The Best of Sun Valley Idaho with Kids

We were very excited when my husband's work led us to a long-term stay in Sun Valley, Idaho.  It's the perfect escape from the extreme Texas summer heat, and it's the prettiest little getaway in the winter!  After a year living between the two states, we are sharing the best of Sun Valley, Idaho with kids in tow!

One of the hardest decisions you'll have to make when traveling to Sun Valley is whether to come in the summer or the winter!  It's equally beautiful during both seasons.  We've spent the majority of our time in the valley during the late summer and early fall, mostly because everyone escapes Texas during this time.  It's the perfect time to visit Sun Valley though, because there are so many activities happening in the area!  

First off, you must take advantage of the free Sun Valley Music Festival!  World-class musicians play in a spectacular venue surrounded by beautiful views of the mountains.  Grab a blanket and a picnic basket, and make an evening of it!  Our favorite performances are the Pops Concert and Lawn Party night.

Other fun and free music events during the summer include the Tuesday night's Ketch'em Alive events, Wednesday night's River Run Summer Series Concerts, and Thursday night's Hailey Rocks Music Series.  These events all include live music, food trucks, beverages, and stunning views of the area.  

We also absolutely LOVE the Community Library in Ketchum!  It is by far the most stunning library we've ever visited!  There's a gorgeous "tree house" room for the kiddos to read in, plus a fire place for the adults to sit and read near.  We especially love the librarian Lee that reads during Story Time on Mondays at 10:30 am.  She's highly engaging, doesn't mind children wandering around or chiming in during Story Time, and also pairs the story theme with a fun craft.  Another great quality about this library is that it is privately owned, so anyone (local or not) can get a library card to check out books.  This is especially nice if you are staying longterm in the area.  We've been homeschooling between Austin and Sun Valley, so we greatly appreciate this capability!  Be sure to check out the library calendar, as they frequently have other events during the week for kids of all ages. 

Additional crafty activities are held at the Sun Valley Museum of Art.  There's a location in both Ketchum and Hailey (about 25 minutes from each other).  We participated in a ticketed Día de los Muertos Printmaking class and a drop-in weaving class and loved both!

Another wonderful event during the summer months is checking out the Wood River Farmer's Market.  The farmer's market takes place in Hailey, ID on Saturdays and in Ketchum, ID on Wednesdays.  You'll find the freshest and tastiest fruits, veggies, pastries, and breads. Plus, several food trucks, artists, and musicians participate.  

Fox Creek Loop	Fox Creek Loop	Fox Creek Loop
Galena Lodge Trails	View from Our Yurt	Star's Perch Yurt at Galena Lodge
Exploring Around the Yurt	Morning Views at Galena	Inside our Yurt

Most people come to Sun Valley for the beautiful hiking trails.  We've loved Fox Creek Loop, Adam's Gulch Trailhead, and the trails around Galena Lodge.  We spent a night in one of the yurts at Galena Lodge, which is about 30 minutes from downtown Ketchum, and had the best time!  Our yurt, Star's Perch, had a beautiful view and was next to a wood-fired sauna!  The lodge is in a no cell-service area.  It's such a peaceful retreat.

One of my favorite activities is Yoga at River Run.  Yoga is held at the base of Bald Mountain and near a river, so the sights and sounds are picturesque while finding that zen moment.  It's held on Tuesdays and Saturdays and is free! Be sure to pack your own mat and water!

Another great outdoor activity is visiting the Sawtooth Botanical Gardens. The property is filled with the prettiest gardens, art installations, a small pond, a sandbox, a greenhouse, and even a Prayer Wheel that was donated to commemorate the Dalai Lama's visit to Sun Valley.  They also frequently have children's and adult's events, so check out their events calendar.

Also close by is Frenchman's Hot Springs.  It's only 11 miles from downtown Ketchum but a bit off the beaten path so it takes about 30 minutes to get there.  I could spend an entire day sitting in Frenchman's steaming hot water while reading a book surrounded by mountains and trees!

Almost every day in Sun Valley is sunny, but if you catch a less than perfect weather day, the bowling alley and game room in the basement of the Sun Valley Resort is one of our family's favorite spots.  We also really enjoy the Magic Lantern Movie Theatre.  It's an old-school theatre that feels warm and cozy.  Note that the theatre is cash only!

If you're willing to travel a bit, there are several destinations nearby.  Redfish Lodge is one of our favorite spots.  You can make a day of it by stopping at Stanley Baking Company for a tasty and hearty breakfast!  Their breakfast sandwich, almond croissant, and brownie are my personal favorites.  Afterwards, you can head to Redfish Lodge for a day by the lake.  Bring a picnic, some towels and a swimsuit to make the most of it.  My daughter and her bestie had the most fun on the paddle boats, but just wading around in the water is equally as fun.  There are also canoes, paddle boards, bikes, and boats to rent.  On the way back into Sun Valley, stop for a delicious burger and milkshake at the famous Smiley Creek Parlor.

Twin Falls is another destination that can be a day trip.  Halfway between Sun Valley and Twin Falls, which is about a 1.5 hour drive, is the Shoshone Ice Caves.  It was a really neat experience to see the lava caves to a depth of 100 feet underground, and our tour guide was fantastic!  It is VERY cold in the caves, so be sure to pack your coat, hat and mittens.  We then continued our drive into Twin Falls to see the waterfalls it's known for!  We were blown away by the massive and majestic Shoshone Falls.  It's easy to get to and only costs $5 to park.  You can bring a picnic and hang out in the area while you take in the beauty.  We were especially impressed with Perrine Coulee Falls though!  It was a bit difficult to find, so we stopped by the Tourist Information Center to get directions and quickly found the waterfalls after.  To get to the waterfall, take Canyon Springs Road down into the canyon and you'll find the waterfall just off the road along one of the curves.  We loved this location because you can actually walk behind the waterfall!  We called the little drops of water that landed on us "waterfall kisses".  Our daughter could have spent a full day exploring behind and playing in the waterfall.  If you've worked up a good appetite after all the exploring, head to Yellow Brick Cafe.  We loved this place so much, that we visited it twice in our 24 hour stay.  The London Fog, YBC Eggwich, and Lemon Ricotta Pancakes were at the top of our list!

Also in the area of Twin Falls are many farms to pick fresh fruit!  We visited Peters Family Farms to pick fresh blackberries and strawberries, and we had the most amazing time!  The owner of the farm was incredibly kind and let us spend as much time as we liked in the fields.  We came home with 10 pounds of fruit and made the freshest jam.  

Seasonal Events:

• August - September: Sun Valley on Ice - See Olympic Ice Skaters perform at the stunning rink in the Sun Valley Resort.

• September: Wagon Days - A close up view of the gigantic Lewis Ore Wagons, the largest non-motorized parade in the western region, the "Big Hitch", games, music, food, and more make this festival one not to be missed!  I highly recommend getting tickets to sit in the grandstand seating.  It's the best view of the big hitch!

• October:
  • Oktoberfest - Hosted by a local brewery, Sawtooth Brewery, this festival is filled with food, lawn games, music, and more!
  • Trailing of the Sheep Festival - Watch an authentic trailing of over 1,500 sheep downtown Ketchum, paired with cooking classes, a folklife fair, and sheepdog trials!
• December: Sun Valley's Winter Wonderland - Caroling, a European-style market, Christmas movies, tree lighting, a parade and fireworks make this month extra special in the Valley!

• Scout Wine & Cheese: This might be our biggest obsession in Sun Valley!  The wine, the cheese, the small plates, the atmosphere!  It's all SO good!!  If you're headed to one of The Sun Valley Music Festival nights, grab a charcuterie box to-go from here!

• Enoteca: This restaurant always has the most amazing nightly specials, but you can't go wrong with one of their pizzas!  Reservations recommended.

• The Covey: This place isn't exactly kid-friendly, but bring along a busy bag and they'll be highly entertained while you enjoy a delicious cocktail and even yummier meal!  They do have some delicious cheesy-noodles for the kids that are off the menu.  Reservations recommended.

• Rickshaw: You won't be disappointed with this Asian-fusion spot!  Our faves are the K.F.C., pot stickers, and sautéed Asian greens.
• Warfield Distillery & Brewery: Local beers and spirits with upscale food make this a must-visit restaurant!

• Coffee Spots: Hank & Sylvie's, Maude's, Konditorei, and Black Owl are our go-to spots for coffees, pastries, and breakfast!

• Leroy's Ice Cream: This adorable ice cream shop is downtown Ketchum, so it's a great place to sit and take in the beautiful area.  I am partial to the Elk Tracks ice cream!

• Ketchum Kitchens - While this isn't a restaurant, it does source the most decadent foods from local vendors.  We grab fresh pasta made by Mason Family Provisions almost on a weekly basis from here.  They also have charcuterie goods, fresh baked goods, wine, and specialty pantry foods.

There's so much to love in Sun Valley!  Let us know below what you check out on our list of The Best of Sun Valley, Idaho with Kids! What areas of Idaho should we check out next?