Thus far, locals have managed to keep the vast slopes around Sun Valley Resort a relative secret, but with reliable snow, a long season and exhilarating verticals, all without the crowds, the appeal is working its way across the pond. It’s within the resort’s confines that Sun Valley Lodge sits, steeped in history that has unfolded since its 1936 opening and long a playground for the country’s discerning travellers and famous faces (some of whom have lent their names to suites). From Ernest Hemingway to Marilyn Monroe, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was a place of pure glamour, but here, quiet luxury reigns; manifesting in the form of roaring fireplaces, cosy bars and warm friendly faces.  

Outside the lodge, the resort unfolds like a self-contained mountain town, offering five restaurants, an expansive spa (ranked number one in Idaho), an outdoor heated pool, cinema, bowling alley and even its own ice rink. All this goes down particularly well with foraying families, who seal the deal at the mention of connecting rooms, ski school lessons a short bus ride away on Dollar Mountain, and a plethora of off-piste activities from sleigh rides to snowshoeing. Cast the what-to-do net even wider and the likes of exploring the boutiques of nearby Ketchum and dining in Trail Creek Cabin – where Hemingway once held court – make sure that it's not just the slope-skimmers who have all the fun.