Beautiful, dry and sunny Arizona offers some of the Southwest’s most dramatic scenery and has long been a snowbird destination for thousands of Canadians each year, many of whom rent or have purchased winter homes here, or travel by RV.
Ah, Arizona.
Canada’s unofficial 11th province is a warm-weather perch for snowbirds from around North America and is one of the most popular getaway destinations in the Southwest.
Home to cactus, prickly pears, rattlesnakes, the Grand Canyon, roadrunners, Apache trout, the world’s oldest rodeo and the bolo tie, the state is rich in attractions that entertain the cultured, the curious, the wild and untrammeled.
Perhaps the most intriguing destination is Mesa, the third-largest city in Arizona after Phoenix and Tucson. The Maricopa County gem is a bustling city (larger than Cleveland, Atlanta or Miami) with a small-town, throwback vibe. It’s characterized by farm-to-table excursions, recreational opportunities that span spectacular mountains, sprawling deserts and sparkling lakes, kitchy ghost towns and modern craft breweries.
There’s a reason why Canadian snowbirds flock to Mesa each winter: with ample hiking trails, wild horses roaming the shores of the meandering Salt River and an abundance of recreational activities, Mesa is an outdoor enthusiast’s playground. Located just 20 minutes from the resorts of Scottsdale, the Mesa region offers scenic vistas, superb shopping and plenty for foodies to discover. Here are 12 of my favourite Mesa must-dos.
Hiking Wind Cave Trail
Every visit to Mesa should begin with a scenic hike, and minutes from town is the perfect place to start: Usery Mountain Regional Park. Located at the western end of the Goldfield Mountains adjacent to the Tonto National Forest, Usery is a 1,400-hectare park with nearly 50 kilometres of trails. Of these, Wind Cave Trail is indisputably its crown jewel with the highest elevation gains of any local trail (865 metres when you reach the eponymous caves). For those seeking more of a challenge than the short five-kilometre out-and-back hike, there is a loop at the top of the mountain which stretches around from the caves.
Superstition Mountains
Strange secrets lie hidden in the Superstition Mountains to the east of Mesa. Did a lone miner really discover a fortune in lost gold in this rugged region? And what strange force caused dozens of adventurers looking for the mine to vanish without a trace… never to be seen again?
For legend, history and intrigue, no area in America is equal to the Superstition Mountains in the Tonto National Forest east of Apache Junction.
The Superstition Mountains cover 64,760 hectares and are full of gorgeous mountainous and desert scenes. That is not what makes this place famous, though; it is the lost gold mines.
Legends of gold have kept mining companies and independent hunters searching the mountains for years. Many hunters have hit the jackpot and found lots of riches. You can either join the crowds or find non-gold-related entertainment in the mountains.
You can visit the Superstition Mountains Museum, explore the surrounding Tonto National Forest or hike along one of the various trails. These mountains are one of the best places to visit in Arizona for adventure.
Goldfield Ghost Town
Situated about 50 km from Mesa, the Goldfield Ghost Town is anything but dead. Featuring a main street lined with unique shops, eateries and historic buildings, this town was a bustling Western frontier settlement featuring saloons, a boarding house, a brewery, markets and a schoolhouse in the 1890s.
Today, day trippers can pan for gold, check out the Goldfield Historic Museum (which features local and Western movie artifacts) or take a ride on the Superstition Scenic Narrow Gauge Railroad. The narrated tour of Goldfield gives detailed information about the town’s history and the surrounding Superstition Mountains.
Sign up for the Goldfield Ghost Town’s Walking Ghost Tour which takes place at night and teaches tourists about local legends, curses and spirits. Off-road trail tours are also available for those seeking both rugged- and smooth-road scenic guided experiences.
The Olive Mill
Mesa is a haven for foodies (just ask any resident) and along the Fresh Foodie Trail are two family-friendly stops. First up is the Canadian-owned Queen Creek Olive Mill. Currently the only working olive farm and mill in Arizona, Queen Creek Olive Mill offers guests the chance to taste test their high-quality extra virgin olive oil. The Tuscan-inspired eatery offers plenty of treats and the grove is the perfect place to escape the scorching Sonoran sun.
With around 6,000 olive trees, olives are grown and pressed for the production of high-quality extra virgin olive oil. The most popular site at the mill is the Tuscany-inspired olive grove with more than 100 trees showcasing the variety of olives grown and harvested in Arizona.
Enjoy their Italian-inspired cuisine made from local and garden-sourced ingredients that features fresh gourmet sandwiches, soups, salads, gelato and espresso.
Guests can then take the Olive Oil 101 Tour and learn first-hand how olives are pressed.
Schnepf Farms
Across the street is 75-year-old Schnepf Farms, a massive property that embraces the agritainment movement with hayrides, corn mazes, rock climbing and a seasonal pumpkin patch. Schnepf Farms is currently expanding its offerings to include a signature glamping experience. Guests will soon have the opportunity to stay in restored, modernized Airstream trailers complete with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, plush furniture and even a front yard with seating and a barbecue.
Schnepf Farms is the largest organic peach grower in Arizona. Whether you want to shop the farm store or stop in to pick vegetables in the u-pick garden, make an adventure out of your day trip when you visit. Farm dining includes fresh-baked pies and cinnamon rolls, homemade fudge and a variety of jams and preserves.
Sossaman Farm
Also located in Queen Creek, Sossaman Farm has been in operation since 1914, when Jasper and Nancy Sossaman moved from Oklahoma to start a new life. The farm has a rich history, initially growing cotton, watermelon, potatoes, Durham wheat, castor beans, corn and sugar beets spanning more than 400 hectares.
Taste a little bit of Arizona history when you visit the mill! Sossaman Farm grows acres of different heritage grains including White Sonoran wheat, ancient barley, buckwheat and others which are then milled by America’s first solar-powered mill – Hayden Flour Mills. Dive into the full culinary experience that starts with a tour of the Hayden milling operation, then participate in baking classes and educational seminars.
Steadfast Farm at Eastmark
Located at Eastmark, Steadfast Farm is Mesa’s newest Fresh Foodie Trail offering. This two-acre, bio-intensive market farm grows certified organic fruits, vegetables and flowers, and raises pastured poultry for eggs year-round. The farm prides itself on focusing on honest organic farming practices. Check out the farm store and stock up on your produce when you visit the farm.
Barnone and Garage-East at Agritopia
Taking the farm-to-table concept to a whole new level, Agritopia is America’s ultimate foodie neighbourhood. The name says it all: Agritopia is about preserving urban agriculture and integrating it into the most neighbourly, well-designed community possible.
Residents can walk out their front door, head down a block or two and pick fruits or vegetables fresh from the communal farm.
Located within the community is Joe’s Farm Grill – a 60’s-era, mid-century modern diner that was originally the Johnston family’s ranch-style home. Adjacent to the Farm Grill is The Coffee Shop and Barnone.
Barnone is a community for skilled craftsmen to make and sell their handcrafted goods. Here, visitors will find 12 of Arizona’s best makers ranging from woodworkers to experimental winemakers, restaurateurs and more. When you explore Barnone, keep an eye out for these artisan businesses: Uprooted Kitchen (plant-based eatery), Fire & Brimstone (wood-fired cookery), 12 West Brewing (nano-brewery) and Garage East (winery and experimentation in fermentation). In addition, the Barnone has two machine shops, a salon, woodworking, letterpress and the farm store that sells produce from the farm.
Agritopia is located at the northwest corner of Higley and Ray Roads in Gilbert.
Downtown Gilbert
A quick jaunt around downtown Gilbert will leave any foodie satisfied. The main strip boasts a number of restaurants and shops from Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row to Joyride Taco House East. A stroll up North Gilbert Road offers culinary options from around the world: Italian, Mexican, American – you name it, Gilbert has it.
Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch
Located in the heart of Gilbert is the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, an oasis within the town of Gilbert with seven ponds and vegetation ranging from marshland to desert. You’ll discover native plants and wildlife as you hike the more than seven km of trails through the four-hectare preserve. The preserve features an urban lake where you can fish, an observatory that hosts stargazing events, fun play areas for kids, and more.
The Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch provides a great opportunity for birdwatching and exploration. More than 300 species of birds have been sighted in this space since its development in 1999. This avian diversity allowed the Gilbert Riparian Preserve to be recognized as a part of the Arizona Important Bird Area Program through Birdlife International and the National Audubon Society.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Experience the lush beauty of the Arizona Upland Sonoran Desert at the state’s oldest and largest botanical garden. With spectacular views of Picketpost Mountain, Boyce Thompson Arboretum is located in scenic Queen Creek Canyon, just 30 minutes from Mesa.
Featuring plant collections from the world’s deserts, historic buildings and hidden gardens along the trails, the Arboretum is on the National Register of Historic Places. A haven for wildlife, it has been called “the most enchanting” Audubon Important Birding Area in Arizona.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum was founded in 1924 by William Boyce Thompson, a mining magnate who understood the importance of plants as the ultimate source of our survival and well-being. That legacy continues today as the Arboretum offers tours, classes and events, bringing a wide community together in appreciation of the astounding diversity of its growing collection.
Paddling the Salt River
Running some 300 kilometres through a spectacular desert landscape, the Salt River is one of Mesa’s finest natural treasures. In some areas, most particularly between Carrizo and Cibecue creeks, the river is used as the distinguishing boundary between the Fort Apache Reservation to the north and the Tonto National Forest to the south. No visit to Mesa would be complete without a paddle on the Salt River. The water is calm, the scenery is breathtaking and, if you’re lucky, you may just spot Mesa’s resident herd of wild horses drinking along the banks.
Worth Pondering…
Newcomers to Arizona are often struck by Desert Fever.
Desert Fever is caused by the spectacular natural beauty and serenity of the area.
Early symptoms include a burning desire to make plans for the next trip south.
There is no apparent cure for snowbirds.