Every year for Christmas, my wife and I like to take trips to our numerous timeshares throughout the U.S.
This year (2011) we headed 600 miles from northern California, to lake Havasu AZ. The trip was great! Our timeshare resort was awesome on the outside, but could use a re-model on the inside being as its a required 1 week minimum stay at this place.
After driving south through central California, we headed east at Bakersfield across highway 40 through the Mojave desert. in between Barstow and Needles, its about 160 miles at a 75 mph speed limit. Make sure you have at least 3/4 tank of gas for this stretch to be safe. The little towns in between will charge $2 more per gallon because of their location (and they know you need the gas!). In my V8 tundra, that makes a huge difference. Also, its a good idea to have your spare tire, and tools to change a tire right on hand if necessary. I have seen cars get smashed with way more room than what you would have out there. Make sure you can change a tire as quickly as possible.
Now the good stuff.
Lake Havasu is amazing. The mountains and scenery of the desert are simply breathtaking. All around the lake there are large sand dunes and huge powerful mountains that reach to the sky. The off-roading out there is awesome too, if that's your thing. Miles and miles of sand roads that will take you clear across the desert. Just watch out for wild burros. The water is so clear that you can see the bottom about 40 feet out. There are several lighthouses and trails all around the lake. I obtained a 5 day non-resedent Arizona fishing license and did quite a bit of fishing. Expecting better, I was disappointing at the fact that I wasn't even getting anything to at least follow my lures. after thinking i had lost my nature touch, I was talking to some locals, they said the shad are running in the middle of the lake, and shore fishing was hard this time of year.
At Havasu city, you will find every major retail store and fast food place that you can imagine. drive 10 minutes in either direction, and you are back to just desert. It gets quite crowded during the summer, but this time of year there was plenty of room.
attached are some pictures from our vacation.
thanks for looking.
OutdoorBasecamp.com - Are you looking for like minded people who share your enthusiasm for the outdoors? Maybe you are looking for help for your next trip. We have hundreds of members who are eager to help and to share with you.
Nice TR! Were you aware that there is a competition here at OBC? Please find the post that Jason made and repost this TR under that heading if you are interested in the swag.
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." Anonymous
"One of the penalties of not participating in politics is that you will be governed by your inferiors." Plato
a few more pics, including the real life route 66, and Oatman ghost town, where wild burros (donkeys) free roam and will eat from your hand. also, a staged cowboy bank robbery and gunfight goes down every day at noon on the towns main street. they do use blank ammo in their guns, but they are still loud and smoke alot. they do an awesome job at making it all look very real.
I have always heard its a lovely place to visit and I am sure we will stop out that way when we head to CA (visit family). Most people I know go out that way for spring break, I would rather go for a vacation and leave the kids at home (so mean I know).
Lake Havasu, Arizona 
Linear Mode
