I’ve Created A Monster 😬

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” -Dr. Seuss

I’ve created a monster. Actually, two of them. They’re 5 and 7, and they’ve officially been bitten by the adventure and travel bug. What have I done?! 😅

The World is Your Oyster, Kids…Well, Actually Idaho This Time:

As you may know, Memorial Day weekend gave us a glorious four-day break here in McCall. My husband was off on a very special trip with his mom and sister to Olympic National Park (a bucket list dream for his mom, Gina). So, I was home solo-parenting my heathens—err, I mean my charming and delightful children. 😉

Not one to sit around and miss out on the fun, I gave the kids three choices:
1️⃣ Go camping in the mountains/forests
2️⃣ Head south to explore ice caves, waterfalls, and a “city” made of rocks
3️⃣ Stay home for playdates and enjoy our beautiful town

They picked Option 2… as long as we didn’t “have to poop in the woods,” according to Jackson (clearly still traumatized from last summer’s backpacking trip where we forgot the toilet paper 😬—my bad, bud).

So, off we went—ready for another grand adventure!

Can’t We Just Stay Home?

Then life happened. You know—work, school events, preschool graduation, volunteer gigs… all the things. I got overwhelmed. And, truthfully? I started second-guessing our trip. Did I really want to leave beautiful McCall to head for the farmlands of southern Idaho? (Apologies to all the Twin Falls fans out there.)

I kept going back and forth, even asking those little monsters if they’d be okay just staying home. They considered it—only if we didn’t get sucked into doing house chores. Fair point, kiddos. Honestly, I agreed. Safer to just leave the house entirely.

But I was still unsure whether this trip was actually worth it. The stuff we were headed to see sounded kinda cool… but it also involved a lot of driving through not-so-scenic areas. Why did I offer up this itinerary? 🤦‍♀️
And why are they so stubbornly committed to adventuring? (Okay, okay—I might know where they get it from.)

Malad Gorge to the Rescue:

I was deep in a melancholy mood on the drive down—grumpy about leaving the mountains behind and trading them for the flatlands, especially when McCall was showing off with perfect weather. But then I spotted one of those big brown “Scenic Attraction” signs and, on a whim, pulled over and herded the kids out of the car to check out Malad Gorge.

Instantly, my mood started to lift—and I remembered why I love to travel. The kids were ecstatic. They thought the bridge was awesome and cracked up when Ember pup was not a fan of it. We wandered to another viewpoint and spotted lizards—jackpot! They’re always obsessed with lizard hunting. Charlie, who’s recently fallen in love with photography, was snapping shots left and right.

We soaked in views of Devil’s Washbowl waterfall, the canyon edge, and even stumbled upon more critters: cool bugs, a fluffy bunny, and (of course) more lizards. Their energy and excitement pulled me right out of my funk. It might not have been the mountains, but it was an adventure. We were exploring. We were together. And that’s what mattered.

Let’s Watch the Stars Come Out:

Any Berenstain Bears fans out there? Remember when Mama Bear says, “We’ll watch the stars come out,” as a wholesome alternative to watching Too Much TV? Yep, big nerds over here in the Day household—that line has stuck with me though. And it kept popping into my head during this trip, especially at camp. It reminded me why I love camping so much.

There’s just something about being outside, away from the never-ending list of responsibilities, and soaking in the simplicity of nature and time together. Sure, there’s still work involved—but this time, it was fun. The kids helped me set up the tent and gleefully gathered sticks for the fire. They were also super stoked because our camp spot leaned more glamping than rugged camping: a pool with a waterslide, a park full of other kids, mini golf—the works. Oh and yes, there were toilets for Jackson too!

But even without the extra amenities, camping is just kind of magical. Campfires where we told stories (how cliché in the best way), snuggles in the tent (and a few exhausted pleas from me to “please go to sleep!”), sticky s’mores, and I even got to relax and read my book while they played. I guarantee that wouldn’t have happened if we had stayed home.

Travel is Good for the Soul:

If camping isn’t your thing, I totally get it. But I hope this month’s Elevate Livin’ Life newsletter paints a picture of fun and adventure—and inspires you to plan something for yourself this summer. Whether it’s a backyard staycation under the stars or a long-awaited bucket list trip across the ocean, I’m here to say: make it happen.

Seriously—go dust off that dream book or vision board and look for one mini adventure that you could actually pull off this month. Then put it on the calendar so you’re held accountable. Or better yet, tell your kids. They’ll definitely make sure you don’t back out. 😄

Need inspiration? Here are a few of my favorite local adventures:

McCall Magic (obviously 😉)

• Ponderosa Park: Hike from Lily Marsh up Ridgeline to Osprey Lookout, then down the Huckleberry Trail
• Eat brunch at Little Ski Hill
• Bike ride at Bear Basin
• SUP the Meanders
• Want a secret camp spot? Message me—I’ve got a few local favs.

Sawtooth Beauty

• Hike Fischer Creek Trail near Redfish Lake
• Up for a bigger adventure? Try Goat Lake or Saddleback Lakes 😍
• Take the boat across Redfish Lake
• Lounge on the beach at Redfish
• Bike Elk Meadow Loop—or if you’re feeling bold, bike all the way around Redfish

Southern Idaho Surprises

Want to repeat our Memorial Day trip? Here’s the itinerary:

• Basecamp: Anderson Camp (mini golf, pool, great kid vibes)
• Saturday:
  • Shoshone Ice Caves (morning)
  • Perrine Coulee Falls (afternoon)
  • Sunset at Shoshone Falls (golden hour magic!)
• Sunday:
  • Day trip to City of Rocks & Castle Rocks State Park
  • Pool play at camp
• If you can swing it: Drive the Thousand Springs Byway and kayak to Blue Heart Springs (I’ll paddle if you bring snacks 😉)

And don’t forget—I love building itineraries! Whether you’re dreaming of a quick day trip, a weekend escape, or a weeklong adventure, I’d be thrilled to help. I’ve got loads of ideas for Idaho, Yellowstone (including how to see wild wolves!), Sedona, Hawaii, and beyond. Just say the word.

Finding Peace with a Staycation:

While I’m so glad those little monsters pushed me to go on our trip—and we did have a blast—I also realized something else: I need to get better about enjoying the little moments at home. I mean, I love McCall (who doesn’t?!), and I do love my house and the comfort of it. So why do I sometimes feel like I need to leave to really relax?

So here’s my personal challenge: be more present and learn to just be. Easier said than done, right? In typical Kelli fashion, I decided to make a checklist to help me chill out. I know… a checklist for relaxing kind of defeats the point. But baby steps. 😅

My Chill Out Checklist (aka How to Actually Enjoy Home):

1. Light a fire in our beautifully landscaped backyard fire pit we never use—even though we worked so hard to build it.
2. Sit in the hammock and read a book. Not scroll. Read.
3. Saturday morning garage gym workouts with my besties—because that still counts as fun.
4. Family game nights… scratch that. We’re already rocking those. But maybe we can host a friends and family game night!
5. Sleep out on the trampoline with the kids. Memories incoming.
6. Go to the movie in the park—because small-town summer vibes are the best.
7. SUP the Meanders (more than once, Kelli—c’mon).
8. Go wolf-spotting with Charlie one early morning.
9. Find and photograph a moose. Or river otters. Or both.
10. Brunch at the new local spot and even have a mimosa with girlfriends! 
11. Go to a play with the kiddos… actually, scratch that. Saving that one for mud season. 😅

That’s all I’ve got for now. But tell me—what’s on your at-home bucket list or chill-out checklist? I’d love some inspiration. Hit reply to send me your ideas—I might just steal them for my next staycation.

So, as summer rolls in, I hope you carve out time for the big bucket list adventures and the unexpected magic in the everyday. Like spontaneous ice cream runs, barefoot walks through the grass, staying up past bedtime to watch those stars come out, or road trip singalongs with the windows down. Whether you’re wandering far or soaking up the wonder right outside your door, may your days feel full, your heart light, and your soul just a little more alive.

I’ll see you out there! 
-Kelli ❤️🏕️