Dads Love The White Mountains In Arizona

When you think of Arizona, you think of 100 degree heat and cacti on every corner. That is definitely the vision I had when I moved here. I imagined no air conditioning, people riding horses and the only thing on the radio was the whistle from "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly."

I tolerated the heat for a few year but then started looking at ways to get out of the Phoenix Valley. In doing so, I discovered that there are many climates in Arizona, one has extraordinary skiing and outdoor activities, The White Mountains of Arizona. I bought into a timeshare in Pinetop and the rest is history.

My Father has been gone for many years but I have always envisioned myself with Dad in the White Mountains. Take your Dad there, you will not be disappointed.

Please take a look at some of the information below and highlighted sites.

Thanks for stopping by.

Creative Commons Photo Credit

Creative Commons Photo Credit

If you think that the only mountain activities in the United States are in the Great Smoky Mountains or Rocky Mountains, you don't know about the White Mountains in Arizona.

Yes, they are much smaller but they have some of the best trails and outdoor activities that you can find and for some, it isn't that far to travel.

My first visit to the White Mountains was in the early 1990's and it was a memorable one. I had lived in Phoenix for several years and needed a break during the Summer. I remember arriving and being able to roll down the windows in the car and smell the cool, fresh air.

You know that you are almost there when you either spot wildlife or just see the "Watch out for Elk" signs that are along the roadway at frequent intervals.

Pinetop, Arizona is one of the most known towns in the White Mountains and it is very quaint. It is loaded with little shops that sell crafts, antiques and all are Mom and Pop stores. Yes, there are a couple of major grocery stores, but you can also just opt to buy at a market, which is what I like to do.Growing up in Ohio, I love outdoor activities. The White Mountains gave me the opportunities to do those things that I remember doing with my Father. Most of the time it was fishing but we also went to outdoor locations where we could walk and just enjoy the scenery.

The White Mountains are known for hometown and Native American culture. It reminds me a lot of times I spent in the Smoky Mountains. However, the Smokies have deciduous trees and the White Mountains has huge stands of Ponderosa Pine as it includes the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.

The best thing about the White Mountains is what I remember my Father doing best. He liked to get up in the morning and have a cup of coffee outside in the cool. With all of the accommodations in the White Mountains, many of them Resorts, it is not difficult to find a place to stay that has a patio or back porch where you can make this memory happen.

The White Mountains are a great place to take or send Dad.

Everything you like to do is available in the White Mountains. If Dad likes to fish, hunt, walk around or even gamble, there are a lot of things to do.

Check out these links and you will be surprised at what you might find!