#1 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Mesa
Mesa
~0.04 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Mesa
Mesa (pronounced /'me?s?/ MAY-s?) is a city in Maricopa County, in the U.S. state of Arizona and is a suburb of Phoenix, within the Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the third-largest city in Arizona, after Phoenix and Tucson, and the 38th-largest city in the country.
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 feature elaborate custom homes. Mesa is also best known as having one of the highest check cashing per capita indexes nationwide.
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#2 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Mesa Arts Center
Mesa AZ
~0.73 miles from Mesa city center
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The Mesa Arts Center is a performing and visual arts complex in downtown Mesa, Arizona. At more than 210,000 square feet (20,000 m2) square feet, the $95 million facility, completed in 2005, is the largest comprehensive arts campus in the state.
The Mesa Arts Center encompasses four performance venues, from the intimate 99-seat Farnsworth Studio Theater to the 1,600-seat Ikeda Theater. The center is also home to the Mesa Contemporary Arts, which houses five art galleries with 5,500 sq ft (510 m2) of exhibition space. The facility also features 14 unique visual and performing art classroom studios. Multi-use areas throughout the campus provide both indoor and outdoor gathering and presentation spaces.
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#3 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Downtown Mesa (Neighborhood)
Mesa AZ
~0.86 miles from Mesa city center
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#4 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
HoHoKam Park
Scottsdale AZ
~1.21 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to HoHoKam Park
HoHoKam Park also known as Dwight W. Patterson Field, is a park with a baseball stadium located at 1235 N Center St in Mesa, Arizona (the Chicago Cubs spring training facility since 1979). The stadium was built in January 1997 and holds 12,632 people. It is the home of the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League. The Mesa Cubs play just down the street at Fitch Park. There is a cemetery across the street from HoHoKam Park. HoHoKam Park has the largest scoreboard in the Cactus League. The scoreboard is 12'x16'.
The Mesa Miners of the Golden Baseball League also have played at HoHokam.
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#5 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Golfland SunSplash
Mesa AZ
~2.52 miles from Mesa city center
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#6 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Tempe
Tempe
~5.05 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Tempe
Tempe ( /'t?mpi?/; (tem-PEE) or Oidba in Pima) is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with a 2008 population of 175,523. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale on the north, Chandler on the south, and Mesa on the east. Tempe is the location of US Airways Group's corporate headquarters, and of Arizona State University's oldest and largest campus.
The Hohokam initially lived in this area and built canals to support their agriculture. They abandoned their settlements during the 1400s, with a few individuals and families remaining nearby.
Fort McDowell was established on the upper Salt River in 1865 allowing for new towns to be built further down the Salt River. US military service members and Hispanic workers were hired to grow food and animal feed to supply the fort, and less than a year later, had set up small camps near the river that were the first permanent communities in the Valley after the fall of the Hohokam. (Phoenix was settled shortly afterward, by 1867-68.) The two settlements were 'Hayden's Ferry', named after a ferry service operated by Charles T. Hayden, and 'San Pablo', and were located west and east of Hayden Butte respectively. The ferry became the key river crossing in the area. The Tempe Irrigating Canal Company was soon established to provide water for alfalfa, wheat, barley, oats, and cotton.
Pioneer Darrell Duppa is credited with suggesting Tempe's name, adopted in 1879, after comparing the Salt River valley near a 300-foot-tall butte, to the Vale of Tempe near Mount Olympus in Greece.
In 1885, the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature chose Tempe for the site of the Territorial Normal School, which became Arizona Normal School, Arizona State Teachers College, Arizona State College and finally Arizona State University.
The Maricopa and Phoenix Railroad, built in 1887, crossed the Salt River at Tempe, linking the town to the nation's growing transportation system. The Tempe Land and Improvement Company was formed to sell lots in the booming town. Tempe became an economic hub for the surrounding agricultural area. The city incorporated in 1894.
The completion of Roosevelt Dam in 1911 guaranteed enough water to meet the growing needs of Valley farmers. On his way to dedicate the dam, former President Theodore Roosevelt applauded the accomplishments of the people of central Arizona and predicted that their towns would be prosperous cities in the future. Less than a year later, Arizona was admitted as the 48th state, and the Salt River Valley continued to develop.
In the 20th and 21st centuries, Tempe has expanded not only as a suburb of Phoenix, but also a center of education and commerce in its own right.
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#7 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Big Surf
Scottsdale AZ
~5.33 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Big Surf
If you had the pleasure of visiting the park in our 2009 season, you probably got to see our magnificent mascot, Gil Shark!
Gil was most certainly a hit this summer. He made many appearances, posed for numerous photos, walked miles around the park and, of course, gave hundreds of hugs. In the midst of all this fun, Gil’s plush exterior got a little icky, for lack of a better term. Not to mention the vast amount of sweat that poured inside! Yuck!
Gil with some girls at the park Summer 09
Needless to say, Gil needs a good bath, which we can’t provide here at the park. We have to send him off to Scollon Productions, the company that built Gil. The only thing left to do now is find a box big enough for him to travel in!
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#8 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Champlin Fighter Museum
4636 E Fighter Aces Dr Mesa AZ - 480-830-4542
~5.66 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Champlin Fighter Museum
The Champlin Fighter Museum is an aircraft museum located at Mesa, Arizona. It specialized in World War I and World War II fighters.
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#9 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Mesa Falcon Field Municipal (MSC)
Mesa AZ
~5.84 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Mesa Falcon Field Municipal (MSC)
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#10 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
ASU Stadium- Sun Devil Stadium
Tempe AZ
~6.38 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to ASU Stadium- Sun Devil Stadium
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#11 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Los Arcos Mall
Scottsdale AZ
~6.40 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Los Arcos Mall
Los Arcos Mall is a defunct shopping mall which was located on the southeast corner of Scottsdale and McDowell Roads in Scottsdale, Arizona. Almost all of it was demolished in the early 2000s. The site is now the home of SkySong, Arizona State University's Scottsdale Center for New Technology and Innovation.
Los Arcos Mall opened in 1969 and was developed by Phoenix-based Westcor Partners. The cross-shaped enclosed mall was anchored by The Broadway on the east end, Sears on the south end, an entrance and a food court on the north end, and another entrance and a lower-level movie theatre on the west end. The mall was one of the largest and most modern in the Phoenix metropolitan area for its first decade or so. However, as newer and larger centers were built nearby, Los Arcos' drawing power began to fade.
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#12 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Coronado Golf Course
Scottsdale AZ
~6.58 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Coronado Golf Course
Starter - - 619 435 3122
Pro Shop - - 619 435 3121 ext. 1
Opened in 1957, Coronado Municipal Golf Course continues to reign as one of the finest public golf courses in Southern California. We received a
Best Value in Southern California by www.greenskepper.org for 2008
Best Value in Southern California by www.greenskeeper.org for 2007
We have an 18-hole, par 72 course with wide, inviting fairways, and always immaculately manicured greens. Coronado Golf Course offers dramatic views of the Coronado Bridge, Hotel Del Coronado, and the San Diego Bay.
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#13 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Grady Gamman Memorial Auditorium
Tempe AZ
~6.65 miles from Mesa city center
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#14 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
NTNA College
Scottsdale AZ
~6.66 miles from Mesa city center
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#15 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Arizona State University
Tempe AZ
~6.76 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Arizona State University
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#16 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Downtown Tempe (Neighborhood)
Tempe AZ
~6.81 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Downtown Tempe
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#17 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Scottsdale Community College
9000 E Chaparral Rd Scottsdale AZ - 480-423-6000
~7.01 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale Community College, is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. Scottsdale Community College is a two-year college located on the eastern boundary of the city of Scottsdale, Arizona, on land belonging to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
http://www.scottsdalecc.edu
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#18 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Scottsdale Center for the Arts
Scottsdale AZ
~7.52 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Scottsdale Center for the Arts
The Southwest's premier performing arts halls, the renovated Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts serves the greater Phoenix metro area
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#19 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Desert Botanical Garden
Scottsdale AZ
~7.59 miles from Mesa city center
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The Desert Botanical Garden is a 140 acre (20 ha) botanical garden located within Papago Park in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Founded by the Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society in 1937[1] and established at this site in 1939, the garden now has more than 21,000 plants, in more than 4000 taxa, one-third of which are native to the area, including 139 species which are rare, threatened or endangered. Of special note are the rich collections of agave (176 taxa) and cacti (10,350 plants in 1,350 taxa), especially the Opuntia sub-family. Plants from less extreme climate conditions are protected under shadehouses. There is an Australian collection, a Baja California collection and a South American collection, all of plants adapted to desert conditions. Several ecosystems are represented: a mesquite bosque, semidesert grassland, and upland chaparral scrub. The Desert House, set up in the early 1990s, demonstrated innovative energy-efficient systems: an evaporative cooler, a rainwater-cvapture system and graywater irrigation.
The Desert Botanical Garden has been designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride
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#20 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Painted Mountain Golf Villas
6302 E Mckellips Rd Mesa AZ - 480-218-2680
~7.60 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Painted Mountain Golf Villas
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#21 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Dowtown Scottsdale
Scottsdale AZ
~7.75 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Dowtown Scottsdale
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#22 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Arizona Railway Museum
399 N Delaware St Chandler AZ - 480-821-1108
~7.83 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Arizona Railway Museum
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#23 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Phoenix Municipal Stadium
5999 E. Van Buren Phoenix AZ - (602) 392-0217
~7.87 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Phoenix Municipal Stadium
Phoenix Municipal Stadium is a baseball stadium located in Phoenix, Arizona. The stadium was built in 1964 and holds 8,775 people. It is the spring training home of the Oakland Athletics and is one of two Spring Training facilities run by the City of Phoenix. The San Francisco Giants played at the ballpark during spring training in 1964.
The first spring training game was played on March 8, 1964 in which the Giants beat Cleveland, 6 to 2. Willie Mays hit the first home run at the park, in front of a crowd of 8,582. In attendance for the dedication ceremonies were Commisioner Ford Frick, National League President Warren Giles, and Giants owner Horace Stoneham.
The stadium hosted the Phoenix Firebirds until 1992 when Scottsdale Stadium was opened. The stadium has also hosted Arizona Fall League games during the fall. Currently, it hosts the home games of the Phoenix Desert Dogs. The Arizona Diamondbacks rookie league games were also played in the stadium during their first year in the minor-league level Arizona League. Several of the Arizona high school baseball championships are played there in early May.
In the past couple years, the stadium underwent a renovation to improve the press box facilities (they were at the time the only open-air facilities in the Cactus League) and clubhouse areas.
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#24 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Phoenix Zoo
455 North Galvin Parkway Phoenix AZ
~7.97 miles from Mesa city center
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The Phoenix Zoo is the nation’s largest non profit zoological park and home to more than 1,200 animals including more than 200 endangered or threatened birds, mammals or reptiles from around the world. Enjoy the Zoo’s four distinct trails: Arizona, Africa, Tropics and Children’s Trail. Discover the Zoo’s newest exhibit, Monkey Village, where the animals roam free.
The Phoenix Zoo opened in 1962, and is the largest non-profit zoo in the United States. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, the zoo was founded by Robert Maytag, a member of the Maytag family, and operates on 125 acres (0.51 km2) of land in the Papago Park area of Phoenix. It has been designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride.
The zoo has over 1,300 animals on display and contains 2.5 miles (4.0 km) of walking trails. It is divided into four main themed areas or trails: The Arizona Trail (American Southwest flora and fauna), the Africa Trail (animals from Africa), the Tropics Trail (residents of the rain forests), and the Children's Trail, which includes a petting zoo.
The zoo has been conservation minded from its inception. Soon after it opened it hosted what was thought to be the last few Arabian Oryx, which formed the basis of the world herd created for Operation Oryx and eventually allowed the reintroduction of the species into the wild. It now includes a sanctuary to care for animals that are endangered or unwanted.
http://www.phoenixzoo.org
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#25 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Scottsdale Waterfront
Scottsdale AZ
~8.10 miles from Mesa city center
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Shopping and dining at the chic Scottsdale Waterfront.
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#26 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Western International University
55 N Arizona Pl Chandler AZ - 602-943-2311
~8.24 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Western International University
WIU Mission
Western International University (WIU) provides a broad educational foundation, including a focus on business and technology, designed to prepare students for leadership positions in a dynamic, global marketplace.
WIU Purpose
To provide education programs to a student population that includes working adults and international students
To provide education in a format and at times and locations conducive to the education of the student population
To provide programs that meet the educational needs identified by industry, government, and other institutions of higher education in communities served by the University
To provide domestic and international students with an education that blends practical experience with a strong theoretical framework
To provide an international educational environment through the implementation of global-oriented curriculum
To generate the financial resources to ensure financial viability
To provide for the personal and professional development of staff and faculty through education, training, and encouragement of professional and community involvement
To provide and maintain an emphasis on continuous improvement of programs and services
WIU History
Western International University was founded in 1978 in Phoenix, Arizona as a non-profit institution and was accredited by The Higher Learning Commission in 1980. On September 1, 1995, WIU became part of Apollo Group, Inc., one of the leading educational corporations in the United States.
Today, WIU is a for-profit corporation committed to the effective management of its human and financial resources to provide educational innovation and high-quality degree programs. Our Arizona campuses are located in Phoenix, Chandler, Peoria, and Scottsdale, with an international campus in China and our virtual campus, WIU Interactive Online.
The majority of our students are working adults who thrive on the flexibility and convenience of our course schedules and locations. Our students have the opportunity to demonstrate their individual achievements through measures such as quizzes, tests, papers, projects, and presentations, rather than study groups or learning teams.
WIU faculty includes experienced practitioners who hold advanced degrees in their teaching fields and are highly successful in their areas of expertise. While our course schedules are non-traditional in form, we maintain a traditional educational model and teaching style in both our oncampus and online degree programs. Our faculty share knowledge through lectures, presentations, class activities, and discussions.
WIU offers associate, bachelor, and master degree programs, as well as a professional certificate in Accountancy.
http://www.wintu.edu/
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#27 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Downtown Chandler (Neighborhood)
Chandler AZ
~8.28 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Downtown Chandler
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#28 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall
Scottsdale
~8.37 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall
Scottsdale Fashion Square is the largest shopping mall in Arizona and the American Southwest, with approximately 2 million square feet (180,000 m²) of retail space, and is among the top 30 largest malls in the country. It is one of the top 10 most profitable malls in the country with over $740 sales per square foot, more than $400 over the national average. The mall is located on the northwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Camelback Road in Scottsdale, Arizona and has been owned by Westcor, a subsidiary of Macerich, since 2002. With the explosion of new retail developments and dining options in the nearby vicinity, the term Scottsdale Fashion Square has become more generalized in recent years to include the retail shopping districts adjacent to the complex, including the Scottsdale Waterfront and Southbridge.
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#29 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Scottsdale Fashion Square
Scottsdale AZ
~8.51 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Scottsdale Fashion Square
Scottsdale Fashion Square is the largest shopping mall in Arizona and the American Southwest, with approximately 2 million square feet (180,000 m²) of retail space, and is among the top 30 largest malls in the country. It is one of the top 10 most profitable malls in the country with over $740 sales per square foot, more than $400 over the national average. The mall is located on the northwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Camelback Road in Scottsdale, Arizona and has been owned by Westcor, a subsidiary of Macerich, since 2002. With the explosion of new retail developments and dining options in the nearby vicinity, the term Scottsdale Fashion Square has become more generalized in recent years to include the retail shopping districts adjacent to the complex, including the Scottsdale Waterfront and Southbridge.
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#30 of 30 Things To Do in Mesa
Diablo Stadium
Phoenix AZ
~8.75 miles from Mesa city center
Hotels Close to Diablo Stadium
Tempe Diablo Stadium is a baseball field located in Tempe, Arizona. It is the spring training home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the home field for night games of the Arizona League Tempe Angels. It was the spring training home of the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and 1970 [the Pilots moved to Milwaukee after spring training in March 1970 and prior to the 1970 regular season], the Milwaukee Brewers in 1971 and 1972, and the Seattle Mariners from 1977 through 1993; the Mariners now play at the Peoria Sports Complex, with the San Diego Padres.
The stadium was built in 1968 and holds 9,785 people. The stadium underwent an extensive $20 million renovation and was rededicated on Mar. 3, 2006. The renovation included the main stadium, the Major League Fields and the Minor League Complex on site. In return for the newly updated stadium, the Angels agreed to extend their spring training lease through Dec. 31, 2025. $12 million of the renovations were funded by the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority, a municipal corporation charged with funding renovations of Cactus League stadiums throughout Maricopa County.
Tempe Diablo Stadium can be seen from the Maricopa Freeway.
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