With over 300 days of sunshine, Mesa, Arizona is an ideal destination year-round, and particularly during spring months. Mayor John Giles invites visitors to see our city through his eyes with a 36 hours in Mesa itinerary. Highlights include immersing yourself in unique desert landscapes through outdoor adventures, exploring Mesa’s Asian District and trying local cuisine and cultural experiences throughout the city. Mesa is the 3^rd largest city in Arizona and 36^th largest in the United States with a population of over half a million people. With so much to do and see, your only challenge will be deciding where to begin! Let Visit Mesa guide you to a tailored range of activities and experiences that suit all visitors' unique interests and abilities.

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Itinerary

Summary

Day 1

7:30 a.m. – Arrive at Mesa Gateway Airport

8:00 a.m. – Breakfast Burrito at Carolina’s

9:00 a.m. – Mountain biking at Hawes Trail and/or paddleboarding at the base of Red Mountain on Salt River

11:30 a.m. – Lunch at Jalapeño Bucks

1:05 p.m. – Cubs Spring Training Game at Sloan Park

4:00 p.m. – Check in at your hotel

5:00 p.m. – Dinner at Espiritu Cocktails and Comida

7:30 p.m. – See a live performance at Mesa Arts Center

Day 2

8:30 a.m. – Breakfast pastries at Proof Bread

9:15 a.m. – Wander and shop in Mesa’s downtown along Main Street

10:00 a.m. – Explore and shop in Mesa’s Asian District (pro tip: get a boba!)

11:30 a.m. – Crispy chicken sandwich at Worth Takeaway

1:00 p.m. – Museum tour at the Commemorative Air Force Museum at Falcon Field

3:00 p.m. – Tee time at Las Sendas Golf Club

4:30 p.m. – Dinner at The Patio at Las Sendas Golf Club and enjoy the remarkable AZ sunset

7:30 p.m. – Depart from Gateway Airport

Day 1

7:30 a.m. – Arrive at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport makes travel just plane easy® with nonstop service to more than 45 destinations! Passengers will enjoy delicious dining, eclectic shopping, private Mother’s Rooms, and two outdoor courtyards while awaiting departure. Passengers arriving at Gateway will appreciate the ease of travel from a conveniently located baggage claim to rental cars parked just steps away from the terminal.

@gatewayairport

8:00 a.m. – Breakfast Burrito at Carolina’s Mexican Food

Located in central Mesa, Carolina’s is a family legacy business that offers tortillas made fresh daily along with a wide-ranging menu of traditional southwest fare, including burritos, tamales, tostadas and fresh salsas.

9:00 a.m. – Mountain biking at Hawes Trail and/or paddleboarding at the base of Red Mountain on Salt River

Forbes magazine named Mesa, Arizona, one of the top 10 cities for bicyclists. The Hawes Trail System offers some of Arizona's best trails for hiking, running, and mountain biking. In the spring, beautiful desert wildflowers line the 6.9-mile Trail, one of Mesa’s most scenic biking loops with epic views from every angle. 

@hawestrailalliance

In Mesa, the stand-up paddleboarding season is every day, all day. Mesa boasts a treasured system of lakes and rivers that make up the Lower Salt River Recreation Area inside the Tonto National Forest. Visitors can rent their boards and enjoy all the pleasures of a beach-inspired retreat at Butcher Jones Beach at Saguaro Lake, or enter the calm lake waters from the riverbank of the Salt River. No matter where you choose to launch, the sandy shoreline offers convenient parking and walk-up access, making it an ideal stop for SUP lovers.

11:30 a.m. – Lunch at Jalapeño Bucks

The search for Buckin’ Good BBQ and burritos ends as you walk up to Jalapeño Bucks situated between lush citrus groves. Join Mesa locals in line for a hearty meal of Arizona-style BuzzSaw Brand BBQ and New Wave Mexican Soul Food to enjoy on their covered patio. This BBQ-meets-Southwest roadside diner with spacious outdoor seating packs them in, and people come from all over to fill up on brisket and pulled pork. The flavor profiles here are rich and tasty and can best be described as ‘new-wave Mexican soul food.’

@jalapenobucks

1:05 p.m. – Cubs Spring Training Game at Sloan Park

Every March, fans from all over the country flock to Mesa to watch their beloved Chicago Cubs warm up for summer. On average, Sloan Park hosts 15,000+ fans per game. Many iconic features from Chicago were added to the stadium to mirror Wrigley Field, even its culinary experience. Within the stadium, fans can walk around to local food trucks and find Chicago-style hotdogs. Adjacent to Sloan Park is the popular Riverview Park, an $8 million destination City park. The biggest attraction here is the world’s tallest rope-climbing tower that stretches 50 feet into the air. A 75-foot zip line and splash pad complete the park’s playground amenities. Chicago Cubs are the most-watched team in the Cactus League and hold the top 10+ games in recorded Cactus League history.

4:00 p.m. – Check in at your hotel

5:00 p.m. – Dinner at Espiritu Cocktails and Comida

The funky and upbeat cocktail lounge known as Espiritu was recently named one of America's best new restaurants in 2022 by the editors of Eater.com and featured in Conde Nast Traveler. The East Valley – which comprises Mesa – was listed as a top destination for domestic travel in the new year! Espiritu was called out for "helping to evolve the Mexican food scene in the U.S. by pairing top-notch mariscos dishes and a meticulously illustrated menu of progressive cocktails". The restaurant and Chef Roberto Centeno are award-winning and twice nominated for the James Beard Awards.

@espiritumesa

7:30 p.m. – See a live performance at Mesa Arts Center

Mesa Arts Center is a 212,755-square-foot performing arts, visual arts, and arts education facility, the largest and most comprehensive arts center in the state of Arizona. Located in the heart of downtown at Center and Main Streets, Mesa Arts Center reflects the city’s rich tradition of family, community and pride. An inviting oasis by day and a luminous beacon by night, this central gathering place is designed to showcase a world of arts and culture – everything from art exhibitions to world-class performances to state-of-the-art studios for art education. The design of Mesa Arts Center was inspired by the unique character of the Sonoran Desert – a rich desert, mountain and canyon environment. The campus includes a complex of four theaters, Mesa Contemporary Arts’ galleries and exhibition space, two Art Studios buildings with visual and performing arts studios and classrooms, informal performance areas, administrative support space, and a 700-foot Shadow Walk that creates an inviting, shaded outdoor oasis plaza.

@mesaartscenter

Day 2

8:30 a.m. – Breakfast pastries at Proof Bread

Proof is an Old-World artisan sourdough bakery known for its Sourdough loaf, and sourdough pain au chocolat. They use local Hayden flour Mills' Sonoran White Wheat which is an ancient native grain. Their bakery location in downtown Mesa impresses with classes, demonstrations, and view-through window seating for bakers of all ages.

@proofbread

9:15 a.m. – Wander and shop in Mesa’s downtown along Main Street

Seek out some inspiration of your own during your visit and embark on a culture crawl through Downtown Mesa. Doing so will have you weaving in and out of quaint enclaves along shaded boulevards and through tree-lined streets. Watch for more than 30 public art sculptures, from our dapper Humpty Dumpty to the iconic Big Pink Chair, and over 20 unique murals that offer a great "selfie" spot. Pop into some eclectic art galleries and artist studios and don’t miss the dinosaur bursting through the exterior of the Arizona Museum of Natural History.

@DowntownMesa

10:00 a.m. – Explore and shop in Mesa’s Asian District – get a boba!

Shop and dine at the #1 Asian plaza in Mesa, AZ. If time allows, try one of the many dining options, explore the grocery store and find the zodiac-themed murals throughout the area.

11:30 a.m. – Crispy chicken sandwich at Worth Takeaway

With a focus on hyper-local ingredients, every item on Worth Takeaway’s menu tells a story. Foodies will appreciate several Arizona standouts, including Provision Coffee, Danzeisen Dairy, Noble Bread and Steadfast Farm. Worth Takeaway also offers its guests alcoholic beverages to try, sourced from local breweries. Other drinks and cocktails from Iconic Cocktail are also available. End any meal with the goat’s milk buttery caramels from The Simple Farm.

@worthtakeaway

1:00 p.m. – Museum tour at the Commemorative Air Force Museum at Falcon Field

The Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona has 55,000 square-feet of historic war-time aircraft, exhibits, videos, WWII artifacts, and memorabilia. Enjoy an edu-venture and experience history like never before. Experience what it's like to ride in the Bombardier seat when you take a ride in an actual World War II airplane. View the beautiful Arizona desert scenery from the open cockpit Stearman.

3:00 p.m. – Tee time at Las Sendas Golf Club

Recognized as a top course in the Phoenix valley, Las Sendas Golf Club offers spectacular views, outstanding amenities, and an unforgettable golf experience. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Las Sendas’ challenging par 72 course is located next to the Usery Mountains and sits approximately 1,800 feet above the desert floor. With six sets of tees, Las Sendas Golf Club provides a challenging but fun experience for golfers of all skill levels. Arrive early for your round and access Las Sendas’ full driving range and short game area.

@lassendasgolfclub

4:30 p.m. – Dinner at The Patio at Las Sendas Golf Club and enjoy the remarkable AZ sunset

The Patio: Sitting in the soft glow of the evening sunset, relax your mind, body and soul on The Patio at Las Sendas. The casual outdoor dining experience is surrounded by breathtaking views of the mountains, desert, golf course and city lights. Their Chef has created an extraordinary menu and has handcrafted each item with superior quality ingredients. The Patio at Las Sendas has won the 2015 & 2016 award from Open Table for 100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America and America's top 100 Al Fresco Restaurants in 2015.

@lassendasgolfclub

7:30 p.m. – Depart from Gateway Airport

Enjoy your flight and come back to visit soon!