Living the Fun Life

On the southeastern shores of Lake Pleasant, 45 minutes from Phoenix, is a one-stop recreation spot for lakeside fun that combines a full-service RV park with a marina. You can rent boats, Jet Skis, kayaks and paddle boards, take sailing lessons, hire a fishing guide or take a lake cruise. The marina also has boat storage and slip rentals, and the RV resort has 254 spaces, a clubhouse, store, heated pool and Jacuzzi.

“With our rising temperatures and high water levels, it’s a perfect time to be on the lake,” said Glen Vortherms, general manager of Maricopa Water District, owner and operator of Pleasant Harbor. “With our close proximity to Phoenix, and seven-day-a-week public access, we are one of the hidden gems of the Valley.”

Lake Pleasant is home to The Phoenix, a 150-person ship that offers a one and a half hour cruise, with narration, that explores the lake’s history and wildlife. Before or after the midday cruise from Pleasant Harbor, many visitors enjoy a meal at the Waterfront Bar and Grille that features dining at the water’s edge. The Waterfront Bar and Grille is open Wednesday through Sunday.

For more active visitors, fly boarding, jet skis, kayaks, paddle boarding and boat rentals are all available. Fly boarding, one of the hottest new extreme watersports, allows lake visitors the opportunity to propel up to 50 feet off the water with the assistance of horsepower, a fire hose and infused water propulsion.

Pleasant Harbor owns the nearest entrance to Lake Pleasant from the Phoenix area. It can be reached by exiting Interstate 17 and traveling west on Carefree Highway, or by taking North 99th Avenue/North Lake Pleasant Parkway from Bell Road to Carefree Highway and then west to 87th Avenue and then onto Harbor Boulevard. Pleasant Harbor is at 8708 West Harbor Boulevard in Peoria. The admission fee at Pleasant Harbor is $6 per vehicle.

“We have the best spot on the lake with the most amenities to offer,” said Chad Case, Pleasant Harbor Marina manager. “We’ve got it all.”

For information on Pleasant Harbor RV Resort and Marina, visit pleasantharbor.com or call 928-501-LAKE (5253). The website for Lake Pleasant cruises is lakepleasantcruises.com. Other websites are gopaddleaz.com for kayak and paddle board rentals; boats4rent.com/lake-pleasant/ for boat rentals; gosailaz.com for sailing information and TheHookUpOutfitters.com for fishing guides.