Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/533451
tance of each other. http://www.downtownmesa.com/sculp- tures/ If eating is your thing, there are a number of culinary attractions. Mesa has two new epicenters for activity including the city's re-designed Fiesta District, the new Sheraton Mesa Hotel and an $8 million recreation complex at Mesa Riverview Park. HOTELS Mesa has a collection of hotels anchored in downtown that are adjacent to the Mesa Arts Center. There are 64 hotels and 5,356 hotel rooms. This spring, the city will have a new Sheraton Mesa Hotel adding 180-rooms to the mix. CONFERENCE CENTER The Mesa Convention Center is a full-service event facil- ity conveniently located in the heart of downtown Mesa. The center, set upon 22 acres of mature parkland, features 19,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and an additional 19,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space. Fifteen meeting rooms offer a wide variety of sizes and configurations. High-speed Internet service, teleconferencing capabilities, and full-service cater- ing are available, along with a 4,950-seat outdoor amphithe- atre. The adjacent 275-room Phoenix Marriott Mesa Hotel makes sleeping room accommodations easy and accessible. www.MesaConventionCenter.com The Mesa Arts Center is a 212,755-sq. ft. performing arts, visual arts, and arts education facility. It's reportedly the largest and most comprehensive arts center in the state of Arizona. Located in the heart of downtown, this central gathering place is designed to showcase a world of arts and culture – everything from art exhibitions to world-class performances to state-of-the-art studios for art education. The seven-acre campus includes a complex of four the- aters, Mesa Contemporary Arts' galleries and exhibition space, two Art Studios buildings with visual and performing arts studios and classrooms, informal performance areas, administrative support space, and a 700-ft. Shadow Walk that creates an inviting, shaded outdoor oasis plaza. Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum is the exciting visual art exhibition space at Mesa Arts Center. www.mesaarts- center.com At the Arizona Museum of Natural History mastodons and dinosaurs roam the halls. Enter a universe of imagination and creativity at i.d.e.a. Museum. Inside is the popular ArtVille, an experiential play place designed for the young. It's designed to cultivate awareness of color, line, shape and texture. The larger-than- life crayons, paintbrushes and glitter glue and soft play pads are great for indoor entertainment. The city's brand statement is as follows: Mesa, Arizona is a boundless destination surrounded by the natural Sonoran Desert beauty of Tonto National Forest and the communi- ties of Gilbert, Apache Junction, and Queen Creek. This regional recreation playground boasts an assortment of lifestyle and leisure pursuits for visitors. In Mesa, you will find the largest arts and cultural complex in the Southwest, shopping at every turn, delectable locally-owned restaurants and an award-winning collection of golf courses and premier hotels. The third largest city in Arizona, Mesa is a modern-day desert urban retreat, where landscapes are legendary and its deep-rooted agricultural heritage still shines. From spring training baseball to countless events to suit visitors of all ages, the possibilities are endless. Choose your adventure and explore Mesa...City Limitless. www.Visit-Mesa.com FLYING IN The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is 13 miles from Downtown Mesa/City Hall. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (located in Mesa) is 16 miles from Downtown Mesa/City Hall. B M & T ••• March/April 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 21 l. to r. photos; Hilton Phoenix Mesa, Sonoran Desert Jeep Tour Visit Mesa Director of Communications MICHELLE STREETER