Hi Katie! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m from Idaho, but living in the lovely city of San Francisco, California. I’m addicted to adventures, sitting on tall cliffs, traveling the world and eating potatoes, because that’s what we do in Idaho. I especially love showing people around San Francisco, my favourite city!
Where’s your happy place?
McCall, Idaho, in the United States. I’ve been going there with my family since I was little.
How often do you have the chance to visit McCall?
Before I moved to San Francisco, and when I lived in Idaho, I used to go to McCall a few times a year. Unfortunately, I don’t get to go as much now because I live farther away, but I still try to make it at least once a year.
While growing up in Idaho, we used to spend a lot of time in McCall during summer and winter. I would drive up to the mountains with my family and stay at my grandparents’ cabin on Payette Lake.
What makes McCall so special for you?
McCall is a special, special place with all of the best parts of Idaho bundled into one little town. People who go to McCall typically drive from the surrounding towns for a mountain and lake getaway. It’s quaint, it’s in the mountains, the hikes are amazing, people are friendly and the lake is majestic. I have some of the best childhood memories of McCall–playing in the sand and on the lake, having barbecues and celebrating the Fourth of July.
What do you get up to while you’re there?
That really depends on whether I’m in McCall during the winter or summer. Each season offers a bit of a different experience. In winter, I spend a lot of my time in my grandparents’ cabin, reading and relaxing by the fire. I’ll also spend my days skiing and snowboarding on Brundage mountain, snowshoeing around the golf courses, snowmobiling through the mountains, taking sleigh rides to feed the reindeer, or going to one of the many hot springs. My personal favourite is cross-country skiing to dinner at the yurt.
During the summer, my days are spent on the lake enjoying the sun, wake boarding and water skiing. I sometimes take the boat and head to Ice Cream Alley downtown, or I might get a burger and shake at My Father’s Place. I pick wild huckleberries, go on magnificent hikes in the mountains and sometimes go on horseback rides.
N.B Photos in this post belong to Katie
Has McCall changed much over the years?
The best part about McCall is that it’s a hidden gem in Idaho. Not many people know about it and it hasn’t grown a ton since I was little. The town still has its charm and while a lot of new, fancier cabins and restaurants have been popping up, it still has that small town feel. It’s an amazing place to go when you’re trying to relax.
How would you describe this place in one sentence?
A hidden gem in Idaho, full of everything that magical Idaho outdoors has to offer.
