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Review:
Mesa is a lovely city just east of Phoenix's city center, best known as the gateway to the majestic Tonto National Forest, the fifth-largest forest in the United States and one of the most-visited locations within the National Forest system. Area visitors can enjoy ample opportunities for year-round outdoor recreational activities at the forest, including paddleboarding, kayaking, water skiing, and desert and forest hiking. In town, attractions such as the Arizona Museum of Natural History and the i.d.e.a. Museum offer opportunities for family-friendly day experiences, while the Mesa Arts Center presents a wide variety of theatrical, musical, and artistic performances throughout the year. Nearby, Mesa Grande Cultural Park showcases artifacts and structures related to the area's indigenous Hohokam people, including a large centuries-old ceremonial mound.
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