Highlights of Showlow, Arizona

If you live in the valley and want a quick getaway Showlow is a great place to go. It has the charm of a small town and an endless array of outdoor opportunities such as hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking.

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HISTORY

Show Low is in the eastern part of Arizona.  The name of this city is said to have come from a poker game between two men who had become concerned the land was getting too crowded and feeling like they were encroaching on each other’s privacy. In order to determine who would stay on the land, they played a common frontier card game called, “seven-up.”  The winner would get to stay on the land and the other would have to move. However, there was no clear winner and one of them stated the words “show low to win.”  The other had the deuce of clubs, which was the lowest card possible in the game they were playing, and he stated: “show low it is.”  He won the ranch and the town earned its name and the main street in Showlow is called the Deuce of Clubs.

THINGS TO DO

This area is surrounded by majestic white mountains, which offer more than one hundred and twenty miles of trails that are perfect for hiking and biking.  Of course, anyone that loves to ride ATVs or OHV will love riding along the maintained OHV Trail Riding Areas that were created for those activities.

I fell in love with this city when I was there, not only because of all the trails, but the two million acres of national forest land filled with lakes, streams, Fishing and an abundance of wildlife.  Showlow has elk, deer, antelope, bears, turkeys, and mountain lions.

One of the favorite places to hang out amongst the locals and visitors is the Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area.  People love hanging out with family and friends while spending time in the lake.

The Sunrise Park Resort is only thirty-six miles away from Show Low and it is a fabulous destination for both the winter and the summer.  During the winter, everyone can ski, snowboard, ice fish, go tubing, and explore the backcountry on a sleigh ride.  The warmer summer months bring scenic lift rides, horseback rides, zip line tours, mountain biking, boating along Sunrise Lake, and more.

Inside the Show Low Museum, visitors can see sixteen rooms that all have their own unique theme.  Some of the rooms are the Train Room, Jail Room, The Rodeo Chedeski Fire Room, EB Lewis Room, and the McNary Room.  While all those rooms are fascinating, some people will be thrilled that admission is free.

PLACES TO STAY

As I was searching for accommodations for my trip to Show Low, I discovered that there are a plethora of VRBO and Airbnb places to stay in addition to the hotels.  This means that people can stay somewhere that meets their needs as well as their wants.  Anyone that wants to have a little more space or a kitchen to cook meals, can rent a house, while those who just want a place to lay their heads at night can stick with a hotel.

FOOD

There are quite a few places to eat in Show Low and I tried many of them while I was there.  Aunt Nancy’s was a few blocks of the Deuce at 21 N 9th St, Ste 13, Show Low, Az 85901. Phone 1-928-537-4839. This is a great little go-to place for breakfast and lunch, as they served delicious food in a pleasant homestyle atmosphere. I had the biscuits and gravy. I liked the biscuits and now looking for a nice biscuit recipe I can try at home.

The House Yard Bar & Eatery can be found within the White Mountains and their yard is the perfect spot to enjoy a drink with a meal while having a fabulous time outside.  Often times there is live music and guests gathered by the fire pits or playing a rousing game of corn-hole. It’s not just a place to eat but to gather, talk, and have fun late into the night.

If you are craving Mexican food there are a plethora of choices. I suggest a stop at Sal and Teresa’s Restaurant.  Live music plays in the background throughout the week, although it is usually later in the afternoon, long after breakfast and lunch.

My splurge dinner in Show Low was at the Cattlemen’s Steak House.  The smells coming from the kitchen were heavenly, and the homemade loaf of bread delightful.

I am not a shopper but I must say that for a small town, it looks like they have plenty of shopping options!

I really enjoyed my time in Show Low, and if you have never been, you may want to plan a trip there for your next getaway.

We always hear so much of the bigger getaways but sometimes these smaller towns are just the right getaway. Have you experienced a great small town getaway? I would love to hear about all the small-town getaways.