Good morning from the banks of Lake Havasu and the Islander Resort, one of our all time favorite RV parks. Once again we’re in the “pull-through” row, in site #165. This site isn’t quite as nice as #160 which provides at least a small view of the lake. However, the resort is very full this year, and we’ve only managed to reserve 5 nights here – so we’ll take whatever site they have available. Compared to some parks, these sites are big – over 35’ wide and about 50’ long. All sites are gravel with a small cement pad, 50/30/20 electric, convenient sewer port and high water pressure. However, no WiFi included in the amenity list – but plenty of open sky for StarLink!
The Personal Watercraft Capital of the World – Lake Havasu City, AZ
On Saturday after arrival we enjoyed dinner at the nearby Boathouse, a favorite for drinks, appetizers, burgers or full entrees. They also open a coffee shop in the morning and provide breakfast burritos and pastries. On both Saturday and Sunday the Lake Havasu 38th Annual Winterfest Street Festival was in full swing, with miles of vendor booths set-up along McCulloch Blvd. Crowds and traffic were a bit crazy, so we opted for travel via our newly acquired e-bikes. Lake Havasu is a fairly bike-friendly town – with a full loop path around the island, bike paths along highway 96 as well as lots of in town streets. Besides the street fair, we also visited Lake Havasu State park on our bikes along with a stop for a refreshing beverage at the very touristy Chair Pub at London Bridge.
The Chair Pub, London Bridge, Lake Havasu City, AZ
On Tuesday we visited another favorite, the College Street Brewhouse and Pub. The brewery offers a great selection of their own brews and several others from breweries around Arizona. The outdoor patio is a great spot to catch a sunset and the food is tasty!
Right next door to the Islander is the Nautical Beachfront Resort. On Wednesday we biked over to the resort to meet friends at Turtle Beach Bar. This waterfront venue is very relaxing, the service was a bit spotty, but the cocktails and snacks were good.
Turtle Beach Bar, Nautical Beachfront Resort, Lake Havasu City, AZ
After only 5 nights at the Islander, we made the short 45 minute trip to Pirates Den RV Resort just north of Parker, AZ. Pirates Den is below the dam, directly on the banks of the Colorado River. It’s a beautiful spot, but the sites are tight! Exactly 25 feet wide, with full hookups and a small concrete slab, the outdoor area is mostly blocked with the tow vehicle which must park across the front. Riverside sites are 60 feet deep and the rest (including Row #2 where we are) are 50 feet deep. This makes for tight spaces all around, even at the rear where some of the ladders nearly overlap each other!
Pirates Den RV Resort, Parker, AZ
Onsite Pirates Den Black Pearl Restaurant does a good job, we had three hits, the Cowboy Corn Bites, Bonny’s Flash Fried Brussel Sprouts and a pizza called, “The Man with No Name”. The Baby Back Ribs were a miss – dry and chewy. Overall, nice location right on the water, great service, and good food.
The Black Pearl, Pirates Den, Parker, AZ
Mid-week we decided to go check out RV parks in Needles, CA. After exploring several of the parks, we decided there’s nothing there of interest – we’d rather stay in Havasu or Parker. The best part of the trip to Needles is that it gave us another opportunity to stop at the Boathouse where we enjoyed a few cocktails and their delicious Aha Tuna Tataki appetizer – absolutely the best we’ve had! Thanks again Reese, always great to see you and hang out!
From Pirates Den we’re off to Yuma – more from there…
Small Home - Big Yard 