Just like you, we at Online Advantages Mesa SEO have a life outside our work. When we work, we work hard, but we love to play, explore and spend time with our friends, family, and loved ones just as much. This time around, we wanted to do something a little different and check out some of the great activities the city of Mesa Arizona, and the surrounding area has to offer.
Whether you’re looking for cheap activities on a day trip, romantic date ideas, outdoor activities or just a self-guided walking tour of Mesa historical buildings, we’re sure we’ve got something on the list to tickle any fancy.
We came up with this list by brainstorming all the well-known sites and activities our staff could think of. Then we whittled our list down to the top five. (Be sure to check out the bottom of this page for a complete list of places to explore!)
Our criteria for choosing these 5 ways to explore Mesa included:
- A good mix of adult and family-friendly adventures
- Places to discover that are a little off the beaten path
- Friendly to tourists and locals alike
- Interesting, unique and one-of-a-kind experiences
- Free and low-cost activities
What we didn’t want to do was give the usual travelogue. Just about everyone who decides to visit Mesa knows it’s in the Sonoran Desert near the Superstition Mountains, and that historic sites, ghost towns, and authentic Native American artifacts and artwork are all over the place out here.
What they may not know is that Mesa is also a thriving culture and arts center in its own right, and there are plenty of attractions with ample surprises and choices for things to do.
Our goal is to give a good mix of well-known and offbeat action options, so you and your family or that special someone can find something great to do by day or at night! We hope you enjoy this breakdown of the Online Advantages Mesa SEO staff’s top picks for 5 things to do in Mesa, Arizona. If you have one you’d like to add to the list, send us a comment. We might add it to a later update of this page!
#1: Commemorative Air Force Museum
2017 N. Greenfield Rd.
Mesa, AZ 85215
(480) 924-1940
It’s hard to believe that in less than 120 years, flight has gone from a nice but impossible dream to one of the safest ways to travel—and one of the key benchmarks for how modern combat is effectively prosecuted. The Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona first began in 1978, with the donation of the Sentimental Journey, a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress from World War II. Over time, the museum expanded, starting with a permanent hangar constructed in 1985, to its current capacity of over 30,000 square feet of exhibit and display space.
Today, the Commemorative Air Force Museum’s mission is to educate and inform the public; remember the sacrifices of our servicemembers past and present; and preserving artifacts from the history of air power for future generations to enjoy.
The museum currently features SIX flyable vintage and antique aircraft, from trainers to reconnaissance planes to cargo carriers to bombers like the Sentimental Journey, allowing interested visitors to experience the thrill of soaring in these aircraft for themselves. It also features museum pieces of American, German, and Russian vintage, spanning the history of aviation in wartime from 1912-1973, as well as a working flight trainer and a number of displays of WWII memorabilia and exhibits. Whether you’re a war history buff or just love the sleek lines and often whimsical artwork of vintage aircraft, the Commemorative Air Force Museum is a great place for the whole family to explore and enjoy!
Hours: 10am-4pm Wednesday-Saturday.
Ticket Prices: Kids under 5, active and retired military service members and museum members always get in free.
Kids 5-12: $5
Adults: $15
Seniors 62 and up: $12
Flight tickets: Click here for more information.
#2: Hohokam Stadium
1235 N Center St
Mesa, AZ 85201
(480) 644-4451
Fans of the Great American Pastime won’t want to miss the chance to check out Hohokam Stadium, just five minutes from downtown Mesa! Named for the Hohokam people who populated the area from around 2000 years ago to approximately 1450CE, the stadium accommodates up to 12,500 people. Formerly known as Dwight W. Patterson Field and Hohokam Park, Hohokam Stadium has a long and storied history despite its relative youth, having opened for the first time in 1952, being razed and rebuilt in 1976 and undergoing a major renovation in 1997 and another in 2015.
In addition to hosting Mesa’s own home Cactus League team, the Mesa Solar Sox, the complex has also hosted Major League Baseball franchises the Oakland Athletics and later the Chicago Cubs for spring training before the A’s took over again.
In addition to the heavy hitters of the Major League, Hohokam Stadium plays host to games for the little ones in the Stomper Kid Zone at centerfield. Whether you want to take your family out to the old ballgame or get yourself and your buddies a prime seat on the baseline, Hohokam Stadium offers plenty of events, excitement, baseball action and fun for your whole team!
Click the header for ticket prices and event information.
#3: Mesa Arizona Temple Visitors’ Center
455 East Main Street
Mesa, Arizona 85203
(480) 964-7164
From its very inception, when 84 men and women set out from St. George, UT to establish an LDS foothold in Arizona, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has been integral in shaping the history and modern culture of Mesa, Arizona. Today, the Mesa, Arizona Temple stands as both an active center of the Mormon faith and a unique architectural masterpiece in its own right. Staffed by LDS missionaries, the Temple Visitors’ Center is a great resource to learn about the history and culture of both the Temple itself and the Mesa area. Or, if you prefer, you can simply stroll the expansive grounds and gardens, enjoy the landscaping and the reflecting pool, and take in the newly renovated Temple grounds, which, after an extensive renovation, will be rededicated December 12th, 2021 and reopened to the public shortly thereafter. Click the header for more information!
#4: Desert Belle Cruises
14011 N Bush Hwy
Mesa, AZ 85215
(480) 984-2425
The natural beauty of the Salt River and Saguaro Lake are unmatched in the area. Teeming with wildlife and carved into a majestic panorama of natural art by millions of years of geological forces, there are few more lovely or picturesque places to commune with nature—and the Desert Belle cruise is the best way to enjoy it all! In continuous operation since 1964, Desert Belle Cruises offer guided boat tours, special events and private charters.
Whether you want to relax with the family and enjoy a narrated tour of Saguaro Lake, take a music cruise and sample local craft beer with that special someone or even get hitched on the lake, Desert Belle Cruises offers a wide range of options for enjoying Saguaro Lake and the Salt River in ways you simply can’t anywhere else.
Be sure to click the header above for more information about how you can book your excursion today!
#5: i.d.e.a. Museum
150 W. Pepper Place
Mesa, AZ 85201
480-644-idea (4332)—recorded greeting
480-644-2468 (live)
Founded in 1978 as the Arizona Museum for Youth, the i.d.e.a. Museum’s mission is to make STEM and art alike accessible to children of all ages and from all backgrounds. It was originally founded with the intent of being the first and only fine art museum in the nation specifically catering to children, in hopes of fostering a lifelong love of, appreciation for and engagement with art. Over time, the Arizona Museum for Youth evolved into the i.d.e.a. Museum as it exists today, combining the best of both STEM education and interactive learning with the creativity and inspiration of art in a kid-friendly space the whole family can enjoy. The museum features showings from local, regional, national and international artists, hands-on classes and workshops, and special events throughout the year. To learn more about i.d.e.a Museum, click the header above!
Of course, there’s a lot more to do and see in Mesa, Arizona and the surrounding area, including Salt River tubing, art walking, horseback riding and even rides in hot air balloons!
But if nothing on this list of 5 ways to spend time in Mesa tickled your fancy, or you’re looking for other options to make a day, a vacation or even a life of exploration in the Mesa area, check out the list below for more great ideas from your friends at Online Advantages Mesa SEO!
An Incomplete List of Other Activities and Places to Check Out in Mesa, Arizona for Tourists and Locals Alike!
- Arizona Celebration of Freedom
- Arizona Museum of Natural History
- Mesa Arts Center
- Farmers’ Market
- Rose Garden at Mesa Community College
- Ghost Towns
- Mesa Amphitheatre
- Mesa Grande Ruins
- Mesa Historical Museums
- Park of the Canals
- Phoenix Zoo
- Usery Mountain Regional Park
- Wind Cave Trail