Visit Mesa recently teamed up with the travel lifestyle creators at Matador Network to showcase all the ways visitors can access the Sonoran Desert from Mesa, Arizona. Experiences such as kayaking the Salt River, mountain biking, off-roading, desert Segway tours, and horseback riding in the Superstition Wilderness were captured and featured in a Youtube video produced in tandem by the two organizations. The video also showcases Mesa's lake access and the expansive interior desert open space within city limits at Usery Mountain Regional Park. The collaboration helped launch Visit Mesa's brand new Adventure Explorer Guide available for download and by mail for visitors planning to explore the Sonoran Desert. In addition, Matador Network featured the over-the-top Mesa adventures in their online feature: 13 Images That Prove Arizona is so Much More than Desert.

The brand-new Adventure Explorer Guide published by Visit Mesa is focused on the many unique attributes of the region. The pocket field guide outlines numerous ways to experience the exotic Sonoran Desert terrain which is located in two states, Arizona and California, as well as parts of Mexico. 

Laid out in themed sections, the guide features detailed information on Trails, Sonoran Desert Facts & Figures, Water Recreation, Night Sky activities, Camping, as well as serving as a field guide and photo directory to Arizona Desert Wildlife, Birding and Desert Vegetation. For travel planning, the guide offers a complete Attractions & Outfitters listing. The guide's most notable feature is the Outdoor Adventure Map paired with a Before You Go list of safety tips that will prepare guests for accessing the Sonoran Desert. The Trails section highlights 15 different trails ranging in level of difficulty that can be found within city limits and throughout the adjacent Tonto National Forest, which includes the Four Peaks and Superstition Wilderness areas. The guide also highlights the historic Apache Trail, located just east of Mesa, and outlines the attractions that make up this scenic Arizona byway that gains access to two lakes. The complimentary Adventure Explorer Guide isavailable at the Mesa Visitors Center located at 120 N. Center and available for download at: https://www.visitmesa.com/lifestyles/adventure-explorer/

Visitors are also invited to geotag in the destination and be rewarded with printed and digital stickers featuring five unique discovery zones for Mesa visitors. Those areas include the Wind Cave Trail, Saguaro Lake, Salt River, Apache Trail and the Superstition Mountains. Visitors that show the concierge staff at the Mesa Visitors Center their social media post featuring these destinations will receive a printed sticker and are awarded with a t-shirt if they collect all five. Digital versions of the stickers are also available by text message.

For more information on the Sonoran Desert and upcoming media tours that showcase desert exploration and activities contact Michelle Streeter at Michelle@visitmesa.com or 480-682-3638. www.VisitMesa.com/Explore