We were drawn to visit Sun Valley as it is a world famous ski resort where Hollywood "royalty" visits during winter. Some stars are even known to own vacation homes there. It's early nickname is the "American Shangri-La" and the chairlift was invented here.
A tourist brochure boasts that summers there are just as amazing as winters. But Sun Valley is afterall a ski resort for "Winter Fun under Summer Sun", since 1936 (It enjoys 250 days of sunshine each year). So with great disappointment, we found that there was really nothing much for us to do there.
In search of Wood River Trails
Kiki enjoying a juicy orange
Candid shot of Veera, Quinn & Li Kiang
The young girl manning the tourist information booth could only suggest that we take the chairlift up Bald Mountain. Since we could not go hiking along the Wood River Trails (the trails do not follow the river and are more suitable for cycling), the group decided that we would go for the chairlift ride.
I was apprehensive about taking Kiki on a chairlift. So it was kind of a relief when we found that kids under three are not allowed on them. Hence, while the majority of the group went for a short trip up the mountain, we had some time to spend at the lodge together with Veera, Li Kiang & Quinn.
Another sunny day at Sun Valley but Kiki wasn't that happy
Are they twins? And both were sucking fingers. Haha...
Mummies & babies with big black bear
The daddies braving the icy water
Kiki dashing around under the sun
Stepping on the symbol of Sun Valley
For Hemingway fans, Ernest Hemingway was a frequent visitor to the Wood River Valley. In fact, the world-renowned writer and his wife were laid to rest in the Ketchum cemetery. There is even an annual Ernest Hemingway Festival in Sun Valley.
Hemmingway was a regular at Pioneer Saloon
We walked past the Pioneer Saloon in the town. It is now best-known as Hemingway's favourite haunt and is "typical of an earlier Idaho, when ore wagons rattled down Main Street and business was done with a handshake and a drink".
Daddy, get me this car!
So this visit was more of a "been there done nuthin'". It was really not worth the five hours that we spent on the road. Long road trips are very stressful for me, as Kiki, being just a very young kid, cannot stand being confined in a small place for long. Sigh...
The only consolation is that we didn't stay overnight there. And maybe that we had cheap and delicious ice cream from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory!
Welcome relief from the heat comes in the form of yummy ice cream
We dropped by Ketchum, a neighbouring small town
And grabbed dinner at Wicked Spud before the long trip home
Day Trip:
30 June 07 - Sun Valley and Ketchum
