SUMMER ACTIVITIES & EXPERIENCES

Arizona Outback Adventures:  Float down the Lower Salt River in a Kayak Tour with Arizona Outback Adventures. Offered Monday through Friday, meet your guide(s) at 8 a.m. at Saguaro Lake Ranch. Enjoy 2 hours of fun and relaxation; AOA provides the kayaks, bottled water and snacks, safety equipment, and guides, all for just $80 per person. www.aoa-adventures.com, Tel: 480-945-2881

Golfland/SunSplash: Splash, swim and slide after sunset as part of NightSplash at Golfland Sunsplash. Offered every Friday night in June & July, and Saturday nights in August - Night Splash is a chance to enjoy all the slides, wave pools and water fun without the sun. Open from 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. Also new this year on Thursdays at Golfland from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. is the Rock & Ride Nite Slide event. For one fee, each guest can enjoy unlimited Golfland attractions including mini-golf, racecars, bumper boats and laser tag plus enjoy the six waterslides at Golfland. The "rock” is supplied by the all-night disc jockey firing up tunes on the dance floor. www.golfland.com/mesa, Tel: 480-834-8319

Desert Botanical Garden: Flashlight Tours at Desert Botanical Garden are offered Thursdays and Saturdays from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., May through August. Free with admission, flashlight tours are perfect for little ones letting them experience the desert environment at night complete with desert wildlife including nighthawks, tortoises, insects and night-blooming flowers. Guests must come equipped with their own flashlight for the guided tours. www.dbg.org, Tel: 480-941-1225

Take a Hike Arizona:  Hiking excursions that will keep you out of the heat of the day: a sunrise, sunset, or nighttime scorpion and tarantula "hunting" excursion. The summer package includes a 2-hour guided hike during the cooler part of the day. Each guest receives water, snack, use of trekking poles and backpack, use of flashlight and ultra-violet (black) light. Tour also includes all entry and permit fees and you are accompanied by a First Aid/CPR certified guide who is very knowledgeable about the desert. Come see the desert come alive in the pre-dawn or early evening hours when the nocturnal desert animals are most active! Price: $55 per person (2 person minimum). Four or more people:  $45 per person! www.takeahikearizona.com, Tel: 480-634-8488

Usery Mountain Regional Park: Summer programming includes guided evening nature hikes and walks throughout the June and July and unique events including full moon hikes, stargazing, animal hide & seek flashlight walks, and other fun programs that get you up close to the flora and fauna of Arizona's Sonoran Desert.  http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/usery/, Tel: 480-984-0032

Dolly Steamboat at Canyon Lake: Set sail on the Dolly Steamboat at Canyon Lake and watch Arizona's night stars twinkle on the water. This summer take in either a Twilight Dinner Cruises or the popular Twilight Astronomy Cruises. These 2 ½ hour romantic cruises offer an exciting alternative to dining in Phoenix and the surrounding areas. Entrees are served buffet style and vary by night. Guests can also bring their own libations on board. Call for dates, details and pricing. www.dollysteamboat.com, Tel: 480-827-9144.

Stratum Lasertag:  Summer Break: begins May 28th, Limited Laser Tag, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. for only $19.99; Thursday Thunder: Unlimited Laser Tag $14.99.  Check for plentiful coupons online!  www.stratumhq.com

Flow Rider @ Rhodes Aquatic Complex:  Come ride Mesa's newest attraction....The FlowRider®!  The FlowRider® crosses snowboarding, skateboarding, and wakeboarding into an exciting new ride with plenty of challenges and a whole lot of FUN!  The best part is that ANYONE can do it.  Even someone with no experience can jump on a boogie board and almost instantly start carving and doing tricks.  The best part is that there is always something new to learn, you will NEVER get bored with the FlowRider®! Youth (17 and younger) - $5.00 - Per 1 hour session, adults (18 and older) - $10.00 - Per 1 hour session. http://www.mesaaz.gov/parksrec/aquatics/flowrider.aspx

Rockin' R Ranch:  Bring the whole family and enjoy gunfights and gold panning, western shops, and hot dutch oven biscuits. Savor an all-you-can-eat BBQ beef or chicken dinner with all the trimmins' followed by a spectacular western stage show featuring the world famous "ROCKIN R WRANGLERS". Mention Mesa CVB Special and get $5 off admission for everyone in your group. Reservations required. www.rockinr.net; Tel: 480-832-1539

Massage Heights:  Sublime Summertime includes a one-hour Hot Stone Massage and FREE Cold Stone Face Massage and Summer Cucumber Mint Aromatherapy for only $59.99.  The Summer Slimming Wrap is a 90-Minute Massage featuring a Slimming Cellulite Aromatherapy Body Wrap for $99.99. For more information, call 480-632-7529.