The Vibe: Everything In Mesa Is Better Outdoors
With gorgeous weather and an even more stunning landscape,
Mesa is the ultimate destination for outdoor lovers, athletes, and fitness enthusiasts. Whether you’re into running marathons, hiking for biking nature trails with an amazingly rugged landscape, rock climbing, or taking on your latest yoga session outdoors in January, this is the city to be for all of the above. And don’t be fooled by Mesa being in the desert. There’s water here, too. You can go for a dip to cool down in the watering holes or go kayaking or try your hand at SUPing on the river. And if you want a view of all of it from above, take a hot air balloon ride through the warm Mesa skies.
Local Flavor: Swing Batta
Baseball gets a head start in Mesa thanks to the warm, dry weather. The Cactus League Spring Training brings 200 Major League baseball games to the area in just 30 days, and Mesa is right in the heart of it. The Chicago Cubs play at Sloan Park and the Oakland Athletics play the Hohokam Stadium, drawing more than 1.686 million fans out for games in the area in the 68th season alone.
Cuisine: Mesa Means Table
No, really. Mesa means table in Spanish. So, it goes without saying that the food here is something special. And being in the heart of the Southwest, the fact that Mexican cuisine is the star should be of no surprise, either. Taco Tuesday is the culinary equivalent of The Sabbath, with Mexican joints serving up tacos like happy hour cocktails.
Of course, there’s much more on the Mesa menu than just Mexican. Whether you’re in the mood for comfort food, a killer burger at a gastropub, farm-to-table dining, or tapas at a wine bar with friends, there’s something for everyone to enjoy for a wide range of budgets.
Nightlife: Mesa Keeps It Quaint
Mesa is a city that prides itself on being family friendly, so it’s far from a party city. But that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to do here. With an awesome variety of bars, breweries, gastropubs, taverns, cocktail lounges, and restaurants ranging from the dives to the posh, getting out in Mesa is always a great time, just a little more low-key.
If you’re interested in the club scene, Scottsdale is a short drive away and has one of the biggest names in nighttime entertainment not just in Arizona, but in the Southwest.
Weather: Sunshine Never Gets Old
That’s why living in Mesa always feels new. The city sees a brag-worthy 301 sunny days a year. And once you get used to soaking up such a constant amount of rays, you begin to wonder how you ever went on living in such overcast places.
Summers do get hot here, though, with a July high that can average over 100 degrees. That’s so hot, you really can cook an egg on the sidewalk if you want to, although a frying pan is still the cleaner and more convenient option. That’s why it’s considered the off-season because it can be oppressive to do anything. Wintertime is the best time to enjoy life in Mesa, as January rarely ever dips below freezing and the mild temperatures make for the perfect time to enjoy the great Mesa outdoors.
Safety & Crime: Neighborhoods Matter
While Mesa’s crime rate falls above the national average, don’t let that turn you away. Most cities have issues with crime as it is. But there are plenty of places here with great neighborhoods that have crime rates below the average. In fact, Northeast Mesa boasts a crime rate that is 21 percent below the overall average for Mesa, making it about 16 percent safer than the national average.
Commute
With a Walk Score of 34 and Bike Score of 58, getting around Mesa without a car really isn’t an option. At least, not a smart one. The city is spread out and a lack of bike lanes means that without four wheels, you’re going to have a hard time. Luckily, the traffic is incredibly manageable in and around the area, unlike other areas like Scottsdale. Mesa has an average commute time of 25 minutes daily, each way. That’s on par with the national average.
Cost Of Living: Mesa Is One Of the Last Truly Great Affordable Cities
If you’ve done any research on the price tag that comes with living in a city these days, you know it’s anything but affordable. However, Mesa hasn’t tipped the boat and still remains an incredibly affordable city to live in along with having a wide variety of amenities.
Against an index of 100, Mesa’s cost of living index ranks at 93, coming in 6.5 cheaper than the national average. And the housing is surprisingly one of the most affordable parts about living here. You can grab a house in Mesa for an average of $162,000, which is nearly $20,000 less than the national average.
Bikers Love Mesa
Every First Friday during the year except the super-hot months of July and August, Main Street comes alive with the sounds of exhaust pipes and fun. Motorcycles on Main is a popular and family-friends event that parades bikes around downtown while you enjoy some awesome live music, beer gardens, great food, lots of vendors, and much more, making for a very Mesa-unique night out in the area.
Mesa Keeps The Wild West Alive
While the general idea is that the Wild West died out with Billy The Kid, the people in Mesa know differently. It’s still very much alive and alive here with western roots that haven’t changed since the late-1800s. The historic Apache Trail through the Superstition Mountains in the foothills of the Tonto Natural Forest is a popular destination. You can visit a mining camp replica, check out the old west stagecoach stop, walk through a ghost town, and much more in the breathtaking Sonoran Desert landscape that makes Mesa feel almost magical.
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