RV Lifestyle 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. 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-goldrelated 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. 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. CSANews | WINTER 2024 | 23
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