Lake Havasu City
Known as the "Personal Watercraft Capital of the World," Lake Havasu City has grown from a remote desert shore to a bustling city of over 40,000 in less than 40 years. Water sports and tourism are big business in Lake Havasu City, and many hotels and resorts have sprung up to host visitors from Arizona and California. Several of these accommodations offer meeting and conference facilities on premises. And here begins the Colorado River's houseboat country, a lake of luxurious floating resorts that are excellent venues for small corporate getaways.
Purchased in the 1960s, the London Bridge-called the "world's largest antique"-is the starting point for much of the area's aquatic fun. The bridge, which had been slowly sinking into London's Thames River, was disassembled and each block of granite carefully marked with a number. The bridge was reassembled at Lake Havasu, and Bridgewater Channel was dredged underneath it to create an island. Dedicated in October 1971, the bridge has become one of Arizona's most-visited attractions. An annual celebration, London Bridge Days, commemorates the dedication with a parade, concerts and a full-fledged Renaissance Festival.
