Sun Valley, ID

October 1st – October 9th

We arrived in Ketchum (Sun Valley area) on October 1st and we instantly fell in love with the area. There is really just one RV park in town called Meadows RV Park and it has an incredible location. While the reviews online were not great, we were quite pleased with the setup and enjoyed our stay for 8 nights!

We went to Pioneer Saloon for dinner the first night. What a treat! A classic restaurant with incredible food. Dylan and Ryder decided they were going to move beyond the kids menu and ordered Ribeye steaks! While a horrible decision for the family budget, Meghan and I smiled as we watched them enjoy the steaks. Maverick also shared in on the fun and there was not much left for steak and eggs in the morning.

One of the great experiences we had in Montana was the fishing. Boy did we catch some amazing trout. We were hoping we would score some good fishing in Idaho as well. The next day, the boys and I went into town to speak to some local anglers about fishing spots. They directed us to Penny Lake to get started. We went the next afternoon and caught tons of rainbow trout! It was such a sight to see the boys helping one another as they caught their fish. We even got Meghan in on the action as she caught her first fish. It happened to be the largest of the entire trip!

While we are enjoying our time hiking, biking, fishing and exploring each place we visit, the reality is school and work need to be done as well. Meghan is doing an extraordinary job keeping the boys engaged with school while on the road. We are fortunate as a family to have such an amazing woman keeping the ship moving! Between all the meal prep and school prep, she continues to amaze me with how she takes care of all of her boys. (Myself included)

Our RV park was right next to the Wood River bike trail. It was incredible! It spans 36 miles and is nestled along beautiful tree line and close to the river. We literally rode it everyday. We also stumbled across a rare bridge on our bike rides. It was called the Cold Springs Pegram Truss Railroad Bridge built in 1894. It was unique in it’s own right and there are only a few like it left in the U.S. Often, just before sundown, the Elk would come out for a visit. We would be within 15-20 feet of these magnificent creatures as they would just stare at us.

We also drove up and experienced the Sawtooth Mountains and explored various areas. One of the highlights of our trip was meeting a wonderful family we connected with over the weekend. They were from Meridian and also had 3 kids who were similar ages to the boys. We ended up spending a day with them on a hike and it was a blessing. The boys had so much fun with the kids while Meghan and I enjoyed our conversations with their parents. It was refreshing to talk about the Lord with them and encourage one another in these difficult times. We will continue our friendship with them moving forward!

We finished our trip with an incredible dinner at Sun Valley resort. After dinner we walked the property and enjoyed the quietness of all our surroundings.

Our time in Idaho was truly an incredible highlight for our 7 weeks out. The scenery, kind people and time spent as a family were memories we’ll always remember. As we head back to California, it is difficult to put into words all that we’ve experienced together. While we’ve been in some incredibly beautiful terrain, it’s the time spent as a family that Meghan and I will remember most. Playing guitar and worshiping before bed, looking at the stars together, long rides in the truck, meals around the table and watching movies at night together. It’s these types of moments that bring a smile to our face as we remember our first journey in our Fifth Wheel . Our travels will soon take us to Sedona, AZ so we look forward to new adventures ahead!