Top Attractions in Mesa

Mesa sits in the East Valley of the Phoenix metropolitan area, bordered by dramatic desert landscapes and the towering Superstition Mountains to the east. While often overshadowed by its larger neighbor, Mesa has carved out its own identity with a growing arts scene, rich Native American heritage, and some of the best outdoor recreation in the Valley of the Sun.

Mesa Arts Center

The largest arts center in Arizona, the Mesa Arts Center features four theaters, five art galleries, and 14 studio spaces. The contemporary architecture alone is worth a visit, and the center hosts everything from Broadway touring shows to free outdoor concerts and hands-on art workshops. The surrounding downtown area has undergone significant revitalization with new restaurants and shops.

Arizona Museum of Natural History

This engaging museum in downtown Mesa takes visitors from the age of dinosaurs through the Hohokam civilization to the territorial era of Arizona. The Arizona Museum of Natural History's three-story Dinosaur Mountain exhibit features animatronic dinosaurs alongside real fossils, and the hands-on paleontology lab lets kids dig for replica bones. The Hohokam and Southwest cultures gallery is one of the best in the state.

Commemorative Air Force Museum

Located at Falcon Field Airport, this museum houses a remarkable collection of World War II aircraft, many in flyable condition. The crown jewel is a fully restored B-17G Flying Fortress, and visitors can book rides in several of the vintage warplanes. Annual airshows draw aviation enthusiasts from across the Southwest.

Park of the Canals

This archaeological park preserves a section of the ancient Hohokam canal system that irrigated this desert valley over a thousand years ago. Walking trails wind through mesquite-shaded paths alongside the original canal ruins, with interpretive signs explaining how these ancient engineers managed water in the arid landscape.

Food & Dining Scene

Mesa's food scene has exploded in recent years, particularly in the revitalized downtown core and along Main Street. The city's diverse population brings flavors from around the world to the table.

Must-Try Local Foods

  • Sonoran Mexican food — Authentic tacos, tamales, and menudo at family-owned spots like Los Hermanos and La Ristra New Mexican Kitchen
  • Craft beer — The downtown Mesa beer scene is booming with 12 West Brewing, Arizona Wilderness Brewing (famous for Superstition Coffee Stout), and Beer Research Institute
  • Filipino cuisine — Mesa has a significant Filipino community; try adobo and lumpia at Tita's Kitchenette or Aristocrat Restaurant
  • Breakfast & brunch — The Original Breakfast House and Joe's Farm Grill (set on the last working farm in Mesa) are local institutions

For a special experience, visit Agritopia, a planned community built around a working farm. The farm's restaurant, Joe's Farm Grill, serves burgers and shakes using ingredients grown steps from the kitchen, and the adjacent Coffee Shop and Barnone speakeasy-style bar make it a full evening destination.

Outdoor Activities

With over 300 days of sunshine and the Sonoran Desert at its doorstep, Mesa is an outdoor playground year-round.

Superstition Mountains

The legendary Superstition Mountains rise east of Mesa, home to the famous Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine folklore. Usery Mountain Regional Park and Lost Dutchman State Park offer excellent hiking trails ranging from easy desert walks to strenuous ridge climbs. The Flatiron hike is a challenging but rewarding scramble to a dramatic volcanic summit with panoramic views of the entire Valley.

Saguaro Lake & Salt River

Saguaro Lake, carved by the Salt River in the Tonto National Forest, offers kayaking, paddleboarding, and boat tours through towering canyon walls. The Desert Belle, a vintage-style touring boat, provides narrated cruises where you can spot wild horses, bald eagles, and bighorn sheep along the rocky shores.

Salt River Tubing

From May through September, floating down the Lower Salt River on an inner tube is a beloved Mesa tradition. The gentle current winds through the Tonto National Forest, and the wild horses of the Salt River frequently come down to the banks to drink — a uniquely Arizona experience.

Nightlife & Entertainment

Downtown Mesa has transformed into a lively evening destination. The Main Street corridor features craft breweries, wine bars, and live music venues within easy walking distance. AT Still Ciderworks pours local hard ciders in a rustic taproom. The Nile Theater is an intimate live music and comedy venue that punches above its weight with quality bookings. For a bigger night out, the nearby Tempe Mill Avenue district and Scottsdale entertainment corridor are just minutes away, offering everything from rooftop lounges to dance clubs.

Hidden Gems

Mesa Grande Cultural Park

This preserved Hohokam platform mound in the middle of suburban Mesa dates to around 1100 AD and is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Valley. The small park offers a quiet, contemplative look at the civilization that built an elaborate canal system across the desert centuries before European contact.

Schnepf Farms

This family farm in the Queen Creek area south of Mesa hosts seasonal festivals including peach picking in spring, a massive Halloween pumpkin patch and corn maze, and holiday events. The farm-to-table restaurant on-site and u-pick orchards make it a favorite family outing.

Wind Cave Trail

This moderate hike in Usery Mountain Regional Park leads to a shallow wind-carved cave in a volcanic cliff face. The views from inside the cave looking out over the Valley and toward the Superstitions are among the best in the East Valley, especially at sunrise when the mountains glow orange and red.