Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ with Kids

adventuresasmamae
Jun 3, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Jun 4, 2025

This magical town has recently creeped it's way into being one of our favorite mountain towns in Arizona. If you are not from Arizona you are probably thinking, Arizona... Mountain town? Yes, we have some fabulous desert getaways. If you're an Arizonian you might be wondering why I'm not writing about Flagstaff...

So my husband and I are both NAU alumni, so we frequently return back to our college town to escape the heat and enjoy the mountains. Until recently, I had never even been to Pinetop-Lakeside or Show Low. Cue my sister-in-law... her job needed employees up in the mountains so she started traveling once a month, and inviting us along. We fell in love!

When you hear Pinetop-Lakeside, you should know that Show Low is also included. So why should you take your family there? It is so kid-friendly. Not only is the temperature calling your name, there are so many activities and family-friendly restaurants.

So what is there to do? Spend all hours outside in the great outdoors!

Woodland Lake- Has a beautiful playground and Reservoir to walk around. It is right in town and has the best facilities.
Scott Reservoir- very secluded and short drive from town. Our kids loved exploring, and the feeling of being out in the wilderness.
Show Low Creek Meadow Trailhead- We had a wonderful day fishing here. The path is a lovely place to take a walk, and there are perfect piers to fish from.
Fool Hollow Lake- An Arizona State Park! This is one of our favorite spots because it has so much to offer. Multiple fishing spots, multiple paths, and multiple playgrounds. We are also dying to go camping in the park *hopefully soon*.
Playgrounds- I have already included a couple that we love, but you can't miss Frontier Park in Show Low! It is gated and wonderful. Very hard for our kids to leave, if you know what I mean...

Did I mention there is amazing food and great outdoor spaces for kids?

Coffee/Breakfast-

Darbi's Cafe! Get there early, there will be a crowd. The food, the coffee, the ambiance... it can't be missed.
Arizona Mountain Coffee Co- The cinnamon rolls! Have you ever had a cherry cinnamon roll?!? I am not even a huge cherry fan and I couldn't stop taking bites.
Cyclelogical Coffee- Campfire Coldbrew... I couldn't pass it up and it did not disappoint. This cute coffee shop is located in Corduroy Lodge which has airstreams and little cabins (on our list of places we need to stay). I like to try out new spots, but I'll definitely be going back here for a repeat visit.

Lunch/Dinner-

Pinetop Brewing Company- We love a good brewery! This one has amazing beer, amazing food, and amazing service. It's a beautiful spot that we may have visited right before getting engaged, so we will always come back for those warm fuzzy feelings.
Munich Haus Grill-N-Beergarden- We may have a pattern here... This Beergarden lives up to the name, with festive vibes and a great outdoor area. Come here when you are in the mood for a good sausage or schnitzel.
Los Corrales- I would go here just for the vibes, but it's no surprise that the authentic food will have you dreaming of it. Hello enchiladas...
The House- Another GREAT outdoor space! This has the BBQ restaurant, bar, and ice cream shop all set up with a large shared outdoor space. Firepit, cornhole, grass to run around. Come here when you want a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
The Lion's Den Bar & Grill- Perfect for a date night! Great bar food, great setup if you're trying to catch a game, and a fabulous outdoor space.

When you visit Pinetop-Lakeside there are endless cute cabins to rent. You can be right in town with an awesome backyard, on a golf course, or a few streets farther out in the woods. We've loved every house we've stayed in, they seem to have high standards in this town.

If you are looking for a hotel room, my SIL stays at Fairfield Inn and Suites in Show Low everytime. She loves her corner room with a view of the creek.