Payson, Arizona

The town of Payson, located about 90 minutes north of Phoenix, is nestled in the largest continuous Ponderosa pine forest in the world.

Payson is a comfortable, modern town. The community is said to be based on an economy that is one part construction, one part retirement community, and one part tourism. The main street is the place to go if you're looking to do some shopping. There, you'll find a mix of specialty shops, antiquaries, and first-rate restaurants. But despite the modern conveniences, Payson has not forgotten its Western heritage. The town is home to the World's Oldest Continuous Rodeo and many of its cultural festivals and attractions are related to the Old West. Payson's Bluegrass Festival and the annual Old Time Fiddlers State Championship and Festival draw visitors from far and wide. And lovers of Western novels take note: Payson was once home to the author Zane Grey, famous for his serialized Western novels and pulp fiction.

But the perhaps the greatest thing about Payson is the outdoors. And "spectacular" is the optimal word. Don't miss hiking in Tonto National Forest. Or head out to explore the nearby Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, which contains the world's largest travertine (natural rock) bridge. And the Mogollon Rim, a 7,000-foot-high (2134-meter-high) and 200-mile-long (322-kilometer-long) escarpment, is also nearby and ready to be explored.

There's great weather, too – with July highs of 92F (33C) and January lows of 24F (-4C) – so you can get out year-round, enjoying camping, fishing, hiking, and biking. And not only does Payson itself have an average annual snowfall of 23 inches (58 cm), skiing is just short drive away at Sunrise Park Resort.

So if yours is a lifestyle that thrives on the great outdoors, Payson is the place for you.

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