Lake Havasu City

Boating and the 1831 London Bridge attract visitors to Lake Havasu City. Chainsaw magnate Robert McCulloch spent more than $7 million to buy the bridge and rebuild it in Arizona. 

The recycled bridge was completed in 1971 and since then the desert retirement community has grown to a sprawling city of 55,000.  It's a picturesque bridge and worth a stop just off State Route 95, an hour south of Kingman.

Lake Havasu is known for spring-break partying among college students. What's lesser known is the 27 replica lighthouses along the lake shore that make it safer for boating at night. The one-third scale replicas feature lighthouses from both coasts and the Great Lakes, including  Cape Hatteras, Chicago Harbor, Sandy Hook and Grays Harbor in Washington.  

There are a variety of boat tours to see the lighthouses, Copper Canyon or further upriver to the Topock Gorge. Visitors can also rent jet skis, kayaks, paddle boards and other watercraft.

Visitors to the bridge might consider lunch or dinner overlooking the historic span at Shugrue's, Javalina Cantina or nearby at Mudshark Brewery. A local resident recommended Cha Bones restaurant north of the bridge for happy hour and dining.

The faux English village at the foot of the bridge includes tourist shops and a visitor center.  The waterfront is ideal for walking, jogging and dog-walking. 

Golf and pickleball are popular local recreation options. There are five golf courses in the area. The Lake Havasu Golf Club is the oldest course, dating to 1968. GolfLink ranks the Refuge Golf and Country Club as the best course.

​The city has four, free outdoor pickleball courts at Dick Samp Memorial Park. The Lake Havasu City Aquatic Center has four indoor courts and the ARK Center has three indoor courts. 

Lake Havasu founder Robert McCulloch and planner C.V. Wood in bronze.

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​Founded: 1964
Elevation: 500
​Population: 57,246
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Kingman is about an hour away to the north:
http://www.ontheroadarizona.com/kingman.html

The Havasu Landing Resort and Casino ferry docks at the London Bridge. The roundtrip fare is $2 and it operates day and night.

Looking east across an inlet that the 1831 London Bridge spans. The historic bridge has been in place in Arizona since 1971.

Copper Canyon is a popular destination for boaters, especially during spring break, and Sunset Tours has a one-hour trip to the canyon.

Pigeon Point Lighthouse is a replica of the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast at Pescadero, Calif., between San Francisco and Santa Cruz.