The day I visited Sun Valley, Idaho, it truly lived up to its name. An impossibly blue sky over Bald Mountain, the main peak of the resort, promised that unicorn of snow holidays – a bluebird day after recent powder snow – and I was there for it.

It was also relatively empty, a weekday outside any major holidays, and the runs were open with no lift lines. It was my own private Idaho. It was like I was starring in my own ski blockbuster, and Hollywood had pulled out all the stops.

Sun Valley was designed as a winter haven for the wealthy and Hollywood’s elite, and I was hoping for a chance meeting with any number of big-name actors, celebrities and billionaires who have embraced the resort destination and its purpose-built luxury Sun Valley Lodge, which opened in 1936.

Since then, Sun Valley has never looked back – or better. The resort pioneered the world’s first chairlift, and its legendary terrain hosted the 2025 Ski World Cup and will do so again in 2027. Sun Valley commemorated its 90th season this last winter, opening 36 new hectares of gladed terrain in the Olympic area.

You never know, perhaps Clint Eastwood’s pick-up would pull up next to my rental car in the nearby town of Ketchum. Maybe Arnold Schwarzenegger would fly past me on the expert run named after him.

Or I could be seated on a bar stool next to Tom Hanks, Eugene Levy or Demi Moore at the town’s historic Pioneer Saloon, better known to locals as ‘the Pio’. This authentic watering hole, walls adorned with hunters’ trophies, historic photos and antique guns and crammed with locals who simply don’t care whether you’re rich or famous, is a must-visit for full-impact atmosphere, great cocktails and the imposing dinner host, who could have stepped straight out of the TV series Yellowstone, complete with a black Stetson.

Something for everyone

Celebrities aside, the skiing and boarding at Sun Valley offers experiences for all levels. More than 1,030 vertical meters, over 971 hectares of diverse terrain and a peak elevation topping 2,743 meters. Choose from 100-plus runs on ‘Baldy’, from wide-open groomers to challenging chutes and bowls and three terrain parks for boarding fun.

Graduate from the Upper and Lower College wide-open groomed runs to Seattle Ridge’s Broadway or shred on intermediate runs such as Gretchen’s Gold, named for Sun Valley local Gretchen Fraser, the first American to win an Olympic gold medal for skiing.

Experts and thrill-seekers can hit the black runs from the top of the Lookout Express quad chair, Seattle Ridge or the new gladed runs in the Olympic area under the Roundhouse.

Whatever your skiing or boarding preferences, you’ll be spoilt for choice. On a clear day, take time at the summit of Baldy to soak it all in: heart-stopping views over the valley, Big Wood River and the town of Ketchum, across to the jagged teeth of the Devil’s Bedstead peaks in the Pioneer range.

Learners are cast in supporting roles on the forgiving runs of Dollar Mountain, the second and gentler peak of the resort, perfect for beginners and the less confident.

Both mountains have extensive, world-class snow-making capabilities and instructors, and the luxe River Run and Warm Springs lodges at the base of Baldy feel more like grand ranch homes, complete with huge stone fireplaces, soaring ceilings and first-class food, beverage and snow apparel outlets.

Book your instructor and collect your lift passes there or like I accidentally did, purchase an imported Austrian beanie for the astonishing sum of US$100 (next to local ones I didn’t see for around US$20). This prized beanie now travels back to Sun Valley every time I visit, earning its keep and building on a great apres story. I blame that third margarita.

Refuel in style

Lunch in high-European style at the Roundhouse restaurant, easily accessible by gondola for skiers and non-skiers alike, where you can dine on fondue, a hearty buffalo chilli or the most sensational seafood chowder, before heading back out on the slopes.

If you’re going to make the most of the many glorious Sun Valley ski days, it helps to be match fit. Be prepared to ski a huge run and straight back onto a lift or the gondola, with no breaks to rest as lift lines are non-existent.

But if you really need to take a break, stop at the top for photos and grab a hot chocolate (or something stronger) by the roaring fire at Seattle Ridge Day Lodge.

You could also check the trail map for your next run or chat to one of the friendly local mountain volunteers. And you never know who that might turn out to be, right? Hollywood legends love volunteering.

The apres scene in these lodges is busy, cozy and tempting as you come off the slopes, but for more of a mingle-with-the-locals vibe, hit Apple’s Bar & Grill in Warm Springs.

If you prefer your apres with seriously sophisticated style, some jazz piano and a view across the ice-skating rink, Sun Valley Lodge’s Duchin Bar is the place to be and be seen. If you’re there on the right evening, Alan Pennay – an excellent Australian pianist who has called Sun Valley Home for decades and is something of a legend in these parts – might be tinkling the ivories as you sip martinis or soak up the old-time Hollywood glamour.

Ernest Hemingway once lived here for a time as a guest of the Lodge in room 206, penning much of his novel For Whom the Bell Tolls. He was later buried in the Ketchum Cemetery valley. The Hemingway Memorial on Sun Valley Road, a handsome bronze profile of the much-loved and troubled writer erected by his family, is now a shrine where visitors pay their respects.

But it’s not all about the history here. The ultra-luxe Limelight Hotel opened in downtown Ketchum in 2016 and is a community hub, with live music regularly in the cool bar and a contemporary menu for bar snacks or dining.

Explore beyond the slopes

For those seeking a rest day from the slopes or wanting to explore more of the Sun Valley and Ketchum surrounds, there are scenic hikes or snowshoeing options on trails along the river or guided snowshoeing for the adventurous is a 30-minute drive away at scenic Galena.

A visit to the local Sawtooth Brewery & Tap Room in Ketchum and shopping might be more your jam. A celebrity-style rest and recovery session at the Zenergy Health Club & Spa is also highly recommended. A massage and swim in the indoor/outdoor pool, plus some time in the hot tub and sauna, will have you rejuvenated and ready for the slopes.

A horse-drawn sleigh ride through a snowy mountain landscape for dinner at the rustic Trail Creek Cabin is a premier dining experience worth rugging up for, and if you’re there near Christmas, expect carol singers and a visit from Santa himself.

But while Sun Valley may be a favored winter playground for movie stars and billionaires, that golden Hollywood glow-up is available to all with a little savvy local knowledge.

It’s appropriately called the Gold Mine, an op shop with a difference. A place where the rich and famous recycle their unwanted and hardly worn cashmere, fake (or real) furs, last season’s high-end ski and boarding outfits, skis, styling boots and accessories. This was shared with me soon after my fateful purchase of the US$100 beanie.

It’s a treasure trove of luxury ski gear for anyone who loves the fun of a high-end bargain. Recently, the Gold Mine was receiving so much top-end gear that it expanded to a space next door, called the Gold Mine Consign. Shopping heaven.

Oh, and the end of my beanie story? While I didn’t meet anyone famous, I did manage to find another beautiful sparkly wool beanie at the Gold Mine, fit for the most glamorous movie star, for only US$2.  I’m now appropriately kitted out for Sun Valley: The Sequel on my next visit.