The White Mountains community of Pinetop-Lakeside has been voted America's "Best Cabin Region" by readers of Cabin Life magazine, edging out Vilas County, Wisconsin, for the title.
As the magazine puts it:
Located in the 400-million-acre White Mountains of eastern Arizona, Pinetop-Lakeside is a four-season paradise. In winter, cabin-goers enjoy sledding, snowboarding and world-class alpine and Nordic skiing. In the spring and summer, anglers and water enthusiasts are drawn to roughly 50 alpine lakes and 800 miles of cold, refreshing rivers. Finally, autumn offers great opportunities to witness the leaves changing colors, spot abundant wildlife, and enjoy relative solitude on uncrowded hiking trails.
Some of our favorite things to do in the Pinetop-Lakeside area: hike the Los Burros Trail, make the scenic drive from McNary to Vernon, and enjoy chicken, waffles and wine at Salt Restaurant and Wine Bar.
To learn about the other competitors in Cabin Life's contest, click here.
Photo: Andrea Ramirez Johnson | Hawley Lake, near Pinetop