Payson is beautiful country as is the Verde Valley from Sedona to Camp Verde.
If you travel to the area and are a history buff of the west, make some time to tour the Fort Verde State Park in Camp Verde. This was the Fort that settled the area and is a really interesting museum that includes the original Company Headquarters, C/Os residence, Field Physician and officers residences, etc. Well worth the time. (and I can give you a great place to eat if you like Mexican food, and another one that the food is OK, but the margaritas are the best around).
There is also a very nice campground in Camp Verde, Distant Drums, that I stay at when I am going to Moab.
We've been talking about the 45-70, the pict below is from the Museum.

- Fort Verde Musem.JPG (124.92 KiB) Viewed 2828 times