Wake Up With the Beautiful Sun of Lake Havasu

Return to the mainland for a meal at The Red Onion, the best breakfast restaurant in town. Choose between the main dining room, a pet-friendly outdoor patio or separate bar and lounge, which serves up a delicious Bloody Mary and other brunch-worthy cocktails. The Red Onion was actually renovated from an old bank, giving the restaurant a unique layout.
The menu has something for everyone, from French Toast to omelettes made with eggs pan-fried in butter. The Red Onion is well-known for its pancake recipe and if you just want a taste, ask for a small order on the side.

After breakfast, take about 30 minutes or so to wander the main strip of McCulloch Boulevard, which is full of quirky businesses like Funky Junk or Our Shabby Shack Book Exchange.
Make a point to visit the Havasu Art Center, a small cooperative that exhibits and sells works from local artists. The gallery features a variety of items from paintings and sketches to sculptures, jewelry and baskets, often crafted with native Arizona materials.
Please note the Havasu Art Center is closed on Sundays.

The Lake Havasu community has more than 400 miles of shoreline, adding up to numerous beaches. Some are secretive coves. Others are banks only reachable by boat. Your best bet, however, is Windsor Beach, accessible inside Lake Havasu State Park for a small entrance fee.
Located on a corner where the channel opens up to the lake, the soft white sand contrasts nicely with the surrounding trees and bright, blue water. There are launching boats and personal watercraft (like Jetskis or Sea-Doos). The park also has cabins, picnic tables, a cactus garden and convenient parking lots near the beach.

Lake Havasu City has a unique collection of 28 (and counting) miniature lighthouses scattered throughout the shoreline. Each one is based on real-life counterparts from throughout the country. See them up close with a daytime cruise with the Sunset Charter & Tour Company.
Along the way, you'll learn about the inspiration behind the lighthouses as well as the history of Lake Havasu, including stories about the London Bridge and surrounding landscapes. You'll also venture into Copper Canyon, a notorious party spot for boaters and spring breakers.
The Lighthouse tour is usually available in the afternoon by special appointment. Call 928-716-8687 well in advance to make arrangements for a private charter. Prices are reasonable.

It's not quite time for dinner yet, but you're welcome to curb your appetite at ChaBones, a restaurant that serves the most popular happy hour in Lake Havasu City. Appetizers and cocktails are half-price 3-6 p.m., seven days a week. So grab a seat after your cruise and try the lamb chops, marinated shrimp, stuffed mushrooms and other dishes, served in tapas-style portions designed to share.

After waving goodbye to Lake Havasu City, take a slight detour through Laughlin, a small Vegas-style casino town on the Nevada side of the Colorado River. Dinner at The Gourmet Room inside Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort is an engaging fine-dining experience with tall floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the water. The menu showcases steaks and seafood with subtle French and Italian touches. When in doubt, go with a roasted rack of lamb for two or the Coquilles Saint-Jacques, a creamy combination of scallops, shrimp and lobster.
Call 702-298-2535 (Ext: 5739) in advance to book a reservation and request a table by the window. Watching the casino lights reflect off the water while boats and water taxis zip by is a uniquely Laughlin dinner experience.
The Gourmet Room is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.