Want to make some tails wag? Then bring your pup to the Limelight Ketchum. This hotel is modern and bright, impeccably clean, and located near some of the best skiing, hiking, and mountain biking in the U.S. With its heated outdoor pool, large rooms, lively lounge, shuttle, and overall fun vibe — we love staying here — with or without pets.
Our adopted pit bull-mix puppy, Cooper, is such a great traveler. He loves everyone he meets and is always up for whatever adventure we’re on. We all love to see him enjoy the outdoors and take in all the new smells. And he’s our son’s best buddy, so watching them explore together is even better! Anytime we can bring him along, we jump at the opportunity!
Ketchum is one of the most iconic mountain destinations with upscale accommodations, beautiful scenery, and plenty of dining and shopping. It’s also a great destination for a dog-friendly vacay because there’s so much outdoor space for pups to run around and play. Many of the restaurant patios are dog friendly, as you can tell by the water dishes sitting outside. On our most recent trip, we took Cooper snowshoeing at Galena Summit, where there are miles of dog-friendly trails. To read more about Galena Summit and other area activities, click here.
Dog Friendly at its Best
The Sun Valley Resort — a very popular location — doesn’t allow dogs in guest rooms. However, The Limelight truly welcomes, and celebrates, our four-legged friends. For a $30 pet fee, your pup can enjoy this destination with the whole family – and you won’t be disappointed.
Upon check-in, dogs receive a collapsible bowl, toy, and poop bag holder, which always comes in handy. Our pup is so happy and relaxed at this hotel. He enjoys the elevator rides and patiently waits for guests to pet him. He now expects friendly greetings and treats whenever we’re in the lobby. After several stays here we’ve finally mastered where to take him to go potty and burn some energy before settling into the room. There’s a little park across the street from the back of the hotel that works perfectly for this.
The Accommodations
The rooms are spacious, with fully stocked kitchenettes, and easily accommodate dogs. From the dog goodies they give you when checking in, to the fact that dogs can sleep on the bed and be left in the rooms alone, this hotel is dog heaven. When traveling with a family and a dog, finding enough space to store things in a hotel room is always a challenge. However, this is not an issue at the Limelight. With hooks in the entry, a bench with shelves, under-bed drawers, and dressers — the storage is plentiful. Having an organized hotel room makes vacation so much more relaxing. If you’d like to learn about nine hotel hacks to keep your room organized, then read this post.
The beds are super comfy, there are plenty of places to charge your devices, and the kitchenette has all the things you need. The kitchenettes have a sink, mini-fridge, microwave, coffee maker, utensils, and dishware. They even give you dish soap and paper towels.
Limelight Lounge
After a long day of activities, the pups can relax in the room — which is allowed — while you and the rest of the family enjoy the delicious food, drinks, and live music in the lounge. We always enjoy a good old-fashioned, wine, and their amazing flatbreads. Find seats at the bar or spread out on a couch and have some evening fun. The Limelight Lounge is one of our favorite things to do while in Sun Valley — and we always end up dancing and enjoying the great company of friends and family.
There’s a dedicated spot for kids to the side of the lounge with toys and games — it was closed last time we visited due to the ongoing pandemic. For hotel guests, the lounge has a free breakfast buffet with a great selection of items. The choices change daily, but there are usually eggs, potatoes, fruit, yogurt, and pastries. We always grab a coffee and a big breakfast before heading out to explore for the day.
The Pool
Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit! The outdoor pool at the Limelight is a must-do. Our son can’t wait until he gets to splash and swim in the heated pool. In the winter you’re treated to views of snowy mountains while you swim, and in the summer the patio is surrounded by fire pits and lounge seating. The pool is open until 10 pm each night and has two large hot tubs connected on each side. That’s where you can usually find me. Sometimes the pool gets crowded, but on our last visit we somehow got lucky with the pool all to ourselves — and it was magical.
Shuttle
There is a free shuttle that runs guests to the slopes frequently throughout the day. You can step outside the hotel into a heated shuttle and within minutes be at Bald Mountain or Dollar Mountain. Such a convenient perk of staying at this hotel.
If you’re interested in staying at or visiting the Sun Valley Resort, then you should read this post.
