Tom Evans | CONTRIBUTING EDITOR BOTTOM LINE Strawberry and Pine are still sleepy, and that’s a good thing. If you’re looking for an opportunity to commune with nature and get out of the heat without the hassle of heading to Flagstaff or the White Mountains, the two communities are a great option where you can experience an ideal blend of the rustic and the modern. Obviously, the Mogollon Rim itself contains myriad opportunities for outdoor recreation, but the forest roads were closed the weekend we were there. Friends of ours happened to visit the Fossil Creek Wilderness Area the same day we were at Tonto Bridge and raved about the natural waterfall and clear waters the creek provided. THE GREAT OUTDOORS The entire point of going to the Rim is to enjoy nature, and the options for doing so are almost limitless. At approximately 5,800 feet of elevation, Strawberry is about 20 degrees cooler than the Valley at any given moment, and its location in the heart of Rim Country provides a stunning natural environment. We had to narrow it down a bit, so our big outdoor adventure was Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. As the name implies, the park features a remarkable natural bridge that rises about 200 feet above the creek floor below it, with a cascading waterfall dropping a light mist on the bottom. There are several striking viewpoints of the bridge on top that are easily accessible, but if you’re feeling more adventurous, you can take the Gowan Trail for about a quarter-mile hike that drops you 200 feet to a new observation deck in the creek bottom. It’s steep, but not Piestewa or Camelback steep, and my kids were easily up for the challenge. Rim Country is brimming with fun things to do, including natural attractions such as Tonto Natural Bridge, located outside Payson, which offers several hikes that lead to picturesque settings such as waterfalls and rock formations. MAY/JUNE 2021 | 20 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA

Scan me Scan me 25 TH Anniversary Celebration Performance JUNE 3, 2021, 7:00 PM | LIVESTREAM EVENT Academics Music Dance Theatre Academics Music Dance Theatre RESERVE TICKETS | SPONSOR | DONATE goasa.org/showcase Join us, as our creative scholars present a year-end performing arts showcase that will inspire and remind us that the arts gain meaning when they are both shared and witnessed.