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In a world where art continues to be created with the help of a computer, it is refreshing to see artisans who use basic materials to construct something truly memorable. While many of these individuals use various materials to create their art, the ones who are well versed in the practice of woodcarving are the stars whose work is celebrated every year in Mesa at the Annual Desert Woodcarving Show and Sale. This art festival of sorts features wood sculptures by some of the most talented local, regional and national woodcarvers who all convene for this very popular annual event held every February.

With so much natural beauty surrounding it, a visit to the Arizona Museum of Natural History is a sure bet for a highly educational and entertaining time. Considered one of the best museums in the state, this facility offers lots of dramatically designed and well-presented exhibits. Perhaps the most famous of these is “Dinosaur Mountain” which features several attention-getting devices to tell its prehistoric story. A constantly flowing 50-foot-high indoor waterfall is just another of this museum's many highlights.

Get into the groove when you browse through the bins of classic vinyl LPs at Mesa's Bookmans Entertainment Exchange. Out-of-print treasures, imports and hard-to-find records abound, but that's not all you'll find here. There is also an equally inviting selection of video games, books, magazines, comics, musical instruments, sound systems and more. Bookmans' goal is to minimize the number of things that people throw away and recycle them by reselling them to new owners while offering an always-changing inventory to its shoppers. Everybody wins, with a little help from Bookmans!