Drive from Las Vegas to Lake Havasu City

Despite what the name might suggest, the 19th Hole Bar & Grill isn't a golf course country club, but rather a charming dive bar with beachfront views on the Colorado River in Needles. After driving for a couple hours, you'll be ready to pull over for a late breakfast or early lunch. If the weather is good, ask for a seat on the patio or near the bar.
The 19th Hole has great burgers, tacos and other quick-serve comfort food, including a steak sandwich with chimichurri sauce. Locals swear the chicken wings are the best in town. The bar specializes in beer, margaritas, "breakfast shots" (with bacon) and a Bloody Mary made with an in-house mix, but go easy on the drinking. There's a big day ahead of you and it's just getting started.

Head straight to Lake Havasu City's most iconic landmark: the London Bridge. Spanning across the man-made Bridgewater Channel, the 930-foot-long structure was originally built in London, but put up for auction and brought over to Lake Havasu City brick by brick. It's actually the second-most visited tourist attraction in Arizona behind the Grand Canyon.
The bridge is surrounded by hotels, shops, bars and restaurants, many of which are condensed in an area known as the English Village. Take a stroll, snap some photos and relax near the waterside scenery as boats and kayakers float by on the channel.

Grab lunch at The Chair (formerly known as The Blue Chair), which has clear, unobstructed patio views of the London Bridge and Bridgewater Channel. The menu is loaded with burgers, sandwiches and tacos, but you can't go wrong with an order of french fries topped with pulled pork and cheese. The bar is ready to serve up a variety of tropical cocktails (including a whopping 57-ounce Margarita for two), but you'll get a better feel for Lake Havasu culture with a simple bottle of Mudshark, a locally brewed beer.

Check in to the Nautical Beachfront Resort. The hotel balances a vintage art deco design with clean, contemporary rooms. Many have patios and balconies to enjoy the waterside views. Get settled in, rest up and if you're up for it, head outside to the WET Pool for a stylish lounge deck that includes the largest infinity pool in Arizona.

If you decide to limit your time at the pool, walk on over to the Turtle Beach Bar, where drinks are enjoyed on a boardwalk patio overlooking the water.
Most of the cocktails are sweet Tiki-inspired tropical recipes, but you can also order a great Bloody Mary, prepared with the bar's own house mix. Check out the "Bucket List" of large 64-ounce shareable cocktails, served in a plastic bucket for 3-4 people. Enjoy a few light bites for an early dinner. The menu has sandwiches, wraps, chips and salsa, shrimp cocktail and more.

Board the Dixie Belle for a scenic sunset cruise. The three-level paddle boat sat quietly in a dry dock for more than a decade, but was fully renovated and put back into service in 2021. The one-hour tour travels between Bridgewater Channel and the larger waters of Lake Havasu with gorgeous views of the sunset and surrounding landscapes best enjoyed from the rooftop deck.
Sunset cruises usually begin at 7 or 7:30 p.m. during spring and summer, but may take place at an earlier time during other months of the year. Call 928-486-5894 for the latest information and to lock in reservations.

The Flying X Saloon on Main Street is the perfect place to get a taste of Lake Havasu's nightlife scene while enjoying an inexpensive dinner at the same time. The bar stays open late until 2 a.m., serving nachos, pizza, sandwiches and burgers (with Angus beef patties grilled fresh, never frozen) with live country acts and karaoke singers supplying the entertainment.

Head back to the Nautical and turn in for a cozy night's rest. There's more fun on the way tomorrow.