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<\/a>The Sun Valley Inn<\/p><\/div>\n
Each year, beginning in 1988, we have travelled up to Sun Valley, Idaho<\/strong> to relax, refresh and, let’s be honest, get out of the Arizona heat. \u00a0Almost always we come in September, when the leaves are turning and – this is critical<\/em> – the kids are back in school. \u00a0It is clear from our travel patterns that we are creatures of habit, for while other people dream of new places and revel in collecting travel brochures, we come to the same place every year. \u00a0Sort of like lemmings. \u00a0Sun Valley is made up primarily of the Sun Valley Resort, with its two lodges, ice rink, golf courses, shops and restaurants. \u00a0Walking through “the village” is like stepping back in time, assuming that the time was Bavaria in the 1930’s. \u00a0The resort was conceived by Averil Harriman, chairman of the Union Pacific back in the mid-twentieth century. \u00a0He employed surveyors and architects from Germany to carry out his vision and their influence is apparent from the moment you step on to the grounds. \u00a0The resort has long been a favorite of the rich and famous…but more on that later.<\/p>\n Downtown Ketchum<\/p><\/div>\n Ketchum, Idaho is the town adjacent to Sun Valley. \u00a0In fact, if you blink your eyes you will not see the sign that indicates you’ve left one jurisdiction and entered the other. \u00a0Ketchum<\/strong> is a former rough and tumble place that allowed gambling long after it was outlawed in the U.S. and is famous for hosting Ernest Hemingway in his heyday. \u00a0He was known to throw back more than his fair share of cocktails in the local bars and even staged a phantom bull-fight after one particularly “wet” night. \u00a0Ketchum is still a small town in many ways – the only national chain store of any sort that has been allowed to open is Starbucks and that was only after much hue and cry among the locals. \u00a0The shops and restaurants in town are owned by hard-working people who make a living catering to the seasonal crowds. \u00a0And some years are a lot better than others. \u00a0Last year, the wildfires forced evacuations the first week of August, thus cutting in half the normal summer season. \u00a0As if that weren’t bad enough, the snowfall last winter was a bit sparse, so the ski season was also worse than normal. \u00a0We have gotten to know many of the local merchants over the years and you could not find a nicer group of people. \u00a0Which is why they really don’t deserve the summer “swells”.<\/p>\n As I mentioned, we are usually here in September when it’s quiet. \u00a0It is a wonderful time to re-charge and appreciate the surrounding area. \u00a0This year we decided to rent a house for July and August. \u00a0Mistake. \u00a0Big, big mistake. \u00a0First of all, there are kids everywhere. \u00a0Why is it that when\u00a0your\u00a0<\/em>children are crying and running around they are still darling, but when it’s other people’s offspring they are just a pain in the neck? \u00a0 And up here they all seem to be on bikes, darting in and out of traffic as if they were in cahoots with the auto industry to test tire treads and braking efficiencies. \u00a0But the worst are the “swells” who come to the area to spend time in their summer homes. \u00a0Many of them are from Santa Monica<\/strong> or San Francisco<\/strong>, although I suspect there are jerks from everywhere here. \u00a0I have personally witnessed three occasions where these socialites have treated local merchants and their employees as if they were personal servants…or worse. \u00a0And the locals have to just grin and bear it as their livelihoods depend on “service with a smile”. \u00a0 I’ve been appalled by what I’ve seen and heard and then last week we got “the treatment” ourselves.<\/p>\n Sun Valley in the Fall<\/p><\/div>\n We were on a walk down the “street of dreams” in Sun Valley, a lane that is resplendent with some of the most spectacular houses here – or anywhere, for that matter. \u00a0At the end of the road is a National Forest Service trail<\/strong> so the street sees plenty of hikers and bikers going up and down the road. \u00a0We were across the street from one of our favorite houses when the owner came out to the front lawn. \u00a0We were about to tell him how much we admired his home when his VERY large dog came bounding over to us. \u00a0He was intent on pouncing on Dash the Wonder Dog, so I picked him up to get him out of harm’s way. \u00a0The dog kept pursuing us and that is when I learned that you just shouldn’t threaten the Wonder Dog with my husband around. \u00a0He told the owner that he needed to get control of us dog. \u00a0No action. \u00a0Again, my husband asked him to get his dog away from us. \u00a0Nothing. \u00a0Finally, the man looked both of us up and down and asked where we lived. Admittedly, we were not dressed to the nines, but our jeans didn’t have holes in them and I swear that neither of us has body tattoos or piercings through our noses. \u00a0So “none of your business”, was our reply. \u00a0He then told us that we just didn’t “belong” on his street and that we should leave. \u00a0A public<\/em> road!!<\/p>\n So, would I recommend Sun Valley as a place to vacation? \u00a0You bet! \u00a0It’s got everything – hiking, golf, biking trails, rafting, shopping, and tons of good restaurants. \u00a0But I advise going in the fall. when the leaves are turning and the summer “swells” no longer own the streets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Suzanne Sparrow Watson Each year, beginning in 1988, we have travelled up to Sun Valley, Idaho to relax, refresh and, let’s be honest, get out of the Arizona heat. \u00a0Almost always we come in September, when the leaves are … read more<\/a><\/a>