Outdoor adventures, fantastic food, and family fun are just some of the things you can find in Sun Valley. The area is known for its incredible snow and downhill slopes, but there are many other year-round things to do in Sun Valley with your family.
We have been visiting this area for several years, and each time we discover something new. It seems like no matter how often we visit, or how long we stay, we are always sad to leave and immediately begin to plan our return.
Because many families want to know what they can do in Sun Valley with kids, here are 11 activities that don’t involve downhill skiing or snowboarding — because you already know you can do those activities here!
(1) Bowl at the Sun Valley Lodge
Located in the basement of the iconic Sun Valley Lodge is a vibrant and retro bowling alley with six lanes, arcade games, and other activities. You can’t make reservations, but you can put your name on the list, grab a bite to eat, and play some games while you wait.
(2) Go For a Hike
The landscape in Sun Valley is breathtaking. Walking through the trails and forested areas here is therapeutic. With so many different types of trails, you can select something more casual or an intense multi-day trek!
(3) Swim at the Limelight or Sun Valley Resort
The heated outdoor pools and patios might be enough to make you select one of these hotels for your stay. The Limelight Hotel has a large pool flanked with two hot tubs, and fire pits perfect for making s’mores. The Sun Valley Resort has three pools to choose from, two heated in the winter, and an Olympic-sized pool which is open in the summer.
(4) Mountain Bike
With over 400 miles of single track throughout the area, Sun Valley is a prime destination for mountain biking. In the summer Bald Mountain operates America’s longest purpose-built downhill trail and touts over 3,100 vertical feet of lift-accessed trails. Mountain biking paradise! For those seeking less of a thrill, there are trails for all ability levels and over 30 paved miles for smoother riding.
(5) Play a Round of Golf
When golfing in Sun Valley, you have three different golf courses to choose from. Select the course that best fits your family’s needs, and then hit the Sun Valley Club after! During the summer the patio wraps around to give beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. Make sure to try their avocado grilled cheese, which my husband has crowned the “best sandwich in the world.”
(6) Dine Out
Ready for some insane food? Sun Valley is full of amazing restaurants and too many to include in just a couple of sentences. But some of our favorites include Gretchen’s, Village Station, The Warfield, Konditorei (for breakfast), and the Limelight (for live music).
(7) Visit Galena Lodge
Only about a 30-minute drive from downtown Ketchum is Galena Lodge. Open year round, this destination has activities for all ages and ability levels. In the winter you can enjoy snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and sledding. In the warmer months, there are miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. In addition, to the stunning scenery, Galena Lodge serves delicious food and drinks.
We love visiting Galena Lodge because the trails are dog friendly, and so is the patio. So, after a fun day of outdoor adventures, we can grab some food and dine with the pup!
(8) Visit the Sun Valley Nordic Center
Minutes from downtown Ketchum is the Sun Valley Nordic Center, a Family Vacay winter favorite! During the winter the golf course is converted to miles of groomed trails for snowshoeing and Nordic skiing with options for all ability levels. We recently visited here and tried cross-country skiing and it was so much fun! The views of Bald Mountain are breathtaking, and the Sun Valley Club is open for lunch — which is the perfect way to end an active day in the snow.
(9) Play in the Snow
In the winter everywhere you look is glistening white snow, just waiting to be played in! There are many sledding hills around town and some perfect hills at Galena Lodge. If you’re staying at the Limelight Hotel, they have community sleds you can borrow.
(10) Enjoy a Sleigh Ride
Snow-capped peaks and a horse-drawn sleigh ride are things you can only find in a mountain town. The sleigh rides range from 30 minutes, a private journey, or a dinner ride to the Trail Creek Cabin. Something magical the whole family can enjoy!
(11) Ice Skate
The Sun Valley Resort operates one of the only year-round outdoor rinks in the country. It is open daily for a fun and casual family activity. View the schedule to see if you’ll be able to see one of their incredible shows.
(12) Visit Art Galleries and Shops
Even if you don’t love shopping, you’ll enjoy shopping in Sun Valley. There are so many unique boutiques, galleries, and interesting things to look at and learn about. Downtown Ketchum is perfect to meander and see where the day takes you. A great place for the family to enjoy art is the Sun Valley Museum of Art, kids love the Toy Store Sun Valley, and if you’re traveling with a pup stop by Thunderpaws Pet Shoppe.
If you want to learn more about the Sun Valley Resort and all the activities there, then you can read this post about our recent stay here.
