Helping families discover fun places to explore in Idaho.
A McCall family day can stay in town for an ice-skating session or head toward Brundage and the forest trails. Make the choice around the season and your children’s energy: a scheduled indoor activity and a mountain outing need different timing and equipment.
Manchester Ice & Events Centre, at 200 East Lake Street, offers public skating as well as hockey, lessons and other ice activities. Check for a session specifically labeled public skating; the building’s presence in town does not mean the ice is available for drop-in skating all day.
Rental skates are available, and the center lists complimentary helmets. Bring socks, gloves and a warm layer even in summer. If ice bumper cars are the attraction for your family, check their own scheduled time rather than assuming they operate throughout a skating session.
Brundage Mountain combines winter skiing with a separate summer program. Checked September 8, 2026: the resort says its summer chairlift service has concluded. Do not plan a scenic lift ride or lift-served bike day from the summer promotional description alone. Read the current trail report for activities still available and the winter announcements for ski operations.
Goose Creek Falls requires choosing the correct trailhead. The Forest Service describes a lower approach from Last Chance Campground and a shorter, steeper approach from Goose Lake Road. Shorter does not necessarily mean easier for children, and the banks near the falls are steep. Review the route map and leave enough energy for the return.
The Central Idaho Historical Museum and Little Ski Hill listings provide other ideas, each with its own schedule. If camping is part of your trip, check the individual campground’s location and services before pairing it with an activity near town.
Researched September 8, 2026. Sources: Manchester visitor information and ice schedule, Brundage summer operations and Forest Service Goose Creek Falls trail guide.