Now that college and family spring breaks are over, it’s time for the adults to have a break of their own. This summer, Go Lake Havasu (golakehavasu.com), the local tourism bureau, and its tourism partners, are flinging the city gates wide open for grown-ups to relax on a sparkling clear lake, turn up the nightlife vibe, enjoy adult-friendly food and beverages, and be a winner at the local casino.
“We’re guessing that more than a few grown-ups are tired of a year of lockdown and could use some romantic alone time,” says Terence Concannon, president/CEO of Go Lake Havasu.
“Nobody loves kids as much as we do, but for some serious alone time there are numerous adults-only activities in Lake Havasu City that will make our guests appreciate the country’s return to normalcy. Visitors don’t even have to leave their hotel rooms to drink responsibly – under a new Arizona law, the alcohol can come to them,” Concannon says.
As temperatures average 101 degrees F. in June but don’t dip below 76 degrees F., the climate is right for an adventure-filled getaway in scenic Lake Havasu City, recently named one of “America’s 20 Greatest Summertime Lake Towns” by Thrillist (May 25).
To-Go Beer, Wine and Cocktails Coming Soon
This month the Arizona Legislature passed H.B. 2773, which allows some Arizona restaurants to sell to-go beer, wine, and cocktails with a food order and to also use third-party delivery services for to-go alcohol. While the bill goes into effect on Oct. 1, 2021, bars already have the ability to serve to-go beer and wine. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed H.B. 2773 into law on May 21, 2021.
Hankering for a Burger?
Now taking delivery orders in Lake Havasu City is MrBeastBurger, a virtual restaurant brand founded by social media influencer and YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, more commonly known as MrBeast. At 600 locations nationwide, MrBeast Burger operates out of existing restaurant kitchens, allowing restaurateurs to add a new source of revenue without impacting their operations. Orders can be delivered directly to the door of hungry visitors by ordering via
mrbeastburger.com, through the MrBeast Burger app, and most third-party delivery services including Grubhub, DoorDash, Postmates, UberEats, and Seamless.
Since opening in November 2020, the food chain has received overwhelmingly positive reviews. The new Dream Burger is not for the faint of stomach; it comes with a double smash patty topped with American cheese, lettuce, mayo, double pickles, extra bacon, and a smashed avocado topping. (
mrbeastburger.com)
Do You Feel Lucky?
The Lake Havasu City area offers ample entertainment for adults at the Havasu Landing Resort & Casino. The brand-new casino hosts state-of-the-art electronic gaming and table games, with the TuKuKan dining room and Hivikan Lounge now open for dining. Guests can enjoy outdoor dining and a patio bar for those days or nights when the weather is perfect, which is most days in summer. There’s also a white sandy beach perfect for couples to share quality time together.
For $2 roundtrip, a ferry takes passengers from the London Bridge area terminal in Lake Havasu City to the property located on Lake Havasu’s California side. For even more quality time, the open second-story deck offers energizing fresh lake air and spectacular views, especially at sunrise and sunset. Face coverings are required for ferry passengers and property guests. For information about gaming and casinos in the Lake Havasu City area, view:
https://www.golakehavasu.com/gaming-casinos
Stepping Out
Lake Havasu offers a range of nightclubs and bars for stepping out in style. Take the cowboy two-step for instance. The Flying X Saloon (
flyingxsaloon.com) is Lake Havasu’s True Country Western Saloon with a large dance floor where visitors can learn the two-step, the Cowboy cha-cha, the Ten Step Polka or line dance to a selection of country-western music, including live music on special event nights.
Country music artist Matt Farris, who has shared the stage with Blake Shelton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Trace Adkins, and many others, is a frequent weekend headliner. The Flying X Saloon is located at 2030 McCulloch Boulevard North in Lake Havasu City’s Downtown District, making it easy to reach from anywhere in the city. (
https://www.golakehavasu.com/nightlife)
Flying High with Hangin’ Over Havasu
New to the city are aerial tours on amphibious ultralight trikes: an FAA-approved special light-sport aircraft that can land on the water with welded aluminum pontoons or land on the ground with three-wheeled retractable landing gear. Cruising 40 to 60 mph, guests can even take the controls, leaving the takeoffs and landing to the professional certified pilot. Cost starts at $240 per hour. Each flight can accommodate one student along with the pilot for an introductory experience. (
hanginoverhavasu.com)
Another World-Record
Thomas Farchione of Waterford, Wisconsin, caught a world-record redear sunfish on May 4 in Lake Havasu. Farchione and a group of buddies were fishing an area of the lake called California Bay, when Farchione felt a tug on the line that rivaled that of a good-size bass. Pending official certification, the world-record sunfish weighed in at 6.3 pounds and was 17 inches long with a girth of 20 inches.
This was the second world-record setting redear caught in Lake Havasu; the previous record was 5.78 pounds in 2014. Redear sunfish, which are also known as Georgia bream and sun perch, are native to the Southeast U.S. and closely resemble bluegills. Nicknamed “shellcrackers,” their favorite menu includes invasive quagga mussels.
