Sun Valley: The Soul of the Rocky Mountains

Between art, snow and memory: a year-round gem in Idaho

Nestled among pine trees, rugged mountains and skies that seem to go on forever, Sun Valley is not just a ski destination: it's a complete experience that fuses history, art, food and community in a picture-perfect natural setting.

Since its founding in 1936, when the legendary Sun Valley Lodge was built, this corner of Idaho has become a national icon. It was the first ski resort in the United States with a chairlift and attracted celebrities like Ernest Hemingway-who wrote part of For Whom the Bell Tolls Here-and Hollywood stars in search of adventure and privacy. Its mountain architecture, with dark tile roofs and warm wood interiors, preserves intact the spirit of a golden age.

But Sun Valley is not just about history. The nearby town of Ketchum, with its urban murals embracing the valley's mining and natural history, offers an art walk full of color, local identity and views of snow-capped peaks. Each mural tells a story: a cowboy scene, an elk stampede, a dreamlike mountain vision. Here, art is a way of speaking to the landscape.

Walking through Sun Valley Village is like entering a European alpine village adapted to the American West. Stores, cafes and restaurants are surrounded by flowers in summer and golden lights in winter. In winter, the slopes sparkle; in summer, the meadows bloom and the air smells of pine.

The cinematographic route is not far behind. Sun Valley has been the scene of productions that show mountain life, extreme skiing and the tranquility of this place, projecting its image to the world and consolidating its myth.

And when evening falls, there is no better plan than to take refuge in the Ketchum Grill, a bar-restaurant with a mountain spirit, where the wood creaks underfoot and the aroma of a wood-burning oven mingles with the laughter of locals and visitors. Dishes inspired by regional ingredients are served here, accompanied by western wines and craft beers.

Sun Valley is not visited alone: it is felt. You hear it in the crunch of the snow, in the story told on its walls, in the conversation with a proud resident of his community. It's a place to take a deep breath, look around and let time stand still.

Do you want me to complete it for you with photos, location of the points on Google Maps and links as with the ʻIolani Palace? I can put together an equally complete block for you.

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Pioneer Saloon: Where the Old West is served in a tall glass.

Tradition, firewood, and cowboy spirit in the heart of Idaho.

Entering the Pioneer Saloon is like stepping through a doorway back in time. With its dark wood walls, dim lights and rustic décor-including elk heads, leather chairs and photographs of the Old West-this bar-restaurant is a local institution. Since opening in 1940, it has become the place where locals, skiers, artists and travelers cross paths unpretentiously, seeking comfort food and characterful drink.

The typical drink par excellence here is the "Idaho Mule", a local version of the Moscow Mule that substitutes generic vodka for Idaho craft vodka, made from potatoes grown in the nearby valleys. It's served chilled, in its classic copper mug, with spicy ginger, fresh lime juice and a hint of mint. Refreshing, strong and full of character - just like Sun Valley itself.

As for food, the Pioneer is famous for its slow-cooked prime rib and smoked ribs, although the dish that most represents the essence of the place is the "Jim Spud": a huge oven-roasted Idaho potato stuffed with grilled steak, sour cream, cheddar cheese, chives and garlic butter. An ode to the state's most famous tuber, elevated to gourmet level without losing the rustic.

You don't come here just to eat or drink. You come to be part of a living tradition, to hear stories of the mountain, to see pictures of Hemingway at the bar, and to understand why everything in Ketchum begins and ends with a good meal and a drink served with history.

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