7 things to do in Mesquite (other than gamble!)
From playing golf in a twisted canyon to riding on a camel, there are tons of things to do in Mesquite besides playing slots.
If you’re seeking a getaway with the amenities and indulgences of Las Vegas, but not the crowd, or you want to save a buck, Mesquite may be for you. A quick and easy road trip, 82 miles northeast of Las Vegas on the border between Nevada and Arizona, this small, picturesque town offers a resort experience and more for less.
The community is home to casinos, hotels, restaurants, bars, a spa, and championship golf courses. While there are plenty of great gambling options, you’ll also find live entertainment, annual events, exotic animals, outdoor recreation, and local culture. And since it’s so close to the Arizona state line, it’s an easy drive to buy lottery tickets.
From hitting the links in a twisted canyon to meeting a two-toed sloth, here are seven of the best things to do in Mesquite besides playing Bingo and slots.
1. Go to a museum
Peruse fine art or learn about Virgin River Valley heritage and history at one of Mesquite’s museums. The Mesquite Fine Arts Center, 15 W. Mesquite Blvd., is a gallery and cultural center for local and visiting artists and art enthusiasts with rotating exhibits, lectures, and classes–even an art walk featuring art, music, and food the first Friday of every month.
If you’re stubborn as a mule or you simply want to brush up on donkey trivia, check out a collection of memorabilia, toys, figurines, paintings, and photos of donkeys at the Donkey History Museum, 355 W. Mesquite Blvd. The Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue’s museum is dedicated to this versatile beast of burden and its role in building Nevada. Entry is free.
Learn about the 19th-Century pioneers who settled the area and formed Mesquite at the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum, 35 W. Mesquite Blvd. Walk in the steps of the land’s indigenous settlers and earliest residents at the Lost City Museum, located less than an hour away in Overton.
2. Let Mesquite entertain you
Shows here may not carry the gravitas of Las Vegas, but don’t count Mesquite out entirely. There’s a showroom at CasaBlanca Resort, an event center at Virgin River Casino and Lodge, plenty of bars with live music, and even a non-profit community theater.
When you’re looking for things to do in Mesquite on any given night, you can catch a concert by a touring or local band, a tribute artist, or a comedy act. Local bar Mad Mikes Bar & Grill, 551 W. Mesquite Blvd., features live music and karaoke. In the summer, CasaBlanca hosts CasaPoolooza, a series of free outdoor concerts by the swimming pool.
Mesquite is also a year-round destination for family-friendly special events, including annual car shows, a hot air balloon festival, a motocross race, a Donkey Jamboree, and a few high-stakes golf tournaments.
3. Play a round of golf
Speaking of golf, Mesquite is home to nine championship golf courses, including two on Golf Digest’s list of the best golf courses in Nevada.
At No. 20, the 18-hole Conestoga Golf Club complements the elevation changes and scenic desert terrain of Mesquite. Likewise, at No. 5, Wolf Creek Golf Club, you’ll play a thrilling round through deep canyons and striking surroundings. The Coyote Springs Golf Club is a Jack Nicklaus Signature 18-hole course with mountain views, indigenous plants, and 11 lakes.
4. Go bowling
Both amateur and serious bowlers will have a ball at Virgin River Hotel’s 24-lane Bowling Center. Kids love the snack shop, cosmic bowling (Fridays through Sundays), and arcade, while adults love drink specials like $2 Modelos (on Fridays and Saturdays).
In a recent Yelp review, Molly G. writes that she loves the snack bar at the bowling alley, calling its pizza some of the best in town: “Nice to have a place to take the kids for good food … The only place in town to get a scoop of ice cream.”
5. Get a spa treatment
Treat yourself to a full day of relaxation at the luxurious yet cozy CasaBlanca Spa. Located at its namesake resort, the spa offers a variety of body services, including massages, wraps, scrubs, and facials, as well as salon services for both men and women.
CasaBlanca Spa is well-reviewed with 4.3 stars on Yelp. One reviewer calls it “a jewel in our community,” while others compliment the expertise of the spa staff, the cleanliness of the spa, and the “great deals.”
CasaBlanca Resort is currently offering guests a spa package ($222) that includes a two-night stay, a $100 spa credit, two drink tickets to any casino bar, and an upgrade to a pool view room. If you’re not a hotel guest and you’re not purchasing a spa treatment, a $35 spa pass gives you access to the spa facility and its amenities, like a heated pool, eucalyptus steam room, relaxation room, fitness room, and special food and drink menu.
6. Explore Gold Butte National Monument
Mesquite is only five miles north of one of the country’s newest national monuments, Gold Butte National Monument. It’s a 350,000-acre Mojave Desert landscape of red sandstone, mountains, unique plantlife, bighorn sheep, the threatened Mojave desert tortoise, petroglyphs, canyons, and a byway that leads to a ghost town.
Visitors enjoy riding through the peaks and canyons on horseback, hiking to rock art sites, and discovering unique views of nearby Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Valley of Fire State Park.
The area is rugged and remote, with primitive campgrounds, no cell service, and no visitor’s center or modern facilities. It’s recommended you visit with a high-clearance, 4WD vehicle (with two full-sized spares) and whatever you need, in case of emergency.
7. Ride a camel
Yes, you read that right. You can ride this humped animal through the Mojave Desert at Camel Safari in Bunkerville, less than five miles from Mesquite.
Home to a variety of exotic animals, Camel Safari offers guided safari tours on trams, UTVs, or camels (for a fee). You can have an up-close-and-personal encounter with a two-toed sloth, feed an alpaca, and see a rare porcupine. You’ll also learn a lot along the way.
Camel Safari has a 4.6 rating on Yelp, with reviewers praising it as a fun experience and a nice change of pace. A reservation is required.
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