There's classic rock and then there are classics that rock. The performances staged by the Mesa Symphony of the Southwest most definitely fall into the latter category. Formerly known as the Mesa Symphony Orchestra, this group of highly skilled musicians have been impressing audiences with live music entertainment since they first debuted back in 1956. The symphony undertakes a full schedule of performances throughout the year that not only spotlight the work of classical composers like Bach and Mozart, but they also present various concerts designed to appeal to some of the area's younger music lovers. Under the direction of maestro Cal Stewart Kellogg, that tradition is set to continue for many years to come.
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!
It's rare when you can take the kids to a place that is as educational as it is fun. Fortunately, at least one of those types of attractions can still be enjoyed in Mesa when you take the family on a Superstition Farm Tour. The tour is offered on a walk-in basis and lets visitors experience what it is like to work on an actual dairy farm. Not only will you tour the facility and learn about everything that has to be done on a daily basis, you may actually get to do some of the work yourself!