RV Tour Leg 42 – McCall, Idaho – Home of My Sister Jan and Her Husband Mark

July 19 - 22, 2025

My last blog was about visiting my dear childhood friend Beth, who feels like a sister to me. Right after that, we went to see my actual sister Jan and her husband Mark in McCall, Idaho. Beth and Jan both live in absolutely beautiful parts of the country—and just four hours apart. We've taken advantage of their proximity before, and this time was no exception. The drive from Union to McCall winds through train country in eastern Oregon and into the mountains north of Boise. Breathtaking views the entire way.

Sisters!

Due to a complicated snafu with reservations, we ended up spending three nights at McCall’s Ponderosa State Park and three nights at a very ritzy RV resort within walking distance of Jan and Mark’s house. Even though it was a bit of a hassle to move the camper mid-visit, I was ultimately glad it worked out that way. Both parks had their perks. Our site at Ponderosa was one of the nicest we’ve had in a government park—private, wooded, and just steps away from excellent hiking and biking trails.

Our campsite at Ponderosa State Park

Dinner at the camper in the RV Park near Jan and Mark's home. I accidentally bought a round table cloth and this was the first (and likely last) campsite where it was actually the right size for the picnic table!

Ponderosa State Park sits on a peninsula that juts into Payette Lake, a gorgeous mountain lake ringed with pine trees.

Jan and David atop Osprey Point at Ponderosa State Park, where ancient lava flows left behind a stark, rocky cliff with jaw-dropping views.

View of Payette Lake from Osprey Point at Ponderosa State Park

Ponderosa State Park was teaming with beautiful butterflies

Once we moved to the private RV park near Jan and Mark’s, it was an easy (and lovely) walk to their place, complete with a charming footbridge known locally as the sheep bridge. (Ask me sometime about the Peruvian sheep herders.)

The sheep bridge on the way to Jan and Mark’s—used by Peruvian herders; a great short-cut from the RV Park

We happened to visit during the annual McCall Music Festival, and Jan and Mark had several social activities planned around it. We were more than happy to join in. Each year, world-class musicians come from across the globe to perform a series of chamber concerts in this tiny mountain town. Local residents host the musicians in their homes, and Jan and Mark were hosting a gifted harpist named Matt—along with his adorable pug, Cappuccino.

Matt and his sweet pug, Cappuccino

Our six days in McCall were packed with fun and great company. We hiked in Ponderosa State Park, visited an art show, browsed the shops downtown, joined in on multiple dinner parties, and even managed to squeeze in a bike ride on a local trail near Jan and Mark’s house. We just escaped a passing rain shower and pedaled through a wide-open valley with distant mountains rising in every direction.

BBQ Pizza in Jan and Mark's gorgeous backyard, right on the river's edge

Opa! Raising a cloudy Ouzo toast in Jan and Mark's kitchen at a fabulous Greek-themed dinner party —cheers to good food, great company, and just the right amount of chaos!

Enjoying a nice fire after an amazing Greek dinner in Jan and Mark's back yard

Biking in McCall is breath-taking. We cheated on our e-bikes. Jan is in great shape and had no trouble keeping up on her regular bike.

One of the highlights of the trip was an evening of Bartók, Bruch, and Tchaikovsky in an intimate setting where we had a front-row view of Matt working his magic on the harp.

Mexican Dinner before the concert. We asked for a table for 8, and managed to squeeze in 12 - such fun! Jan and Mark's friends just kept showing up!

Ready for the concert - front row seats, way to the side with a great view of the harp.

One night we went out on Jan and Mark’s new pontoon boat for a dinner cruise on Payette Lake. They share the boat with two other couples, and when end-of-season deals rolled around last year, they couldn’t resist upgrading. Their old boat was much like ours—vintage, with two big pontoons and a humble 50-horsepower motor. The new one? A sleek tritoon with a 150-horsepower engine, plush seating, and enough power to tow a water skier. Did I have pontoon envy? I'm not telling.

Pontoon dinner location on beautiful Payette Lake

It's tradition on Jan and Mark's pontoon to sing and dance to the Pontoon Song

Pontooning on Lake Payette

Captain Mark, with their super sweet border collie, Mac

As usual, we had so much fun with Jan and Mark and their very cool circle of friends. They’re such generous hosts and truly know how to enjoy life in their beautiful city. We felt incredibly lucky to be a part of it all.