Welcome to your Lake Havasu Travel Guide, where we introduce you to all the things to do in this Arizona city on the Colorado River. It amazes me how many people I've met that are residents of Arizona or the surrounding areas that have never been to Lake Havasu City Arizona. The deserts of Southern California and throughout Arizona offer numerous outdoor activities like hiking, off road driving, and beautiful scenery. In my opinion, however, there are more great things to do in Lake Havasu than in just about any region of the United States.
Located off I-40 on Hwy 93, roughly 2 ½ hours south of Las Vegas Nevada, is where this desert playground is located. Lake Havasu was formed when the Parker Dam, located south of Lake Havasu City was constructed in the 1930's, creating the lake know known as Lake Havasu Az. Robert McCullough, the Godfather of Lake Havasu, bought the London Bridge for 2.5 million dollars, and another 7 million to dismantle it, and ship it over from England. What was a peninsula is now an island after a channel was dug out for the bridge. And yes, the song "The London Bridge is falling down" is about the Lake Havasu's London Bridge.
The below list includes some of the biggest attractions Lake Havasu has to offer, and some only insiders know. So to fully enjoy every minute of you stay, do yourself a favor to schedule some time to fit them all in. Lake Havasu can be enjoyed year round, but the best times of year are during the spring and summer months if you plan on playing in the water. And winter and fall if you don't plan on swimming, boating and skiing. So don't let the heat from May through September stop you. Just stock up on 150 plus sun block, grab your Lake Havasu travel guide and enjoy yourself.
Lake Havasu Travel Guide
London Bridge: Get the bridge out of the way first. This is a no brainer, if you go to Lake Havasu and don't see the bridge then there's a chance you already have heat stroke. The English Village surrounds the bridge to give you the feel of London, except surrounded by a desert. Don't get be wrong, it's pretty cool, but for some reason unknown to me, the English Village doesn't stack up to its crown jewel, the London Bridge. Some really cool shops and attractions are long gone, but it's still worth your while to grab an ice cream and some souvenirs. Don't forget to go back at night.
Spring Break: College aged kids love it, and the locals hate it. In my opinion Lake Havasu is the west coasts best kept secret when it comes to spring break spots. If you can pull it off try to make reservations at the Nautical Inn on the island, or the London Bride Resort located in the channel next to the London Bridge. Not to mention Lake Havasu's hottest nightclub Kokomos is located there.
Fishing: If you're an angler, then you'll have a blast in Lake Havasu. Striper bass, catfish, blue gill, just to name a few. Lake Havasu is notorious for its countless coves and inlets that are just begging to be fished in. You don't
have to have a boat either. So if you just want to pull up a lawn chair and relax, the island has plenty of fishing holes. Don't forget to buy a license.
Water sports: This is Havasu's bread and butter. Swimming, boating, jet skiing is what Lake Havasu is all about. You should have no problem finding boat rentals under the London Bridge. If you're traveling in group maybe renting a house boat for the day. Be sure to check out the sand bars located north of the city. Just ask the locals, they'll point you in the right direction. Check out the swimming holes in the area as well. Rotary State Park located at the end of Smoketree Ave, and The State Beach located on the island is great spots for kids. There are numerous swimming holes on the island if you like privacy, but wear shoes.
Copper Canyon: Havasu boating residents have always known about this hot spot, but MTV took this little cove to Hollywood. Made famous by MTV's 1994 Spring Break visit, Copper Canyon is now a must see if you have a boat and like to party and jump off cliffs. During Spring Break, packed boats make for a floating walkway. This also goes for Labor Day, forth of July and Memorial Day weekends. So if a lot of people are not your thing, you might want to experience Copper Canyon another time.
The Island at night: Now this is what it is all about. Most of Lake Havasu's homes can see the lake because of its layout, so when you are down by the lake you can see the entire city. And at night it's absolutely beautiful. The clear nights gives way to the heavens, so you get a clear shot of the stars in all their glory. Make sure to go to the very end of the island near Site Six. Just follow McCullough Blvd over the bridge and follow it to reach the end and pull off anywhere to find a spot. But be careful. There are a lot of dangerous ravines, that if you don't pay attention, it could get ugly.
Bison Blvd: I'm about to upset the neighbors, but the view from the desert off Bison Blvd via Kiowa are to good not to tell you about. Pavement will only take you so far though, a car will do the trick if you drive very slowly; we advise
having a truck if possible. Bison is located at the base of the mountains behind Lake Havasu. See the city from the other side, and like the island, the stars reach out and grab. During the day, the desert is an off road drivers paradise. This is where the desert opens up.
Off Road: The desert is wide open to the north, south and west for Lake Havasu. There are numerous dune buggy rentals in the area to choose from. But like I said, be prepared by having water, a GPS device, cell phone and a spare tire. Rent a dune buggy and loose your mind. Now be careful, because if you get into trouble out there during the summer months, the Arizona heat is not very forgiving.
Boat Tours: If you just want to relax and hang out for a couple hours and take in the sites, then maybe a boat tour will interest you. Narrators give you a step by step, play by play experience second to none. View wildlife, enjoy a dinner or relax; the choice is yours.
Cliffs: Like jumping off cliffs; then this is the spot for you. Located north of Lake Havasu City off I-93 in the desert hills are the cliffs ranging from 15 -150 ft tall. This not a park, some parking is limited unless you access with an off road vehicle or boat. The water is deep enough, but you should use extreme caution if you plan on jumping off the big boys. Again, just ask the younger locals for exact directions.
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