Water Adventures

DOLLY STEAMBOAT

THINGS TO KNOW: Dolly Steamboat Tours on Canyon Lake in Tortilla Flat have been around since 1983, and they just keep getting better and better. This beautiful ship can carry up to 142 passengers and is staffed by a crew of three. Each crew member is vessel emergency training-qualified and will leave you feeling safe and at peace from beginning to end. The company offers several tours, from the Astronomy Dinner cruise to the Desert Bighorn Sheep tour. It is also available for charters and will gladly be the setting for weddings, private parties or corporate events.

DON’T MISS: Bighorn sheep are often spotted on these cruises, and the conscientious staff will backtrack if needed so that everyone can get a better look. Bring some binoculars to catch the full majesty of the wildlife and views. The trip is fully narrated, and the captain’s comments will leave you entertained and informed. Dolly Steamboat offers gift certificates for adults and children, and infants sail for free. An onboard snack bar is available, with nibbles, soda and other beverages.

INFORMATION: dollysteamboat.com American Gold Prospecting AdventuresBartlett Lake Marina

You will learn the techniques you need Located in the heart of the Tonto National Forest, to prospect for gold in the deserts and Bartlett Lake Marina offers fishing, boat and jet ski mountains of Arizona. rentals, and watersports.

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Boyce Thompson Arboretum State ParkBluewater Jet Boat Tours

Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden, You’ll see places like Devil’s Elbow, interesting rock the Arboretum was founded in the 1920s. formations and 3,500-year-old Native American btarboretum.org petroglyphs as you sail up the Colorado River from Lake Havasu.

Fort McDowell Adventurescoloradoriverjetboattours.com

Choose from adventures including a City Slicker Cattle Drive, Segway tours in the Castle Hot Springs desert, kayaking or riding the trail. Come for the luxurious accommodations and fortmcdowelladventures.com five-star dining; stay for the naturally occurring geothermal pools that are nestled into the Havasu Canyon trailmountain surroundings. The strenuous eight-mile hike from castlehotsprings.com Hualapai Hilltop to the water forces you to earn the spectacular views of Havasu Desert Belle Canyon’s waterfalls. This locally owned tour boat has been cruising the waterfallsofthegrandcanyon.com waters of Saguaro Lake for more than 50 years. Choose from a live music cruise, sunset wine cruise Kinishba Ruins or classic narration cruise. Explore the remains of a pueblo village desertbelle.com built between 1250 and 1350 A.D. by the pre-Columbian Mogollon Culture. Great Wolf Lodge discovergilacounty.com/kinishba-ruins No matter what the weather is like outside, the indoor water park keeps the fun flowing with Off-Road Jeep Adventures slides, tube rides, activity pools, splash pads and The educational and off-road guide-led Sunset Sonoran Desert Jeep Tour will more. Fun for all ages. greatwolf.com take you through scenic trails of the Tonto National Forest. thejeeptours.com Lake Powell Resorts & Marina Take a boat tour or dinner cruise, go on a rafting trip around Horseshoe Bend, or rent a powerboat or Pink Jeep Tours Take two- to five-hour tours exploring houseboat to explore Arizona’s northernmost lake. lakepowell.com ancient ruins, notable rock formations, or pair your off-roading tour with horseback riding with a combo tour. pinkjeeptourssedona.com Roosevelt Lake Marina Situated on the largest lake in Central Arizona, with 112 miles of shoreline and 22,000 acres of surface water, the marina offers boat rentals, an RV Verde Hot Springs A hike, a crisp dip in the Verde River and a park and waterfront dining. rlmaz.com comforting float in the Verde Hot Springs are three of the best ways to spend a day trip to Payson. paysonrimcountry.com Tempe Town Lake Rent a paddleboat or stand-up paddleboard for a fun-filled afternoon on this 2-mile-long reservoir at the confluence of the Salt River and Indian Bend Western Destinations Try horseback riding through the Old West Wash. tempetourism.com Town of Coldwater or venture into the Wilderness River Adventures foothills of the Bradshaw Mountains on Take a rafting adventure on the Colorado River their Jeep Excursion. westerndestinations.com through the Grand Canyon or around Horseshoe Bend with this whitewater outfitter.

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