4 Best Sights in Lake Havasu City, Northwest Arizona

Situated between Needles and Lake Havasu City, this spectacular 37,515-acre refuge is home to wintering Canada geese and other waterfowl, such as the snowy egret and the great blue heron. More than 315 species have been observed resting and nesting here.

Remember the old nursery rhyme "London Bridge Is Falling Down"? Well, it was. In 1968, after about 150 years of constant use, the 294-foot-long landmark was sinking into the Thames. When Lake Havasu City founder Robert McCulloch heard about this predicament, he set about buying London Bridge, having it disassembled, shipped more than 5,000 miles to northwest Arizona, and rebuilt, stone by stone. The bridge was reconstructed on mounds of sand and took three years to complete. When it was finished, a mile-long channel was dredged under the bridge and water was diverted from Lake Havasu through the Bridgewater Channel. Today the entire city is centered on this unusual attraction. Pick up a self-guided walking tour brochure at the Lake Havasu City Visitor Information Center; guided tours are offered for groups of 10--24 from October through April. Both tours begin at the visitor center at the eastern base of the bridge, where you'll find a colorful re-creation of an English Village that houses a few curio shops and restaurants and offers good views of the channel of cool blue water flowing under London Bridge. On the western side, you'll find a handful of more urbane restaurants as well as the hip Heat Hotel.

This 6,055-acre desert oasis contains the largest surviving cottonwood-willow woodland in the region. The refuge is a favorite byway of neotropical migratory birds such as the flashy vermilion flycatcher and the brilliant summer tanager.

This museum takes an in-depth look at the history of the region with exhibits on the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, London Bridge, Parker Dam, the mining industry, and historic steamboat operation.