Planning a McCall vacation for folks with differing interests and abilities
When planning a vacation anywhere, sometimes you know upfront that there are members of your traveling party with differing interests and abilities, making it hard to plan activities that include everyone. Fortunately, in McCall, it’s easy to plot out activities that accommodate all needs and keep everyone entertained and happy.
Concerning accessibility, it can be difficult to discern what services and accommodations are available before traveling. For mobility questions or transportation issues, see the city’s Travel-Wise site to plan for any closures or delays, and (during winter months) get information about snow and the free shuttle. City officials are in the process of making McCall more accessible, and tourists can see what improvements have been made ahead of planned visits.
When booking accommodations, consider mobility needs and search accordingly. Hotels and resorts, of course, will have ADA-compliant rooms and facilities, but there are also lists of vacation rentals, such as this one from Trip Advisor, that cater to various needs. For people with food sensitivities, having a room or rental with a kitchen (or a fridge, at minimum) can make or break the trip. For families in which members have various needs, ages, and abilities, a resort stay might be a good fit to more easily break up the group for activities best suited to individual needs. Always call ahead to make sure the specific room or rental satisfies all needs.
To help plan accessible activities, see the Visit Idaho page, which includes several ideas for activities as well as links to helpful resources such as Adaptive Wilderness Sports of McCall. AWeSOMe’s mission is to “empower people of all abilities through high-quality outdoor experiences.” Their summer activities include several offerings that are vacation-friendly, including bike trips.
For people with varying interests, finding an “all-in-one” spot can be tricky. However, in McCall, the proximity to nature means every member of the group can enjoy the destination in some capacity. For water adventures like rafting, if the group includes members who are too young, unable, or simply uninterested, plan for moments that allow everyone to get what they want out of the day. For example, if a family of four has one adult who wants to whitewater raft, one who prefers kayaking or paddleboarding, and children who enjoy water play but are too young for water adventures, plan half-day trips for each adult. Then hang with the kids looking for Sharlie by the lake or checking out any number of other family-friendly activities.
Also, consider locales like North Beach, which features areas along the water for playing and lounging but also has opportunities for more high-energy activities like sports, fishing, and boating. It’s a dog-friendly area, too. July 22-27, check out the Adams County Fair. Or, to experience McCall in a way that allows everyone to participate, consider a cruise on Payette Lake. Note that the McCall Lake Cruise is not wheelchair-accessible but does have crew available to help passengers board.
If you need a break from the outdoors, visit the Central Idaho Historical Museum, which is fully ADA-equipped, or stop by the Alpine Playhouse for one of this summer’s productions.
No matter the activity, visitors can find myriad options in McCall to meet the needs of people of all ages, abilities, and interests.