Counting sheep? Wake Up and Head for Idaho

Picture sheepherders on horseback leading 1,500 sheep down a mountain pass, onto the road, through the main street of a small town, and off to winter grazing grounds. This spectacle takes place each October in Ketchum and Hailey, Idaho, and is celebrated with the one-of-a-kind Trailing of the Sheep Festival. 

The five-day event features all-things-lamb cuisine (think lamb lasagna, lamb tacos, and lamb meatballs); wool shearing and spinning demonstrations; a sheep parade; sheep-themed storytelling; Basque immigrants celebrating their sheepherding heritage with dancing and musical performances; and the National Sheepdog Trials, in which 60 or more of the dogs compete. 

Lodging options include downtown Ketchum’s new Limelight hotel, the boutique-style Knob Hill Inn on Ketchum’s north end, and the posh, newly renovated 213-room Sun Valley Lodge, which hosted me on my visit. 

For more information on the 21st annual festival, which will take place October 4 to 8, visit trailingofthesheep.org.