Nice places to vacation in the White Mountains? (Tucson, Show Low: rentals, vacation home)

[DawnW25]

We live in Tucson and as we may have to move to Texas in a couple of years , we'd like to explore more of our state and enjoy it while we can.

We'd like to rent a vacation home in the White Mountains for a week this summer. We don't know anything about where the nice areas are. Here's an idea of what we want:

Not too crowded
Shopping (groceries) reasonably close would be nice, but not necessary
Quiet and peaceful (this is crucial)
Beautiful scenery
Fishing close by
Hiking trails nearby

We really just want a relaxing week in the mountains, where we can sit on the deck and enjoy the ambiance.

I did a Google search and came up with hundreds of rentals that looked great, but without any real knowledge of the area, I could end up with something less than desirable. One in particular was on Rainbow Lake--is that a nice area? It looks beautiful in the pics.

Thanks for any suggestions/advice!

Dawn

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by DawnW25

We live in Tucson and as we may have to move to Texas in a couple of years , we'd like to explore more of our state and enjoy it while we can.

We'd like to rent a vacation home in the White Mountains for a week this summer. We don't know anything about where the nice areas are. Here's an idea of what we want:

Not too crowded
Shopping (groceries) reasonably close would be nice, but not necessary
Quiet and peaceful (this is crucial)
Beautiful scenery
Fishing close by
Hiking trails nearby

We really just want a relaxing week in the mountains, where we can sit on the deck and enjoy the ambiance.

I did a Google search and came up with hundreds of rentals that looked great, but without any real knowledge of the area, I could end up with something less than desirable. One in particular was on Rainbow Lake--is that a nice area? It looks beautiful in the pics.

Thanks for any suggestions/advice!

Dawn

I've been to Pinetop, LakeSide, and Greer. Like the area. It's best to go when it's very hot here, but unfortunately that's also the time when fires break out there. I used to like going to the mountains around the 4th of July, but since the fires seemed to check with my plans a few times in a row, I gave up.

If you go in this direction, you may wanna see also Canyon de Chelly:

Canyon de Chelly Arizona National Monument

Canyon De Chelly, Arizona's White Mountains

I haven't made it there yet, but it does look beautiful.

[Ponderosa]

Greer. You can rent cabins or stay at the lodges (check out the Molly Butler). It's paradise up there in summer. Much more peaceful and close to nature than Rainbow Lake (Pinetop area). There's a creek in town and several close-by trout fishing lakes along with millions of acres of public land to hike and explore.

[rambrush]

I will 2nd the vote for Greer, close to a lot of different lakes. I usually go to Big Lake.
Alpine to Hannigan Meadow area is a super area as well. The Black river is one of my favorites over there.
There are usually cabins you can rent in these areas. The drawback is groceries will be a mom and pop country store in most of these areas.
From Alpine you can also access Big Lake and the others as well.The route Duncan - Morenci up to Hannigan meadows is slow twisty mountain road but very scenic.

As for Canyon De Chelly make sure you leave nothing valuable in your vehicle or anything you don't want taken.
The tour down inside is a pretty good event.

[motormaker]

Originally Posted by rambrush

As for Canyon De Chelly make sure you leave nothing valuable in your vehicle or anything you don't want taken.
The tour down inside is a pretty good event.

Rambrush, is there a problem with cars being broken into?

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by rambrush

Alpine to Hannigan Meadow area is a super area as well.

Hannigan Meadow reminds me of a strange trip. I like exploring new roads and areas. Once was looking at the map and figured there's an alternative road to the White mountains shooting off of I-10 East of Tucson. Man, this has to be the scariest road I've ever been on! Endlessly winding, nothing around, no services... A deep sigh of relief came out when we finally saw Hannigan Meadow!

[rambrush]

It has been a couple of years since I have been up there, but at that point you had to leave someone with your vehicle while you went and saw the sights then it was there turn.
The kids would hide in the bushes and watch and observe being really sneaky and sly. I have a friend up in Many Farms and will ask him on Tuesday if it is as bad as it was.

[rambrush]

But what a trip to go that way! the scenic views the pullouts with picnic tables
Even Adot has a Hwy Maint camp hanging off of the edge up there.
You don't want to be in a hurry going that way.

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

Hannigan Meadow reminds me of a strange trip. I like exploring new roads and areas. Once was looking at the map and figured there's an alternative road to the White mountains shooting off of I-10 East of Tucson. Man, this has to be the scariest road I've ever been on! Endlessly winding, nothing around, no services... A deep sigh of relief came out when we finally saw Hannigan Meadow!

[motormaker]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

Hannigan Meadow reminds me of a strange trip. I like exploring new roads and areas. Once was looking at the map and figured there's an alternative road to the White mountains shooting off of I-10 East of Tucson. Man, this has to be the scariest road I've ever been on! Endlessly winding, nothing around, no services... A deep sigh of relief came out when we finally saw Hannigan Meadow!

Gotta be AZ61, your either turning right or left or on the gas or brake. Great drive. Just don't be in a hurry.

[and the]

Dawn,

I hate to sound presumptuous as an out of stater offering advice to a resident Zonie, but I vote for Greer too.

We spent a week here at the East Fork Cabins and loved it:
Eastfork Cabins, Greer Arizona

Fishing wasn't great as the water levels were fairly low and I didn't get a chance to get down to the one place I really wanted to go, the east fork of the Black River, but we had a good time anyway. I especially liked driving around Nutrioso and Alpine up and down the Coronado Scenic route. I can't wait to get out there again, this time on my motorcycle. Saw lots of critters, which the kids liked, Pronghorn, lots of Elk, etc. It was just good to get away from too many people for a while. Weather was great. In the 80's when we were there after flying in to Vegas, where it was 122!! Probably in the 60's at night. We never used the heat or the A/C at the cabin. The cabin was very nice and comfortable. Kitchen, fireplace with firewood, clean and quiet. I think they were some of the least pricey in Greer too.
Coronado Trail Scenic Byway

Also did some hiking with the kids and by myself in the Blue Range Primitive area. When we drove in from Show Low, my GPS gave me the most direct route to Greer. It may have been the most direct route, but it was all gravel roads though the forest in the middle of the night. Wife wasn't thrilled, but I thought it was a great drive.

Also took a day trip to Quemado Lake. That was...interesting....

That White Mountains Online website where the Coronado site is posted is a great resource for stuff to do.
White Mountains Online
I saved pretty much the whole site on my laptop so I could check it out while we were driving where there was no internet access. I also got a cheap GPS receiver like this:
DeLorme Earthmate Car GPS Receiver - eBay (item 180213560991 end time Feb-12-08 17:33:12 PST) (broken link)
for around $20.00 to plug into my laptop so I could use my Delorome Street Atlas and Topo software as a GPS. This saved us hours and hours of getting lost.

Also stayed here once near Alpine, at the Talwiwi Lodge:
Lodging in the White Mountains National Forest - Alpine, Arizona
Accomodations were just fine for me, but would have been a little too Spartan for my wife and kids. The bar, restaurant and the atmosphere were great though. I'd definately go here for a night out. Nice hiking right out the back door too.

I liked the Sipe Wildlife area too. Not terribly far from Greer.
Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area