By Nicole Matheson

Lake Havasu City isn’t just a destination for tourists, but a thriving community with loads to do for families if they know where to look.

Between its beautiful parks and hiking trails to enjoy in the cooler months and the family activity centers for indoor entertainment, there are plenty of ways to spend time with friends or family.

Try the Aquatic Center for indoor swimming, swim instruction and exercise classes. The Olympic-sized pool also has a wave feature to enhance the fun and there’s a large pipeline slide, kiddie lagoon and an outdoor splash pad. Check out their website for swim times and prices: https://www.lhcaz.gov/parks-recreation/aquatic-center. The Aquatic Center is located at 100 Park Ave.

There are more splash pads for the little ones throughout town, including at Mesquite Park and The Shops at Lake Havasu.

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Other parks that include playgrounds for kids are Avalon Park, Dick Samp Park, Yonder Park, Jack Hardie Park and the Tinnell Memorial Sports Park that is located at Rotary Park. There are also hiking trails, skating, campsites, disk golf, volleyball and pickle ball set ups at some of these Havasu parks, as well as Dog Parks and athletic fields.

For a complete list of parks. their locations and their amenities, visit: https://www.lhcaz.gov/parks-recreation/parks-trails ,

For 360 videos of the parks, visit our YouTube channel by clicking HERE.

In the summertime, enjoy multiple PWC rentals and kayaking on the river.

If it’s just too hot to be outdoors, there is plenty of indoor entertainment throughout Havasu. There are game shops, such as Trolls by the Bridge, 2169 Swanson Ave., Ste. 3, specializing in board games and cards, and GameStop, The Shops at Lake Havasu, for video games.

There are two arcades in town with a third on the way – VR Escape Reality, 231 Swanson Ave., Ste. 208, which offers multiple attractions for the entire family from cutting edge VR technology to Tactical Nerf Wars and a classic ’80s arcade.

The Spot, 3612 Jamaica Ave. S., offers an arcade with ticket prizes to enjoy with their pizza and sports bar.

A new arcade called Fontasia’s is set to open Oct. 1, and will have ping pong, foosball, board and console games as well as arcade games.

If video games doesn’t fit the bill, there’s also dance studios like Arizona Coast Performing Arts, Foot Lite School of Dance and Lake Havasu Ballet. These studios have classes for youngsters and adults alike. There is also the main street theater, Grace Arts Live, where musicals and other productions are produced. Visit graceartslive.com.

There are two movie complexes in Lake Havasu City –Star Cinemas, The Shops at Lake Havasu and Movies Havasu, 180 Swanson Ave. and a Farmer’s Market located at The K.A.W.S.

Photo courtesy Star Cinemas

You can find several yoga and movement studios, such as The Study Yoga Studio, 2550 Kiowa Blvd. N., Ste. 206; Marlo’s Mind Body Soul, 928-230-9810; Bella Faccia, 1695 Mesquite Ave., Ste. 106; Eight Lotus Wellness and Yoga, 2180 McCullocu Blvd., Ste. 102;  and many more.

Or try bowling at Havasu Lanes, 2134 McCulloch Blvd. Havasu Lanes also has a sports bar and grill.Havasu 95 Speedway , the Rodeo Grounds and the BMX track are all located at SARA Park.

If there are more fun activities for folks to enjoy, please add them in the comments section of this story or on Facebook.

For a full list of events happening for families  in Lake Havasu year round, visit our RiverScene Magazine online event calendar by clicking HERE.

This hiking trail for all ages and skill levels is located at SARA Park. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene