Accommodations

Garland’s Oak Creek Lodge (8067 N. Hwy. 89A, 928/282-3343, www.garlandslodge.com [1], $290 per cabin) provides guests with the romance of a cabin in the woods and all the style of a small resort. The 1908 homestead is a well-kept Arizona secret, though you may have a hard time getting a reservation for one of the 16 cabins. And like any good summer hideaway, the lodge’s on-site restaurant—simply called The Dining Room—will keep you coming back night after night. Breakfast and dinner are included with your stay. The resort is open early April through mid-November and closed on Sundays. If possible, try to book one of the large cabins with a fireplace.

Escape into the woods at the quirky Forest Houses Resort (9275 N. Hwy. 89A, 928/282-2999, www.foresthousesresort.com [2], $90–145 per house). The 15 cabins, A-frame homes, and stone cottages are scattered on 20 wooded acres. Some of the houses could use some updating, but they’re all a lot of fun. Try to reserve one of the creekside cottages, the charming Rock House, or the arty Studio, a former sculpting workshop that overlooks a grassy meadow. The homes range in size, accommodating 2 to 10 people. Be sure to ask about the resort’s charming history—there’s a monkey involved.

Small and pleasantly rustic, Canyon Wren Cabins (6425 N. Hwy. 89A, 928/282-6900, www.canyonwrencabins.com [3], $155–175 d) attracts guests six miles north of Uptown. Its three chalet-styled cedar cabins are designed to accommodate two people comfortably, with a small living room, kitchen, bath, and wood-burning fireplace downstairs, and an open loft bedroom with queen bed upstairs. The Honeysuckle Log Cabin is a bit smaller, but it can be a fun way to live out your Zane Grey fantasies for a week. Proprietors Milena and Mike provide coffee and muffins in the morning, and they are happy to recommend tips for sightseeing and shopping.