When you think of Arizona you think of cacti, snakes, and heat. I’m going to let you in on a little secret, there is so much more to Arizona……..much more.

When we first moved here I thought it was nothing more that dry heat and the Grand Canyon, and boy was I wrong. As 2020 went on, and I continued to cross off all the travel plans we had planned, I wondered what travel was going to look like and how we could do it. Roadtrips! Simple exploration. We had already been to the Grand Canyon the year before, Sedona, Phoenix, and all the tourist hotspots. Then I came upon Strawberry Arizona and decide to escape from the heat to the pines and the much cooler temperatures. Strawberry Arizona is at the base of the famous Mogollon Rim and is surrounded by the huge Ponderosa Pines that make up the Tonto National Forest Preserve. About 2 hours north from Phoenix and 3.5 from Tucson. Very scenic drive once you get out of Phoenix.

We decided to stop at the Waterwheel Fall hiking trail in Payson AZ. It was just off of our planned route and about 30 minutes from our final stop. The kids really loved hiking this area and playing near the river. I will say that the water was much colder than expected, both kids fell in and were shocked by the water temps. Luckily I had predicted this happening and brought extra clothes, and it was no big deal.

We didn’t hike all the way to the final waterfall because a woman told us there was a bees nest up that way, and being solo with 2 young kids I decided we had seen a lot of it. The path is not marked but pretty easy to follow, most of it is sand and dirt and the last part of the hike is all rocks. My kids found it fun and challenging before we decided to not risk the bee hive, we had fun exploring along the river and just being outside. If you do have children be prepared for them to be sandy, muddy and wet. There is really no way around it and that is half the fun. There are bathrooms in the parking lot area, make sure you bring tons of water and snacks. As always be on the lookout for wildlife, and bag your own trash.

After we left that area (we heard some trails were closed, so check before you go to avoid disappointment) we decided to just head to where were would be sleeping for the night. I stumbled upon The Strawberry Inn when I did a boutique hotel google search for Arizona. There is nothing I love more than a unique, quirky, and comfortable place that is run by a family. It's so important to support local businesses, now more than ever, so be sure to follow them on Instagram. Since check-in at the Inn isn’t till 4 pm we made a stop at the PieBar across the road. My daughter loved her ham & cheese empanada, while I really enjoyed the small apple pie. My son was exhausted from all the hiking, so he sorta missed out on this part. If you have concerns with covid I should note that the PieBar is the only eatery we saw employees wearing a mask. With Strawberry being a small town I am sure they don’t have the numbers to be concerned, but it is worth noting if you are concerned about something like that. I also purchased some alcohol to bring back to the room to drink later that night, nothing like a glass of wine after being in a van and hiking with kids all day.

The check-in process for The Strawberry Inn isn’t like other motels, as I said before it is ran more like an AirBNB. Shortly after 4pm I received an email with the code for the lockbox outside of our room.

Once inside it was shiplap covered walls, literally the comfiest bed I have EVER slept on in my life, and just minimalist cottage comfort. Everything was very clean, tidy and bright. I loved the wood flooring with the light walls. They had a really nice dresser in the room, coffee area, and a couch that could be converted into a bed. They also had a sound machine beside the bed, which I am addicted to because of using one with my kids, and I had forgotten mine at home.

We fell asleep to the sound of rain, and it was the best nights sleep I had in awhile. They also provided earplugs, and the only reason I could see is because of the establishment next door. We heard absolutely nothing, but I believe next door may have live music some nights. After a day of hiking that may be annoying, but as I said we slept like babies and didn’t hear anything. They have obviously taken every precaution to make sure you have an enjoyable stay. I should also note that the grass area outside the Inn has yard games and chairs to swing in. My kids played with the large Jenga set for about an hour, making forts with it while I enjoyed a drink in the porch swing.

There is just such a feeling of relaxation and calm when you visit. In the morning the lighthouse becomes a coffee shop and you can enjoy some fresh coffee or fresh squeezed orange juice. They don’t have many food options there, but thats just a great excuse to explore Strawberry or Pine.

Check out runs in a similar manner to check-in, you leave the key in the lockbox and you can be on your way. During these weird times of travel it was nice to have that no contact check-in. They give you a number to contact should you have any troubles or need anything during your stay. After check out we decided to take the short drive down the road to the Birds Nest for some breakfast, and it was some great diner food. My kids ordered Mickey Mouse pancakes, and I enjoyed a traditional breakfast of eggs and toast. I wish we had planned for more than one night in Strawberry, but now we have an excuse to go back. We will definitely be returning for a weekend visit, I really wanted to see the lavender farm that is apparently only open on weekends. As with everything these days, make sure you check websites to see what is open or may have changed their hours. We met a couple hikers that didn’t know certain parks were closed and they couldn’t hike what they had planned. Thank you Strawberry Arizona, and The Strawberry Inn for a magical road-trip stop. Until next time!

Is there any place or hotel in Arizona you would like us to explore and blog about?

Some of my “ must haves” for a road trip.