There were many great aspects of our week in the pines - one of which is that it rained everyday/night we were there. Oh, the smells and the sounds of the wet pine forest along with the cool air that accompanied each rain was so soul refreshing for a couple of desert rats who had not been in a decent rain in months and months. And is there anything more beautiful than a full rainbow coloring the trees of a dense forest?
Strawberry, Arizona is a small community just 3-miles north of Pine, Arizona another small mountain community. Both were founded by Mormon pioneers in the late 1800s. Only 15 miles south is lovely Payson, with all the conveniences and stores (Starbucks, Wal-Mart, Starbucks, etc.) of our modern world. Be sure to stop at the Payson Visitor Center on Main Street to pick up the latest information about everything you can see and do in the Rim Country.
We have discovered over the years that the Strawberry/Pine communities are filled with welcoming and friendly folks who are more than willing to share those special places to be discovered and enjoyed in their communities. Some have called this area of our state the “Arizona Andes.”
This land is hiking country and we wish we were a few years younger to take advantage of all the incredible hiking trails that are found all throughout this forested paradise. If you hike, you will love spending time here.
The unique and historic Fossil Creek area was currently closed to cars during our trip but not to hikers. The Pine Trail is a part of the greater Arizona Trail. Deep high country swimming holes are found both on Fossil Creek and the East Verde River and are put to good use all summer long. Being in the middle of nature is the central theme of a Strawberry/Pine getaway!
The Strawberry Lodge was closed for renovations but thankfully new owners plan to reopen this historic inn by late September (just in time for the colors of fall) with all the wonderful varieties of pies that have been served from its kitchen for generations. Strawberry pie, of course, has always been the house specialty.
But good places to eat are plentiful in these high mountain communities. Mama Joe’s Italian Grill in Strawberry serves up a mighty good meal. So too does the Randall House in Pine. The Pine Deli is outstanding and the Ponderosa Market is well stocked and employs a German baker who makes fantastic pies. The historic Journigan House along Main Street in Payson is also a great place to grab a bit to eat. Their outside patio is mighty dog friendly!
We met for the first time Jane and Joe Hock and discovered their Hock Crockery shop located on the northeast edge of Strawberry. A big sign next to the Strawberry grocery store directs visitors to their gallery. The Hocks are warm, friendly Arizonans who do know how to throw some unique and beautiful pots! We left a few bucks with these friendly folks for some of their unusual pottery.
We revisited the folks at the Ranch at Fossil Creek who have long been known for the llama hikes into this gorgeous backcountry. They now have opened the Fossil Creak Creamery which features a variety of goat cheeses and heavenly goat fudge. Double Yummy!
The Fossil Creek Creamery is next to a wonderful bed and breakfast called Up the Creek. We have stayed here in years past and it is absolutely lovely. Next-door is the Gentle Hands Equine Center where you can hire a high country wrangler to guide you on your own horseback adventure.
Of course a big part of our week was catching a good case of “back-porch-sittin’-itis”, one of the more wonderful conditions that you can acquire in this 6,000 foot elevation community. Since the Eagles Retreat’s back porch is within 10 feet of the Tonto National Forest, the unobstructed view of the Strawberry Mountains, one of Arizona’s grand forestlands, is truly incredible!
Acorn woodpeckers, Pinyon jays, Stellar jays, finches, doves, hawks, owls, insects of every order, squirrels and the most spectacular elk we have ever seen are all common visitors to the back porch arena. Just sit on that lovely covered, back porch and photograph the daily parade of Arizona high country wildlife that passes literally right in front of you.
We can only give an A+ grade to the Eagles Retreat and the communities of Strawberry and Pine. We thank Jane & Ted Bell for allowing us to rent their amazing forest home and spend a special summer week in the pines. If you have never visited this part of Arizona, it is probably time that you do so. And if you have been before, maybe it is time to go back and spend some more time in the warm summer days and cool summer nights of this part of Arizona’s amazing Mogollon Rim Country.
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| Eagles Retreat, Strawberry, Arizona |
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| A full rainbow welcomed us on our first night. |
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| A Pinyon jay checks us out |
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| Bathtime for this jay |
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| A Pinyon jay takes flight |
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| One of the neighborhood squirrels |
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| Ms Gypsy in her "Squirrels Fear Me" T-shirt |
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| Fossil Creek Creamery |
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| Sunflowers at the Creamery |
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| Major contributors to the wonderful goat cheese and fudge of the creamery |
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| Everyone has an opinion as to the wonderful food found here. |
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| Pine Trailhead |
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| Arizona Trail is also found here. |
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| Yarnell 19 memorial in Strawberry |
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| Yarnell 19 memorial at the Rim Country Museum in Payson |
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| This way to Hock Crockery |
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| Large and unique selection of pottery |
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| Lovely scene at sunset |
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| Rain, glorious rain! |
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| Acorn woodpecker enjoys the birdfeeder |
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| A Black-headed Grosbeak shares the feeder with a common finch. |
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| A male Redheaded Sparrow and an Acorn woodpecker share the bird feeder |
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| A katydid |
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| Beautiful Emerald Moth |
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| One of many scarab beetles |
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| Early morning visitors |
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| Breakfast guest? |
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| Ms Gypsy enjoying the warm sunshine |
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| Home and exhausted from a week in the pines! |
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