Our Scenic Drive to McCall, Idaho

We got an early start and watched the sun come up as we got to Yakima.  Two cinder cone mountains overlook the town - I think this is Mt Hood, and I think it was Mt St Helens to the West.  It could be Mt Adams too.  

We crossed the Columbia River and entered Oregon to continue our journey on I-84 through Pendleton, and then into Idaho.  At Boise we hooked a left onto one of the most scenic roads in the United States, Idaho Highway 55.

The road follows the Payette River all the way from Boise to McCall, a distance of about 100 miles.  

We crossed the river several times, but the river was either on our left or right for nearly the whole trip.  You can see the railroad track on the right.  We passed a large station shortly outside Horseshoe Bend, where they take excursion rides up the river on the train.

At about 5,000 feet elevation, we entered farmland on the outskirts of McCall, Idaho.

The house we rented through VRBO.com was unassuming from the outside, and it seemed too small to "sleep 18" - which is why we always tell people "DO NOT STREET APPRAISE"

Inside, we found rustic charm and a fully equipped house with five large bedrooms and three nice bathrooms.

Four of the five bedrooms had either a king or queen size bed.  One was set up as a dorm for kids with several bunkbeds.  TV's throughout the house and even a foosball table downstairs in the den. 

A large deck with gas grill, and a hot tub, overlooks the firepit and horseshoe pit.  What a great place for a family gathering.