Sun Valley

Most of us have only watched the Winter Games from afar, so getting a taste of where the world’s best athletes compete and train is a truly special experience for groups.

Looking for a new meeting space? Change your outlook.

The leaves are turning, the weather is mild, and the rates are lower. Here’s a second look at an oft-ignored time of year for mountain meetings and events.

Living in the mountains, it’s not too uncommon to see snowcapped peaks when you wake up in the morning in fall. Footage of ski areas receiving snow has ramped up, and in my home state of Colorado, Arapahoe Basin opened on Oct. 21. Personally, I hope to get a few more hikes and tennis matches in before snapping on skis again, but I’m always ready when there is enough of the white stuff.

Sun Valley is aptly named. Surrounded by the Sawtooth and Pioneer Mountain ranges in central Idaho and fed by four creeks, the region is drenched in sunshine 250 days a year. Because it sits at the western edge of the Mountain time zone, summer days can last more than 16 hours. Even in January, the high-desert climate is so temperate, early marketing campaigns tout, “Winter sports under a summer sun!”