Mesa, AZ Road Trips

Mesa was founded in January 1878 by Latter-day Saint or LDS (often nicknamed Mormon) pioneers and its population is still roughly one-tenth Mormon. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints operates one of its oldest temples in Mesa (the Mesa Arizona Temple, opened in 1927), and the city is a hub for Latter-day Saints residing in the Phoenix Metro area. Mesa is one of the United States' fastest-growing cities and ranks as the 38th-largest. The city has a larger population than better-known United States cities such as Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Saint Louis and Saint Paul. Although it has a large population, Mesa is a "bedroom community." Neighborhoods across the city are diverse — some areas have experienced urban blight, while others contain elaborate custom homes. 1 Mesa Convention & Visitors Bureau Visitors Center, 120 N Center St (north of Main St), ☏ +1 480-827-4700, toll-free: +1-800-283-6372, fax: +1 480-827-4704, [email protected]. M-F 8AM-5PM. Stop by the Mesa Visitors Center and pick up a Mesa Visitors Guide, which can also be viewed online. The Visitors Center has many publications about Mesa and other destinations around Arizona, including the metro Phoenix area. You'll also find knowledgeable staff and local coupons.

1 Mesa Historical Museum, 2345 N Horne, ☏ +1 480-835-2286. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. This rapidly growing museum, split between two buildings, features displays of the different phases of Mesa's history. The downtown location holds "Play Ball: the Cactus League Experience," an excellent exhibit on the history of spring training baseball in Arizona. $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 children 3-12. 2 Mesa Arts Center, 1 E Main St, ☏ +1 480-644-6500. This uniquely designed building in downtown Mesa features theatres, art galleries, and contemporary public art spaces. It is the largest arts center in Arizona. 3 Mesa Arizona Temple, 101 S LeSueur. This unique, historic building opened in 1927. Its 20-acre lot features beautiful gardens and sitting spaces. It is the largest temple built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints outside of Utah. The public is welcome to walk through the gardens. A must see at night when the exterior is illuminated. (updated Aug 2023) Mesa Temple Visitors' Center, 455 E. Main St. The center includes a children’s play area, with interactive activities; a hang out room for teens; a community section, with displays explaining the city's diverse history and spiritual heritage built by Native Americans, Hispanic migrants and Mormon pioneers. There is also a coloring wall, an interactive justserve.org screen to locate local community service opportunities, a 3D-scale model of the temple, and a display where visitors learn more about God and Jesus Christ.

1 Jake's Unlimited. 2 Golfland Sunsplash. 3 Cactus League Spring Training, 1235 N Center St. A treat for baseball fans happens every spring with the Cactus League Spring Training games happening all over Phoenix and Tucson. 4 Fighter Combat International, 5649 South Avery Circle. Fly an actual dogfight mission in the cockpit of a jet. Starting at $750. 5 2nd Friday Night Out, Downtown Mesa (between Center and Country Club on Main). Monthly event on 2nd Friday of every month from 6 to 10PM with live music, over 60 art and craft booths, food for sale and other types of events and entertainment. Free admission. (updated Mar 2016) 6 Desert Belle Paddleboat Cruises, 14011 N Bush Hwy. 90-minute cruises aboard the desert belle paddleboat on Saguaro Lake which is known for towering canyon walls, wildlife, and desert/mountain vistas. 7 Park of the Canals, 1710 N Horne, ☏ +1 480-644-4271. Sunrise to 10PM. This 31 acres (13 hectares) park includes evidence of ancient Hohokam Indian canals dating back to 700B.C. and a beautiful desert botanical garden featuring a wide variety of cacti. Free. 8 Rose Garden at Mesa Community College, 1833 W Southern Ave, ☏ +1 480-461-7022, [email protected]. Daily 24 hr. Largest rose garden in the Desert Southwest includes 4,600 bushes and more than 450 varieties. Open year-round with peak bloom in April. Free. 9 Saguaro Lake Ranch Trail Rides, 13050 N Bush Hwy. Offering guides trail rides surrounding Saguaro lake. Desert scenery and mountain vistas. Sunset rides offered. 10 Salt River Tubing and Recreation, 9200 N Bush Hwy.

1 Baby Kay's Cajun Kitchen, 2051 S Dobson Rd, ☏ +1 480-800-4811. M-Sa lunch and dinner. Camelback area local Cajun cuisine restaurant featuring po boys and, in season, crawfish boils on Wednesday nights. 2 Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill, 1744 S Val Vista Dr, ☏ +1 480-633-8226. Homemade tortillas, huge burritos, addicting taco salads with spicy avocado ranch dressing. Ahh the sweet pork. Matta's (Mattas Mexican Grill), 9937 E Baseline Rd #105 (Brown & Higley), ☏ +1 480-655-8646. The Mexican restaurant on the east side of town since 1953, hosted by the Matta family. Nice atmosphere with strolling mariachis in the evening. 3 Pete's Fish and Chips, 22 S. Mesa Dr, ☏ +1 480-964-7242. Eight other locations in the Phoenix Valley. Forget the tartar sauce -- "Pete's special sauce" is to die for. Family owned and operated since 1947. Only cash is accepted. 4 Ned's Krazy Sub, 1927 N Gilbert Rd, ☏ +1 480-464-0033. Can't beat the lunch special. Try the Poorboy. 5 Steve's Krazy Sub, 1211 N Country Club Dr, ☏ +1 480-835-0330. (updated May 2023) 6 Rosa's Mexican Grill, 328 E University Dr, ☏ +1 480-964-5451. The original Rosa's. Everything on the menu is excellent, a family favorite. Best shrimp tacos anywhere. 7 Waldo's BBQ, 4500 E. Main St (in the eastern portion of town), ☏ +1 480-807-6475. BBQ place, with a great atmosphere. 8 Organ Stop Pizza, 1149 East Southern Ave (SW corner of Southern and Stapley, off US 60), ☏ +1 480-813-5700. About 5-9PM, more depeding on season.

1 RT O'Sullivan's Bar and Grill, 6646 E Superstition Springs Blvd, ☏ +1 480-396-9933. This is a great place to watch the game but get there early because it fills up. 2 Oro Brewing Co, 210 W Main St (right along the growing "strip" in downtown, right next to Worth Takeaway). Grab a sandwich there and head over to Oro for some great beer. (updated May 2021) 3 Chupacabra Taproom, 14 N Robson, ☏ +1 480 751 5566. M - F 2PM-11PM; Sa- Su noon-1AM. Downtown Mesa's longest running taproom. Most of the seating is outdoors under shade sails with heat lamps in the winter. Small taproom serving many local beers and ciders. Lively crowd late into the night every weekend. $10. (updated Jan 2025)

1 Golden Hills Golf Club (formerly Arizona Golf Resort), 425 South Power Rd, ☏ +1 480-832-3202, toll-free: +1-800-528-8282. 30 minutes from Phoenix, it feature a championship golf course, meeting facilities, onsite dining as well as many other amenities. 2 Courtyard Phoenix Mesa, 1221 South Westwood Ave, ☏ +1 480-461-3000. 3 Four Points by Sheraton at Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport, 6850 E Williams Field Rd (near the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport), ☏ +1 480-5792100. This is an informal hotel, with courteous staff. The rooms are clean and also have a few desks. The usual cost is $84, and they have free wifi and parking, an outdoor pool, laundry services, and air conditioners. It is also handicap-accessible. (updated Aug 2020) 4 DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix Mesa, 1011 West Holmes Ave, ☏ +1 480-833-5555. 5 SureStay Plus by Best Western Mesa Superstition Springs, 6347 E. Southern Ave, ☏ +1 480-807-7760. 6 Westgate Painted Mountain Country Club, 6302 E. McKellips Rd, toll-free: +1-888-808-7410. A golf resort near Phoenix, offering family lodging and accommodations with panoramic views & featuring an 18-hole, par 70 championship golf course. 7 Usery Mountain Regional Park, 3939 N Usery Pass Rd, ☏ +1 480-984-0032, fax: +1 480-357-1542, [email protected]. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: noon. Water and electric hookups at all sites, with toilets and hot showers available; maximum RV length 50 ft (15 m). Reservations can be made online ($8 reservation fee). $25/night.

If you happen to be coming from an "easterly" direction (a.k.a. New Mexico), that means you'll probably be taking US-60 (the Superstition Freeway) right through the 17 exits that comprise Mesa, as part of the Greater Phoenix metropolitan area. SR-87 connects Tonto National Forest (in the NE) through the Salt River-Pima-Marico Indian Community, Mesa and Chandler, towards I-10 in Sweet Water Village. It goes north-south through Mesa as Country Club Dr. State Route (SR) 101 goes north-south between Scottsdale and Chandler. It divides Tempe from Mesa. SR-202 loops around the northern and eastern edge of Mesa, from it junction with SR-101 in the NW corner of Mesa to its junction with US Hwy 60 east of Mesa. Going west of SR-101 the 202 goes alongside the Salt River, along the northern edge of Tempe towards Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport There are various east-west roads (Rio Salado, Apache Blvd/Main St, Broadway Rd, Southern Ave) connecting Tempe to Mesa which are not designated as a state or US Highway except Apache Blvd/Main St which was US Highway 60 before the Superstition Freeway (present US 60) was built. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX IATA) is to the west of Mesa and is the major air hub for all of Arizona and the southwestern United States. Flights arrive and depart to domestic and international destinations. If you're prone to airsickness, try to get flights into this airport that arrive either before noon or after sundown, particularly during late spring and early summer.

Mesa is laid out on a straightforward north-south, east-west grid pattern as regards its major streets. Center Street and Main Street are perpendicular to each other and, as suits their names, intersect in the city center in a manner that provides an excellent reference point and makes city navigation relatively easy.

Mesa has a fairly high crime rate compared to some other American cities, but most of it is property crime of more concern to residents than to visitors. 2 The Arizona Republic, 200 E Van Buren St, ☏ +1 602-444-8000. The city’s main newspaper that is read throughout the city and state. 3 The New Times, 1201 E Jefferson, ☏ +1 602-271-0040. A great source of independent news and information about events, music, food, etc. The closest thing Phoenix has to New York's Village Voice (and they are under common ownership). 4 East Valley Tribune ((formerly the Mesa Tribune)), 1900 W. Broadway Rd, Tempe, ☏ +1 480-TRIBUNE (8742863). Freely distributed "voice of the East Valley". Their yearly Best of East Valley readers contests are very helpful for finding great food, drinks, entertainment and shopping; their editors fill the East Valley Guide with their own recommendations, which also includes a calendar of local events. La Voz, 200 E Van Buren St, ☏ +1 602-444-8000. A popular Spanish language newspaper published by The Arizona Republic. 5 Asian American Times, 668 N 44th St, Ste 343. Excellent Chinese-American newspaper with articles printed in English and Chinese.