by Sharon Cullars

Created on: June 23, 2008   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

Luxuriant champagne powder you can sink your skis in, an achingly beautiful vista surrounding Bald Mountain, and a warm fire blazing in a cozy lodge...these are some of the images that come to mind when you think of Sun Valley, Idaho. A former haven to such luminaries as Clark Gable, Ernest Hemingway and Ingrid Bergman, Sun Valley still draws thousands of ski lovers to its winter wonderland where they enjoy fantastic skiing and exhilarating winter sports. What most visitors don't know is that Sun Valley is a beautiful wonderland during its off season, as well.

No matter the season, Bald Mountain stands majestically, stretching over 2,000 along the edges of the Sawtooth National Forest. During the summer, "Baldy" offers visitors nearly 28 miles of hiking and biking trails. Adventurers and sightseers can strike out on their own or hire a guide to lead through miles of rugged wilderness. Those hearty enough to scale to the top can ride down on a lift. The more relaxed nature lovers can spend their time amid the surrounding beauty and wildflowers.

Another summer trail hikers love to explore is Broadway Trail which leads west to Seattle Ridge. Considered one of Sun Valley's most beautiful trails, Broadway offers a wonderful view of Bald Mountain and the Sawtooth Forest. It connects to Cold Springs Trail which stretches across 2,500 vertical feet on the south face of the mountain and descends into verdant woods. Also connecting to Broadway is Warm Springs, an uphill-downhill hiking and biking trail that winds through lush open meadows.

Sun Valley's splendid 18-hole golf course ranks among the best 100 in the nation, offering a panorama of blue streams and natural beauty with Baldy standing behind it. The course offers 72 pars that will challenge the most avid golf enthusiast. The golf club offers tournament booking that can accommodate from 4 to 72 participants.

Tennis enthusiasts will enjoy the Sun Valley Tennis Center which offers 17 courts, a pro shop, ball machines and expert personnel headed by tennis pro Mark Frisby. The center is open to individuals, groups and tournaments and from mid-July through mid-August, sponsors the Nike Tennis Camp, which provides a summer of fun for the kids.

Speaking of kids, Sun Valley a host of fun activities including swimming, hayrides, picnics, BBQs and paddle boating. Kids of all ages will also enjoy indoor and outdoor plays as well as arts & crafts classes. A play school and day care center is overseen by certified personnel, freeing parents to enjoy more adult adventures.

One such adventure is a grueling day at the salon, where spa massages, skin, hair and nail care, and one-on-one attention can wear a soul out. Follow that up with an afternoon at one of Sun Valley's many wonderful lounges and restaurants that offers a range of menus from hearty American to delicious Italian. Or stop by Sun Valley's new pavilion and relax to the stirring selections by the Summer Symphony which ranges from Beethoven and Tchaikovsky to Respighi and Schumann.

No vacation is a vacation without a good shopping spree. Sun Valley's shops offer the latest fashions, a variety of recreational equipment, art and vintage posters, and best of all, handmade chocolates.

Don't wait until winter to visit Sun Valley. You're miss a whole season of fun if you do.

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