Show Low, Arizona (June 6-12, 2020) Debra and I have vacationed in Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside, side-by side resort communities in the White Mountains of Arizona, for 20 years. Not every year mind you, but often enough to make this our most traveled-to getaway spot for R&R.
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Here's the thumbnail sketch of these towns: 15,000 residents combined. A handful of big-box stores (Home Depot, Loews, Walmart, and Safeway) to support resort-town living but lots of locally owned and operated restaurants and shops. Arts and craft shows and musical festivals from Spring to Fall. Where people from “the Valley” (what Phoenix is called) escape to in the summer, as the mountaintop temperature is generally 20 degrees cooler than in the desert. 40 lakes, 600 miles of rivers and streams, seven golf courses, an extensive trail system, and a ski resort in the broader region.
Something for everyone, and certainly plenty for Debra and me!
Something for everyone, and certainly plenty for Debra and me!
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Back in 2005, on perhaps our third or fourth trip, we bought a one-acre lot in Torreon (these three photos), a lovely golf-course community nestled in a pine tree forest on the southern edge of Show Low. We intended to build a mountain retreat “someday.” Recently, we decided that “someday” had arrived, and so the primary purpose of this trip was to find a contractor to build our getaway home. Mission accomplished! We hope to break ground by early fall.
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We also found time for some R&R. We communed with nature, dined at a couple of our favorite restaurants, snooped around a few shops, and sipped coffee as we lazed on the porch of the cabin (in Torreon, photo to the left) that we rented.
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The meaning of the name “Pinetop-Lakeside” is clear – it’s descriptive of this area, which boasts pine tops and lakes. But what about the name “Show Low?” Before there was a town, there was a 100,000-acre ranch co-owned by Marion Clark and Corydon Cooley. According to legend, they played a card game called “Seven Up” to decide who would own the ranch when they parted ways in 1876. After hours of play, Clark told Cooley, “Show low and you take the ranch.” Well, Cooley’s hole card was lower than Clark’s, and the rest, as they say, is history! Cooley named his ranch Showlow, the ranch became a Mormon settlement, and in time the settlement became the town of Show Low. As an aside, Show Low’s main street is “Deuce of Clubs,” which is the lowest card in a poker deck.
Our favorite spot to enjoy nature was Woodland Lake Park, which the town of Pinetop-Lakeside describes as “the shining centerpiece of our community.” The park has volleyball and tennis courts, a softball field, ramadas and grills, and play areas for children – none of which interest Debra or me. Instead, we LOVE the 18-acre lake, which is framed by ponderosa pines, oaks, and junipers. Perhaps best of all are the riparian wetlands along the shore, home to numerous species of birds.
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As we strolled along the one-mile paved loop trail that meanders around the lake, we saw grebes, mallards and other aquatic birds as they paddled across the lake or slept at water’s edge, and we watched sparrows, swallows, and yellow-headed blackbirds flit from one tree branch to the next. We also heard the distinctive sound of woodpeckers as they hammered away at nearby trees. There were many benches near the shoreline of the lake, and Debra and I found the “perfect” bench – shaded by the pines – to relax on as we watched and listened to the birds. What a treat!
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On the north side of the lake, the trail continued through a stand of trees. It was breezy with an occasional gust of wind, and at these moments when the wind picked up, Debra and I stopped to watch the tall trees sway and listen to the gentle rustle of the branches. It was a peaceful experience!
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One night we ate dinner at The Pasta House, located near the eastern edge of Pinetop-Lakeside on State Route 260. We’ve always enjoyed a great meal with excellent service, and this was no exception. In this age of COVID-19, the staff wore gloves and masks and the restaurant observed social distancing by using only half the tables. After Debra and I perused the extensive menu, we chose a Pasta House specialty dinner, Scarpiello – chicken for Debra and veal for me, sautéed in butter, herbs, and other mouth-watering ingredients. Our dinners came with a salad and side of pasta in marinara sauce. Our meals were delicious, and we savored every bite!
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On another night, we went to Charlie Clark’s Steakhouse, another fav restaurant. Built in 1938, it is believed to be the fifth oldest steakhouse restaurant in Arizona. Social distancing, yes. Gloves and masks, no. Different restaurants, different attitudes. Both worked for us. Debra ordered a steak and I ordered ribs. It was another fine meal!
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The day before we left was strictly R&R. Debra and I have slightly different views of R&R – she defines this term literally, while I view it figuratively. The yin-yang of marriage, I guess. Debra slept in and lazed on the porch much of the day. Me? I headed to the Mogollon Rim Interpretive Trail, another place in Pinetop-Lakeside where we’ve enjoyed the scenic beauty of the great outdoors. (Later, I joined Debra on the porch.)
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The 200-mile long Mogollon Rim, which stretches across northern and eastern Arizona, is an escarpment – a deep separation of land created by seismic faults and erosion. The cliffs on either side – the “rim” – are upwards of 4,000 to 6,000 feet high. Impressive, right?! Even more impressive, IMHO, was that the area above and below the rim has the largest continuous ponderosa pine forest IN THE WORLD! Not bad for a state better known for desert and cactus.
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When I first visited Mogollon Rim many years ago, I was certain that its name was a Native American word, possibly a tribe or chief. In fact, it WAS the name of a “chief,” but not Native American. Rather, “Mogollon” was the last name of the Spanish Governor of the Province of New Mexico from 1712 to 1715 – Don Juan Ignacio Flores Mogollon. A big honor for someone with so little time in office!
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The interpretive trail, a one-mile loop on mostly level, hard packed dirt, had 17 informative storyboards. “Had” is the operative word, as at least a third of the boards were gone, likely due to weather and/or vandalism. Nonetheless, the remaining boards told the story of the Mogollon Rim, the indigenous people and pioneers, and the flora and fauna of the region. I learned, for example:
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History came to life as I read the storyboards and allowed my mind to “see” this area as it once was.
We didn’t have time on this trip, but in the past, Debra and I took day trips to several nearby towns, including Greer, Snowflake, and Heber; hiked many trails (that were more challenging than the Mogollon Rim Interpretive Trail!); attended craft shows and music festivals; picnicked in the parks; and dined at many other restaurants.
Yes, we love coming to the White Mountains, and soon we hope to have a mountain retreat to call “home!”
We didn’t have time on this trip, but in the past, Debra and I took day trips to several nearby towns, including Greer, Snowflake, and Heber; hiked many trails (that were more challenging than the Mogollon Rim Interpretive Trail!); attended craft shows and music festivals; picnicked in the parks; and dined at many other restaurants.
Yes, we love coming to the White Mountains, and soon we hope to have a mountain retreat to call “home!”