Sun Valley and its surroundings are pretty tough to top when it comes to sheer variety of family entertainment options. To help yours make the most of it all, here’s a rundown of the Top 10 Summer Family Activities!
1. Go for a Bike Ride
The Wood River Trail System offers 20 paved miles of trails that include historical markers, benches and access to the Big Wood River. Bald Mountain is a hot spot for downhill mountain bikers and there are even Pump Parks for the youngsters in Ketchum and Hailey.
2. Throw a Frisbee!
The Valley is now home to two terrific Frisbee golf courses, which are both free and open to all abilities. Locals have turned the old Warm Springs golf course into the Ketchum Disc Golf Course and last summer the Keefer Park Frisbee Golf Course opened in the Woodside section of Hailey.
3. Go to the Symphony!
The Sun Valley Summer Symphony offers free concerts each July and August on the picnic-friendly lawns of the stunning Sun Valley Pavilion. There’s even a “Kids’ Music Tent” for children (4 to 10), which offers a hands-on musical experience.
4. Make Something!
Kids of all ages love to create things with their own two hands. Ketchum’s Local Color and Boulder Mountain Clayworks offer paint-your-own ceramic studios and The Bead Shop “Plus” in Hailey offers a great selection for jewelry and craft-making projects.
5. Check out a Museum!
The Ketchum-Sun Valley Ski & Heritage Museum offers exhibits on everything from the local mining and sheepherding history to Ernest Hemingway’s time in Idaho to the rich story of America’s original destination ski resort. Ketchum’s Ore Wagon Museum and Hailey’s Blaine County Historical Museum are also good options.
6. Go for a Swim!
When it’s too cold or rainy to swim outdoors, there are still plenty of indoor swimming options. The Wood River YMCA has an amazing kids’ pool and Sun Valley Resort offers three pools for guests, including the famous outdoor heated Lodge Pool, which offers cocktail service for patrons. Zenergy at Thunder Spring also offers indoor and outdoor saline pools.
7. Catch a Movie!
Built in 1937, the Sun Valley Opera House offers first run movies and free daily showings of “Sun Valley Serenade” during the winter. Ketchum’s Magic Lantern Cinema and Hailey’s Big Wood Cinemas offer a more modern feel for moviegoers.
8. Go Fishing!
The area offers several “Family Fishing Waters,” including Penny Lake in Ketchum, Riverside Pond in Hailey or Gavers Lagoon south of Bellevue.
9. Find Some Great Books!.jpg)
Ketchum is lucky to be home to two of the country’s most highly-acclaimed independent bookstores, Chapter One and Iconoclast—the latter includes a huge kids’ selection. The Community Library in Ketchum and the Hailey Public Library also have amazing kids’ sections.
10. Eat, Drink & Be Merry!
From fine dining at the Roundhouse more than halfway up Bald Mountain to the authentic German fare of the Konditorei to the area’s ample kid-friendly burger joints like Lefty’s, the Wicked Spud or Mahoney’s, there are plenty of great options for family dining.