Top Rated Attractions in Mesa

Scottsdale Museum Of Contemporary Art displays a variety of frequently changing contemporary art exhibits and hosts special events for adults and families. Photographs, paintings and sculpture are just some of the highlighted mediums. Devoted to the art, architecture and design of our time, SMoCA offers free art lectures, symposiums, workshops and readings, providing a forum where visitors can interact with contemporary artists. Thursday is the best day to visit the museum as guest can take advantage of the free entry.

If you are in Phoenix and enjoy going on easy treks, then Papago Park is the place for you. With its sandstone buttes, marked paths and slight elevation, it is perfect for family hiking trips and there are plenty of easy mountain bike paths. The most notable attraction of the park is the hole in the rock formation, which formed over thousands of years most likely from water erosion. For the more adventurous, visitors can climb the face of the rock for an unparalleled view of Phoenix. Additionally, the park is close to famous attractions such as the Desert Botanical Garden and Phoenix Zoo.

Children and adults alike will adore this museum that explores the past and present of firefighting. Marvel at restored firefighting equipment, including artifacts from the 1700s and fully restored firefighting trucks. Pose for a photo by the horse-drawn fire engine then check out old firefighting helmets. Kids will love the parts of the museum that allow you to interact with the displays, including trying on a uniform and climbing aboard a firetruck. Although the museum mainly focuses on firefighting in the United States, it also has international artifacts. A must-visit museum for people interested in something unique.

Amidst the buzzing cityscape of Phoenix lies a serene retreat that is known as the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. From soaring peaks to plunging valleys, the park displays a varied topography with multiple trails cutting through. Amidst a craggy landscape of steep ascents and rugged terrain, a generous population of succulent plants are scattered throughout, with a few flowering shrubs, typical of the desert climes reign here. Most of its area is accessible to civilians and is hence a common choice for family picnics and hikes. A few of the most prominent parks enclosed by the preserve are the Piestewa Peak Recreation Area, the Camelback Mountain Park and the Lookout Mountain Preserve. Although surrounded by the city, the Phoenix Mountain Preserve is a slice of wilderness that evokes a sense of isolation that is a welcome reprieve from the bustling city.

Mesa Grande Cultural Park is one of the best sites in the region and among the two Hohokam mounds in the Phoenix metropolitan region. It gives an insight into the Ancestral Puebloan Period from the 11th through the 14th Centuries of the Hohokam. According to records and archaeological facts, this place was the hub of the community's status symbol. This preserved site showcases an ancient culture and the lifestyle of the forefathers of the Pima tribe. If you love history, then this seasonal site must be in your itinerary when visiting Mesa.

Head here to visit the prehistoric era and learn about the world as it was more than 65-million years ago. The Arizona Museum of Natural History has done a commendable job in preserving and presenting these creatures, in addition to other exhibits that are dedicated to local anthropology and natural history. The museum takes visitors right back to the time when the earth was formed. Galleries in the museum display replicas and give visitors the opportunity to understand more about the fascinating subject of paleontology. Ongoing exhibitions include Origins, Dinosaur Hall, Paleo Dig Pit, Heritage Wall, Fun with History!, Exploration Station, and many more.