HAILEY

One of America’s 10 Best Small Towns, Hailey ranked in the 2014 Livability.com poll, for quality of life. “Hailey offers residents a laid-back atmosphere with an astonishing amount of outdoor recreational options. In addition to good schools, low crime, low pollution and high community involvement, Hailey has the highest level of employment and the greatest income distribution of any city on our list.”

The city is named after John Hailey, a two-time Congressional delegate from the Idaho Territory. With a population of just over 10,200, and a total area of 3.65 square miles, Hailey is the site of the Freidman Memorial Airport, the airport for the resort of Sun Valley/Ketchum.

Within 15 minutes of the ski mountains of Ketchum and Sun Valley, either by car or free bus service, residency in Hailey affords less expensive homes and lifestyle opportunities. The city is located on relatively flat terrain, however, outside the city limits there are inviting hills and mountains to hike and climb. There are several parks, and one of which hosts the Northern Rockies Music Festival. If you want a memorable bike ride, you can peddle all the way to Ketchum on the well- maintained bike paths, formerly covered with railroad tracks. You’ll even cross some of the old trestles.

If you want to really involve yourself in this healthy western town where many a cowboy rode, pushing the sheep through the hills, you can put on that cowboy hat and watch the tossing and tipping of bodies at the Rodeo. A popular event every summer! A newly gifted ice rink has been built at the south end of town, along with a skateboarder’s delight with a park for flipping and turning. And, wait for the Fourth of July parade! Hailey is another magical place to call home. There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home!