Mesa is a city in
Maricopa County, in the U.S. state of Arizona and is a major suburb of
Phoenix, within the Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the third-largest
city in Arizona, after Phoenix and Tucson, and the 38th-largest city in
the country. Despite being a lesser-known city, Mesa is home to more than
460,000 people, making its population larger than other, more recognizable
cities such as Miami, St. Louis and Oakland. Residents of the city
are known as Mesans.
Renaissance
Weekends and Messin' About in Mesa by Nelson Stewart
Mesa is the most populous
suburban city in the whole of the United States, yet most of us don't really
know where it is! Well, now is a great time to find out because all through
February and March, the twentieth anniversary of Renaissance revelry and
family fun is happening in Arizona, right near Mesa!
 The
Annual Arizona Renaissance Festival and Artisan Marketplace begins on February
9th and runs until the end of March. It is held on weekends only (and President's
Day). It boasts twelve stages of continuous entertainment, jousting tournaments,
an outdoor circus and day-long feasting! Grab your cloak and get over there!
 The
30 acre Festival Village can be found on Highway 60 (Superstition Freeway)
past Kings Ranch Road. This is between Apache Junction and Florence Junction.
Medieval banquets, King Henry and over 200 'shoppes' await your visit.
You can watch artisans create
blown glass ornaments, or make leather goods or spin sheeps' wool while
you watch. If that sounds too sedate, then you can see buccaneers fight,
watch Medieval Rock'n'Roll and laugh at the "Lord of Mischief's" hit and
run comedy.
When you want to get away
from the Medieval crowds, the delightfully green, treed city of Mesa is
a peaceful fall-back spot.
If you are planning an RV
trip, there are several great parks and resort grounds in Mesa for you
to hook up in. There are also literally dozens of golf courses awaiting
you in the larger area, and the Mesa area has an abundance of world class
golf courses. Mesa also has hostels and campgrounds, as well as bed and
breakfast accommodation and hotels.
Mesa
officially describes itself as centrally placed in the rolling hills of
San Diego County, Arizona. In fact the name is a translation from the word
mesa to mean plateau; at 1200 feet above sea level, Mesa sits on a plateau
that is 100 feet above Phoenix, Arizona.
 The
added elevation keeps it a little cooler, and it has a near-perfect climate
with well paved roads to encourage walking on the tree-lined streets. The
scenery and greenery in this lovely spot can be enjoyed from any of the
outdoor cafes, which give the city a cosmopolitan feel.
If you choose to vacation
here, there are lots of exciting things to do. All the usual stuff such
as biking, hiking, fishing and horse-riding is augmented by hot air balloon
rides, four wheel drive tours, Apache trail tours and air combat adventures.
The air combats are piloted by real military pilots: an unusual way to
see the country-side!
This is a very old town,
and the area has history dating back hundreds of years. Officially founded
in 1878 by Mormon pioneers, its population is still around ten percent
Mormon. Mesa is a family-oriented town, which may be why so many people
flock to it, and obviously the month of March is a great time to visit.
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