Residents and visitors to the Phoenix suburb of Mesa, Arizona, can find a wide variety of activities in the area, including some that are fun for the entire family. Options for an outing with children in Mesa include visiting local attractions or taking the family to an entertainment center for hands-on play. Depending on the time of year, families with children can also attend festivals in Mesa that have events featured for kids.
The Arizona Museum of Natural History is at the corner of North MacDonald Street and West Peppler Place in downtown Mesa. Operated by the City of Mesa, the museum opened in 1977 and has received more than one million visitors since 2000, according to the museum's website.
Children who love dinosaurs will enjoy a walk through the Dinosaur Hall, where they can view the fossilized remains of creatures like Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops. A femur bone from an Apatosaurus is even on display for children to touch. The museum also features exhibits on a variety of other educational topics that appeal to kids like shelled animals and the suits of armor worn by Spanish conquistadors.
The Arizona Museum of Natural History is open Tuesday through Sunday and closes every Monday and on holidays. As of October 2010, the cost of admission was $10 for adults with students, children and senior citizens receiving discounted rates. The museum has on-site parking available.
Laser Quest is a family entertainment center on South Alma School Road near Baseline Road. At the center, you and your family can compete against one another at a game called laser tag. Each of you wears a special device that detects signals from laser guns. The object of the game is to shoot or tag the members of the opposing team or to be the last person standing at the end a game. The Laser Tag facility features low lights, music and fog machines to help create a fun, upbeat move. The game is recommended for children aged five years and up. Arcade games are also located at Laser Quest as well as a snack bar.
Laser Quest is open during the afternoons on Saturdays and Sundays and in the evenings Wednesday through Sunday. The facility closes every Monday and Tuesday. As of October 2010, admission was $8.00 for adults and children. On-site parking is available.
The Mesa Arts and Culture Festival is an annual event held every Saturday from early October through late April along the sidewalks of Main and MacDonald Streets in downtown Mesa. For children, the event features live music, games and crafts every weekend. Adults can enjoy browsing through the vendor booths of handicrafts, artwork, jewelry, glassware and other items found throughout the area. Food concessions are also featured weekly.
The Mesa Arts and Culture Festival is free to attend. Parking is available along the street downtown and in public lots. The event runs continuously with the exception of during the month of December, when it takes a two or three week hiatus due to the holiday season.
