In partnership with

Hi there, Adventure Friend!

If your brain feels like a laptop with 43 tabs open… this town is the “close all” button. 😅📵🌲

Hi there, Adventure Friend! 👋

I’m writing to you like one busy parent to another.

The kind who runs a business, runs a family, and sometimes runs out of patience at a red

light. 😂🚗

Let’s start with a little trivia to get your adventure brain warmed up:

Pop Quiz 🌄

What natural feature is Pinetop–Lakeside near that’s noted as the world’s largest of its kind?

• A) Largest saguaro cactus forest

• B) Largest stand of ponderosa pine

• C) Largest volcanic crater

• D) Largest waterfall in Arizona

(Answer’s waiting just before the FAQ section, so no peeking 👀)

Feel Better, Without Overthinking It

Most of us don’t need a complicated routine. We just want to feel good, stay energized, and not think too hard about it.

AG1 Next Gen is a clinically studied daily health drink that supports gut health, helps fill common nutrient gaps, and supports steady energy. One scoop in cold water replaces a multivitamin, probiotics, and more, so your routine stays simple.

Start your mornings with AG1 and get 3 FREE AG1 Travel Packs, 3 FREE AGZ Travel Packs, and FREE Vitamin D3+K2 in your Welcome Kit with your first subscription.

Get started today

Why this trip works (the big idea) 💡

Lakeside is not fancy.

It’s better.

It’s calm.

It’s pine air and still water and nights so quiet you can hear your own thoughts… which is

both lovely and a little scary. 😄🌙

And here’s the trick.
You don’t need a 10-day plan.
You need a simple weekend with a few “anchor” stops.

That’s what this guide is.

A weekend that gives your family:

• more laughs

• more naps

• fewer fights

• and a brain that feels… usable again ✅🧠

My “we’re fried” story 🚙🌄

The first time we drove into Pinetop–Lakeside, we were cooked.

Not “vacation tired.”

More like “hangry wolves in a small car” tired. 🐺😬

My kids were hunting Wi-Fi like it was buried treasure.

I was doing that parent thing where I smile while my eye twitches. 😅

Then the road changed.

The desert feel faded.

Tall pines showed up like a welcome crew.

And the air got cooler in a way that made my shoulders drop without me asking.

We checked into a cabin.

It smelled like wood and clean air and a tiny bit of campfire.

My kids tossed their bags and ran barefoot outside like they’d been released into the wild. 🌲👣

I set my phone down “for a second.”

That second turned into hours.

No doom scrolling.
No Slack.
No “just checking one thing.”

We made s’mores instead of plans.
And in the glow of that fire, I remembered what weekends are for.

Not catching up.
Coming back. 💚🔥

The step-by-step weekend plan 🗺️✅

Friday: Roll in, breathe out 🌄

When you arrive, fight the urge to “do it all.”

Your first job is to slow down.

I like to start with a simple rhythm:

• check in

• unload fast

• walk slow

• eat something warm

• build a fire if you can 🔥

If your kids ask what’s next, say:
“Next, we chill.”

They may look confused.

That’s normal. 😂

And if your brain keeps reaching for your phone, do what I do.
Put it in a drawer.
Yes, like it’s a naughty cookie. 🍪📵

That first night is where the magic begins.
The stars show up.
The noise drops.
And your family starts acting like a team again.

Saturday: Pine air, big laughs, no rush 🏞️

Morning: Woodland Lake Park 🌅🦆

Start your day at Woodland Lake Park.

This is the kind of place where your body relaxes before your mind catches up.
There’s a simple loop walk, plenty of shade, and that calm lake look that makes everyone speak softer.

We grabbed bagels and cocoa and did the most healing thing ever.

We did nothing fast.

The kids chased ducks.
They found sticks.
They made a “fort” that was mostly just sticks piled with confidence. 😄🪵

And me?

I stood there breathing pine air like it was a vitamin.

It felt like a guided meditation… with giggles and random yelling about a duck named “Captain Quacks.” 🦆😂

Midday: White Mountain Family Fun Park 🎢

Next, we earned some chaos.

White Mountain Family Fun Park is where you go when the kids have energy to burn and you want them to sleep later. 😈😴

Think:

• go-karts that actually go

• mini golf with silly obstacles

• arcade games that turn your child into a tiny accountant counting tickets 🎟️

Parent tip:
Join the game for 10 minutes.
Your kids will talk about it for 10 hours. ✅

When the energy peaks, do a reset.

Take a short, easy trail.
Nothing epic.
Just enough trees to cool the system down again. 🌲🔄

Lunch: Darbi’s Café 🌮🥞

Then we went to Darbi’s Café.

This place feels like a local legend because it is.
It’s warm.
It’s friendly.
And it smells like breakfast dreams.

Here’s my “keep everyone happy” order plan:

• chicken fried steak for grown-ups

• grilled cheese or french toast for kids

• one cinnamon roll to share (ha) 😄

That cinnamon roll is not a roll.

It’s an event.

If there’s a wait, don’t stress.
Waiting outside in pine air is still better than most things. 🌲

Afternoon: Shops + history + cool air 🎨🏛️

After lunch, we went slower.

We hit a quirky local shop where the kids could laugh at goofy gifts and I could buy something small that screams, “We were here.” 🧸

Then we did a short history stop.

Not a “read 40 signs” history stop.

A simple walk.
A few real stories.
A chance for kids to see that Arizona has layers.

Even my kids leaned in.
They love anything that feels like a real-life movie set. 🎬🤠

Dinner: Charlie Clark’s Steakhouse 🍔🔥

For dinner, we did Charlie Clark’s Steakhouse.

This place feels like a lodge shook hands with a saloon and decided to feed your whole soul. 😄

There’s that cozy wood vibe.
And food that tastes like someone cared.

Also, the mac ’n’ cheese is not “kid food.”

It’s “adult comfort in a bowl.” 🧀💚

Sunday: Slow starts and lasting memories ☀️

Sunday is for squeezing the last drops out of the weekend.

Not with a schedule.

With a soft plan.

Start with a real breakfast.

Sit down.
Talk.
Ask your kids the best part of the trip.

Be ready for the answer to be:
“that stick.”

Not the lake.
Not the cabin.

The stick. 😂

Then go to Rainbow Lake.

Even one hour is enough.

Rent something, walk the edge, or let the kids toss pebbles like they’re doing science. 🛶

One time, we watched our son catch his first fish here.
He yelled across the water like he won the lottery. 🐟🎉

His sister cheered.

And here’s the real miracle.

They didn’t fight once.

I almost called the newspaper. 😇😂

Before you leave town, grab a sweet treat.

Ice cream is the closing bell on a good weekend. 🔔🍦

And when you drive home, you’ll notice it.

Your shoulders are lower.
Your voice is softer.
And your brain is not buzzing like a beehive.

The big lesson 💡

You don’t need a passport to unplug. 🌎❌
You need a town that helps your family breathe.

Lakeside does that.

It gives you space.

And sometimes, space is the best gift you can bring home. 💚

Proverb to pack 🧭

“Sometimes, the best connection is no connection at all.” 📵🌲

Quick ask (don’t just scroll) 🎯

If this made you want pine air in your lungs…

• 💾 Save this for your next “we’re fried” weekend

• ⭐ Star it so you can find it fast later

• 📲 Share it with one friend who needs a reset

Your Travel Buddy🌞

P.S. 🧠 TRIVIA ANSWER:✅ B) Largest stand of ponderosa pine 🌲🌲🌲

🌲 Lakeside, Arizona FAQ (The “Tell Me Fast” Edition) ✅

1) Is Pinetop–Lakeside good for families with kids?

Yes. Big yes. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
It’s safe, calm, and packed with easy fun like lakes, parks, and simple walks.

2) Is this a good “unplug” trip if I run a business?

Yes… and you may cry happy tears. 😂📵
The pine air does what no productivity app ever has: it turns your brain down.

3) How many days do we need for this trip?

Two nights is perfect.
Friday–Sunday gives you the reset without needing a full week off. 🗓️

4) What’s the best time of year to go?

Spring through fall is great. 🌸☀️🍂
Summer is popular because it’s cooler than Phoenix. Winter can be cozy too, but plan for cold.

5) Do we need to be “hikers” to enjoy it?

Nope. Not even a little. 😄
You can do short loops, lake walks, and “wander and snack” adventures.

6) What’s one “can’t miss” stop for families?

Woodland Lake Park. 🦆🌲
It’s easy, pretty, and makes everyone feel better within minutes.

7) What do we do if the kids get bored?

You rotate the “3 Bs”:

• Bodies (walk, run, play) 🏃

• Bites (snacks and lunch) 🍩

• Breaks (quiet time at the cabin) 🛋️

Boredom usually means hungry or tired wearing a disguise. 😅

8) Where should we stay: cabin, hotel, or rental?

For the full “back to life” feel: cabin or cozy rental. 🏡
Hotels work too, but cabins make it easier to slow down.

9) What should we pack so we don’t regret our life choices?

Pack like a wise parent:

• layers (mornings are cool) 🧥

• comfy shoes 👟

• snacks (always snacks) 🍿

• water bottles 🥤

• a hoodie for everyone (yes, everyone)

10) Is there decent food, or are we eating granola in the car?

There’s real food. The good kind. 😄🍔
You’ll find diner-style classics, comfort meals, and sweet treats worth the stop.

11) What if we only have one full day?

Do this order:

• Woodland Lake Park in the morning 🦆

• Fun Park mid-day 🎢

• Big cozy dinner 🍔

• Rainbow Lake quick stop next morning 🛶

That’s the greatest hits album. 🎵✅

12) Is it worth going if we can’t fully unplug?

Yes.
Even a “partial unplug” helps. 📵➡️🙂
Think of it like cutting sugar. You don’t have to be perfect to feel better.

13) What’s the #1 mistake people make on weekend trips like this?

Trying to do too much. 😬
This trip works because it’s simple.
You don’t need a checklist. You need space.

14) What’s the best “entrepreneur parent” mindset for this trip?

Tell yourself this:
“Rest is part of my job.” 💼💚
Because it is. You come back sharper, kinder, and more fun to live with.

15) What’s that trivia answer again?

✅ B) Largest stand of ponderosa pine 🌲🌲🌲
And yes, you can casually drop that fact like you’re a forest genius.