Mesa, Arizona is fast becoming the Valley’s next urban hot spot boasting an assortment of new tourism developments with more on the horizon. Located in the Valley of the Sun just minutes from Phoenix and Scottsdale, Mesa has long been revered as a winter haven offering premier accommodations, golf and an enviable location boasting a close proximity to Tonto National Forest showcasing Arizona’s vast Sonoran Desert. Today, the state’s third-largest city is home to its own passenger traffic airport, a new 250-acre retail destination complex and
HOTEL & SHOPPING UPDATES:
National retail powerhouse DeBartolo Development has broken ground on Mountain Vista Marketplace in East Mesa marking the company’s
UPSCALE SHOPPING VILLAGE OFFERS NEW DINING
TOURISM INDUSTRY UPDATES:
ALLEGIANT AIRLINES ENTERS
Starting last October, low-cost airline, Allegiant Air, LLC began non-stop service from
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport continues to serve as a dynamic reliever airport to
ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES:
FLYING DINOSAURS? FOSSILS ON LOAN FROM CHINA AT NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
The Arizona Museum of Natural History is showcasing Feathered Dinosaurs and the Origin of Flight, an exhibition that presents exciting evidence from fossils that are bringing new answers to the on-going debate about the relationship between dinosaurs and birds, as well as how they evolved the ability to fly. The collection of fossils are on loan from the People’s Republic of
The newest addition at Superstition Springs Center,
DOLLY STEAMBOAT CRUISES RE-OPEN ON
After four months in dry dock, the Dolly Steamboat has re-opened at
BROADWAY PALM DINNER THEATRE ANNOUNCES NEW SEASON
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, Mesa’s popular dining and theatrical experience, will feature both classic hits and exciting new shows. The new season begins in October and includes: All Shook Up, Oct. 2 – Nov. 15, featuring the greatest hits of Elvis Presley rolled up in a charming story about love and the power of rock and roll; Holly Jolly Christmas, Nov. 20 – Dec. 25, an annual festive holiday revue; The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Jan. 1 – Feb. 14; Singin’ in the Rain, Feb. 19 – April 11, splashing its way across the stage; Ring of Fire, April 16 – May 30, featuring the songs of legendary Johnny Cash; Disney’s High School Musical, June 4 – Aug. 1, just in time for summer break. The eighth season will close with Mid-Life! The Crisis Musical, Aug. 6 – Sept. 26, offering a satirical look at midlife. For more information and tickets visit www.broadwaypalmwest.com or call (480) 325-6700. For media information, contact Leslie Jabara, Manager of Marketing and PR at leslie@broadwaypalmwest.com or 480-325-6700 x106.
BOYCE THOMPSON ARBORETUM OPENS NEW INTERACTIVE CHILDREN’S GARDEN
After two years of construction, the newly completed Children’s Garden at Boyce Thompson Arboretum is now open to the public offering kids a full-sensory desert experience. The garden features four interactive stations focusing on touch, texture, color, sound and scent as well as a human sundial and maze. Each interactive area allows children to strengthen their senses. For example, kids rely on sense of touch to feel their way through dark caves and mysterious forests in the Texture Garden; learn about the color spectrum and see how rainbows are formed in the Color Garden; hear a variety of animal sounds and chimes that warn of danger and hidden treasures in the Sound Garden; use their noses to discover plant aromas in the Scent Garden; and test their explorer skills in the Maze. Animal tracks and designated characters including Dani Deer, Reggie Roadrunner, Suzy Skunk, Frankie Fox and Javi Javalina lead kids from one activity area to another. For more information and hours of operation, call 520-689-2723 or visit www.BTArboretum.org. For media information only, contact Rick Elder at rick.americaneagle@yahoo.com.com.
NEW GALLERIES, CONCERT SERIES AND FLASHLIGHT TOURS AT BOTANICAL GARDEN
The always-popular
Every Friday evening from 7-9 p.m. through June, guests can enjoy the sounds of jazz as part of the Garden’s Jazz in the Garden Concert Series. Cost is admission with an additional charge for a picnic dinner and free wine tasting. Must be 21 or older to attend the concert series.
Another popular treat for summertime guests to the Garden are Flashlight Tours 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. For more information visit www.dbg.org, or call 480-941-1225. For media information only, contact
John Sallot, 480-481-8101, or