Sun Valley, Idyllic Idaho
Written: Jun 30 '01 (Updated Jul 17 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Scenic Valley, quiet town, friendly,
non commercial.
Cons: Minimal Night life,low altitude, little skiing for beginners
The Bottom Line: Small intimate town with a great ski mountain, few crowds, and great service.
Tough mountain for beginners and intermediates. Conditions are tentative in early spring. No economy housing.
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| timmount's Full Review: Sun Valley |
Introduction
Sun Valley is the resort hotel and shopping center built in Ketchum Idaho by Mr. Harriman to increase passenger miles on his Union Pacific Railroad. Ketchum is the town around the resort, and Baldy is the ski mountain that everyone thinks about when you tell someone you skied at "Sun Valley". Dollar Mountain is the beginner mountain 5 miles from Baldy mountain.
Getting There
The first time I went to Sun Valley I flew into Sun Valley's airport at a small town called Haley about 15 miles from the resort(cost $500). The second time I flew to Salt Lake City and drove the 5 hours to Sun Valley(Cost $200). The last time I flew to Boise and drove the 2 hours to the resort (cost $200).
Taking into account both time and money - the best way was to fly to Boise and drive the two hours to ketchum/SV. The flights to Boise (the state capital) are regular out of Denver International and low cost. The drive from Boise is a very easy 2 hours(plus one speeding ticket),going over the high plateau seperating Sun Valley from Boise.
Ketchum
The "town" of sun valley is actually Ketchum Idaho, a well preserved low key town, which has kept the fundamental nature of the town, preserving motels from the early years of the resort. No high rise hotels, no Walmart
plaza's, no strip malls. Many of the stores and buildings date back 50 years. The newer buildings seamlessly blend into the architectural theme. The shopping is not expansive although there is a nice selection of outdoor and ski stores. Some high end shopping is available but shopping is not what would bring anyone to this mountain retreat.
The streets are not filled with Porsches or Mercedes but Chevrolet Suburbans and Yukons so called Ketchum Cadillacs. Since this is a town of repeat customers there are few Tee Shirt stores or souvenir stands. There are no
convention centers or large hotels therefore few wide eyed tourists are seen roaming the streets. Many of the shops cater to the home owner with furnishings and hardware.
Ketchum/SV caters to the repeat customers many of which own property around the town (Old Seattle Money) and ski area. Don't expect to see bus loads of neophyte skiers unloading at Warm Springs lift. The town is very conservative with a strong emphasis on maintaining its original purpose of mountain hideaway. They have strongly resisted all attempts to bring large chain hotels, large shoppng centers, or a larger airport to this charming rustic valley. Little effort is put out to attract new skiers from California or the East.
Restaurants
We were impressed with the great meals and service that are afforded in Ketchum. Our favorites were Pioneer a very crowded but friendly steak house that has served Ketchum for the last 30 years, Evergreen an elegant upscale restaurant with french cuisine and intimate atmosphere, and soupcon, a french restaurant in a tiny log cabin in a back alley. There were many others that looked great but our vacation came to an end. The restaurants were uniquely decorated, locally owned and the service was excellent. No fast food was found in town.
Warm springs ranch,a older family run restaurant, has irresistable sticky buns that is served in place of bread.
The restaurant is always busy in the winter months with residents of the valley.
Ski Area
Make no mistake, this is a ski area first and foremost.
The mountain is large and serviced by many high speed lifts with minimal lines. The base lodges are spectacular with log
pine architecture blending into the mountain setting. Marble bathrooms, table cloths, gourmet food and few crowds
make you feel you are in your private country club and not a public ski resort. The Seattle Ridge lodge on top of the mountain has won many awards for it architectural elegance. Leather chairs comfort you while overlooking the Valley during lunch. This is the only mountain where there are free telephones at the tables to enable you to call your hotel or make reservations for dinner while having lunch served to you.
Unfortunately the skiing is almost all intermediate or above with few runs that are not alot of work for the lower intermediate recreational skier. My wife who loves Snowmass would not venture out more than once. The runs are long and require some athletic ability to enjoy. No easy blue cruisers are found on either side of the mountain. For the expert skier the runs are great although not hair raising. A large variety of runs and a large bowl will keep your interest all week.
Sun Valley is a favorite hide away for the rich and famous. It is exciting to be in the lift line with the Vice President or some famous actor/actress.
The altitude is lower by 4000 feet than the high Colorado resorts so the snow melts in the middle of March.
February is high season here and March is spring skiing.
Leave your ski on the wall if you come in early April.
The beginner area is located 5 miles from Baldy at "Dollar" mountain - more a ski hill than actual mountain.
Dollar Mountain would be great outside of Cleveland but it is difficult to have your family skiing at two different mountains depending on their skills.
Other Activities
You will enjoy having a car in Sun Valley to go from the hotel to town to the ski area. Take a day off and drive a hundred miles into the Sawtooth Wilderness area up to Stanley Idaho. There are several cross country ski areas serviced by their own lodges along the way to Stanley. The vistas are scenic and worth while.
Summary
Sun Valley has the reputation of being the playground of the rich and famous and in some ways this still holds true. Some skiers find it stuffy and reserved but the skiing is great for intermediate and advanced skier. Few crowds and great service at the mountain. The on mountain facilities are the best in the country if not the world.
Recommended:
Yes
Level of Experience Needed: Intermediate
Best Time to Visit: February
Best Suited For: Couples
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Epinions.com ID:
timmount
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Location: Columbus, Ohio
Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
Hard core skier, business owner in the medical field
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