Sun Valley, ID

Tucked into Idaho's Wood River Valley right next to Ketchum, Sun Valley is a legendary resort town with a quiet, close-knit local community of under 2,000 residents. The area made history in 1936 when the Union Pacific Railroad opened America's first destination ski resort, even engineering the world's first chairlift on its slopes. Today, daily life still revolves around the outdoors, with Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain offering premier skiing in the winter and miles of scenic hiking and biking all summer.

ATTRSam Beebe / CC BY-SA 2.0

For newcomers, Sun Valley balances small-town mountain charm with excellent everyday amenities. Families have access to strong educational options like the independent Community School as well as Blaine County's public school system. Highway 75 runs right through the valley, making it easy to pop into Ketchum for dinner, head south to Hailey and the regional airport, or venture north into the Sawtooth Mountains. It is an active, welcoming community where neighbors bond over sunny bluebird days, stunning views, and trailheads right outside the front door.