The Five Funkiest Towns In Arizona
Arizona has some of the coolest and funkiest towns out there. Many of them are old mining towns or towns that, maybe, shouldn’t even exist. So without further ado, here are the five most funky towns in Arizona.
1. Lake Havasu
I first learned about Lake Havasu when I was on the Tower Bridge, a.k.a. the London Bridge in London, and someone told me that the original London Bridge had been deconstructed, shipped, and rebuilt somewhere in Arizona.
Eight years later, when I first moved to Arizona, I was sitting on my computer one day and realized, didn’t somebody tell me that the London Bridge was somewhere here in Arizona? So Kim and I went out on a quest to find the bridge.
When we drove into Lake Havasu, we immediately knew that we had entered a town that was unlike any other. The first thing we did upon arriving at sunset was getting some Scotty’s Broasted Chicken – then drove across the bridge to the island, where we sat and watched one of the most beautiful sunsets we had ever seen.
There are several things that make Lake Havasu City so funky.
It has one of the original London Bridges. The story behind the London Bridge is pretty incredible, and I detail that in one of our other blogs on this site.
While it is often known as a retirement community, it also has one of the biggest Spring Break events in the world. This combination of young party youthful energy, and the retirement community who love to come play, hang out, and explore, really creates this very vibrant and unique atmosphere in Lake Havasu.
The community in Lake Havasu cares so much about the city and is always looking at ways to improve it. One example of this is all the miniature lighthouses in the city. Lake Havasu was partly developed because the Coast Guard wanted there to be a settlement on the Colorado River. And so they erected lamp posts alongside the river to help boats traveling down the river.
The citizens of Lake Havasu got together and went to the Coast Guard and said “Hey, these lamp posts are pretty ugly. Can we build miniature lighthouses around them?” The Coast Guard agreed to the proposal as long as the light still shone through and would continue to light up the river.
Now, Lake Havasu is home to around 30 miniature lighthouses, modeled to resemble real lighthouses across America. You can find them in Rotary Park, Lake Havasu State Park, and all up and down both the Arizona and California Coast.
Overall, Lake Havasu is one of the most unique and funky towns you’ll ever find. You can check out the Bridgewater Channel on weekends if you’re looking to catch a good party, board a boat and explore the lake, or jump onto one of many off-roading trails and explore the BLM land all around Lake Havasu.
2. Oatman
Oatman, Arizona, is one of our favorite towns in America. It’s a tiny old mining town located along the historic Route 66, about an hour or an hour and a half away from Lake Havasu. The drive to Oatman can be pretty daunting for some, as you have to drive up a mountain, but the road is paved and well-maintained all the way.
What makes Oatman so fun is that they let their donkeys roam free. In fact, you’re almost guaranteed to see several donkeys walking around town, and most of them have names, given to them from the citizens of Oatman.
There are also a couple of really cool restaurants, a ton of interesting artwork, a historic hotel, and different tourist shops if you’re interested in a souvenir. Overall, Oatman is a very enjoyable place to visit for a day and hang out, plus, the drive is breathtaking.
3. Bisbee
Bisbee is another old mining town in Arizona, and you can even see the old mine when you visit. What makes Bisbee so funky is that it has a huge art scene. While walking around Bisbee, you will find art all over the place, whether on buildings, sculptures, or murals, which give the town a great vibe.
There is also a plethora of great restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and other fun things to do in Bisbee. And don’t forget to find the dinosaurs, which are always a blast.
4. Jerome
Popularly referred to as a ghost town, Jerome is another old mining town in Arizona. The town boasts of a vibrant community despite the population being a fraction of what it once was during the peak of copper mining.
The Haunted Hamburger is well known as one of the best restaurants in the area. Also available are mine tours or haunted hotels, which we have had the chance to stay in. They also have a winery owned by lead singer of the band Tool, Maynard James Keenan, art shops, and other funky attractions to check out.
Overall, Jerome town has a cool vibe and unique views and is only about 30 to 45 minutes away from Sedona. This makes it a great destination for a day trip if you’re visiting Sedona or the Cottonwood area.
5. Sedona
I put Sedona at number five because it may not be quite as funky as some of the other locations, but it is a world-class destination. It has a ton of art scenes, and the rock formations in Sedona are only found in that area, giving it a vibrant red tint and unbelievable landscapes.
It’s one of the most energetic, spiritual places you can visit and is definitely something that everyone who visits Arizona should do.
Bonus Town – Nowhere, Arizona
I put Sedona at number five because it may not be quite as funky as some of the other locations, but it is a world-class destination. It has a ton of art scenes, and the rock formations in Sedona are only found in that area, giving it a vibrant red tint and unbelievable landscapes.
It’s one of the most energetic, spiritual places you can visit and is definitely something that everyone who visits Arizona should do.