Sometimes you just need “a day.” Every parent knows that feeling…you’ve been on the move all week, running here and there, packing in the summer action and now you just need something easy everyone in the family (yep, including you!) can enjoy. When you need an easy activity day, the lakefront parks in McCall make the perfect basecamp when you are visiting or staying in a hotel or lodging.
You have two options to set up your home base: Legacy Park and Brown Park. Legacy has the bigger beach with a designated swimming zone so if soaking in some sunshine on the sand is your aim, we would recommend going with this option. Plus, there is a splash pad for the littles to enjoy. If you have kids who need a bit more action, Brown Park is a great choice. Fresh off a major overhaul in 2023, Brown Park has an outstanding playground, small beach with shallow area for the smaller kids, ample green space with picnic benches, and even a vintage ski chair swing where you can sit and enjoy the views.
Realistically, you could spend all day at either park, grabbing a quick lunch at any of the nearby restaurants or eateries, but if your family gets antsy, there are lots of ways to break up a beach day downtown. The thing we love the most about McCall is the walkability. No need to jump in the car, just saunter down the street a ways to get to any one of these easy activities.
First up, if it is Wednesday or Saturday, make a stop at the McCall Farmers’ Market. This seasonal market runs from mid-June to mid-October and is host to a wide array of local produce, baked goods, meat, and handcrafted goods and art. It runs from 10am to 1pm along 2nd street. One of our favorite vendors to visit on a hot day is Deez Squeeze for one of her cold-pressed juice popsicles.
After the Farmers’ Market, make a quick stop at Art Roberts Park and snap a family photo with the bears at the “Bearing Wall.” A photo with the four bears that make up this iconic statue is one of those quintessential McCall bucket list items! From here, head to the Manchester Ice and Event Center and cool off at the ice rink. Why does it feel so decadent to be able to ice skate in the heat of the summer? Check their schedule (posted on the doors of the building and on their website) for daily public skate times and ice bumper car sessions.
If you aren’t quite ready to head back to your beach blanket at the park just yet, consider a tour of Payette Lake with McCall Lake Cruises or the Payette Pedal Party. If you want a laid-back way to get out on the water for 90 minutes, book a seat on The Idaho, the 62-foot vessel used by McCall Lake Cruises. Each low-key cruise is full of fun facts and history about the lake and an on-board snack and liquor bar keeps everyone happy. Wanting a longer lake experience that requires more action on your part? Hop aboard the Payette Pedal Party. As the name implies, this boat cruise is all about pedaling! Ten pedal stations complete with cushy beach cruiser seats power this vessel. But don’t worry, there is also a motor ready to take over if you get tired. Each cruise lasts about two hours. Public tours are available daily or you can rent the entire boat for up to 15 people.
Whether you cruised, pedaled, skated, or just lounged at the beach all day, you can’t go home until you have had a mountain-size ice cream scoop from Ice Cream Alley. Seriously, even the kiddie size, affectionately called the “Lil’ Sharlie” is a monster. Get a scoop, shake, banana split, or sundae to put the cherry on top of a magical summer day in downtown McCall.
