This week I kick off my first post about visiting Havasu Falls in Arizona, one of the most naturally beautiful spots I’ve ever seen. That’s a big statement but I promise it pays off.

All good journeys start at Dunkin Donuts, and ours is no exception. I’m traveling with my friend Irving — we drop his wife and daughter off at LAX (they are headed on their own adventure to visit family in the Midwest) and head east on the 10, stopping at Dunkin Donuts in Ontario. An employee hands out free samples at the door of their new butter pecan iced lattes… it’s so good, I order one. Shout out to Dunkin Donuts for having almond milk!

Now properly caffeinated, we press on. We stop briefly for lunch at Juicy’s River Cafe in Needles, CA. Shortly thereafter we cross the border into Nevada.

We make an impulse stop in Laughlin — a little city in the desert situated along the Colorado River, which straddles the border between Nevada and Arizona. There are a bunch of casinos, and water activities like jet skiing are a big deal here.

A row of casinos along the Laughlin skyline, with mountains in the distance:

We park at the Colorado Belle casino — notably shaped like a steamboat — and walk along the river for about 20 minutes. Just enough time to take some photos and get a feel for the place.

It’s Saturday afternoon and the place is hopping — a band plays as folks relax with beer and hot dogs.

This crowds enjoy a little watermelon with their vodka:

A boardwalk runs this whole stretch of the Colorado River, meandering from casino to casino. The water is remarkably clear.

A water taxi stops at each casino dock up and down the river.

Did I mention jet skiing is popular?

It’s HOT here… when we climb back into the car, the dashboard reveals it’s 108 degrees. Yikes!

Across the river in Arizona, we stop briefly at the Laughlin Ranch golf course and spa to use the restroom. My friend Irving has played here before and promises the views are great. Indeed they are!

Next up we drive further into Arizona, along Route 68 until we get to the city of Kingman. The views continue to impress:

After passing Kingman, we turn onto Route 66 for the final hour of driving towards our campsite near Peach Springs.

Until now I haven’t really understood the culture of driving Route 66, but boy is it fascinating. Every few miles we pass an old-fashioned gas station with fun decor and kitschy items for sale. And there’s lots of classic cars, some on display junkyard-style and others being driven by Baby Boomers across the country on Route 66. This particular stop — the Hackberry General Store — is especially scenic with good photo ops.

After departing Hackberry General Store, we drive the final leg to a small town called Peach Springs. We’re staying a few miles from there at the Grand Canyon Caverns — more on that tomorrow!