A Huffington Post Guide To Family Vacations In Mesa
Family vacations in Mesa can be rewarding experiences or absolute disasters — it all depends on pre-trip homework. To make planning easier, we've done all the preparation. As part of a Huffington Post Travel series on traveling with children, here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Mesa family vacations.
Saguaro Lake
Address:14011 Bush Highway, Mesa, AZ 85215
Phone:480-984-5311
Hours:24 hours a day year-round
Price:Free
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre
Address:5247 E. Brown Road, Mesa, AZ 85205
Phone:480-325-6700
Hours:Matinees are Tuesday through Saturday at 11:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.; evening performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 5:30 p.m and 7:30 p.m.
Price:Matinees, $46; evening performances, $49; children ages 12 and under, $22; show only, $28
Arizona Museum for Youth
Address:35 N. Robson St., Mesa, AZ 85201
Phone:480-644-2467
Hours:Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.; closed Mondays and holidays, call ahead for details.
Price:$7; infants under 2, free
Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium
TheWildlife World Zoo and Aquariumis the only public zoo and aquarium between San Diego and Albuquerque, located about 30 minutes outside of Mesa. The zoo features more than 100 species from various parts of the globe. Visitors can view mammals, fish, amphibians, invertebrates and reptiles. The 180,000-gallon aquarium holds a multitude of species from around the world and is home to Nile crocodiles, barracudas, jellyfish, sharks and other marine life. The park also has a sky ride, a safari train, an Australian boat ride, a tide pool and a new log flume ride that goes through the aquarium's South Pacific reef tunnel tank.
Address:16501 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
Phone:623-935-9453
Hours:Daily, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Price:Adults, $27.50; children ages 3 to 12, $14.25; under 3, free. Certain attractions incur an extra cost.
Arizona Science Center
Arizona Science Centerencourages visitors to have a hands-on approach to science with 300+ displays in its five themed galleries. The four-level science center will have visitors explore exhibits about hair-raising kinetic energy and music and the science of sound. The center has a five-story IMAX theater and a two-story planetarium. Food and refreshments are available as well.
Address:600 E. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone:602-716-2000
Hours:Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
Price:Adults, $12; seniors (62+) and children ages 3 to17, $10; children under 3, free. IMAX and planetarium incur an additional cost.
Arizona Museum of Natural History
Arizona Museum of Natural History
Address:53 N. MacDonald St., Mesa, AZ 85201
Phone:480-644-2230
Hours:Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.; closed Monday and all major holidays
Price:Adults, $10; seniors ages 65 and older, $9; students, $8; children ages 3 to 12, $6; children under 3, free
Golfland Sunsplash
Golfland Sunsplashis one of Arizona’s most fun amusement parks. Visitors can ride the fast, slippery slopes of the Master Blaster Water Coaster, play a round of golf on the interactive miniature golf course, race bumper cars on the Fastcar Raceway, shoot opponents in a game of laser tag at Lazer Knights or spend hours in the arcade playing any one of the 200 games available. There are food and refreshment stands throughout the park. The fun in the sun is endless, with different activities at every turn.
Address:155 W. Hampton Ave., Mesa, AZ 85210
Phone:480-834-8319
Hours:Open 365 days a year, hours vary between Sunsplash, Golfland, and Golfland Raceway. The park is generally open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Check website for specific times.
Price:Super Sun Splash Fun Pass, $35.95, different packages available. Check website for details.
Have you been to Mesa? What are your favorite attractions?
CHECK OUT MOREFAMILY TRAVEL GUIDES.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
