Jet skis, boats, and a big sand beach bring Payette Lake to life every summer in McCall.
Salmon, Idaho, is surrounded by majestic mountains.
Scenic US-93 wanders alongside and occasionally crosses over the Salmon River and also passes through Salmon.
The Pend Oreille Trail is a lovely walking and biking path with sweeping lake views in Sandpoint.
peacefulness of both Troy and Moscow bore little resemblance to their famous namesakes, but the fresh air and tranquility of the entire region were intoxicating. Once back in Moscow, we made a lunch-hour stop at Bucer’s Coffeehouse and Pub where we had a choice of noon-hour latte or microbrew and settled on one of each. Following U.S. 95 further south, the curvy Salmon River joined us once again. At the intersection with SR-55, we turned off of U.S. 95 and headed to the hidden jewel of McCall, another glorious Rocky Mountain beach town. Smaller than Sandpoint but every bit as delightful, McCall looks out over Payette Lake where jet skis, kayaks, and powerboats ply the water all summer long. Both Art Roberts Park and Legacy Park offer lush grassy lawns that beg for a family picnic spread out on a blanket while the kids build sand castles and romp by the water’s edge. An ice cream cone and a relaxed barefoot stroll along the tiny lapping waves brought the beach to life for us, but when the sun got too hot, we headed into the town’s indoor skating rink to watch some figure skaters practicing. Continuing to seek out Idaho’s delicious brews at dawn and dusk, we made our way to Mountain Java each morning to join the crowd of locals and visitors who
while away the hours sipping coffee and eating tasty pastries in a row of brightly colored Adirondack chairs on a lawn overlooking the lake. It was during one of these casual morning chit-chats that we learned of the Antique and Classic Boat Show that would be taking place at the elegant Shore Lodge later in the week. On the appointed day, the docks in front of the Shore Lodge filled up with sleek, glistening vintage wooden boats. Proud owners revved their engines and told stories of where they had found their boats, how they had been used by previous owners back in the day, and what they had done to give their boats life anew. The varnish sparkled in the sun, and dreams of life on Payette Lake back in the 1940s and 1950s grew vivid and real right before our eyes. The Shore Lodge offers fine dining and stylish accommodations, but for those seeking a more rustic experience, Ponderosa State Park at the north end of town fills a huge peninsula and is a wonderful place for a woodsy lakeside getaway. The state park is an easy bike ride to and from town, and there are trails that go all through the park, both in the woods and along the shore. We found campers who were loving life outdoors in everything from tents to small motorhomes, and lots of anglers cast lines in the lake from both shoreside spots and small boats. Hikers and mountain bikers took
IDAHO SCENIC BACKROADS
COAST TO COAST SUMMER MAGAZINE 2018
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