Sun Valley Summer Trip: Take Me Back!

This past month I had the opportunity to travel on a last minute trip to  Sun Valley, Idaho. How did I not know of this incredible place, it was AMAZING!!! If you have the chance to visit, you need to go! I can’t wait to go back in the winter, the skiing is supposed to be incredible! Here are some of my highlights from the trip and recommendations for when you travel to Sun Valley:

Airport

The airport in Sun Valley feels like you are flying in on a private plane, its clean, quaint and really close to town. This airport was definitely one of the nicer ones that I’ve been to, it has the feeling of being in a lodge. When flying back home, security takes no time at all, so no need to get there more than 45 minutes beforehand. One thing I do recommend is packing snacks for your flight home because there is no food other than vending machines in case you are delayed. 

Food  

Every place we went to eat was absolutely incredible! You really can’t go wrong with the restaurants in Sun Valley. Most of the restaurants are located in town and are within walking distance of each other. We were only in Sun Valley for the weekend, so I didn’t get to try all of the restaurants, but I’ll be back again soon and share more. 

Java Espresso Bar & Café: Breakfast / Coffee

Java was awesome! This is definitely the place to go if you love coffee and tea. It can be hard to find places with different alternatives to milk other than soy, especially in smaller cities, however Java was an exception as it also has almond and coconut milk. In addition to coffee each day, we ended up eating here for breakfast following one of the most amazing yoga classes ever, I'll get into that later. Java has a bunch of healthy breakfast options to eat including a really good avocado toast and a high protein turkey scramble, you won’t be disappointed! They have a few locations throughout Idaho, we went to the one in Ketchum in Sun Valley, check them out here: Java Website.

Cristina’s: Lunch

Cristina’s is a quaint little place that feels like you’re eating in a friend's home. You can sit both inside or on the covered patio in the back of the restaurant. Cristina’s not only does a really good breakfast and lunch, it even has an awesome bakery that has pastries and a ridiculous gelato sandwich that you have to try! We ended up having only lunch here, which was amazing by the way. I had the caprese salad and a burger with no bun. Here is the link to their website, so you can take a look: Cristina's Website. 

Pioneer Saloon: Dinner

Woah! You need to go here if you love a steakhouse specializing in great cuts of meat, ribs and fish! And by the way, the potatoes are massive in Idaho!! The saloon doesn’t take reservations, so make sure to get there early enough to avoid a long wait time. Our experience was that it took about 45 minutes to seat us when they originally said closer to 90 minutes, its definitely worth the wait! We decided to each get something different so we could all share because everything looked amazing. We got the ribs, cowboy cut ribeye, salmon and the trout. If you can get the ribs, get them, they sell-out nearly every night and fall right off the bone! The cowboy cut ribeye, woah! Talk about flavor, it had every bit of it! I feel like you can never go wrong with salmon, it was cooked perfectly. And, the trout, which by the way was caught that day, had the best flavor and a must have! Here is the link to their website so you check them out: Pioneer Saloon Website. 

Activities

Sun Valley breeds an active lifestyle all year round, from the hiking trails to the fitness studios to the golfing and the ski runs. I was only there for the weekend, so I only got to squeeze in a trail run, golf and the most AMAZING YOGA CLASS EVER!!! 

Trail Run

First and foremost, the elevation is nearly 6,000 feet so it can be really challenging to breathe and get enough oxygen to your muscles. I highly recommend allowing your body to acclimate to the altitude for a few days and go at a slightly slower pace than you’re accustomed to running. I ran 5 miles and it felt more like 10 miles, it was one heck of a workout that’s for sure!

Golf

There are so many great golf courses in Sun Valley, it's really hard to go wrong. I had the opportunity to play the Valley Club which has 27 holes on its course built by both Hale Irwin and Tom Fazio. Two of the 9 holes were built by Hale Irwin and the other 9 holes were built by Tom Fazio, which is the most challenging of each of the courses. Mix and match each course so that you can play a different 18 each day or get out early and play all 27 holes. Don’t forget, the elevation gives you an extra 10-15 yards, so play the back tees to make it interesting! 

Yoga

Let me start by saying that this was one of the best yoga classes I’ve ever taken! The class was at the Gather Yoga and Studio with Beth teaching the 'Flow Til You Glow' class. The class only holds 30 people so make sure you book in advance, especially if you plan on taking a class on the weekend! If you’re just visiting for a few days, don’t worry, the studio has mats, towels and water available for you. Prepare to sweat like you’ve never sweat before. I highly recommend wearing shorts and a tank top, bring a large water bottle and bring a large towel to put over your mat, I was literally slipping all over my mat. The class started by Beth crushing our abs for 15 minutes, then we did the most epic flow for another 90 minutes all to an awesome playlist. Here is the link to their website: Gather Yoga & Studio. Next time you're in Sun Valley, take a class here with Beth, I would love to hear your feedback!

I hope you have an amazing day!

All the Best,

Mike