All In One Trip
(ARA) - People have all kinds of expectations for their vacations - relaxation, a beautiful setting, lots of fun events, reasonable prices, doing something unusual, staying active. You may think you can't have it all when searching for the perfect getaway, but with a little planning, your vacation can include all the elements you want. A mountain resort area like Sun Valley, Idaho, offers more than just skiing and snow. Although Sun Valley was the first area in the United States to be commercially developed as a ski destination, it has expanded its year-round activities while maintaining a peaceful, less crowded environment. Sun Valley and the neighboring historic mining town of Ketchum is tucked away in the majestic Rockies in central Idaho, but daily air service has made it easy to get there. "And once you're here, it's definitely worth it," says Carrie Schiller-Westergard, Marketing Director of the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber of Commerce. That's no surprise to the readers of SKI magazine, who once again this year voted the resort the best in the nation. Sun Valley was also ranked in the top ten for dining, lodging, off-hill activities and family programs.
Sun Valley has long been a retreat for the rich and famous, from Ernest Hemingway, who made his home in the area, to Marilyn Monroe, who filmed "How To Marry a Millionaire" and "Bus Stop" here. "But you don't have to be rich and famous to find affordable packages, especially during theme weeks, which cater to everyone from singles to seniors," says Schiller-Westergard. Kids under 15 also ski free for much of the season.
If you want to try something different, how about staying overnight in a yurt? It's a Mongolian-style hut that can be rented for lodging or just a stop for a delicious meal while skiing or hiking the backcountry of the Sawtooth wilderness. Backcountry skiing, a popular tradition in Europe, was brought to Sun Valley in the 1930s. It was revived in the 1970s with the establishment of new huts. Today, several companies in the region offer tours, dining and lodging in almost a dozen yurts, available for beginners and experts alike.
If less-strenuous luxury is more your style, you can gaze at the mountains while swimming in a glass-enclosed pool or exercising at a modern, elegant health spa. A classic horse-drawn sleigh ride is a peaceful way to tour the countryside and end up at a yurt or a lodge for dinner.
As spring approaches, other activities focus on ways to keep your mind and body refreshed. If music soothes your soul, several festivities, such as Sol Fest in late March, bring music and mountain activities together. The Sun Valley Mountain Wellness Festival over Memorial Day weekend gives you a unique opportunity to learn and celebrate the ways to keep your whole life healthy and balanced. You can choose from over 75 different seminars, classes, workshops and body treatments over the course of three days.
The fun continues in summer with music festivals celebrating jazz, rock and classical. Other activities include a top-ranked arts and crafts fair, a writer's conference, home tours and a wine auction. Your favorite warm-weather sports are in abundance as well, from hiking, biking, golf and water sports to fishing and horseback riding.
You don't have to give up your budget, your exercise program or your peace of mind to enjoy a fabulous vacation.
For more information, visit www.visitsunvalley.com or call 1-800-634-3347.
Courtesy of Article Resource Association, www.aracopy.com, e-mail: info@aracopy.com
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