For people with autism spectrum disorder it can be hard to find social activities they can enjoy with family members. Mesa, AZ tried to help alleviate that by becoming the FIRST-EVER AUTISM-CERTIFIED CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
Last updated: May 2026
Mesa, Arizona made history in 2019 when it became the first Autism Certified City in the United States, and the world. That designation is not honorary. It means that over 80% of guest-facing staff across participating businesses, hotels, museums, and city services completed specialized autism awareness training through IBCCES (International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards). It means sensory guides exist for major attractions. It means when your autistic child has a hard moment in a Mesa restaurant or museum, the person working there actually has training to respond with support rather than judgment.
We live in the Phoenix metro area. Mesa is our backyard. This post started as a guide to autism-certified activities in the city and it’s grown into something more, because the city has grown. In November 2024, Mesa celebrated its five-year anniversary as an autism certified city with the “Live Life Limitless” event, marking a milestone that included 50 certified businesses and 7,921 community members completing autism-specific training. In March 2025, Polaris Academy became the first school in Arizona to earn Certified Autism Center designation — joining nearly 60 Mesa businesses and organizations in the certification program.
What follows is our family’s honest guide to Mesa’s autism-certified activities the ones we have actually visited, the ones we recommend, and the ones worth knowing about if you’re navigating this city with an autistic child.
Not too long ago I wrote about some of the things we did and places we explored in Mesa. It was our first time actually going out and exploring what it meant to be an Autism-certified city. So if you ever find yourself in Mesa and need some recommendations I will share with you some activities for people with autism. I only mentioned a few places in that first post so I felt like I needed to give a part 2. This is the continuation of that post.
Why it’s important for autistic kids to engage in recreational activities
Autistic kids ( and autistic adults!) often have a hard time making connections and friends. A great way to get them to open up and feel more comfortable around others is by engaging in some leisure activities. It’s not just great for social and fine motor skills but it can be so beneficial to mental health. Everyone wants to feel a sense of belonging. Some of the benefits for autistic individuals include:
- Improved communication skills
- Finding friends with similar interests
- Can improve gross motor skills
- It can lead to new interests and other hobbies
- Increased autonomy and a greater independence
- The feeling of community and acceptance
What are good activities for autistic people?
It is so important for us to make sure our kids get as much social interaction as possible. Socializing with their peers is how young children learn and develop a lot of skills. There are so many sensory activities that you can do with autistic children. The main thing to remember is everyone has different sensory needs and interests. What works for one might not work for another child. Some fun activities we have enjoyed as a family are board games, cooking together, going out for hikes, and gardening.
What are some autism-friendly activities we have found in our city?
Arizona Museum of Natural History
I wasn’t surprised when we got to the Arizona Museum of Natural History, that all of the staff we interacted with were extremely nice and knowledgeable. So far Mesa was proving that the training had paid off. Here we were able to see dinosaurs! The main attraction is Dinosaur Mountain, with animatronic dinosaurs, a 3-story indoor waterfall, and a flash flood that happens every 30 minutes. In addition to dinosaurs, there were other educational activities like visitors can pan for gold, learning about volcanoes, or discovering Arizona’s connections to ancient civilizations, including the Maya! When we went there was a Paleontologist hard at work who also talked us through his entire process.
Planespotting
Now you know we are an aviation family so a fun way for us to spend the day is by planespotting! Plane spotting is a hobby of watching and capturing aircraft movements at an airport. If you aren’t new here then you already know my husband is a pilot. This was a great opportunity for him to be able to bond with the boys over their shared love of planes. There are quite a few airports that also have restaurants where you can eat and watch the aircraft take off and land. We usually go to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
Musical Instrument Museum
MIM’s five Geographic Galleries showcase global music and cultures through multimedia that allows you to hear, see, and feel the creative spirit of people as they play their instruments. Our son absolutely loves music and this is like music therapy for him. When he was younger I used to take him to a mini music makers class. It was a fun activity for kids his age. They have all kinds of classes, galleries, workshops, and so much more! If the sensory stimulation proves to be too much MIM has some great places to take a break, including the Family Center which has books, toys, family restrooms, and a nursing station. The Experience Gallery is where you get to play with the instruments! If transitions are tough for your young one then it might be a good idea to visit this room last. The Encore Gallery is also available with the same instruments but fewer people.
Cactus League Spring Training
This is one of the most popular outdoor activities here. Mesa is home to two spring training teams the Chicago Cubs, and The Oakland A’s. If you haven’t already read my post about Spring Training in Mesa, make sure to check it out. The Cubs play at Sloan Park and the A’s play at Hohokam stadium. Every year thousands of fans come to watch their favorite teams play. Throughout the Spring Training season, you can watch the Chicago Cubs practicing and exercising at the Nike Performance Center and Riverview Baseball Complex. You can also tailgate, explore Stomper Kid Zone, or even visit Riverview Park. Watching a baseball game was a new activity for us. However, Spring Training is a good way to introduce the kiddos to a great game.
Jake’s Unlimited
This is probably one of our favorite places. We even had our son’s birthday party here. He is in a developmental preschool class and all of his peers loved it. This expansive indoor play area is the ideal destination to “beat the heat” with your friends and family! There was even stuff for the younger children to do. Whether you are into bowling, laser tag, bumper cars, or video games, the fun is truly unlimited. Not to mention the great prizes and prices as well! I should also mention they have a really great buffet that’s included with admission.
More autism-friendly activities in Mesa worth knowing about
The five activities above are our personal favorites the ones we return to and the ones I feel confident recommending from experience. But Mesa’s autism-certified ecosystem has grown significantly since the city first earned its designation. Here are additional venues and experiences worth exploring:
Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch
One of the most underrated outdoor spaces in the East Valley. The Riparian Preserve is a 110-acre urban wildlife area with walking paths, a lake, and seasonal migratory bird activity. The outdoor setting means open space, low sensory demands, and natural sound rather than artificial noise. Entry is free. The predictable layout paths around a central lake makes it easy to preview the route and plan a familiar loop. Early mornings on weekdays are the quietest. For children who are drawn to birds, water, or open-sky environments, this is a genuinely excellent sensory regulation space that doesn’t feel like a therapeutic activity.
Mesa Arts Center — sensory-friendly performances
The Mesa Arts Center periodically offers sensory-friendly performances and events modified productions with reduced sound levels, adjusted lighting, designated quiet spaces, and staff trained to support families with sensory needs. Check their current schedule at mesaartscenter.com for upcoming sensory-friendly events. When these performances are available, they are one of the most meaningful cultural experiences accessible to autistic children in the Phoenix metro.
Golfland Sunsplash
A Mesa institution miniature golf, go-karts, laser tag, and a water park. This one requires more preparation than a museum or nature preserve: the environment is stimulating, loud at peak times, and unpredictable in ways that can be challenging. The strategy that works for us is early arrival (open at 10am on weekdays), sensory kit packed, a clear exit plan, and arriving on a weekday when crowds are manageable. The mini golf courses in particular are well-suited for autistic children who enjoy structured, sequential activities. If your child can handle moderate stimulation with preparation, this is a genuine treat.
Polaris Academy — a note for families considering schools
In March 2025, Polaris Academy in Mesa became the first school in Arizona to earn Certified Autism Center designation from IBCCES. For families considering educational options in the Mesa area, this is worth knowing — the school serves kindergarten through eighth grade and has staff trained specifically to support autistic students across the learning environment. Visit polarisacademyaz.org for enrollment and program information.
The Visit Mesa sensory guide bookmark this before any trip
This deserves more prominence than a buried link. Visit Mesa’s official tourism bureau publishes sensory guides for major Mesa attractions detailed information about the sensory environment of each venue, including sound levels, lighting, crowd patterns, and available accommodations. Before visiting any Mesa attraction with an autistic child, check the sensory guide first.
Find the guides at visitmesa.com/autism-travel/sensory-guides/. This is one of the most genuinely useful resources available to autism families in the Phoenix metro and I want to make sure it’s impossible to miss.
What the autism certification actually means for your family
The Certified Autism Center designation means that at least 80% of a venue’s guest-facing staff has completed specialized training in autism awareness including understanding sensory sensitivities, communication differences, and how to respond supportively rather than reactively. When you walk into a CAC-certified venue in Mesa, the person at the front desk, the server at your table, and the staff member in the exhibit hall have all been specifically trained to work with your family.
In practice this has meant: staff at the Arizona Museum of Natural History who recognized a meltdown for what it was and offered a quiet space without being asked. Staff at a Mesa hotel who had sensory kits available at the front desk. A server at a Mesa restaurant who checked in quietly without making our sons feel conspicuous. These are not extraordinary moments they are what competently trained staff actually does. And they are more common in Mesa than almost anywhere else we have traveled as a family.
For a full list of CAC-certified venues in Mesa, use the IBCCES Accessibility App or the IBCCES Certified Autism Center directory. The list continues to grow as more Mesa businesses complete the certification process.
For more on navigating autism in the Phoenix metro, read my posts on things to do in Phoenix with kids, helping autistic children with transitions, and the full autism resources hub.
If you decide to visit any of these great places I urge you to take advantage of the sensory guides. Not only are they helpful for planning out your day, but they could possibly help prevent any discomfort. It can also be a great way to create visual schedules for your child. Trying new activities can sometimes be difficult for people with special needs however there are some ways to make it easier. If you know that your child is sensitive to certain sounds, sights, etc. you could avoid that attraction. You can also choose to only visit types of activities that interest them. So, here is a link to the complete list of all the sensory guides for the city of Mesa.
I should also mention that one of the requirements for the Autism Certified City certification is updated training every two years. Not only that, but their training comes from IBCCES. An industry leader in autism training for licensed healthcare professionals and educators around the globe for the past 20 years. Being an Autism Certified City means families like ours with sensory needs will have positive experiences. We won’t have to worry about ridicule and judgment. It is my hope that other cities follow suit. While you’re here make sure to check out our video and see what makes Mesa, AZ a “family-friendly city.”
There are so many common misconceptions about people with developmental disabilities. However, they should be able to go out and enjoy themselves like anyone else. It really should be the industry standard for anyone working with people to be trained in autism sensitivity, empathy, understanding what autism is, and communication strategies.
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