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THIS IS MESA<br />
city limitless ®<br />
WHAT IS YOUR VACATION PERSONALITY?<br />
There’s so much to see and do in <strong>Mesa</strong>, it can be difficult to know where<br />
to begin. Our suggestion: Let your interests lead the way. No matter the<br />
type of visitor you are, this vibrant city offers something for everyone.<br />
IF YOU’RE AN<br />
EARLY RISER…<br />
IF YOU’RE A<br />
FOODIE…<br />
IF YOU’RE A<br />
CULTURE CONNOISSEUR...<br />
IF YOU’RE A<br />
WESTERN DEVOTEE…<br />
IF YOU’RE A<br />
NATURE LOVER…<br />
IF YOU’RE AN<br />
URBAN ADVENTURER…<br />
The only thing rivaling a <strong>Mesa</strong> sunset<br />
is a <strong>Mesa</strong> sunrise. Catch dawn’s rays<br />
at Usery Mountain Regional Park on<br />
the 7.7-mile Pass Mountain Trail or at<br />
the peak of the popular 3-mile Wind<br />
Cave Trail. At Lost Dutchman State<br />
Park, venture into the Superstition<br />
Mountains to glimpse the sun’s<br />
shifting colors on jagged rock walls.<br />
For a hawk’s-eye view of morning over<br />
the Sonoran Desert, opt for a hot air<br />
balloon ride with Rainbow Ryders or<br />
Hot Air Expeditions — both offer a<br />
Champagne toast upon landing.<br />
For the gastronomically inclined,<br />
there’s no better way to sample the<br />
region’s bounty than along the<br />
Fresh Foodie Trail ® , a roundup of<br />
farms, wineries, olive groves, and<br />
orchards that lead visitors from<br />
<strong>Mesa</strong> into the neighboring Town of<br />
Queen Creek. Chef-driven restaurants<br />
abound, too, both on and off the trail.<br />
Dig into mouth-watering sammies at<br />
Worth Takeaway, relaxed fare with<br />
flair at Handlebar Diner, Mexican<br />
cuisine at Los Sombreros and<br />
Macayo's Mexican Kitchen, and fresh<br />
produce, meat, and seafood at the<br />
state’s largest Asian market, H Mart.<br />
Thirsty? For java, head to Jarrod’s<br />
Coffee, Tea & Gallery; sip hard cider<br />
at Cider Corps; and toast a pint at<br />
12 West Brewing or Desert Eagle<br />
Brewery. Coming soon to Main Street<br />
is Beer Research Institute’s arcade<br />
and taproom concept.<br />
<strong>Mesa</strong> is home to one of the<br />
Southwest’s most comprehensive<br />
arts campuses: <strong>Mesa</strong> Arts Center.<br />
You’ll find everything from Broadway<br />
shows, musical concerts, and<br />
dance performances to a renowned<br />
contemporary art museum.<br />
At The Duttons Theater, experience<br />
the phenomenal talents of the<br />
Dutton family, an international<br />
touring musical group. More awardwinning<br />
entertainment awaits at<br />
Hale Centre Theatre, and audience<br />
participation is happily encouraged<br />
at the Neighborhood Comedy<br />
Theatre. Head to <strong>Mesa</strong>'s Asian<br />
District, the Southwest’s most<br />
vibrant center for Asian culture,<br />
community and commerce.<br />
<strong>Mesa</strong>’s Wild West roots run deep on<br />
the Apache Trail, a former stagecoach<br />
route turned scenic drive and one of<br />
the Grand Canyon State’s most scenic<br />
byways. Here, visitors of all ages can<br />
pan for gold, zipline or ride a narrowgauge<br />
train at the historic Goldfield<br />
Ghost Town. At Tortilla Flat, satisfy<br />
cowboy cravings at the restaurant,<br />
shop the mercantile or down a<br />
sarsaparilla at the saloon. Then saddle<br />
up for a horseback ride through the<br />
desert with the friendly guides at<br />
Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch or Fort<br />
McDowell Adventures.<br />
Neighbors to Tonto National Forest,<br />
<strong>Mesa</strong> serves as the Sonoran Desert<br />
gateway to the outdoors. Bicyclists,<br />
hikers and runners can traverse more<br />
than 60 miles of trails throughout<br />
the Hawes Trail System. Kayakers<br />
can ply the waters at Canyon Lake<br />
and Saguaro Lake or opt for a Salt<br />
River ride through the rapids. During<br />
the summer, tubers can cool off on<br />
floating picnic trips with Salt River<br />
Rafting. For a guide-led excursion<br />
through rugged desert terrain, hop on<br />
an ATV or UTV with Stellar Adventures<br />
or Arizona Outdoor Fun. And if you’re<br />
more of an in-town adventurer, stroll<br />
the landscaped grounds of Boyce<br />
Thompson Arboretum or the Queen<br />
Creek Botanical Gardens. Don’t miss<br />
the 9,000 stunning rose bushes that<br />
make up the <strong>Mesa</strong> Community College<br />
Rose Garden.<br />
City loving folks can spend the day<br />
soaking up the jam-packed fun at<br />
FatCats — think glow golf, virtual<br />
reality, bowling, movies, and arcade<br />
games. Jake’s Unlimited serves up<br />
similar offerings, plus laser tag and<br />
indoor amusement park rides. Amateur<br />
detectives can unravel mysteries at<br />
Escape Rooms <strong>Mesa</strong>; with 17 themed<br />
“rooms,” it’s the largest escape<br />
room facility in the world. Hands-on<br />
activities engage the senses at the<br />
family-friendly i.d.e.a. Museum, an<br />
interactive hub where education and<br />
play merge. Venture over to Discover<br />
Salt River's Arizona Boardwalk for all<br />
sorts of family fun and check out the<br />
new Bam Kazam experience.<br />
visitmesa.com<br />
<strong>2022</strong> <strong>Visitors</strong> <strong>Guide</strong> | City Limitless® | 07
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