15 Fun Things To Do In Mesa, Arizona

Mesa, Arizona, is a dynamic city that offers a blend of outdoor adventure, cultural attractions, and family-friendly activities. Just minutes from Phoenix, Mesa provides a perfect getaway for travelers looking to explore the beauty of the Sonoran Desert while enjoying top-notch arts, history, and recreation. Visitors can immerse themselves in nature at Usery Mountain Regional Park, relax with a scenic cruise on Saguaro Lake, or stroll through the stunning Mesa Grande Cultural Park, home to ancient Native American ruins.

For art and history lovers, Mesa Arts Center and the Arizona Museum of Natural History showcase the city’s rich cultural offerings, with exhibits and performances that captivate all ages. Families will find endless fun at Riverview Park, with its expansive playgrounds, splash pads, and serene fishing spots, while shopping enthusiasts can explore Dana Park Village Square and the bustling Mesa Market Place Swap Meet.

With a variety of activities, from thrilling desert hikes to unique local museums, Mesa, Arizona offers an unforgettable experience for everyone. This guide to Mesa’s top attractions covers the best things to do in Mesa, AZ, highlighting the city’s unique blend of adventure, relaxation, and rich cultural heritage.

1. Visit the Mesa Arts Center

📍 Location: 1 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201

The Mesa Arts Center anchors downtown Mesa as Arizona’s premier cultural campus. Spanning over seven acres and 212,775 sq ft, this multi-building complex includes four theaters, five art galleries, and 14 art studios—creating space for hundreds of performances, exhibitions, and hands-on classes each year.

Since opening in spring 2005, after five years of planning, the center has become a catalyst for revitalizing Mesa’s original one‑square‑mile townsite. Designed with jagged angles, glass facades, and shimmering canopies inspired by the Sonoran Desert’s geology, it overlays drama and daylight onto urban pathways. The grand Ikeda Theater (1,600 seats) joined by the mid-size Piper Repertory Theater (550 seats), a 200‑seat playhouse, and a 99‑seat studio theater, welcome national touring acts—from Broadway hits to classical concerts.

For visitors, the arts center offers more than performances—it nurtures creativity. Over 60 teaching artists lead classes ranging from ceramics and glass blowing to youth media and community programs like Art Pass and Creative Aging. Meanwhile, the free Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum hosts around 15 rotating exhibitions each year, showcasing regional and international artists.

2. Explore Usery Mountain Regional Park

📍 Location: 3939 N Usery Pass Rd, Mesa, AZ 85207

Perched just east of Mesa, Usery Mountain Regional Park unfolds across roughly 3,648 acres of classic Sonoran Desert and foothill terrain, where the Goldfield Mountains rise in rugged majesty. Since its establishment in 1961, this park has offered a striking counterpoint to urban life, combining conservation, education, and adventure.

The heart of the park lies in its extensive trail network. With more than 29 miles of paths open to hikers, cyclists, and equestrians—including the scenic Pass Mountain and Wind Cave trails—each turn offers elevated views and geological surprises like natural alcoves and rock-daisy “hanging gardens” behind Wind Cave’s volcanic tuff wall. For accessibility, the gentler Merkle Trail welcomes all abilities.

Families and groups gravitate toward the well-equipped picnic pavilions and the archery range, set under shade with water, grills, and restrooms nearby. A bustling campground with 73 sites, including RV hookups, hot showers, and spacious layouts, serves as a peaceful launchpad for multi-day adventures.

The nature center, open seasonally, immerses visitors in desert ecology through interpretive exhibits, ranger walks, and stargazing programs

3. Discover the Arizona Museum of Natural History

📍 Location: 53 N Macdonald, Mesa, AZ 85201

Located at 53 N. Macdonald in downtown Mesa, the Arizona Museum of Natural History is one of the Valley’s most compelling destinations—Arizona’s only full-scale natural history museum and a window into ancient worlds. Housed in a landmark building first used in 1937 and expanded through the early 2000s, this museum holds some 60,000 objects spanning paleontology, archaeology, anthropology, and geology.

The heart of the museum—Dinosaur Mountain—is a three-story indoor setting where animatronic dinosaurs move amid cascading water and simulated flash floods that erupt roughly every half hour, thrilling guests across generations. Dinosaur Hall features genuine skeletons, from T. rex skulls to Camarasaurus and Triceratops, offering both spectacle and scale.

Beyond dinosaurs, exhibits trace Arizona’s human and natural story. Cenozoic fossil collections display mastodons, mammoths, and giant tortoises. The Origins gallery immerses guests in cosmic beginnings, while hands-on areas like the Paleo Dig Pit and Exploration Station invite curious minds to pan for gold, handle meteorites, and uncover ancient artifacts.

A highlight is the recreated Hohokam village tied to Mesa Grande, showcasing indigenous life from AD 600–1450—bridging the museum’s collections with living landscape. Accessibility is emphasized with sensory guides, enabling visitors of all abilities to engage meaningfully

4. Relax at Riverview Park

📍 Location: 2100 W Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa, AZ 85201

A central feature of the park is the 5-acre fishing lake stocked with bass, sunfish, catfish, and trout—urban anglers can try their luck from the boardwalk or stroll past Sloan Park, home to Chicago Cubs spring training.

Kids flock to the splash pad and towering Genesis climber, a 50-foot-high net structure that can support hundreds at once—a playground sensation praised as one of the tallest in the world. Shaded ramadas, scenic walking paths, and multiple playgrounds provide options for all ages, while four soccer fields, baseball diamonds, and reservable ramadas ensure sports and celebrations find their place in this vibrant landscape

5. Tour the Mesa Historical Museum

📍 Location: 2345 N Horne, Mesa, AZ 85203

The Mesa Historical Museum, housed in the beautifully preserved Old Lehi School on North Horne Street, begins as a modest school built in 1913 that later became Mesa’s city hall before its current incarnation. Incorporated in 1966 by local citizens committed to safeguarding Mesa’s legacy, the museum officially opened its doors in 1987. Both its main building and the Works Progress Administration–constructed auditorium received historic recognition in 2001 when added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Inside, visitors explore the evolution of Mesa and its neighboring Lehi community through thoughtfully curated galleries. A faithful replica of a one-room adobe schoolhouse offers an immersive glimpse into 19th-century education. Exhibits celebrate founding families, preserve agricultural tools, and honor the cultural heritage of the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community, complemented by rotating showcases like “Return of the Buffalo” and a seasonal “Play Ball: The Cactus League Experience” highlighting Mesa’s deep baseball traditions.

6. Enjoy the Desert Belle Cruise on Saguaro Lake

📍 Location: 14011 N Bush Hwy, Mesa, AZ 85215

Taking the Desert Belle Cruise on Saguaro Lake is a serene way to enjoy the beauty of Arizona’s desert landscape from the water. The narrated tour provides interesting facts about the lake’s geology, local wildlife, and history. My experience on the Desert Belle was unforgettable—watching the sun reflect off towering cliffs and spotting a bald eagle soaring overhead was magical.

The cruise offers both open-air and air-conditioned seating, making it comfortable even on hotter days. There are themed cruises, like live music and sunset cruises, which add a unique twist to the trip. Many visitors find the sunset cruises particularly stunning as the warm colors of the Arizona sky transform the lake into a canvas of light and shadow.

7. Experience the Superstition Mountain Museum

📍 Location: 4087 N Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85119 (about 30 mins from Mesa)

Leaving the serene waters of the Desert Belle Cruise behind, your journey shifts from nature’s embrace to the rugged allure of Old West legend. The Superstition Mountain Museum, located at 4087 E. Apache Trail near Apache Junction, invites visitors into a world where folklore, frontier life, and mining history converge against the dramatic backdrop of the Superstition Mountains.

Founded by the Superstition Mountain Historical Society in the early 1980s, the current museum grounds were established in 2003 on twelve acres just below the mountain's western slopes. The main exhibit hall, measuring nearly 4,900 sq ft and attached to a gift shop, anchors a historical village that includes replicas of Western storefronts, an authentic assay office, the iconic Apacheland Barn, Elvis Chapel from the old movie ranch, and a working Cossak 20-stamp gold mill—demonstrated regularly to visitors.

Inside, the gallery unfolds the layered story of the region through artifacts, multi-media presentations, and docent-led tours. Explore Native American cultures, frontier settlers, geological heritage, and the enduring legend of the Lost Dutchman’s Mine—complete with displays of the mysterious Peralta Stones that once claimed to reveal the mine’s location

8. Stroll Through the Mesa Market Place Swap Meet

📍 Location: 10550 E Baseline Rd, Mesa, AZ 85209

The Mesa Market Place Swap Meet is a lively open-air shopping experience featuring over 1,500 vendor spaces. It’s a treasure trove for bargain hunters, with vendors offering everything from handmade crafts and jewelry to fresh produce and vintage collectibles. I often go with friends to browse unique finds, and it’s always a fun experience with live music and an energetic atmosphere.

In addition to shopping, the swap meet offers an impressive variety of food stalls where you can sample local snacks or grab a refreshing drink as you wander through. The shaded seating areas provide a nice break to rest and chat while enjoying the local vibes. With its friendly vendors and festive setting, the Mesa Market Place Swap Meet is an authentic local experience that captures Mesa’s community spirit.

9. Attend a Performance at the Hale Centre Theatre

📍 Location: 50 W Page Ave, Gilbert, AZ 85233 (10–15 mins from Mesa)

Just across the Mesa–Gilbert border, at 50 W Page Avenue in Gilbert, the Hale Centre Theatre offers an intimate yet spectacular experience. This 350-seat theater-in-the-round has been captivating local audiences since 2003 with high-quality musicals, comedies, and dramas performed by talented local actors.

Inside, no seat is far from the action. With impeccable acoustics and staging that envelops the audience, viewers become part of the story—an immersive touch highlighted again and again in glowing reviews. The theater recently upgraded its lighting and sound systems, ensuring that each production—from moving dramas like A Christmas Carol to spirited comedies and musical tributes—resonates clearly and powerfully.

Ticket prices are family-friendly, with youth (ages 5–17) around $45 and adult tickets about $58; free parking and concession service rounds out the evening. The theater's upcoming season (2025) features both Broadway classics such as Anastasia and genre-favorites like Singin' in the Rain, offering something for every taste

10. Explore the Mesa Grande Cultural Park

📍 Location: 1000 N Date St, Mesa, AZ 85201

Leaving the energy of the Swap Meet behind, it's time to turn inward—toward one of Mesa's most profound treasures and a testament to ancient ingenuity.

Known today by its O’odham name, Sce:dagĭ Mu:val Va’aki, this park safeguards the remains of a Hohokam platform mound village, flourishing between AD 1100 and 1450. Located at 1000 N Date Street, the site includes a massive earthen mound—nearly 27 feet tall—built in layers of caliche and soil by a community that likely numbered around 2,000. Archaeologists believe this mound served as a ceremonial or leadership center, surrounded by plazas and possibly a ball court.

Managed jointly by Mesa’s city government and the Arizona Museum of Natural History, with stewardship from the Salt River Pima–Maricopa and Gila River Indian communities, visiting feels both respectful and revelatory. Since a new visitor center opened in 2013, the park remains open seasonally from October through May—sometimes free during special events—and thoughtfully interpreted by guides and signage

11. Visit the i.d.e.a. Museum

📍 Location: 150 W Pepper Pl, Mesa, AZ 85201

Stepping into the i.d.e.a. Museum—formerly the Arizona Museum for Youth—you find more than just colorful walls; you enter a realm designed to ignite young imaginations through art, design, science, and innovation. Housed in a retrofitted 1950s grocery store at 150 W Pepper Place, this 20,000 sq ft space invites families into immersive zones that spark playful discovery and hands-on learning.

At the heart is ArtVille, a whimsical village crafted for children aged zero to four. Featuring oversized crayons, miniature kitchens, and sensory nooks, it offers toddlers their first invitation to explore creativity through tactile play. For older kids, The HUB gallery unfolds with interactive stations and collaborative spaces—in one corner, a blacklight room glows with imaginative art; in another, an exhibition challenges visitors to build, tinker, and explore with recycled materials and STEAM tool.

Rotating exhibitions within the Whiteman Family Gallery cover topics from folktales to engineering marvels. Recent installations have showcased art on wheels—lowriders, skateboards, and bicycles—blending cultural richness with invention. The idea Lab, introduced during the 2024 renovation, enhances this with 3D printers, laser cutters, and collaborative art-science installations for deeper creative exploration

12. Golf at the Longbow Golf Club

📍 Location: 5601 E Longbow Pkwy, Mesa, AZ 85215

Just 20 minutes northeast of Mesa’s downtown, Longbow Golf Club stands as a beacon of upscale desert golf. Originally opened in 1997 and redesigned in 2003 by architect Ken Kavanaugh, the course stretches 7,050 yards over 18 championship holes—par 71—offering stunning views of the Superstition Mountains and lush fairways woven through native desert terrain.

Celebrated by Golfweek as one of the Top 20 courses in Arizona and among the Top 100 resort courses nationwide, Longbow balances breathtaking bunkers and undulating greens with playability for varying skill levels. Golfers praise its pristine conditions, friendly staff, and thoughtfully generous layout—reviews describe it as "top notch… excellent condition" and a place where "good shots are rewarded and offline shots penalized".

Beyond the course, Longbow’s contemporary clubhouse includes the Longbow Grille—renowned for its “Best 19th Hole” outdoor patio complete with heaters, misters, bar, fireplace, and shaded seating. A robust practice facility offers a driving range, chipping and putting greens, with options for private or group instruction. Accessibility is a priority, with SoloRider carts available for golfers needing assistance

13. Shop and Dine at Dana Park Village Square

📍 Location: 1744 S Val Vista Dr, Mesa, AZ 85204

Dana Park Village Square is one of Mesa’s premier shopping and dining destinations, combining upscale boutiques, specialty stores, and a diverse selection of restaurants in a beautifully designed open-air setting. Strolling through Dana Park feels like stepping into a stylish town square, with fountains, lush landscaping, and shaded seating areas perfect for relaxing. A friend and I often meet here for a shopping day, grabbing coffee at one of the charming cafes and exploring the unique stores.

For food lovers, Dana Park offers everything from gourmet dining to casual eateries, providing plenty of options to satisfy any craving. The vibrant atmosphere, friendly service, and scenic surroundings make it an enjoyable experience, day or night. With seasonal events and live music performances, Dana Park Village Square is more than just a shopping center; it’s a lively community hub that locals love.

14. Visit the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona Museum

📍 Location: 2017 N Greenfield Rd, Mesa, AZ 85215

Transitioning from leisure and lifestyle, the Commemorative Air Force’s Arizona Airbase Museum, located at Falcon Field, offers a powerful journey into aviation history. Established in 1978, this museum preserves and flies restored WWII-era aircraft—each plane a living testament to the courage and innovation of the greatest generation.

Spread across aircraft hangars on the Falcon Field airbase, the collection includes rare warbirds such as the P‑51 Mustang, SB2C Helldiver, and C‑47 Skytrain, meticulously restored and maintained by volunteers. You might even witness a live flight demonstration or “warbird experience” ride, where visitors can soar in a vintage plane (reservations recommended) — a visceral way to connect with aviation’s golden era.

Inside, exhibits explore the stories of aircrews, the development of military aviation, and Falcon Field’s wartime role as a training hub. Engaging displays, uniformed reenactors, and archival photographs bring to life the challenges faced during World War II and beyond. Admission is generally modest, and the museum regularly hosts special events, such as “WWII Weekend,” offering immersive storytelling and aircraft flybys.

15. Enjoy Outdoor Activities at the Salt River

📍 Location: Various access points near Mesa (Phon D Sutton, Coon Bluff, etc.)

The Salt River offers endless opportunities for outdoor fun, just a short drive from Mesa, AZ. The river’s scenic setting makes it a popular spot for tubing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, where visitors can float down the gentle waters surrounded by Arizona’s breathtaking desert landscape. I remember going tubing down the Salt River with friends last summer, an experience made even more exciting by sightings of the famous Salt River wild horses grazing along the shore.

During the warmer months, the Salt River is packed with locals and tourists alike, all soaking up the sun and enjoying the refreshing water. For those seeking a quieter experience, early mornings or late afternoons offer a peaceful time to paddle down the river and take in the natural beauty. The Salt River provides the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure for anyone looking to enjoy Arizona’s great outdoors.

Conclusion

Mesa isn’t a city you rush through. It’s a destination best explored at the pace of discovery—trail by trail, exhibit by exhibit, note by note. From ancient Hohokam mounds at Mesa Grande to the soaring chords of Hale Centre Theatre, every experience here carries weight, warmth, and a distinct sense of place.

You’ve drifted through the Salt River’s quiet currents, climbed the ridgelines of Usery Mountain, and paused under the shaded arches of Dana Park Village Square. Along the way, creativity flourished at the i.d.e.a. Museum, the arts danced at Mesa Arts Center, and history roared to life at the Commemorative Air Force Museum. It’s a city where prehistoric cultures, desert ecology, innovation, and community spirit all converge in compelling harmony.

Mesa’s strength lies in its variety and in its people. Its blend of attractions ensures there’s always something inspiring to discover. Planning to visit? Karta has some amazing deals on Mesa vacation rentals for you.

FAQ

1. What are the best outdoor activities in Mesa, AZ?

Mesa offers fantastic outdoor activities, including hiking at Usery Mountain Regional Park, tubing on the Salt River, and scenic cruises on Saguaro Lake with Desert Belle Cruises

2. Is Mesa, Arizona a family-friendly destination?

Absolutely! Families can enjoy Riverview Park’s splash pad and playground, explore the interactive exhibits at the i.d.e.a. Museum, and tour dinosaur exhibits at the Arizona Museum of Natural History.

3. What cultural attractions can I visit in Mesa?

Cultural highlights include the Mesa Arts Center, which hosts art exhibits and performances, and the Mesa Grande Cultural Park, an ancient archaeological site offering insight into Native American history.

4. What is there to do in Mesa at night?

Mesa has an active nightlife with performances at the Hale Centre Theatre, evening events at the Mesa Arts Center, and shopping and dining at Dana Park Village Square.

5. When is the best time to visit Mesa, AZ?

The best time to visit Mesa is from October to April, when temperatures are mild, making it ideal for outdoor activities like hiking, golfing, and exploring local parks.

6. Are there any historic sites to visit in Mesa?

Yes, Mesa is rich in history. Key historic sites include the Mesa Historical Museum, which explores local history, and the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona Museum with WWII aircraft exhibits.

7. Where can I go shopping in Mesa, AZ?

Mesa offers unique shopping experiences at the Mesa Market Place Swap Meet and upscale shopping at Dana Park Village Square, with its mix of boutiques and dining spots.

8. Can I see desert wildlife in Mesa?

Absolutely! At Usery Mountain Regional Park and along the Salt River, you can spot desert wildlife like coyotes, roadrunners, and the famous Salt River wild horses.

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