Things to Do in Tempe Junction

With walls stretching to heights of 30 feet and more than 15,000 square feet of climbing surface, Phoenix Rock Gym is an impressive sight to behold. Seasoned instructors stand at the foot of ropes and bouldering walls, guiding clients of all ages who scamper up and down faces, cracks, arêtes, and chimneys within the comfort of a climate-controlled gym, safe from mountain goats that have developed a taste for human gym shorts. The gym's assortment of more than 50 courses accommodates all skill levels, from first-time climbers to the seasoned scalers of the Phoenix New Times. Staff members switch up holds and paint colors regularly to keep climbs from getting stale.

Tempe Airsoft & Paintball's 24,000-square-foot indoor arena hosts rounds of rec ball—military-inspired play among ruined buildings, oil barrels, and other obstacles. Arriving at the compound, paintballers lease markers, face-protecting masks, and pigment-loaded pellets for friendly combat or for spraying Kick Me on enemies’ backs. As referees oversee the game, players search for vantage points among ruined buildings or take part in skirmishes between oil barrels. For an additional fee, shooters can rent supplementary equipment such as a chest or neck protector or can hoard extra paintballs to finally settle old sudoku scores.

Mesa Arts Center curates artistic goings-on inside a sleek structure filled with four theaters, five art galleries, and 14 art studios. Graced by the likes of Yo-Yo Ma and Bill Cosby, the stages of the facility's theaters showcase a cultural cocktail of live music, Broadway, dance, and comedy performances. Grooming the next generation of artisans with the help of advanced equipment, seasoned instructors teach everything from acting and beading to woodworking and welding during art classes tailored to both kids and adults.

For inspiration, students and visitors can stroll through the galleries of the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum for glimpses at a revolving selection of contemporary art from international artists. Speckled with gardens, shapely architecture, and colorful lighting, the facility’s modern grounds welcome guests for everyday visits or annual events and festivals.

On tandem flights, Sonora Wings Hang Gliding's instructors, who are certified by the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, take their customers to altitudes of up to 5,000 feet, where they glide like birds over Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. The unique vantage point allows for breathtaking views—wild mustangs running through the desert, distant mountains, and red-tailed hawks that soar within a robotic arm's grasp. To reach these heights, hang gliders are towed behind the company's Dragonfly, a small aircraft specifically designed to launch hang gliders. Sonora Wings Hang Gliding's pilots and instructors take off on these adventures from sunrise to sunset, and they can capture each moment on HD video.

Augusta Ranch Golf Club’s first hole starts players off with a bit of misdirection. Measuring 379 yards from the back tees, the longest hole on the course calls for a zealous swing, while the rest of the course is designed to give irons a workout. The links feature a mix of par-3 and par-4 holes that invite newcomers to play around and test experienced players' short game play with shallow greens and treacherous bunkers. Instructors give lessons for all skill levels, and the staff organizes a variety of events throughout the year, from clinics and tournaments to Night Golf played with glowing golf balls. Players can convene beneath The Sunset Grille’s outdoor pavilion to snack on classic breakfast and lunch cuisine and keep an eye out for flocks of geese trained to abduct pitching wedges.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 61 course
• Total length of 3,846 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 59 from the back tees
• Course slope of 91 from the back tees
• Three sets of tees per hole
• Scorecard

Lauded by the Phoenix New Times as the best indoor skate park in town, Xtreme Air Jump 'N Skate captures 30,000 square feet of adrenaline-tinged family fun and transforms it into a high-flying jump park and a custom-designed skate park.The park's 54 connected trampolines, velcro wall, and Slamball courts provide ample entertainment for those without boards, and skateboarders and scooters can launch into the foam pit and rip the rails and ramps at the 10,000-square-foot park while attentive staff monitor them closely. Near the skate park, the Little Xtremers park pumps up inflatable castles where children aged 5 and younger can perform bouncing renditions of Hamlet. Parents can await playing progeny at the Grind Cafe, watch their kids on the large screen viewing TV, or just relax in the Parents' Lounge.