Resort Highlight: Sun Valley, Idaho

They don’t call it Sun Valley for nothing. With the sun shining 80% of the time in this world-class Idaho resort and a snowfall of up to 350 inches, Sun Valley’s 2,054 skiable acres are not to be missed. Founded in 1935 by an Austrian Count looking for the ideal site for America’s first destination ski resort, Sun Valley’s fame and notoriety has continued to grow. In its early years it attracted the likes of Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, and the Kennedys. Today it continues to attract Hollywood and ski royalty alike. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Clint Eastwood, and Tom Hanks are regulars, while ski legends and extreme skiers Reggie and Zach Crist and Olympian Picabo Street regularly grace the slopes alongside the locals.

Bald Mountain, also known as “Baldy”, has 13 lifts, 65 runs, and 3,400 feet of vertical to go with its more than 2000 acres. That means there is something for everyone. There’s plenty of mellow groomers on the River Run side and over on sunny Seattle Ridge. The steeps like Limelight, Holiday, Cozy, and Exhibition provide plenty of bumps and burning quads. On powder days, locals and those in the know repeatedly lap any of the six epic Bowls accessed by Mayday and Lookout Chairs. Later in the day be on the lookout for the afternoon sun and leftover powder stashes of Frenchman’s or College South Slopes.

With three on-mountain restaurants and two grand lodges at the base of both River Run and Warms Springs, there are plenty of chances to relax and refuel. The après-ski scene isn’t so bad either. The classic ski town of Ketchum is rich in ski culture with plenty of bars, restaurants, and action to keep you busy off the slopes as well.

Located a two-hour drive from Boise, Sun Valley can be reached by car or air via Friedman Memorial airport, 12 miles south of town. There are plenty of choices for lodging ranging from the historical Sun Valley Lodge in the Sun Valley village to condos or hotels closer to the nightlife in downtown Ketchum. Ranked seventh in Ski Magazine’s reader survey this year, the home of the world’s very first ski lift, the location of Warren Miller’s first ski movies, the headquarters for Smith Sport Optics and the birthplace of Powder Magazine, Sun Valley is rich in ski culture. With its first gondola opening for the 09/10 season, and new, state of the art terrain parks in the works, America’s first destination resort does well to live up to its reputation.

You can find Sun Valley Lift Tickets on Liftopia.com

By Katherine Matteson