Mesa, Arizona is the First City Worldwide to Receive Destination Verified Seal from Wheel the World 

As part of Visit Mesa's ongoing mission to ensure the city is regarded as one of the nation's most inclusive and accessible travel destinations, the organization partnered with Wheel the World to provide travelers with advanced information on accessible experiences in Mesa and connect them with suggested itineraries based on their personal requirements. Through the Destinations Verified Program, Wheel the World sent trained Mappers to visit and assess destinations. Once the data is gathered, the organization provides recommendations to travel service providers on enhancing their infrastructure, along with offering them access to their E-learning platform to expand their knowledge of disabilities and accessibility. After the evaluation, Mesa became the first city worldwide to receive the Destination Verified Seal from Wheel the World in fall 2023.

What's New in Downtown Mesa

Phantom Fox is a craft brewery and restaurant owned by the same pair that opened Chupacabra Taproom in 2019 (also located in downtown Mesa). This concept opened in the historic brick building that used to house Mesa's first-ever craft brewery.

Level 1 Arcade Bar seamlessly blends craft beer and arcade games, and visitors who stay and play can rediscover the joy of their favorite childhood games.

Alchemy 48 is a must-visit hidden Speakeasy located within Level 1 Arcade Bar. This bar crafts the perfect cocktail tailored to your taste, while providing an intimate ambiance for a memorable experience.

Prior to the 1980s, Mesa was illuminated with hundreds of colorful neon signs that lined the roads and welcomed travelers to a plethora of establishments. Luckly, visitors who are looking to feel nostalgic will have another opportunity to see the glowing lights at The Post – a brand new event space in downtown Mesa that will also be home to a variety of the preserved vintage neon signs that used to line Main Street.

Mesa Businesses Earn National Praise & Recognition

Cider Corps, Arizona's first veteran-owned cidery, was named #4 in USA Today's 10 best cideries in the United States for 2023. The national news source noted Cider Corps' creative take on cider calling out flavors like black tea with lemon and peach or mango and rosehip.

The funky and upbeat Espiritu, owned by Chopped winner Roberto Centeno, was recently named one of America's best new restaurants in 2022 by the editors of Eater.com and was also featured in Conde Nast Traveler.

Mesa Temple and Visitor Center ranked 10th on the top 20 list of America's Most Peaceful Tourist Spots in 2023. The Mesa Temple was the first temple built in Arizona and anchors a historic district. During Easter season, Mesa Temple hosts the largest annual outdoor Easter pageant in the world. At Christmas time, visitors can see the hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights covers the grounds.

Surfs Up in Mesa: Cannon Beach Coming Soon!

Mesa will soon be home to a 37-acre surf, shop, gym, and multi-use development project called Cannon Beach Revel Surf Park. The oasis will bring the ocean to the desert. Revel Surf will anchor the development with a 3.3-acre surf lagoon that features the world's first Swell MFG's Traveling Surf Technology and UNIT Surf Pool's Stationary Rapid Surf Technology, in one location. Expected in Spring/Summer 2024, this unique combination will create a more natural surfing lineup with a peak wave rather than a right-session-only or left-session-only option as found in many of today 's wave pools. This new technology and layout has gained the attention of the professional surf community due to its ability to cater to all skill levels. The development is geared toward the growing population in Mesa and the burgeoning influx of West Coast surfers, young and old, that yearn for the beach. The development will also attract first timers who want to venture into the world of surfing.

April's Action-Packed Entertainment and Western Fun Coming to Mesa

The Mesa Music Festival, powered by Amazon and Visit Mesa, is the largest free emerging artist festival of its kind in the country and will feature over 200 performances from artists around the world. Attendees can look forward to enjoying a celebration of music, art and entertainment in downtown Mesa, April 18-20.

Visit Mesa will be “bucking for blue” at the Queen Creek PBR rodeo in recognition of Autism Awareness Month. Watch the best of the best take the ropes April 19-20 when Professional Bull Riders take on the roughest bulls. As a sponsor of PBR and the first ever Autism Certified Destination in the country, Visit Mesa will be cheering on riders and raising awareness for autism acceptance and inclusion.

The world-famous Baseball circus, Savannah Bananas, is coming to Sloan Park in Mesa April 25-27. Mark your calendars for the most entertaining game of baseball, where the players choreograph witty dances while they play. Check out the team on TikTok, as they accumulated over 300 million views and travel throughout the country.

A New Culinary Hub in the East Valley (Now Open)

Epicenter is a high-end, vertically integrated mixed-use community and retail destination in the heart of Agritopia. Enjoy a hand-curated collection of the best-in-class restaurants, bars and makers all in one walkable location. Explore the vibrant culinary scene at notable restaurants including Buck & Rider, known for their raw bar and for serving up the freshest seafood flown in from around the world daily. At Belly Kitchen & Bar, diners can enjoy a fusion of Vietnamese, Thai, and Japanese dishes, and drinks. UnderTow provides guests with a fully immersive cocktail experience, inviting them on a 90-minute voyage of the high seas.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Zoey Shircel, Manager Communications, Visit Mesa E-mail: zoey@visitmesa.com

Kelly Bassett, Vice President, Communications, Visit Mesa E-mail: kelly@visitmesa.com