touring artists and free concerts by the Sun Valley Summer Symphony, celebrating its 26th anniversary this year. Itzhak Perlman is the featured soloist on opening night of the 2010 Orchestra Festival (August 2). What’s old is also new in Ketchum: The legendary Whiskey Jacques, destroyed by fire in 2008, reopened last December. For live music and a stiff drink, Whiskey is the place.

What To Do:
Stroll down almost any street in Ketchum and you’re bound to hit an art gallery. Make it a point to see the Gail Severn Gallery, where contemporary art meets contemporary architecture. The  Pioneer Saloon on Main Street has been serving up monster steaks since 1950, but don’t go if you’re shy: The mounted moose and elk heads keep watchful eyes on the Pio’s patrons. Open since December, Sego Restaurant and Bar features local, sustainable and seasonal fare, successfully melding big-city restaurant with small-town ambience. Caffeinators should go to java and give in to the Bowl of Soul, a supremely silky mix of espresso, freshly brewed coffee, chocolate and fresh whipped cream, and perhaps contemplate the Sun Valley Wellness Festival, which kicks off Memorial Day weekend with keynote speaker and part-time Sun Valley resident Jamie Lee Curtis. 

Where To Stay:
Sun Valley’s crown jewel is the historic Sun Valley Resort, but Ketchum offers many other lodging options. The Best Western Kentwood Lodge ($99.99–$210.99 per night) is cozy and affordable, and the Knob Hill Inn ($275–$525 per night) boasts a charming European ambience. For condo or house rentals, Resort Quest Sun Valley ($91–$2,500 per night) has many townhomes, condos and single-family homes available.

History with Altitude
Sun Valley Resort

Sun Valley was North America’s first destination ski resort, founded in 1936 by Union Pacific Railroad exec—and politician/diplomat—W. Averell Harriman. Stroll the halls of the Sun Valley Lodge for a brief history lesson: The walls are decorated with black-and-white photos documenting its history as the destination for celebrities past and present— from Ernest Hemingway to Marilyn Monroe to Arnold Schwarzenegger. You can still visit the world’s first ski chair lift on Proctor Mountain as well, but you can’t ride it. History aside, outdoor activities abound in Sun Valley. The activities desk can set you up on a mountain-bike ride, a fly-fishing adventure, a local hike, or a world-class golf outing at the White Clouds or Trail Creek courses. Walk through the lodge lobby and you will discover the outdoor ice-skating rink—open year-round—where former Olympians such as Nancy Kerrigan and Sasha Cohen have performed in spectacular summer ice shows. Take a stroll through the quaint Sun Valley Village and shop for outdoor gear at Pete Lane’s or a sweet treat at The Chocolate Foundry. Hungry? The village has many options. Enjoy a slice at Bald Mountain Pizza, some pastry at Konditorei Coffee or elegant dining in the Lodge Dining Room. There’s also plenty of entertainment: Try The Boiler Room for comedy or karaoke, or the Duchin Lounge for live jazz.

Prices: Lodge room $229–$579/day, condos $199-$600/day 800.786.8259 sunvalley.com.
Getting there: From Main Street, Ketchum, go about 1 mile northeast on Sun Valley Road to the resort entrance.

Ketchum Sun Valley Coordinates
Best Western Kentwood Lodge
180 S Main St.
208.726.4114
bestwestern.com/
kentwoodlodge

Gail Severn Gallery
400 First Ave. N
208.726.5079

Java
191 Fourth St.
208.726.2882

Knob Hill Inn
960 Main St. S
208.726.8010
knobhillinn.com

Pioneer Saloon
308 Main St. N
208.726.3139
pioneersaloon.com

Resort Quest Sun Valley
800.371.9180
resortquestsunvalley.com

Sego Restaurant and Bar
131 Washington Ave.
208.928.7878
segorestaurant.com

Sun Valley Gallery
Association
208.726.4950
svgalleries.org

Sun Valley Pavilion
888.622.2108
sunvalley.com/SunValley/info/act.ent.sym.aspx

Sun Valley Summer
Symphony
208.622.5607
svsummersymphony.org

Sun Valley Wellness
Festival
208.726.2777
sunvalleywellness.org

Whiskey Jacques
251 N Main St.
208.726.5297
whiskeyjacques.com