I currently live in central IL and CANT STAND THE WINTERS HERE!!! Job security is all that kept me here. Im an Union Ironworker and was a foremen for the same company for 10 years. But I finally just had enough!!! I quit my job to go to Arizona to explore the possibility of moving there. Im heading that way in just a couple of weeks to catch Spring Break at Lake Havasu and staying SOMEWHERE until Desert Storm. This trip will be both business and pleasure! Im bringing my smaller 21' VIP boat and have done some research online BUT I hope Im not gonna jump into something over my head here. I guess im looking for some usefull info to help me out, like must see places (someone told me I check out lake Powell), am I gonna be able to find a place to stay after I get there (or are most places booked for these 2 events), are there any visitor centers or info places in area? Any info would be great!

Phoenix is what, 90 minutes from Havasu? If you can handle 120 heat in summer...

What part of AZ are looking at? Havasu is great for a party and boating but no work there. Some in Vegas (a couple hour drive) but it is hurting too. I lived there for 3 years and hated it.

Phoenix is your best bet for work but hotter than frigging blazes in the summer. My folks live just north of Scottsdale (Carefree) and for a desert town, it's not bad.

Powell has no work as there is really no cities there.

There are a lot of places to stay in Havasu so shouldn't be a problem. You'll get sick of having to haul your boat out every day though. If you stay at the nautical you can beach your boat. London bridge Resort has a few slips and that is where I always stay. Really no other place to leave the boat in the water overnight.

If you stay in Vegas you can find plenty of places and also do some boating on Mead. You could also stay in Laughlin for cheap and it's on the River so your VIP will be a good boat to run down to Havasu. We usually stay at the AVI which is an Indian casino a few miles south of town. They have their own launch ramp. You can launch there and run all the way down river past Topac to the sand bar (a must see) and to Havasu (Be very careful if you go early in the morning as the water level will be low and you can whack your drives...ask me how i know!) Once you're on the lake you have to cruise the channel and Copper Canyon. Havasu Springs is nice run too. If you get there before DS you can get familiar with the area.

THANKS FOR THE INFO!!! Just what I was wanting to know! I JUST finished post on another thread asking about boat slips! And yea, Im leaving in 2 wks to head out so I will have time to scope it all out before DS. As far as work goes, Im probably just dreaming. The Iron Workers hall is in Phoenix, so I need to stop and talk to them about the odds of enough work and where it might be. Heat doesn't bother me much but I dont know about 120!! Here in midwest, the winters aren't as bad as they use to be but the darn sun just does NOT shine much during the winter and I hate the cold. I need sun to be happy!! Hence the idea to move to AZ.
Im really kinda just WINGING this trip. I hope to get down there and maybe meet some locals who can point me in right direction.

You're definitely going to have the best luck for employment in Phoenix. AZ is a right to work state so not so sure about how the union is there.

You will get a lot of sun there though. Just don't touch any steel that's been sitting out in the sun for any time. At least not without gloves!

You may want to check out So Cal too. CA has a lot of f'ed up stuff about it but there are a lot of good too. Great weather, ocean boating, mountains, etc. A lot more work too. My next door neighbor was a career iron worker before he passed away and his son is too.

Good that you have some time before DS to check things out. And once you experience DS you'll not want to go back home!

Good luck!

Phoenix is huge - 115 miles across. Big metropolis. Heat so bad in summer you drive with air conditioning on, stop for gas and open your door and heat so powerful it blows you back into your vehicle. Get up early - 5:00 AM and it's over 90 out. They also have very strong summer monsoons, complete with flooding. Still, beautiful desert with tons and tons of wildlife.

Go spend 2 weeks in summer before you make a permenent move. I have a business located there.

This.

Same is true for Vegas but without the dessert beauty (nothing but dirt, ricks and sagebrush in the Mojave dessert).

The heat in July/Aug/Sept is pretty brutal. I lived in Vegas (Henderson) and couldn't get used to it. The worst is at night when you'd think it would be nice. It'll be 115 in the day and then cool waaaayyy down to oh, about 100 at night! At least the sun isn't blasting on your head and night time swimming is awesome.

I'll be in Phoenix next weekend (Mar 1-3) if you're there by then.

Funny, I'm a native of PHX, and my father was a union iron worker, also lived in Parker and in Havasu.. I spent so much time in the water I didn't recognize the heat! You can boat all year round, wich is a plus, work, not so much! My father struggled for years in Az tying iron, don't think the work there is any better....

Kinda what Im afraid of. Might just have to settle for just vacationing there every winter, huh!

Now Texas is a differant story.... Lots and lots of lakes, weather is ok, bit humid, but lots of work!!! Wouldn't leave here for nothing!