48 Hours in Sun Valley

9AM CRISTINA'S

Start your day with a hearty and delicious breakfast at Cristina's in Ketchum, a short 20-minute walk or 5-minute bike ride from Sun Valley Lodge. A proud Italian, all of Cristina's menu items have a Tuscan flair. Our favorites include the orange cinnamon French toast and Cristina's eggs. They also have a fantastic variety of pastries, breads and muffins if you're looking for something on the go. Make sure to leave with one of Cristina's cookbooks as a great souvenir.

10AM HIKE BALD MOUNTAIN

With over 28 miles to explore in Sun Valley, any skill level of hiker will be beyond thrilled to conquer Bald Mountain. If you want to experience the trails with a guide, contact Pete Lanes Outdoor Adventures to schedule one. Pete Lane's has several different types of preplanned hikes or ask to set up your own private hike depending on which areas of the mountain you want to explore and your skill level. If you're in the area on a Monday or Friday, join the free guided hikes up White Clouds trails.

1PM RASBERRY'S FOOD REVERENCE

411 5TH ST. KETCHUM, ID 83340

Located off the main street in Ketchum, Rasberry's is the perfect spot for an outdoor lunch. Fall in love with the cute patio and delicious food. Our picks: the Italian grilled cheese, Tita's enchiladas and Rasberry's street tacos (get 2 each of the chicken, fish and shredded pork). Wash them all down with a big glass of their homemade lemonade.

2PM SHOP AROUND DOWNTOWN KETCHUM AND SUN VALLEY

From mountain bike and fly-fishing shops to unique home gifts, clothing and jewelry, Ketchum has a shop or two for everyone on your list. The adventure seekers will love walking through the sports shops, picking out new gear that they've got to have while people looking for something unique for souvenirs will be just as happy with the unique offerings. A few of our favorite shops include Girl Friday for their unique jewelry, The Farmer's Daughter for fun hostess gifts, and Iconoclast Books and Cafe for the specialty books on paperback.

If you're in Ketchum on Tuesdays be sure to check out the Wood River Farmers Market. So much more than your traditional market, the Woodriver Farmers Market also serves prepared foods like street tacos, ribs and pastas plus a variety of arts and crafts from local artisans.

5PM FREE FLY FISHING CASTING CLINIC

Have you ever tried fly-fishing? It's more of an art form than you might think. Join the 5:30 pm fly-fishing casting clinic (offered every Tuesday through Saturday) to learn the right and wrong way to throw your cast. You'll learn from an experienced teacher and have the confidence to go out on a fly-fishing adventure. We recommend Silver Creek Outfitters for guided fly fishing trips and they're kid approved, too!

7PM TRAIL CREEK CABIN

One of the best meals in the area is Trail Creek Cabin, a dining spot way about a mile and half from Sun Valley Lodge and frequented by Ernest Hemingway himself. This romantic steak house has all the charm you'd expect from a creek side restaurant plus absolutely delicious food. You must try the Cauliflower Custard (a tart like appetizer with a parmesan crisp top), the bison sliders, the Brass Ranch meatloaf, stuffed with buffalo, lamb and apple wood smoked bacon, and the slow cooked pork ribs. Make a reservation for the outside seating. The constant water flow makes for the perfect ambience and you're likely to see a deer or two grazing across the creek.

Only open in winter, if you happen to visit Sun Valley in the summer, we have a few delicious suggestions to fill your belly. If you're looking for outdoor dining in a relaxed atmosphere and quality food, head to The Grill at Knob Hill. If you want something a little more exotic, try Rickshaw and order the hot KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) for the table!

8AM YOGA ON THE MOUNTAIN

By day two you'll understand that people in Sun Valley don't sleep in; there's too much to do outdoors to waste one minute of day light on sleeping.

Start your morning off right with a peaceful yet challenging hour of yoga. Located at the base of Bald Mountain, you'll have the grass the ground you, the beautiful bright blue sky to look up to and the mountain air to fill your lungs. We promise you'll never want to take another yoga class indoors again. This is what was meant when yogis want to feel a closer connection to the earth.

11AM HORSEBACK RIDING

With hiking and biking already on the itinerary, consider horseback riding for another way to see the area. We love the ride up Dollar Mountain for a unique perspective of Bald Mountain. If you're traveling with young kids they also offer a group wagon ride for groups. Call the stables to inquire about times and pricing.

12PM SUN VALLEY CLUB

Overlooking the 18 course putting greens, the driving range and off in the distance, Bald Mountain, the Sun Valley Club has the best view of any restaurant in all of Sun Valley. A popular stop for golfers, the clubhouse is a great spot to grab lunch.

2PM MOUNTAIN BIKING

Perhaps giving skiing and winter sports a run for their money is mountain biking in the summer. With over 400 miles of trails, from paved looped paths that start right from the center of town to off-road dirt trails testing your limits and strength, Sun Valley is a mountain bike lovers dream.

2PM GOLF

It could be argued that you could come to Sun Valley just for the golf. At the Sun Valley Lodge alone you could play 45 different holes on 3 very distinct courses. With White Clouds course, you'll play 9 holes with unobstructed views of the Wood River Valley. For that course, pick a tee time around 7pm to watch the sun slowly drop below the mountaintops. If you're up for a challenge, pick Elkhorn course and try to escape 100 sand traps. But you can't leave without teeing off at their signature course, Trail Creek. Renowned and recognized by Golf Digest, Trail Creek is an alpine course that crosses the creek over seven times.

6PM PIONEER SALOON

Spend your last night in downtown Ketchum at the Pioneer Saloon, an institution in Sun Valley and a local and tourist favorite. Once an illegal gambling hall, this restaurant is known as much for its amazing steak and fish entrees as it is for the incredible historical artifacts that line the walls.

The restaurant doesn't take reservations and the line is always long, so be prepared to wait because it's well worth it. You really can't go wrong with any item on the menu but a few favorites are the Ketchum Cut Prime Rib and Shrimp combo (with a huge Idaho baked potato), the Center Cut Numen Pork Chops or the fresh Idaho rainbow trout. Don't leave without ordering the cobbler served a la mode, of course.

8PM EVENTS IN SUN VALLEY

Almost every day and night there are exclusive and incredible events happening in Sun Valley and Ketchum. Check out the full list of events and don't miss our favorites: Ride Sun Valley, Ice Shows featuring Olympic Medalists, Wine Down Wednesdays in the Botanic Garden, and the Sun Valley Summer Symphony.

WHERE TO STAY: SUN VALLEY LODGE

1 SUN VALLEY RD. SUN VALLEY, ID 83353

The country’s first destination ski lodge, despite being 80 years old, the Sun Valley Lodge just received an immaculate facelift complete with 20,000 sq.ft. destination spa, glass enclosed outdoor pool, and world class fitness center and yoga studio you have to see to believe.