It’s Christmas All Year Round in This Magical Idaho Town

I love the holidays. I beg my family to let me put up my Christmas tree on November 1 each year (please don’t hate me). While there are dozens of things I love about this season, at the top of the list is the overall feeling the holidays bring. It’s a feeling of family, community, and comfort. It’s a contagious happiness, and a time filled with traditions and lots of yummy food. After spending time in small towns all around Idaho, I have found one destination that seems to exude that cheerful feeling no matter where you go—a place that feels like Christmas all year long. It is Sun Valley, and it is one of the most magical places in Idaho.

Sun Valley is a small resort town best known for its incredible winter activities. It’s home to fewer than 1,800 people but draws thousands of individuals each year. Winter is the most popular time in this area, as Sun Valley transforms into a winter wonderland, and the holidays bring loads of cheer with decorations, music, and activities everywhere you look.

You can spend a winter day walking around the Sun Valley Village, browsing the various shops, searching for perfectly unique gifts, and admiring incredible displays and holiday lights. You can then enjoy an evening on a horse-drawn sleigh ride, followed by a four-course dinner.   

However, it’s not just the winter when Sun Valley’s overall vibe is holly, jolly, and bright. This is a town that exudes those feelings of Christmas all year long. When I visit Sun Valley, regardless of the season, we always stop at the Sun Valley Lodge, a place with an incredible history and beautiful views. This lodge was built in 1936 and has been a place where celebrities and leaders from around the world have spent the night. I love walking down the lodge’s halls, looking at pictures of these well-known individuals and their time in this charming community. It's a perfectly cozy space even when the temperature is quite warm outdoors.

Just outside of the lodge is the Sun Valley Outdoor Ice Rink, one of the few year-round ice skating rinks in Idaho. It is a full-size rink where you can perfect your own skills or even enjoy some of the Sun Valley ice shows.

And no matter what time of year I visit, you’ll always find me walking around the Sun Valley Village, usually with a hot beverage from Konditorei in hand. This is my favorite place to eat in Sun Valley, which offers Austrian-inspired cuisine and incredible baked goods. There are many other places to eat in Sun Valley as well, or if you wish to make the short drive to the small town of Ketchum, you’ll find even more delicious restaurants. In fact, I consider Ketchum a foodie’s paradise.  

And just like Sun Valley goes all out for the Christmas season, many other holidays receive special attention with events like Easter brunches and Easter egg hunts in the spring, and music festivals and grand firework displays in the summer. The community comes together all year long here.

Christmas is a time of bright decor, yummy foods, fun activities, and cozy nights. No matter the time of year, you’ll find this and so much more in Sun Valley. It’s magical here all year long.

Have you ever visited Sun Valley? What are some of your favorite things to do in this Idaho resort town? Let me know by filling out this nomination form. I’d love to hear from you. Are you feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip to Sun Valley using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.