Family Friendly
A guide to our Spring Fun Pass
By Gabe Schroder
With the chairlifts at Sun Valley now closed for the season and the summer trails and activities not yet in full swing, it can be challenging for parents to find something fun for their kids to do. The Sun Valley Spring Fun Pass offers some great options to get through the slack season and is an affordable way to enjoy three of Sun Valley Resort’s most iconic attractions. For just $20 per person plus tax, the Spring Fun Pass features ice skating on Sun Valley’s world-famous outdoor ice rink, bowling on the retro-themed, high tech lanes found in the Sun Valley Lodge, and a movie at the historic Sun Valley Opera House. Enjoy all three activities in one day, or space it out during the spring as the pass is valid until June 20th.
On a recent warm spring day, I took my six-year-old son Huxley and his friend Lachlan to the Guest Center in the heart of Sun Valley Village to pick up our Spring Fun Passes. A short walk later (or run as the kids were so excited) and we were at the outdoor ice rink. With rental skates and helmets included in the price of the pass, we geared up and hit the ice.
As Baldy towered in the background and the sun blazed overhead, the boys enjoyed skating on the freshly manicured ice, taking advantage of having the whole rink to themselves. “It’s fun because me and Huxley are skating together. I also like going fast and doing hockey stops,” Lachlan said during his spring skate session. After a few laps, and a few spills on the cool, refreshing ice, we headed over to the adjacent Sun Valley Lodge to try our skills in the bowling alley.
Styled with 1950’s charm, yet loaded with cutting edge technology, The Bowling Alley and Game Room is one of the original bowling alleys in the Northwest. With a bar, food service, and video games complimenting the six bowling lanes, this is a place both parents and kids can enjoy. The dinosaur themed ramps help roll the ball down the lane and the gutter guards eliminate frustrating gutter balls, allowing the younger kids to enjoy the game and see results with every roll.
“I liked how the ball bounced off the bumpers and made it all the way down to knock over the pins,” Huxley said.
While interactive activities are the best way to spend time with kids, we all know that going to a movie theatre to see a full-length film is a real treat. The Sun Valley Opera House was built in 1937 but has recently been upgraded with Sony Cinema Digital 4K projection technology, allowing this old school venue to deliver a great cinematic experience.
With kid friendly movies showing regularly, this a great component to the Spring Fun Pass and a nice option when the unpredictable weather of spring turns nasty. Don’t let the off-season and its perceived lack of activities put a damper on your plans this spring, come on out to the village at Sun Valley and take advantage of the Spring Fun Pass.
