Mesa, Arizona Is Your Gateway To The Desert

Arizona’s third largest city is surrounded by vast desert landscape, red rocks and deep canyons. The diverse topography makes Mesa a nature lover’s paradise and the perfect place to spend a weekend exploring. Imagine touching down from your flight, and just a short ride away from the airport you can be lounging poolside, sipping a cocktail surrounded by towering cacti.

Downtown Mesa’s main street is compact, making it easy to walk around. Check out the colorful murals that line the streets, and pop into one of the second hand shops where you are bound to snag a funky vintage find.

If food is on your mind there is no shortage of edible options to indulge in. Family owned Tacos Chiwas serves up Mexican inspired homemade tacos and burritos stuffed to the brim with fresh ingredients, using recipes passed down for generations. You can’t go wrong with the classic pastor taco, a perfect medley of marinated pork, cilantro and white onion.

Sweet tooth time

With the heat of the desert air, what better way to cool down than with an ice cream. Tucked away in a little alley across the street from Mesa’s Natural History Museum you will find Novel Ice Cream (just look for the giant dinosaur which appears to be busting out of the wall). Order from a small takeout window, and get ready to taste the best scoop of hand-crafted artisan ice cream or try an ice cream stuffed donut.

Novel offers 12 flavors that change often and eight yummy staple ice creams. Tempt your tastebuds with the popular bourbon toffee caramel crunch – you won’t be disappointed.

Did someone say olives in Arizona?

Queen Creek Olive Mill is the only producer of olive oil in Arizona. The family-run business doesn’t just cultivate their own oil, they grow their own trees too. Olive trees are known to produce olives for thousands of years, and they thrive in the desert sun. You can join the olive oil 101 tour at Queen Creek, and learn all about how the trees are harvested, a three-step process that involves pressing, filtering and bottling the fresh virgin oil. You can even sample infused oils – be sure to taste the dark chocolate.

After the tour, peruse the shop where you can find an extensive variety of olive oil, as well as other goodies and gifts. Queen Creek Olive Mill’s all-natural handmade olive-based products hydrate the skin and are packed with vitamin E and K. Pick up a few olive oil soaps to take home.The body butter is also a must – it leaves your skin feeling soft and supple (perfect for the winter months ahead).

No visit to Queen Creek is complete without stopping for a farm to table feast, be sure to bring your appetite with you, and grab a seat outside surrounded by the olive trees. They offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner from the Del Piero Kitchen. The menu is filled with delicious options to choose from. Indulging in the Kalamata sandwich is a must – even the Food Network agrees.  The sandwich is stuffed with a mix of  salami, spicy capicola and provolone served with a side of Sicilian slaw and a medley of olives. If you prefer something veggie inspired, order one of the brick oven pizzas and sit back and enjoy the perfect afternoon.

Nature abounds

No trip to Mesa Arizona is complete without a scenic drive through the desert past majestic saguaro cacti, a symbol of the American Southwest. Make your way to Lost Dutchman State Park. Be sure to put on your hiking shoes, grab your camera and pack a picnic. There are six trails in the park ranging from moderate to intense. A great trail to start with is the Treasure Loop offering fantastic five hundred feet elevated views of the Superstition Mountains and the surrounding desert landscape.

It has long been said that an abundance of gold is buried in and around the mysterious mountains. For decades fortune seekers have scoured the rugged terrain in search of gleaming gold with no success. If it’s gold you’re after, linger in the park until sunset when “The Valley of the Sun” comes alive with the most spectacular golden-hued sunset over the Superstition Mountains – the perfect end to your weekend in Mesa. —Tiffany Thornton