GILA COUNTY, AZ (Arizona Highways TV) — If you’re looking for an unforgettable adventure through some of Arizona’s most scenic and charming locations, this episode is your perfect guide.

Arizona Highways TV takes you on a journey along Highway 87, also known as the Beeline Highway, which cuts through the heart of the Tonto National Forest.

This road trip between Phoenix and the White Mountains offers a blend of natural beauty, historical landmarks, and unique local flavors that you won’t want to miss.

Our journey begins in the vast expanse of the Tonto National Forest, the largest urban forest in the United States.

Covering nearly 3 million acres, this forest offers a diverse range of landscapes from flatlands to highlands, with elevations ranging from 1,300 to nearly 8,000 feet.

As you drive north, you’ll witness the transition from desert saguaros to towering evergreens, culminating in the world’s largest stand of ponderosa pines.

First stop: Strawberry, Arizona.

This quaint town is a perfect getaway, just two hours from Phoenix and 20 degrees cooler.

One of the highlights here is the Pie Bar, a specialty restaurant run by Kimberly Brennan. Known for its delicious empanadas, Pie Bar offers a variety of flavors, from green chili to chicken pot pie.

Kimberly’s inspiration comes from her time in Puerto Vallarta, and her empanadas are a must-try for any visitor.

Just west of Strawberry, you can hike along the beautiful Fossil Creek.

This area is one of Arizona’s most diverse riparian zones, home to over 30 species of trees and shrubs and more than 100 species of birds.

Managed by the Tonto and Coconino National Forests, Fossil Creek flows for 14 miles and offers stunning natural beauty.

Next, we head to Pine, Arizona, just a few miles south of Strawberry. Here, you’ll find the Rusty Pine Cone, a specialty gift shop owned by Jean and Lee Pendergraft.

From custom wood signs to homemade jellies, this shop has something for everyone. Pine is also home to electric bike tours, offering a unique way to explore the town and its surroundings.

No trip along Highway 87 is complete without a visit to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park.

This park features the world’s largest natural travertine bridge, a stunning formation millions of years in the making. The park offers plenty of spots for picnics and even hosts weddings and family reunions.

As we continue our journey, we stop at Coles Ranch Lodge, a historic lodge along Tonto Creek that has been welcoming guests since 1917.

Whether you choose to stay in a creekside cabin or enjoy a meal at the Zane Grey Steakhouse, this lodge offers a perfect retreat.

Finally, we reach By the Bucket, a unique eatery in Payson that serves spaghetti in buckets.

Founded by Brett Acosta, this restaurant has become a local favorite, offering delicious spaghetti, meatballs, and garlic bread.

We also explore the Zane Grey Cabin, a historic replica dedicated to the famous author who wrote extensively about Arizona. The cabin houses original artifacts and offers a glimpse into the life of this prolific writer.

Whether you’re an adventure seeker, a history buff, or simply looking to relax and enjoy some local flavors, this episode has something for everyone.

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The Arizona golf record books were rewritten in July thanks to a teenager.

He shot in the 50s, taking home a summer classic trophy and creating a new record doing it. 

Arizona teen AJ Ramos has lost track of how many golf competitions he’s entered, but, something special happened in July at the Junior Golf Association of Arizona’s Sam Schanafelt Summer Classic.

He shot a record-breaking 59 at Starfire Golf Club in Scottsdale.

“Everything culminated into one round,” Ramos said. “Everything just went perfectly. All the hard work just paid off and everything went perfectly in that one round where I shot a 59.”

He’s just 14 years old and has only been golfing for six years. For most of that time, his dad was his coach.

He won the Sam Schanafelt Summer Classic – his fourth win of the year for the budding star.

“It’s definitely a step in the right direction, and it shows me that my hard work is paying off,” Ramos said.

He says he’ll continue to work hard and be disciplined.

The golfer, who, at just 14, has already seen it all, and knew he had a chance at history on the back 9.

“Going on to 14, the previous hole, I just birdied to get to 8 under. I was like, ‘Oh, 59 could really happen here. I could shoot a 59.’ So, going into the last hole, I was 11 under so I just needed a par to shoot the 59 and I ened up making a 4 footer,” Ramos said. “I was very nervous over if I was able to make it and as soon as I saw it going in, I was overwhelmed with joy.”

Add his name to record books.

He has some advice to add to your game, too.

“You are going to hit bad shots but I think the main thing is, you have to learn from it. Go on to the next shot and do your best at that next shot,” he said.

For some added perspective, only 14 times in PGA Tour history has a golfer shot a 59.

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Arizona Democrat Ruben Gallego is promoting Republican backing for his Senate campaign as the congressman works to assemble a winning coalition in the swing state.

A list being released Sunday of Republican supporters of his campaign includes moderate Republicans and some former Republicans who held elected office or other roles in business or politics. Several are former aides to the late Sen. John McCain, the famed Arizona Republican and onetime prisoner of war who was known for occasionally bucking his party.

Gallego’s Republican opponent, Kari Lake, has criticized McCain in the past and once suggested he was a “loser.”

Democrats have made inroads in Arizona after decades of GOP dominance. While Republicans have more registered voters in the state, Sen. Mark Kelly, Gov. Katie Hobbs and other Democrats have cobbled together narrow victories by holding their party together, dominating among independents and getting support from an outsize share of Republicans who dislike the direction of the GOP under Donald Trump.

Lake is a former television news anchor and one of Trump’s most prominent supporters. Like Trump, she has promoted false and debunked theories of election fraud.

She says Gallego is a liberal Democrat who is out of step with Arizona’s moderate voters. Lake says the congressman votes in lockstep with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, supported legislation that worsened inflation and wants to eliminate the Senate filibuster to enact a liberal agenda.

Gallego, who served as a Marine in Iraq, is emphasizing his military service and financially humble upbringing as he looks to expand his stature beyond the safely Democratic district in Phoenix that he has represented since 2015. He says he is not afraid to push Biden when he disagrees with the administration’s policies, particularly around the U.S.-Mexico border. Gallego views the filibuster, which requires 60 Senate votes to pass most legislation, as a barrier to efforts to protect voting rights, abortion rights and other priorities.

Among those Republicans endorsing Gallego is Mesa Mayor John Giles, who has been a vocal supporter of Democrats running against Trump and his allies, including Biden and Kelly.

“I cannot in good conscience stand on the sidelines while extremists like Kari Lake, who have hijacked our party for the sake of personal gain, undermine the very fabric of what makes America exceptional,” Giles said in a statement released by Gallego’s campaign.

Gallego is emphasizing his military service as a Marine who faced difficult combat in Iraq, a biography with the potential to appeal across party lines.

“Like my former boss, Ruben has spent decades serving his country and state,” said Paul Hickman, a former state director for McCain who described himself as a lifelong Republican, in a statement released by Gallego’s campaign.

Lake’s GOP primary rival, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, earned about 40% of the vote Tuesday despite being outspent 5-to-1 by Lake, giving hope to Democrats that her Republican support remains soft.

When she accepted victory in the primary, Lake made a point of reaching out to those who voted against her, a stark contrast to her 2022 run for governor when she went after McCain and other Republicans who ran afoul of the right.

“This is an all hands on deck moment,” she said. “It’s going to take people from all walks of life.”