With the temperature hitting a constant 110°F/43°C this summer (pretty normal for Arizona summers), we had a somewhat spur of the moment mini-weekend getaway to the much cooler White Mountains. We wanted to see trees! Grass! Water! So it was off to Pinetop-Lakeside for us!

The 4 hour drive wasn't bad at all. Of course, we're used to driving distances considering the next major city from where we live is always about 2 hours away. We drove through windy canyons and made a stop at a scenic view of the Salt River.

We arrived in Show Low early afternoon and grabbed lunch before exploring the local trails in Pinetop-Lakeside:

Through the Woodland Lake Park loop --which branches out into other trails.

Water! Not a very large lake but in Arizona we'll take what we can get! People were fishing at all of the lakes we visited in the Pinetop-Lakeside area.

After a short hike and nearly getting lost, we took a scenic drive on White Mountain Boulevard (Highway 260). It is SO picturesque with lots of grazing cattle and horses and abandoned cabins along the way!

If we had more time, it would've been nice to climb Mount Baldy but as it is, we decided not to have any set plans and played everything by ear.  Plus, we didn't know which trails had been affected by the wildfires.

Chocolate cake from the Chalet Restaurant and Bar. Sooo delicious.

And as suggested by Arizona Highways magazine, we had breakfast on the patio of Darbi's Cafe the next morning before heading back to tree-less, hot Tucson.

All in all, a very relaxing weekend!