Your Dream Winter Weekend In Sun Valley, Idaho, Based On Your Travel Personality

It's that time of year again. The weather is cooling, the holidays are approaching, and as soon as January hits, we'll all be craving an escape from routine—even if just for a long weekend. We've got you covered—or rather, Sun Valley, Idaho, does.

It's no secret that this down-to-earth, up-for-anything mountain town is an outdoor adventurer's paradise, especially come winter. But there's plenty to experience here that doesn't involve strapping on a pair of skis, if that's not your thing. And with daily nonstop flights from several major cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Chicago, this valley is easily one of the most accessible winter destinations that still retains that "undiscovered" vibe we're all after. 

You want a vacation that feels like a vacation: a cozy bed and good food against the backdrop of stunning mountain ranges, and—let's be honest—a heavier après ski agenda. You've come to the right place.

Stay: Knob Hill Inn. Picture waking up each morning to breakfast in the Fireplace Room and enjoying a midday dip in the glass-enclosed indoor heated pool. It's the perfect setting for a weekend of bliss.

Eat: Stop by the Glow Live Food Cafe, Ginger Sweet, and NourishMe for organic, plant-based offerings with an emphasis on locally grown produce. Then, make a dinner res at the inviting Gretchen's at Sun Valley Resort. The restaurant is named after Gretchen Fraser, a Sun Valley native and the first American to win an Alpine Olympic Gold Medal.

Play: You're here for R&R (and you've brought your yoga pants to prove it), so you'll want to grab a day pass to Zenergy, the valley's premier spa and studio, for just $30 exclusively at the Knob Hill Inn's front desk. You can sweat it out in a spin class before getting a full-body massage right after.

Your happy place is anywhere you're surrounded by nature. You get away to get outside, and pillow-soft powder is a winter nonnegotiable. There's no shortage of ways to feel alive in Sun Valley—you might never want to leave.

Stay: The Limelight Hotel. If you're here to backcountry ski and snowboard, the Limelight Hotel in Ketchum can hook you up with deals and discounts on your stay if you book their heli-ski adventure package.

Eat: Keep yourself fueled all weekend with caffeine from Java in the a.m. and hearty fare at spots like Cookbook and the Sawtooth Club, an establishment favorited by Sun Valley locals and where entrees are cooked over the live, mesquite-wood fire.

Play: Head to Bald Mountain for steep lines or Dollar Mountain for its family-friendly vibe—either way, you'll see why Sun Valley's world-class mountains have been dubbed the "Alps of America." For the lightest powder in the Rocky Mountains, hop in a helicopter with Sun Valley Heli Ski Guides (fun fact: Sun Valley is where American heli-skiing began!). Snowmobilers can rev up on groomed trails stretching as far as the eye can see. And stop by the Sun Valley Nordic & Snowshoe center, where you'll find rentals, maps, instruction, and guided tours.

In your book, a weekend spent discovering a new place is a weekend well spent. You travel to take in the culture, see the sights, and do as the locals do—and your itinerary is always well researched in advance. With Sun Valley, Idaho, just a two-and-a-half-hour flight away from a handful of cities, the only question is, why haven't you visited yet?

Stay: Cozy it up at the chic, eco-conscious Hotel Ketchum (Architectural Digest dubbed its bar the most beautifully designed in the state), or find the perfect Airbnb to call home for the weekend. Sun Valley and Ketchum offer a free public bus with multiple stops, making most accommodations conveniently accessible. 

Eat: Galena Lodge Full Moon Dinner. Every month, the Boulder Mountain's historic lodge hosts a gourmet, four-course dinner for $50 a head. Come to feast and relax fireside, and perhaps head with the group for a moonlight adventure on the trails around the lodge. 

Play: A quick drive will land you in the middle of what feels like a lunar landscape. Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a 750,000-acre lava field with volcanic rifts and caves you have to see to believe.