Sunny Days Are Here Again

By a show of hands, how many people like a hassle? Traffic jams. Long lines. Crowds. Anybody? It's time to take the hassle out of your winter vacation. It is a vacation, after all! Sunny days are here again, along with the snow—in Sun Valley, Idaho! Just a 2-hour flight from San Francisco, Sun Valley is set in the Rockies of central Idaho. Full disclosure: You won't find fast food joints, and there's absolutely no condo sprawl. Instead, you'll find an insane amount of high quality restaurants in a variety of price ranges, live music, a walkable downtown, a down-to-earth vibe, oh yeah—and easy access (5-minute free shuttle ride) to the best of the West's downhill skiing, snowshoeing, and Nordic adventures. Sun Valley's iconic ski resort (it was selected as the nation's first destination ski resort) is famous for reliable snowfall, wind-free conditions, groomed slopes, lack of lines, and that soul-nourishing sun (Sun Valley gets 250 sunny days a year). The resort has two mountains. Bald Mountain has outstanding and varied terrain (the 2.5-mile Warm Springs run is a local and visitor favorite), as well as panoramic views of the Wood River Valley. Beginner-friendly Dollar Mountain is ideal for families with young kids. There's a good reason why wilderness-reveler Ernest Hemingway loved Sun Valley. It's a vacation that's high on fun and low on hassle.

PLAN FOR SUN VALLEY: From playing like James Bond to unleashing your inner Yeti, check out the ultimate Sun Valley Bucket List. Sun Valley is just a 2-hour flight from SFO. Find lodging, dining, events, and a bunch of fun winter adventures at VisitSunValley.com.