Despite what people may tell you, there's only one place to stay in Sun Valley, Idaho. You simply stay in Sun Valley, located in the heart of Idaho around the Sawtooth Mountains. This is because Sun Valley is not a town, it is an exclusive resort. The entire Sun Valley area is dedicated to this beautiful, part Swiss and part Western, resort village, with restaurants, shops, grocery stores, ice-skating rinks, and even a small theater--all included.
To stay *around* Sun Valley you need to go to the actual town there, known as Ketchum, Idaho. This is where there are condos, cabins, hotels, homes and a real town. Don't get worried though, it's a short stroll, and you can easily walk from Sun Valley to Ketchum and back.
The reason people flock to the local is the magnificent ski and snowboarding options available. Pristine mountains, perfect snow, and exclusive runs help make the fun activities all the more indulgent.
When the snow melts away, world-class fishing, hiking, and white-water rafting are always easy to find. Any and every outdoor activity imaginable is readily available in Sun Valley/Ketchum, including dog sledding, rock climbing, camping, and BASE-jumping.
Sun Valley offers many rooms and assorted prices, but unfortunately tends to still be very expensive. It's much more economical to stay in a hotel in Ketchum, but still not exactly cheap, though the town offers almost everything you could imagine needing for a great vacation. While the hotels offer you the basic necessities, it's the stunning amount of condos, cabins, and rental homes available that make things really unique.
Using a condo, instead of a hotel, helps make your vacation all the more cozy and comfortable. It also helps save money on lodging, food, and travel, especially if a group of friends get a big cabin together. Everything in Sun Valley/Ketchum is nearby and usually within easy walking distance, so hotel or cabin, you'll always be near great restaurants and shops.
A nice hotel room may offer a cozy bed when you're done playing for the day, but a condo offers a warm fire to dry those snowboarding pants near. You may be able to rent a movie at the hotel, but a cabin lets you curl up on a couch with popcorn and hot chocolate. An Inn may offer one hot tub for guests to use, filled with total strangers, but a house gives you a private tub to soak a sore body in.
The best thing about rentals in Ketchum is that there is no end to the choices available. From traditional western cabins to modern luxury condos, every style and price range is ready for rental. Rentals sizes range from cozy cabins that sleep two people, to gigantic cabins that sleep 18 people.
It's a very popular trend for people and companies in Idaho to own cabins or condos in Ketchum, and then rent them out most of the year. In fact, there are entire neighborhoods in the area filled with nothing but rental homes for visitors. From large companies to private families, the entire Ketchum economy is built around the idea of tourists coming in and getting cozy with the area.
* A Few Tips From a Local*
1. If you do take the stroll from Sun Valley to Ketchum, make sure to look for the old "semen Ranch" along the way. Its actually called "Horsemen Ranch", but rowdy teens always seem to steal the "H-O-R" whenever the sign is fixed. A bit childish, but I always have to stop and take a picture of my friends under the sign.
2. Be respectful of the swans in Sun Valley. In the middle of the resort is a beautiful pond, right in front of the mini-theater. The pond usually has swans living in it, except during winter. These swans are used to people, and are happy to keep to themselves. Just make sure not to aggravate them, because you would not believe how fast an angry swan can run!
This guide to Sun Valley vacationing was brought to you by Aysha Schurman.