3 Ride through desert
Discover wild west histor y, nature and foodie experiences. Ruth Brindle paid a visit to find out more.
After an 11-hour transatlantic flight to the States it’s good to know that Mesa, Arizona, is only a 20-25 minute drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor airport. There are two easy road trips to help you discover the best of the area.
THE APACHE TRAIL
A scenic ride around 12 attractions and places of interest along the way through the Superstition Mountains. It is thought to be one of the best scenic drives in Arizona and loved by Theodore Roosevelt. The partially-paved, 48-mile road snakes along a chain of three man-made lakes on the Salt River – Canyon, Apache, and Roosevelt.
BEST ATTRACTIONS
A 90-minute Dolly Steamboat ride on Canyon Lake.
Tortilla Flat, an authentic remnant of an old west stage stop with real saddles serving as bar stools in the restaurant. Try the Prickly Pear Ice Cream.
Goldfield Ghost Town, the site of a gold strike in 1892. Wander around, watch a ‘gunfight’, take an underground tour of the tunnels or enjoy a drink and meal in the saloon.
WHERE TO STAY
Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch in the Tonto National Forest. It’s in a truly gorgeous, mountainside location on the banks of the Salt River beside the towering Bulldog Cliffs. The cabins are surrounded by the distinctive saguaro cacti. Created in 1927 for workers during construction of a nearby dam, the main lodge was originally the mess hall for the crew. Here, you can relax and eat, watch TV or use the WiFi. The 20 ‘get-away-from-it-all’ cabins have no TV, WiFi, radios, clocks or phones in the rooms, but do have heating and air conditioning.
WHAT ELSE TO DO
Swim under a dazzling star-lit sky; take a horseback trail ride to spectacular views.
FOODIE TRAIL
This is a ‘have fork will travel’ collection of the finest venues for buying, eating and drinking your way around the area. It’s a celebration of farms, agritourism attractions and restaurants in Mesa and surrounding towns.
BEST ACTIVITIES
Queen Creek Olive Mill is a familyowned olive farm producing olive oil and oil-based products. The Olive Oil 101 tour tells the story, and you can enjoy a tasty lunch and the in-house roastery’s Superstition Coffee.
Agritopia is an urban farm producing fruit and veg through a community garden scheme where individuals grow varied crops, which you can buy fresh, or enjoy in dishes at Joe’s Farm Grill, a 60s-style diner that was once the original farm homestead.
WHAT TO DO
Splash out on the Fall Orchard Dinner. Enjoy a Medittereanean-themed feast in the citrus orchard. Stunning.
ALSO POPULAR
Hiking – head for Usery Mountain Regional Park. It’s 3,648 acres of Sonoran desert. Enjoy a picnic in the
shade or take the Wind Cave Trail up 2,840 ft for a panoramic view. Also try Mesa Grande Cultural Park in town to learn about the ancient settlement built by the Hohokum between 1100 and 1400 AD.
And don’t miss famous ‘fast food’ at Jalapeno Buck’s. ‘Arizonastyle BuzzSaw Brand BBQ and New Wave Mexican Soul Food’ on offer. It makes you feel like a real local!
Mesa has so much to offer and it’s all so easily accessible–- a fantastic desert experience taking in the best of the past and present.