Let the fun begin! Long sunny days and starry nights are what summer in the mountains is all about. Get your thrills waterskiing or jet skiing on Payette Lake, or take the family out for a picnic on a pontoon boat. Rent canoes for a quiet meander with moose and eagles for company up the North Fork of the Payette River.

If golfing is part of your summer itinerary, you'll not be disappointed with the region's five courses. All offer plenty of challenge and unbeatable natural beauty.

Idaho is deservedly well-known as the Whitewater State. Check out some of the world class I-V rafting and kayaking all within 50 miles. And while you're exploring the rivers, don't forget your fishing license, tackle box, and tall-tale telling skills!

Back on land, you'll find ample hiking and mountain biking trails. Check the local sporting goods stores for books by local authors and maps to set you in the right direction. Learn about the amazing wild mushrooms that are plentiful here, and talk to some local experts to ensure you know what you're picking. Harvest some morels, catch a trout and make a gourmet backpackers' dinner on the shores of a high mountain lake before retiring to your tent for a night beneath the stars. A little later in the summer, you can add wild Idaho huckleberries to the menu “ now that's a memory to last a lifetime.