Arizona Official State Travel Guide - Arizona 2024-25

IN THIS REGION

Fredonia, Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Oatman, Parker, Yuma

Area Highlights

POWERHOUSE VISITOR CENTER, KINGMAN

Originally the Desert Power & Water Co. Electric Power Plant, today this center is a hub for the history and culture of the Mother Road, housing the Arizona Route 66 Museum, Route 66 Electric Vehicle Museum and the Carlos Elmer Gallery, which displays scenic highway photography.

LAKE HAVASU

White sandy beaches, brilliant red mountains, teal waters, 60 miles of shoreline — this deep reservoir is a colorful oasis in the desert. Pitch a tent or bring your RV to enjoy waterfront camping, rent a boat or personal watercraft to zoom along the lake’s surface, go fishing or just kick back at one of the waterfront bars and restaurants.

COLORADO RIVER

Winding along the borders of Arizona, California and Nevada, this iconic waterway is ideal for a guided whitewater rafting trip, cruising along in a jetboat or just paddling through the canyons in a kayak. Rent a boat at one of the marinas or bring your own to dock at one of the lively riverfront bars and eateries.

SKYWALK, GRAND CANYON WEST

Feel your heart pound with exhilaration as you walk along the Skywalk, the horseshoe-shaped glass bridge that curves over the edge of a 4,000-foot cliff and into the expanse of the Grand Canyon. Then, explore an authentic American Indian village and watch traditional dance and music demonstrations on the weekends.

YUMA TERRITORIAL PRISON STATE HISTORIC PARK, YUMA

Once holding an array of law breakers — including notorious stagecoach robber Pearl Hart — this historic prison dates back to the Gold Rush era. See the original cell blocks, guard tower and entrance gate, and be sure to view the video presentation and authentic artifacts at the museum.

OATMAN HOTEL, OATMAN

Originally built for miners during the Gold Rush days, this historic hotel is known for being haunted by friendly spirits. Even though you can no longer spend the night, visitors from all around come to have a drink at the restaurant and bar, where the walls are covered with $1 bills with people’s names written on them.

KINGMAN RAILROAD MUSEUM, KINGMAN

Housed in the historic Santa Fe Railroad train depot dating back to 1907, this volunteer-run museum showcases artifacts, memorabilia and local train history, as well as several model train layouts featuring vintage toy components.

PIPE SPRING NATIONAL MONUMENT, FREDONIA

With life-sustaining water, Pipe Spring has provided refuge for wildlife, the Kaibab Paiute Indians and westbound settlers. Explore the exhibits at the Pipe Spring National Monument–Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians Visitor Center and Museum, and take a guided tour of Winsor Castle, a fortified ranch house built by Mormon ranchers in the 1870s.

COLORADO RIVER INDIAN TRIBES (CRIT) MUSEUM AND GIFT SHOP, PARKER

Glimpse into the lives, history and culture of local tribes — including Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi and Navajo — through exhibits, cultural artifacts and historical photographs housed at this museum.

RIVER ISLAND STATE PARK, PARKER

Along the shores of the Colorado River, discover riverfront camping and distant mountain views. This state park also offers trails for hikers and access to off-highway-vehicle (OHV) backcountry roads.

From small-batch spirits to craft beers, the West Coast region has a beverage to suit your style. Yuma, the sunniest city in the country, is home to Prison Hill Brewing Co., which takes its name from the nearby historic territorial prison and serves up wittily named selections that include Jailbait Blonde and Allegation Amber. In Lake Havasu City, pull up a chair at Barley Bros. Restaurant & Brewery, where you can enjoy a craft beer to wash down wood-fired calzones. Also here is Hangar 24 Craft Brewing, serving up pints of fan favorites such as the Chocolate Bomber porter and a roster of limited releases. In Kingman, you’ll find desert-inspired agave rum, whiskey and vodka at Desert Diamond Distillery inside the Airport Industrial Complex, where you can have a tour and a tasting for the full experience. Also in Kingman, Black Bridge Brewery serves up everything from blonde to stout on its changing menu. Meanwhile, Cella Winery specializes in handcrafted red wines, so sit outdoors among the grapevines while enjoying a glass of your choice.

In Arizona, Anglophiles needn’t book a flight to London to get their fill of majesty. Instead, a trek to Lake Havasu to see that city’s London Bridge attraction offers everything from tea and history to beaches and boat rides.

The bridge dates to 1831, built to span London’s River Thames. By 1967, the City of London was replacing this antiquity and seeking someone to buy the defunct and dismantled bridge. A pair of willing buyers from western Arizona — entrepreneur Robert McCulloch, Sr., and his friend, former Disneyland “imagineer” C.V. Wood — were looking for a publicity magnet to jump start interest in their newly developed community, Lake Havasu City, plotted on the banks of Lake Havasu. They bought the bridge, lock, stock and original lamp posts for $2.4 million, and had the 10,276 exterior granite blocks shipped overseas via the Panama Canal, then trucked to Arizona from California. After three years of reconstruction, the bridge was dedicated, with hoopla, in 1971.

Today, the bridge has blossomed into a town center, with shops, restaurants and hotels flanking both sides of the Bridgewater Channel, where you can spend hours exploring. Get your bearings at Lake Havasu Visitor Center, located in the English Village — a collection of English-style shops and businesses adjacent to the bridge. Take a walk across the bridge or on the two-mile pathway that goes under the bridge along the shore. Join a walking tour, or get on the water with an interpretive boat tour. Adventurous? To get up close and personal with both bridge and lake, rent kayaks, canoes or paddle boards from one of several vendors, or go for a dip at nearby beaches. Top off the experience with authentic afternoon tea each Wednesday at the London Bridge Resort.

FAMILY MATTERS

When it comes to family fun, western Arizona offers up everything from zip lining to nature walks.

PLAY ALL DAY

Let your little ones loose at the castle-like Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground at West Wetlands Park in Yuma, where imaginative structures, a zip line with two bays (one is ADA accessible), and a climbing area will keep kids busy for hours.

FLYING HIGH

Experience an hour of pure adrenaline at the Zipline at Grand Canyon West. Here, several zip lines above a canyon translate to the thrill of flying at up to 40 miles per hour. (Guests must weigh between 90 to 275 pounds.)

BACK TO NATURE

Bring the family to Hualapai Mountain Park in Kingman to choose from 10 miles of trails for mountain biking and hiking, or play a game of disc golf on the 18-hole championship-style course. Then set up camp among oak and ponderosa pines in the first-come, first-served Wild Cow Springs Campground. Ongoing ranger talks from the Kingman BLM Field Office discuss how to be prepared in different camping situations.

GET WILD

Embark on a wild journey through a picturesque 175-acre canyon in Valentine, where you’ll find Keepers of the Wild Nature Park. This nonprofit wildlife sanctuary is home to 130 wild animals such as lions, tigers, wolves, primates and various wildlife indigenous to the Southwest.

GAME DAY

Challenge the family to a game of bowling at Cocopah’s Wild River Family Entertainment Center in Somerton, or explore the laser tag arena, arcade, lounge and eateries.

From whitewater rafting to swim-up bars, western Arizona knows how to make a splash.

ON THE WATER

Hop aboard a canoe or kayak with Desert River Outfitters in Bullhead City for a guided tour along the lower Colorado River, and savor wow-worthy views of the canyon.

LIFE’S A BEACH

In Lake Havasu City, lounge on white-sand beaches at Lake Havasu State Park, take a dip along the shore in the designated swimming area, enjoy a feast alfresco in the picnic area or launch a boat from one of the three boat ramps.

POOL PARTY

Cool off at Topock66 Restaurant, Bar & Riverstore in Topock, which offers a swim-up bar and live entertainment on the weekends. A marina, restaurant and retail shop round out the experience.