The newly-restored Stoneman Lake Lodge offers the best way to take in the wilderness ambience, with great B&B food, access to trails and panoramic views supplementing the historic coolness of this 1800s cabin.
Owner Joan Westlake says animal watching is a big deal at the lodge, which is listed on the Audubon Society's list of great Arizona birding sites.
"Many guests eat out on the deck watching all the incredible bird life, and hoping to see the elk," she comments. "We've had a lot of deer sightings from guests hiking around the lake. Although, a lot of our guests visit the library and spend hours cuddled on the chairs in the great room or out on the deck reading and relaxing. There's plenty of room inside and out the lodge so you can choose to socialize or have alone time."
Westlake adds that guests also enjoy the horseshoes, croquet and miles of cool pines for strolling, hiking or mountain biking.
Even the food is a step up from the normal B&B fare, in that portions are hearty, and created from organic foods when possible.
Westlake says, "One thing that we keep hearing, especially from the experienced B&B guests, is that our food is exceptional and plentiful. We even had a vegan show up with no notice and we accommodated her. We keep baked tofu, soy milk and the like around. Juevos Rancheros with soy chorizo hash and Eggs Benedict with dilled new red potatoes are now breakfast specialties."
Since there's nowhere close for hungry guests to go at night - the solar-powered lodge rests 9 miles down a dirt road - the lodge offers reasonably-priced gourmet dinners on Friday and Saturday nights. Menus include Venison and Buffalo Chili, and savory Raspberry Chipolite BBQ Chicken Breasts.
She adds, "Although, I've learned to make a pretty delicious chicken friend steak, too."
The lodge rooms are themed, as are most accomodations in the B&B scene. The Sharlotte Hall Room commemorates Arizona's female authors, while the Cowboys and Indians Suite is a double room accomodating families of varying sizes. The Prescottonian - AKA, the Honeymoon Suite - overlooks the lake from an intimate balcony.
Each room is furnished in the 19th-century antiques the owner discovered when she opened up the boarded and closed lodge buildings. The Great Room looks just like a visitor in 1888 might expect. The only new addition: huge double doors opening onto an expansive wooden lakeview porch.
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