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The Ultimate 48 Hour Travel Guide to Ketchum, Idaho

    The ultimate 48 hour to Ketchum, Idaho, I’ll show you where to stay, what to eat and how to stay active!

    Sun Valley Idaho

    Last month I traveled to Idaho, a state that has long been on my travel bucket list, to explore two beautifully unique cities: Boise and Ketchum! Be sure to check out my 48 Hour Boise Travel Guide if you missed it!

    Liz Walking Sun Valley Fall

    A note of clarification: Ketchum is a small town located one mile away from Sun Valley. Most people refer to the ski town as a whole as Sun Valley but most of my time was technically spent in Ketchum. With that said, both names can be used interchangeably.

    Ketchum Sun Valley Idaho Travel Guide

    If you’re not familiar, Sun Valley is a resort town in Idaho and is most commonly known for Sun Valley resort’s ski areas at Bald Mountain and nearby Dollar Mountain. In other months of the year, you can take advantage of hiking, mountain biking, water activities, shopping, fine dining, wellness and more.

    Limelight Ketchup Hotel Liz Room Balcony

    Before we get into what to eat and how to stay active, let’s talk about where to stay! Home base for my visit to Sun Valley was the Limelight Hotel located right in downtown Ketchum.

    Limelight Hotel Sun Valley Guest Rooms

    The rooms were modern, spacious and filled with plenty of natural light.

    Limelight Ketchum Hotel Room Balcony

    Each day I loved stepping out onto my private balcony for fresh air and breathtaking mountain wiews.

    Liz Lobby Ketchum Sun Valley

    If you’re looking to socialize, the lobby offers plenty of opportunities to mix and mingle with other guests.

    Liz Limelight Hotel Ketchum Outdoors Patio

    Whether it’s grabbing breakfast in the morning or stopping by the bar for après ski drinks and snacks, I loved the cozy, modern feel of Limelight Hotel Ketchum.

    Limelight Hotel Ketchum Breakfast Buffet

    Now that we’ve covered where to stay, let’s dive in to what to eat during your visit to Ketchum, Idaho! For breakfast, I have several great options starting with the plentiful breakfast buffet right at the hotel. The continental breakfast is included with your stay but guests can also order hot dishes as well.

    The Kneadery Sun Valley
    The Kneadery Breakfast Sun Valley

    If you want to venture out for breakfast, I highly suggest another great option: The Kneadery. Wholesome dishes like pumpkin pancakes, combined with a rustic, Idaho atmosphere, make this spot perfect for starting your day in Ketchum.

    Konditorei Restuarant Sun Valley
    Konditorei Restuarant Sun Valley Breakfast

    My third breakfast recommendation is Konditorei Restaurant located in Sun Valley Resort. The smoothies were delicious and I loved being able to order a high protein breakfast a la carte.

    Bigwood Bread Sun Valley Idaho

    If you’re looking for a fast, casual lunch spot head to Bigwood Bread in downtown Ketchum, Idaho. Featuring salads, soups, sandwiches, tacos and more – everything was super flavorful and fresh.

    Raspberrys Ketchum Idaho

    Another great lunch spot in Ketchum is Rasberry’s Bistro also located downtown within walking distance of the hotel. Do yourself a favor and order the pozole verde. It was incredible!

    Rickshaws Ketchum Asian Restaurant

    For dinner, I have several tasty options depending on what you’re in the mood for during your visit to Ketchum. If you love Asian food as much as I do, do not miss Rickshaw.

    Rickshaws Sun Valley Idaho Asian Restaurant

    Offering creative small plates inspired by Southeast Asia, I highly recommend the papaya salad, dumplings and Asian noodle soups. Perfect for warming up on a chilly day!

    Pioneer Saloon Sun Valley Idaho

    Of course, I would be remiss if I talked about a visit to Idaho without giving you a great option for steak and potatoes! Dining at Pioneer Saloon, located right on Main Street, is like stepping back into an old Western film. Everyone is friendly, the steaks are juicy and the Idaho potatoes are giant. Sign me up.

    Sawtooth Brewery Sun Valley Ketchum Idaho

    If you’re looking for local craft beer in Ketchum, Idaho, be sure to stop into Sawtooth Brewery for a pint.

    Sawtooth Brewery Sun Valley

    The IPAs were incredible and you really can’t beat the mountain views.

    Maudes Sun Valley Coffee Clothing Shop

    If you need a coffee pick-me-up, head to Maude’s in downtown Ketchum. Not only is it a cozy coffee shop but they have really unique and fun clothing on their retail side a well.

    Liz Sun Valley Golden Hour

    Now that we’ve covered what to eat, let’s talk about how to stay active in Ketchum!

    Liz Biking Sun Valley Idaho

    One of the best perks of staying at Limelight Hotel are the complimentary cruiser and fat bike rentals.

    Liz Biking

    The staff at the bike shop is super friendly and can recommend several different bike paths in and around Sun Valley.

    White Cloud Nine Sunset Hike Sun Valley

    Next up: hiking! There are endless hiking trails in and around Ketchum to take advantage of during your visit. Whether you have 30 minutes, a couple hours or half a day, you will be sure to find a trail that’s right for you.

    Sun Valley Idaho Zenergy Liz Pool

    Last but not least, guests at the Limelight Hotel Ketchum can opt-in to receive all the benefits of Zenergy Health Club & Spa during their stay so I decided to do just that!

    DSC 3039

    For $15/person per day, guests can enjoy access to any of Zenergy’s 85-plus fitness classes per week, as well indoor and outdoor saltwater pools, the oversized Jacuzzi, and club discounts on everything from personal training to in-room massages.

    Zenergy Sun Valley Workout

    They even offer a personalized nutrition analysis which was very informative.

    Sun Valley Idaho Two Day Travel Guide

    Finally, I encourage you to get out there and explore the surrounding area.

    Sunset Sunset Photo

    The scenic drive possibilities throughout Ketchum and the surrounding area are limitless.

    Liz Sunset Sun Valley Hike

    One thing is for sure, you will be blown away by the natural beauty of Sun Valley.

    Shoshone Falls Idaho

    Pro Tip: If you’re driving to or from Boise, make a pit stop at Shoshone Falls.

    Shoshone Waterfalls Idaho

    There wasn’t a lot of water falling during our visit but they have this really cool live web cam that you can check out to see how much water is falling when you’re there.

    Shoshone Falls Idaho Road Trip

    Even though the falls weren’t gushing, it was still a breathtaking scene and another reminder of Idaho’s beauty.

    Liz in Lobby of Limelight Hotel Ketchum Idaho

    What destinations would you like to see me cover on future travel stories? Leave me a comment below or shoot me a DM on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you. Your passport is waiting.

    Disclosure: Visit Idaho, Limelight Hotel and Visit Sun Valley coordinated my travel and accommodations.

    Are you looking for more fabulous and fun getaway ideas? Head over to my Pinterest Board for all of my favorite travel guides!

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    Liz DellaCroce

    Liz Della Croce is the creator and author of The Lemon Bowl, a healthy food blog. Since 2010, Liz has been sharing delicious recipes that just so happen to be healthy. By using real ingredients with an emphasis on seasonality, Liz has built a growing audience of loyal readers who crave good food for their families. Click Here To Subscribe to my newsletter:

    5 Comments

    1. Hello,
      My name is Jenna Taylor, and I’m a travel writer.
      I was simply conducting some research for content ideas when I came across your site.

      What can I do to obtain a do-follow link on your site? Would you be willing to accept a guest post on your blog? If that’s the case, can you please let me know how much you would charge?

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    2. I’m here in Ketchum RIGHT NOW! What a beautiful place. Lots of great food and a very walkable city. Thank you for your tips. Can wait to see Shoshone Falls.

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