15 Incredible Things to Do in Sun Valley, Idaho

LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO IN SUN VALLEY?

You’re in the right place! We both grew up in Idaho and love exploring our home state. After your first visit to Sun Valley Idaho, you will ask yourself – when do we get to come back here?

It is a town filled with unique and enjoyable activities, exhilarating fresh air, and tales of history like the famous local Ernest Hemingway. There are so many fun things to do in Sun Valley. We love hiking, biking and just plain relaxing here. We’ve also enjoyed some amazing fine dining in Sun Valley. We’ll share our favorite things to to do here and all the need-to-know details about visiting this beautiful resort town.

Best Things to Do in Sun Valley, ID

1. Sun Valley Lodge

The Sun Valley Lodge is a popular place to stay in Sun Valley but is also well worth a visit even if you aren’t staying there. For about 80 years, the lodge has been hosting Hollywood stars, global leaders, and families on vacation. Just take a look around – the halls are filled with pictures of famous people who have visited.

We have stayed on-site at Sun Valley Resort and always have a great time. The pools there are so nice and we love hanging out at the pool and hot tub in the afternoon. It is a great central location making it a great home base for exploring and has fantastic customer service.

Check Prices for the Sun Valley Lodge Here!

The lodge and surrounding grounds are well manicured and beautiful with activities to keep you busy all day. They have recently updated the lodge guest rooms and staying here would put you right in the middle of everything Sun Valley has to offer. Also, take some time to explore the local shops in the Sun Valley Village, found just outside the Lodge. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful flower beds, and some fun shops.

2. Downtown Ketchum

Just down the street from Sun Valley area is Ketchum, a nearby small town.  The streets of Ketchum are filled with world-class boutiques and shops, many of which are focused on the outdoors. We couldn’t believe the number of fly shops there. There are also delicious restaurants, touristy shops, and a fantastic public square. The Visitors Center is found in the cutest Starbucks we have ever seen. You won’t want to miss it!

3. Rent a Bike

There is no better way to explore the Sun Valley Idaho area than by going on a bike ride. There are so many different options for renting bikes if you don’t bring your own.  Pete Lane’s Bike Shop offers all sorts of rentals. They have everything from mountain bikes to tandem bikes as well as trailers for the kiddos.

Their rentals start at a half-day. If you don’t want to bike for that long, look for the bike rental stations around downtown Ketchum. They rent bikes by the hour. Biking is one of the best outdoor activities to do in the surrounding area.

Head up to Bald Mountain if you want to do some mountain biking. If that isn’t quite your speed, I recommend renting a bike to explore downtown Ketchum and biking along the Wood River Paved Path. It runs from Ketchum to Bellevue. You will get beautiful mountain views of the Big Wood River and the surrounding area.

4. Gondola/Hiking at Bald Mountain

If you aren’t quite up for mountain biking, still spend some time at Bald Mountain. It is so beautiful and so much fun! Start at the base of River Run. There is a shop where you can browse through $1,000+ ski jackets. This is no joke. Sometimes you find a jacket that is 50% off – what a steal! 😊

Across from the shop you can buy your gondola tickets. Once you hit the end of the gondola ride, you can take a chairlift to the top of the mountain.

Another option is to hike up the Bald Mountain Trail. If you do hike up, you are rewarded! The ride down the mountain on the gondola is free. If your situation permits, take the chairlift to the top. The view from the top is one of the best I have seen. If you enjoy hiking in Boise, Sun Valley’s Dollar Mountain is another great place to hike.

5. Roundhouse Restaurant

While you are on Bald Mountain, stop at the Roundhouse Restaurant for lunch. The Roundhouse Restaurant is found mid-way up the mountain where the gondola ride ends and has beautiful views.

The restaurant serves a variety of sandwiches, salads, burgers, and more. I had the salmon BLT and it was delicious! Try to snag a table outside so you can enjoy more views of the Sawtooth mountains and the town of Ketchum. The view alone is worth it!

6. Ernest Hemingway’s Grave

For any of those who don’t know, Ernest Hemingway was an American short story writer and journalist. Most of his work was done between the mid-1920s and the mid-1950s.

He won the Novel Prize in Literature in 1954. In 1959, he bought a house in Ketchum, Idaho. Hemingway loved to fish, hunt, and write in Idaho and was buried there in 1961. You can pay your respects at his grave in the Ketchum Cemetery.

His grave along with some of his family members is located in the middle of the cemetery, surrounded by large trees. If you are visiting in September, you can attend the Ernest Hemingway Festival.

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7. Sun Valley Gun Club

Coltin loves sport shooting so he couldn’t pass by the opportunity to visit the Sun Valley Gun Club. The club is open to the public and is just up the road from the lodge.

I went with the intention of watching him but the old guys behind the counter convinced me to join in. I am glad I did. A miracle happened – I hit some targets and had a lot of fun doing it. The staff did a fabulous job of balancing our different experience levels and helping me to feel comfortable.

If you have your own gun and ammunition you can bring it to save some money. If not, they have guns and ammunition you can use there.

8. Ice Show and Buffet

Each summer Sun Valley hosts Sun Valley on Ice. The lineup is filled with some of the world’s best ice skaters, some of them are even Olympic medalists. The show is about 90 minutes and has a variety of different performances ranging from little kids skating to large group performances to Olympic quality performances.

There are two different experiences you can choose from. The first is the buffet and ice show. Dinner opens about three hours before the show and has a fantastic variety of options you can choose from. There are delicious salads, fruits, sides, and meats along with a jaw-dropping dessert bar.

After dinner, you watch the ice show from your dinner seats. These tickets do sell out, so you will want to purchase your tickets in advance. The second option is seating in the grandstands next to the ice rink.

You can also check the schedule to ice skate at the Sun Valley Ice Rink during your visit.

9. Summer Symphony

The Summer Symphony performs free Classical music concerts throughout the summer in Sun Valley. Unfortunately, the weekend we were in Sun Valley Idaho, the symphony performance was at the same time as the ice show, so we didn’t get to attend.

We did catch their dress rehearsal earlier in the day though and it was just fantastic.

10. Bowl/Games at the Lodge

If you’re looking for some time inside, check out the bowling alley and arcade in the basement of the Sun Valley lodge. It has televisions, bar and food service, arcade games, a bowling alley, and more. It was a great place to get a break from the summer heat and relax.

11. The Spa

If you are in need of some rest and relaxation, look no further than the Sun Valley Spa. It is a top-notch facility containing a fitness center, locker rooms that I wish I could transport into my house, a pool, waiting areas, and treatment rooms.

There is just no way to describe and give justice to the experience you will have here. You just need to check it out for yourself. We love their 50 Minute Sun Valley Massage.

Make sure to check out the experience shower in the locker room. It is a shower with a crazy amount of showerheads. It will be an experience you won’t ever forget.

12. Swimming

If you are staying at one of the Sun Valley properties or go to the spa, you will have access to their swimming pools. There are three swimming pools available, but we usually go to the lodge pool, which is just downstairs from the spa. Bring a book, order some food poolside and enjoy!

If you aren’t staying at one of the Sun Valley Idaho properties, you can pay for a day pass for the facilities or there is a YMCA in Ketchum you can go to.

13. The Opera House

The Opera House is a movie theater that is just a short walk from the Lodge and is another great way to escape the heat or a place for some downtime. They show recently released movies, but they also have special showings for kids and families. Ticket costs for these movies are only $2.

14. Sun Valley Lake

If you’re looking for a little beach time in the mountains, head to the Sun Valley Lake. I use the word lake because that is its official name. To us, it is more of a pond but still can be a lot of fun. You can rent paddle boats to take around the lake. There are also horseshoes and a volleyball court you can use.

15. Go Star Gazing

The night sky in this part of Idaho is just beautiful and has very little light pollution. In fact over 1,416-square-miles of Central Idaho, including Ketchum and Sun Valley Idaho, are designated as an official Dark Sky Reserve. There are only 12 reserves worldwide so make sure to enjoy this while you are in the area.

It takes about 15 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the night sky and you are in the mountains so remember to bring some warm clothes and blankets. Even the evenings in the middle of the summer can get chilly.

Conclusion: Things to do in Sun Valley

We always leave Sun Valley feeling refreshed and relaxed….and wondering why we are leaving in the first place. It’s a wonderful and worthwhile place to visit and we hope you have an amazing time there.

It is a short drive from Boise, making it easy to visit. It reminds us a lot of Park City, another resort town just outside Salt Lake City.

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