• The third largest city in the state of Arizona, Mesa is the Cactus League spring training home of the Chicago Cubs (entry No. 42), who take the field against 14 other teams at Sloan Field.
• Mesa is the first autism certified city in the U.S. with programs and itineraries that cater to families with members on the spectrum.
• When summer temperatures climb into the triple digits, cool off with a float on the Salt River (entry No. 45), where tubers of all ages listen to loud music, drink beer, and toss beach balls.
• Go off road with a Segway tour (entry No. 55) through the Sonoran Desert on the tribal lands of the Yavapai Nation, just north of Mesa.
• Arizona has 22 Native American tribes, three of which are neighbors of Mesa. You can learn more about their ancestors at Mesa Grande Cultural Park (entry No. 67).
• Mesa is the starting point of the Fresh Foodie Trail (entry No. 12), featuring local farms, a dairy, olive mill, flour mill and winery.
• The largest skydiving center (entry No. 60) in the world is a short drive from Mesa in Eloy. Not ready to make the jump yourself? You can spend the afternoon watching others take the plunge.
• Falcon Field Airport in Mesa was originally a World War II training site. Today, the municipal airport is home to the Commemorative Air Force Museum (entry No. 72), which offers flights on historic aircrafts including its B-17.
• The world’s largest firefighting museum (entry No. 81) is housed in a 1-acre complex in nearby Tempe. Plan to spend at least two hours perusing the 130 wheeled pieces and 10,000 artifacts on display.
• Mesa and many of its neighbors got its start as farming communities. The Orange Patch Too (entry No. 85) sells some fresh fruits and produce as well as preserves, crafts and home décor.
• Downtown Mesa is having a growth spurt, adding new restaurants, breweries and hotels, but it remains a favorite with shoppers who browse its boutiques (entry No. 88) for unique gifts.
• Listen to the world’s largest Wurlitzer with more than 6,000 pipes and 1,074 individual keys play everything from “The Phantom of the Opera” to “Chattanooga Choo Choo” as you munch on pepperoni pizza at Organ Stop Pizza (entry No. 1).
• The goat yoga craze started in Gilbert, one of Mesa’s closest neighbors. You can drop in for a class at the original goat yoga studio (entry No. 61), try a new pose and take a few selfies with your four-legged classmates.
