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SUMMER ADVENTURE - IDAHO HAS IT ALL!
Soon the record snowpack will melt. Mountain resorts around the state are getting ready for summer operations. By early June perhaps, you should be able to mountain bike, paraglide, or hike everywhere in the higher elevations.
Music festivals, sporting events, arts, culture and more fill the calendars at mountain resorts in Idaho this summer. Any way you look at it, the mountains in are great here any time of year. When it starts getting hot down below, beat the heat, and adjust your attitude, at altitude.
When it comes to summer adventure, Grand Targhee has it all—from great vacation packages, exciting events and awesome terrain. Anyone who likes to ride a bike must tour the Route of the Hiawatha operated by Lookout Pass. Sun Valley offers nearly 28 miles of hiking and biking trails that give you plenty of room to explore. The summer action at these resorts is featured in this issue. They offer a snapshot of the variety of adventures to be had throughout the mountains of Idaho.
And remember, the great deals don’t stop when the snow melts. Check out the summer lodging packages highlighted here and start planning your summer mountain getaway. ~ Bill Jennings.
SPRING FLING IN SUN VALLEY
Stay two nights and get your third night free starting at $75
Visit Sun Valley April 20th-June 11th and you'll receive lodging as low as $75/person, plus book 2 nights and get the 3rd free!! Whether you are in need of a romantic rendezvous, a family bonding break, a girlfriends getaway, an athletic adventure, a wellness weekend, a cultural connection, a foodie feast or all of the above, spring is a great time to head to the mountains!
5 Great Reasons to Visit Sun Valley this Spring
Sun Valley Wellness Festival & Toni Childs Concert (May 22-25 - Memorial Day Weekend) Need a spring tune-up of your body, mind and soul? The 12th annual Sun Valley Wellness Festival and a live concert by Grammy-nominated recording artist Toni Childs on May 24 will do the trick!
The Sun Valley Gallery Association will also be hosting a Gallery Walk over Memorial weekend, Friday May 22, showcasing new exhibitions and the Hailey Springfest regional arts & crafts show will also be taking place.
Kenny Loggins Concert (May 30) More music in the mountains. You can hear this 2X Grammy®-winning superstar live in the magnificent yet intimate Sun Valley Pavilion under the bright Sun Valley stars. Get your tickets here.
Sun Valley/Ketchum US Half-Marathon (May 30) Up for a challenge to shake off the winter blahs? Sign up for the Sun Valley US Half Marathon, 12K or Womens' 5K Run/Walk in one of the most beautiful settings in the country.
Sun Valley Food & Wine Festival (June 12-14) Eating well is the best recession revenge! See, taste, smell, learn and enjoy a weekend of fabulous food and wine at the Sun Valley Food & Wine Festival featuring national guest & local chef demonstrations, wine seminars and special Vintner Dinners at our very best restaurants. Guest chefs include John Tesar, Vitaly & Kimberly Paley, Corey Schreiber, Julie Richardson, Vaughn Hobbs and John Turenne. Packages that include 2 nights lodging and a 2 day festival pass start at $243 per person.
And don't forget about what else you can do while you're in Sun Valley! Get discounts on shopping, dining, spa treatments and more with these Spring Fling Coupons! Access fabulous mountain trails that surround the Wood River valley for hiking and biking, plus paragliding, ice skating, tennis, bowling, swimming and rock climbing at the new YMCA and more! Exploring the Haunts of Hemingway or Historic Ketchum Walking Tour; a visit to the Ketchum/Sun Valley and Ore wagon Museum in Ketchum. Great golf at Sun Valley Resort, Elkhorn Resort or BigWood Golf Course. Fishing on the Bigwood River that runs through the Sun Valley area is always a great way to spend the day. Check in with any of our outfitters and guides to help plan your outing.
WHAT A RIDE! THE ROUTE OF THE HIAWATHA
The “Route of the Hiawatha” was known among railroaders as one of the most scenic stretches of track in the country, traversing 11 tunnels and 9 trestles on a 46 mile route crossing the rugged Bitterroot Mountains between Idaho and Montana.
Today the route is the "crown jewel" of rail-to-trail mountain bicycle trails, operated by Lookout Pass Ski Area. Lookout is located adjacent to Hiawatha Tunnel - Interstate-90 at the Idaho/Montana state line, 12 miles east of Wallace, Idaho. The Hiawatha Trail is open daily through October 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PDT. To plan your trip, check out http://skilookout.com/hiawatha/.
Winding through 10 tunnels and 7 high trestles, this 15-mile bike trail is best known for the long, dark St. Paul Pass, or Taft Tunnel, which burrows for 1.66 miles under the Idaho/Montana state line.
The main parking area is at the East Portal of the big tunnel, 2 miles from Taft Exit 5 off I-90. Just follow the signs. The distance from the East Portal trailhead, which is the top trailhead, to the bottom trail head at Pearson is approximately 15 miles.
Riders can also drive up and over the tunnel for 5 miles via FS Road 506 and Roland Summit and park at the Roland trail head. This is a good option for those wishing to bypass the big tunnel. Highlights of the St. Paul Pass tunnel include an interpretive sign, located mid-tunnel on the right wall, that shows the Idaho/Montana state line and discloses which crew first reached the center of the tunnel in 1907, plus there is a beautiful waterfall at the West Portal of the tunnel.
From the Lookout Pass parking lot (el. 4730 ft.), the trail follows the old Northern Pacific railroad grade approximately 10 miles to the Taft Site (el. 3630 ft.). Along the way the trail crosses the St. Regis River 3 times, passes through one tunnel, and goes under Interstate 90 twice before arriving at Taft. Then from Taft, the trail rises gently at an about 2.1% grade for 2 miles to the East Portal of the St. Paul Pass, or Taft Tunnel (el. 4160 ft.).
IDAHO MOUNTAIN LODGING DEALS
Silver Mountain - Summer Starts NOW! Get a jump start on summer at Silver Mountain Resort. Special package includes: 2 days of waterpark fun, 2 kids meals, 2 tanning sessions, 1 42 oz. Silver Smoothie, 1 DVD rental and 1 night at the Morning Star Lodge for just $59* per person!
*Based on 4 person occupancy in Deluxe Studio. Call 866.344.2675 for reservations.
Schweitzer Mountain – plan your Great Escape! Packages as low as $59 per person per night, including 'Adventure Bucks' Great Escape Packages are all-inclusive stays right in the heart of our village. You'll enjoy over-night accommodations complete with $30 per person, per night in 'Adventure Bucks," which can be used across the resort and throughout the area to enjoy a wide variety of attractions and activities.
Spring Fling in Sun Valley - Stay two nights and get your third night free starting at $75
Visit Sun Valley April 20th-June 11th and you'll receive lodging as low as $75/person, plus book 2 nights and get the 3rd free!! Whether you are in need of a romantic rendezvous, a family bonding break, a girlfriends getaway, an athletic adventure, a wellness weekend, a cultural connection, a foodie feast or all of the above, spring is a great time to head to the mountains!
Grand Targhee – the Total Package
Summer Special for Kids -Valid All Summer Long -Kids 12 and under stay and ride the chairlift free with each paid adult on a lodging package, and they can register for Summer Explorers Kids Camp on a daily basis. Questions? Call our Reservations Department at 800-TARGHEE (827-4433).
Wildflowers & Wildlife Package - Valid : June 20, 2009 to September 07, 2009 - 4 nights lodging, an all day professionally guided tour of Yellowstone National Park, a 2 hour horseback trail ride and a scenic chairlift ride. Starting at $479 per person, based on double occupancy in the Targhee Lodge. Kids 12 and under stay and ride the scenic chairlift free for each paid adult; horseback riding and the Yellowstone tour are extra. (Tax not included. Upgrades to other lodging accommodations available for an additional lodging fee).
Unlimited Mountain Bike Package - Valid : June 20, 2009 to September 07, 2009 - Stay 4 nights and have unlimited access to the chair lift for 4 days! A mountain bike adventure you will never forget - all for only $215 pp. Based on double occupancy in the Targhee Lodge. Kids 12 and under stay and ride free for each paid adult. (Tax not included. Upgrades to other lodging accommodations available for an additional lodging fee.
Yoga Retreat in the Tetons - July 20-23, 2009 and August 6-9, 2009 - Experience extreme serenity while practicing yoga among the majestic peacefulness of the Tetons. This 3 day energizing retreat is available July 20 – 23 and August 6 – 9. It includes 3 nights lodging, a welcome reception, a total of five 2- hour yoga sessions , and a scenic chairlift ride. An affordable total price of only $290 per person. Based on double occupancy in the Targhee Lodge. Kids 12 and under stay and ride the chairlift free. Kids are welcome to participate in either the yoga sessions or Summers Explorers Kids Camp for an additional fee. (Tax not included. Upgrades to other lodging accommodations available for an additional lodging fee.)
SKI IDAHO EVENTS
Bogus Basin - June 13: Hike with a Ranger - Nature Hike led by a Forest Service Ranger - meet at Frontier Point Lodge at 10 am - plan for a 2 hour hike!
June 15: Mountain Discovery Camp - Day camp available to 9 - 12 year olds; variety of outdoor activities throughout the week. Registration through Boise City Parks and Recreation
Brundage - July 2: Summer Chairlift Grand Opening (12:00 pm), July 11: 18th Annual Brundage Mountain Bike Festival (8:00 am), July 11: AWeSOMe's Cardboard Boat Regatta 2009 (11:00 am)
Lookout Pass -May 23: Projected opening of Route of the Hiawatha bike trail
This portion of the Olympian Hiawatha route has been called one of the most breathtaking scenic stretches of railroad in the country. The "crown jewel" of rail-to-trail mountain bicycle trails is operated by Lookout Pass Ski Area which is located adjacent to I-90 at the Idaho/Montana state line, 12 miles east of historic Wallace, Idaho. The Hiawatha Trail is open daily from May 24 thru October 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PDT.
Pebble Creek - June 27: Idaho Music & Wildflower Festival - Pebble Creek's annual Wildflower Concert will be held from 5:00pm to 10:00pm. Music will fill the slopes as concert goers nestle their lawn chairs and blankets in the wild flowers on the slopes. The hillside just above the deck provides a perfect view of both the performers and the sunset. Guided wild flower hikes around the area will be offered before the concert.
July 20: Elephant Revival in Concert - The music of Elephant Revival will fill the slopes at Pebble Creek Sunday, July 20 starting at 6:30 pm. The Nederland , Colorado group has a large following in the area. It has been said that one Elephant Revival show will save your soul from stagnation. For this lunar evening, just two nights from the full moon, and the anniversary of man’s first walking on the moon, celebrate with their hit song, “Ring Around the Moon”. Dancing shoes are and must, and with the wild flowers finally in bloom, bring your blanket to nestle in on the slopes for a perfect view of the action and the sunset.
Grand Targhee - June 20: Opening Day of Summer Operations & Summer Trails Kick-off
Summer in the Tetons gets started with the opening of the resort! Summer trails open for the season, summer season passes are on sale, and we will have a BBQ and music on the plaza.
June 26-28: Bike Days - Area bike shops will have demos for public to ride, test all the new gear for 2009. Group rides; night rides bike clinics for women, kid’s bike rodeo and a DH clinic along with road rides from Grand Targhee Resort. BBQ, prize raffles, and lodging discounts.
July 4: 14th Annual WYDAHO Mountain Bike & Fred's Hill Climb Running Races - This annual single-track mountain bike race has become a favorite Wyoming mountain bike race for enthusiasts of all ages. This race meanders through the spectacular Caribou-Targhee National Forest and fields of wildflowers just a short distance from Jackson Hole. This year, we will also offer a running race to the top of Fred's Mountain.
July 17-19: 5th Annual Targhee Fest at Grand Targhee - Targhee Fests are some of the best music festivals of the summer season. Headliners include: Gov't Mule, Jonny Lang, and Keb' Mo'.
2009 Artists Include: Gov't Mule, Grace Potter & Nocturnals, Jackie Greene, Jonny Lang, The Wallflowers, James McMurtry, Keb' Mo', Betty Lavette, Carrie Rodriguez, More TBA soon!
Great food, vendors, games and on-site activities are all a part of our summer music festivals. Tent camping at Grand Targhee in our beautiful national forest is available during the festival weekend. Take advantage of our FREE shuttle service and leave your vehicle in Driggs. Or save on gas, be more sustainable, and carpool ($10 parking fee per car; FREE parking for weekend passholders).
Silver Mountain - May 16: ATV Jamboree, May 15, 16: Central Mine Rescue, June 6: Howl at the Moon Bike Ride, June 13: Surf Idaho Pro-Am, FlowRider Open Competition, June 20: MacroBrew Festival, June 20-26: ATV Nation National Ride
Schweitzer - June 26: Summer Opening - Opening day for summer operations at Schweitzer. Join us for Scenic Chairlift Rides, Mountain Biking, Hiking & More!
June 27: Summer Celebration - Kick off summer with the right altitude at Schweitzer's Summer Celebration. Escape with free chairlift rides on the Great Escape Quad, test out the new 6-mile bike trail, try mountain-top geocaching, disc golf, and refreshments!
Not one for heights? Stay in the village and try the climbing wall, Power Tower bungee trampoline, lunch fresh off the barbecue, or just relax and enjoy the music of Chris Lucas and the Rub. Visit the local vendors in the village and learn about wildlife and their habitat from the Selkirk Conservation Alliance.
Sun Valley - May 24: Sun Valley Wellness Festival Concert featuring Toni Childs
Toni Childs to perform at the Sun Valley Pavilion at 8pm.
May 30: Kenny Loggins at the Sun Valley Pavilion
June 5/6: Acoustic Weekend - Join us at the Sun Valley Pavilion for an Acoustic Weekend featuring local and national acoustic music performances.
June 19: Sara Evans performs at the Sun Valley Pavilion - Award-winning country singer Sara Evans to perform at 8 pm.
June 26-18: 3-Day Adult Tennis Package
June 28: Tenors and Strings Extravaganza - Sun Valley Opera presents Tenors and Strings Extravaganza featuring Dennis McNeil's Three Tenors and The Hutchins Consort at the Sun Valley Pavilion
July 3: Maureen McGovern performs with the American Festival Chorus & Orchestra
Join us at the Sun Valley Pavilion for The American Festival Chorus & Orchestra featuring Grammy Award winning singer and Broadway performer, Maureen McGovern.
SKI IDAHO MEMBERS:
Bald Mountain - Bogus Basin - Brundage - Cottonwood Butte - Grand Targhee - Kelly Canyon - Little Ski Hill - Lookout Pass - Lost Trail - Magic Mountain - Pebble Creek - Pomerelle - Schweitzer Mountain - Silver Mountain - Snow Haven - Soldier Mountain - Sun Valley
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