Payson (crime, homes, living in) - Arizona (AZ) - City-Data Forum

OurNextAdventure · 08-08-2010, 02:23 PM

My wife and I are planning a weekend trip to Payson this coming weekend. She is really big into Geocaching. I am fond of it, but not to the point where that is all I want to do.

What are some other things I can do up there? I would like to go kayaking, rafting, fishing, and hike/run some trails up there. I don't know much about the area, and internet searches always bring me to the colorado river when I am looking for kayaking and rafting. Is this available up there on the Rim?

OurNextAdventure · 08-09-2010, 04:07 PM

No input what so ever for Payson?

AzDreamer · 08-09-2010, 04:55 PM

For whitewater info see link below, nothing close to Payson except the East Verde and it's class V+.

For fishing, try to find out when and where stocked trout are being released.

Hiking is everywhere. I like Haigler Creek but there are hundreds of good places.

Payson, Arizona, white water

wa3pnt · 08-09-2010, 08:59 PM

Worlds Oldest Continuous Rodeo in Payson 19-22 August. Usually a pretty good Rodeo.

Ritchie_az · 08-10-2010, 06:44 PM

Just spent the weekend in Payson. It's the first time I'd ever stopped for more than gas and food, and the first time I'd seen the town in daylight.
First, Payson seems like a clean, low-crime town. I felt safe and comfortable everywhere I went.
Second, Tonto Natural Bridge was pretty neat. I'd recommend this to anyone visiting that part of the state. There are some great views and hikes. The bridge itself was a lot larger than I had pictured in my head.
Third, both the Beeline Cafe and Crosswind restaurant (at the airport) served good "home cooked" food for very reasonable prices. The view of the rim at the Crosswind was amazing!
Last, I stayed at the Best Western, and, while the rooms were somewhat small and the place a bit on the old side, it was well-kept with a friendly and helpful staff. The grounds were nice (the kids enjoyed playing in the grass just outside the patio) and the heated pool was fun. If you need a place to stay in Payson, this is a good choice.
I had a lot of fun and look forward to returning!

AZDesertBrat · 08-11-2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ritchie_az

Just spent the weekend in Payson. It's the first time I'd ever stopped for more than gas and food, and the first time I'd seen the town in daylight.
First, Payson seems like a clean, low-crime town. I felt safe and comfortable everywhere I went.
Second, Tonto Natural Bridge was pretty neat. I'd recommend this to anyone visiting that part of the state. There are some great views and hikes. The bridge itself was a lot larger than I had pictured in my head.
Third, both the Beeline Cafe and Crosswind restaurant (at the airport) served good "home cooked" food for very reasonable prices. The view of the rim at the Crosswind was amazing!
Last, I stayed at the Best Western, and, while the rooms were somewhat small and the place a bit on the old side, it was well-kept with a friendly and helpful staff. The grounds were nice (the kids enjoyed playing in the grass just outside the patio) and the heated pool was fun. If you need a place to stay in Payson, this is a good choice.
I had a lot of fun and look forward to returning!

Reading that made me feel a tad "homesick". I worked at both the Beeline Cafe and the Best Western...before it was a BW...up there. I loved living in Payson and just might move back up there some day. During the 1990 Dude Fire I was working at the Beeline and every night after work I'd drive up to the airport to check out the progress of the fires. Fantastic place to view the Rim is right! Of course daytime is always better for that.

Just a little history...many years ago the Beeline Cafe began as a tiny place to stop and get an ice cream cone and grew from there. The same family has owned it all these many years and each of the brothers 'take turns' managing the place. I haven't been up there for quite a while but the older waitresses there (if they are still there!) have been there since Adam and Eve were kids. lol

milogarner · 09-16-2010, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzDesertRat86

My wife and I are planning a weekend trip to Payson this coming weekend. She is really big into Geocaching. I am fond of it, but not to the point where that is all I want to do.

What are some other things I can do up there? I would like to go kayaking, rafting, fishing, and hike/run some trails up there. I don't know much about the area, and internet searches always bring me to the colorado river when I am looking for kayaking and rafting. Is this available up there on the Rim?

the most bigoted town i've ever seen, next to st. john arizona. police, fire, and ambulance sierens going off all times of the night and day. payson is a speedtrap with country flavor. i wished i never moved here the average age is 70 the rudest community in arizona next to st. john arizona lol

milogarner · 09-16-2010, 01:08 PM

sorry no one knows about the internet, average age 50, there like john mcCain cant use internet to set in there ways most are mormons and religious fantiacs

Fumari · 09-16-2010, 08:33 PM

Why did you bump a thread and post irrelevant information?

crazyme4878 · 09-19-2010, 01:47 PM

I would just like to say that everyone I meet in Payson is extremely nice, there are several Wi-Fi spots, there is a large mormon population throughout Arizona--Payson doesn't seem to have any extreme number (why that would matter anyhow, I don't know...), there doesn't seem to be an abundance of sirens when I'm there--but I don't live there, just shop there--, and yes, it is a big retirement community.

Of course, almost none of that matters to the OP. The thread is about what to do in Payson while visiting.