Mesa, AZ

[SquirrellyMama]

My parents moved to Mesa, AZ in October from So. Cal. I'm sad that we won't get to go down to San Diego anymore, we still had stuff to see there! But, I'm hoping to enjoy AZ also. They lived in Tempe when my dh and I were first married, but I don't think we did all that much in the area. 

 

We went to the Grand Canyon with the kids on one of our travels to CA, so I'd like things closer to Mesa. 

 

Any must see places or things to do? The kids are 11, 13 and 15. I don't think we'll get there until next summer or fall.

 

Kelly

[vonfirmath]

Mesa, AZ appears to be near Phoenix

 

There's a GREAT railroad museum in the Phoenix area.  Has a setup of model railroads, a merry-go-round, playgrounds, a presidential railroad car to tour, and a couple of train ride possibilities on the premises.  Also a Thank you train from France for the aid America sent during the war (WW 2 I believe)

 

Oh and I believe they were advertising a museum opening up soon for -- a cartoon character. Maybe Calvin?  Anyway, it is very affordable to buy same-day tickets, even.

http://www.therailroadpark.com/

 

A bit south of Phoenix, but also very enjoyable is the Rooster Ogburn Park

http://www.roostercogburn.com/

 

The monster ride was fun and there were a TON of animals to feed.

 

Finally, one of these times when we get back (my IN-laws live just south of Tucson), we want to go to the Observatory at night and participate in one of their programs. (Kitt Peak National Observatory)

https://www.noao.edu/kpno/

 

Oh the Titan Missile Museum near Tucson is also well worth seeing

http://www.titanmissilemuseum.org/

 

There are also tours of an open pit mine:

http://www.asarco.com/about-us/our-locations/asarco-mineral-discovery-center/mine-tours/

 

My husband really loves the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix. (But I thought it was too expensive and too hot for the summer when we were there)

http://www.dbg.org/

 

The San Xavier Mission Tour is interesting:

http://www.sanxaviermission.org/

 

 

[vonfirmath]

One more thing: You need to visit Organ Stop Pizza for a meal:  http://www.organstoppizza.com/ 

 

(which is in Mesa!)

 

The food is fine. But the experience is why you go: music on a Wurlitzer piano and is FABULOUS.  We went for my SIL's rehearsal dinner the night before her wedding and he takes requests -- one in particular he did for us was "I'm getting married in the morning"

 

Edited December 2, 2016 by vonfirmath

[scrapbookbuzz]

I live in Phoenix. The closest (West) side of Mesa to me is about 40 minutes away. Unless you want to MELT and

have your kids constantly complain about the heat, do NOT, I repeat, do NOT visit during the summer (temps will be around

105*F-110*F, potentially reaching 120*F, all summer). I don't care if "it's a dry heat." It's still bloody HOT!

 

October/November is a decent time to visit as temps begin to cool off, at least in the mornings and evening.

 

In Mesa, there is the Mesa Arts Center which offers wonderful theatre and other productions all year round.

In Tempe (tem-pee'), the neighboring town, there is the Phoenix Zoo. It's HUGE.

 

Now if you were to visit in Feb/Mar/April, you could hit the Renaissance Festival in a town about an hour away.

Well worth the visit!

 

I'm sure there are other things I'm not remembering at the moment. Feel free to PM me.

[debinindy]

Spring training baseball games in the early spring are fun if you like baseball!

Edited December 2, 2016 by debinindy

[SquirrellyMama]

I live in Phoenix. The closest (West) side of Mesa to me is about 40 minutes away. Unless you want to MELT and

have your kids constantly complain about the heat, do NOT, I repeat, do NOT visit during the summer (temps will be around

105*F-110*F, potentially reaching 120*F, all summer). I don't care if "it's a dry heat." It's still bloody HOT!

 

October/November is a decent time to visit as temps begin to cool off, at least in the mornings and evening.

 

In Mesa, there is the Mesa Arts Center which offers wonderful theatre and other productions all year round.

In Tempe (tem-pee'), the neighboring town, there is the Phoenix Zoo. It's HUGE.

 

Now if you were to visit in Feb/Mar/April, you could hit the Renaissance Festival in a town about an hour away.

Well worth the visit!

 

I'm sure there are other things I'm not remembering at the moment. Feel free to PM me.

 

Our first choice was March during Spring Break. Unfortunately, my mom remembered that she promised my brother and his wife that she would watch their kids for 2 months while they did military training. They live out in North Carolina. We put 2 of the kids into PS this year, so really can't go during school :( 

 

Kelly

[gardenmom5]

dsil is from mesa.  when he and dd were down there, he really wanted to take her boating on some lake. they did not have time. (don't remember all the details).  

 

I loved sedona - and would love to go back and actually spend time.

[candicane]

Oh, I lived there for a long, long time!

There isn't much in the city itself, you'd have better luck going to Phoenix for things to do.

 

We even went to Wildlife World Zoo which is in Litchfield Park [long drive], but it was definitely worth it.

[DesertBlossom]

In summer, tubing down the Salt River. Sunsplash is also fun.

 

It's not in Mesa, but the Musical Instrument Musuem is amazing.

[Sara in AZ]

I've lived in Tempe for the last 15 years. I don't know what would count as must see for your family, but things we enjoy...

 

Hiking in the Superstition Mountains, South Mountain or Camelback (not in summer, obviously. 😀) In the Superstitions, Peralta Trail is nice. At South Mountain I really like Telegraph Pass.

 

A little further East from Mesa is Boyce Thompson Arboretum. It's really lovely.

 

In town, the Desert Botanical Garden is fantastic. The zoo is really a good one if your kids are into zoos still.

 

Yes, the Musical Instrument Museum is a must see. It is amazing.

 

A gigantic new aquarium just opened up in Scottsdale, Sea Odysey. I haven't been, but it's supposed to be incredible. Like, they actually have dolphins you can pay a lot of money to see/touch/swim with. (Not that I think they should let people pay a lot of money to see/touch/swim with captive dolphins...) Butterfly Wonderland is next door to that.

 

The railroad museum in Scottsdale is called McCormick Stillman Railroad Park. It is a really cool park, maybe not so interesting for your older kids, but they do have a little Museum there and a fun playground.

 

SunSplash for sure if you come in the summer.

 

Castles and Coasters is another small amusement park my kids like, although it's a drive from Mesa.

 

I took my older kids to Frank Loyd Wright's home Taliesen West northeast of Scottsdale last week and it was really fascinating. The tours are pricy ($30 ish), but it was really cool.

 

If you have to come in the summer, maybe plan to take a trip up North. There is so much to do around Flagstaff...Walnut Canyon Indian ruins, Sunset Crater, Lowell Observatory, the Grand Canyon isn't too far away.

 

And city pools here are so cheap and many have water slides and high dives and lazy rivers. (Like $2 adults, $1.00/$1.50 for kids. I'm always so irritated when I visit my parents in another state and have to pay like $25 to take my kids swimming!)

 

And there are some good museums...Phoenix Art Museum, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, and the The Heard Museum. We love, love the Heard. It's a museum of Native American art and history in a lovely old Spanish Colonial Building near downtown Phoenix.

 

That's all I can think of at this point. There's definitely more to do than you can squeeze into one trip. 😊

Edited December 3, 2016 by Sara in AZ

[DawnM]

My parents live outside of Phoenix.  

 

My kids (and I) really enjoyed Goldfield Ghost Town.  There is a little train to ride around the area, and you can explore things there.  Unfortunately, it isn't that cheap, as each thing costs more $$ (like the train) but it isn't horrible either.

 

http://goldfieldghosttown.com

 

We also went to the Heard Museum

 

http://heard.org

 

Other than that, we did the Grand Canyon