Chandler has a little of nearly everything one could hope to find in a city of nearly 300,000 people.
Just southeast of Phoenix, Chandler has shopping, recreation, historical tourism and special event opportunities.
Those interested in cooling off at one of several city pools or libraries or attend a special event or recreate at of the city’s larger parks.
Here are 10 places to visit in the Chandler area.
The Lavender Farm at Chateau de Vie
The Lavender Farm at Chateau de Vie is a mansion built only about 40 years ago but in an older, classic style. It’s now open for tours.
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Location: 1220 N. Kyrene Road, Chandler.
Hours of operation: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays
This 15,000-square-foot European-inspired mansion and 10-acre lavender farm built in 1984. After changing hands and falling into disrepair, it was purchased and fully restored by the Goodman family. Today, it operates as a farm and event venue, offering guided historic tours.
Tours of the mansion are $20 plus fees. Classes in various crafts are held here as well. Both can be booked online at thelavenderfarms.com.
The Field of Honor at Veterans Oasis Park
The Field of Honor at Veterans Oasis Park is where local military veterans are recognized.
Abby Flesher via city of Chandler
Location: 4050 E. Chandler Heights Road
Hours of operation: 6 a.m.-10:30 p.m. daily
Cost: No charge for entry or parking
Not every city has a memorial honors local past, present, and future veterans, offering visitors a meaningful place for reflection, remembrance, and learning. It pays tribute to veterans from all branches and has an American Flag in stone, a Korean War-era aircraft, an Arizona star overlook and local names on a veterans recognition wall.
The Tumbleweed Recreation Center is one of the centerpieces of Tumbleweed Park, though pickleball courts and many sport and recreation facilities are on-site.
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. B Brooks
Location: 745 E. Germann Road
Hours of operation: Hours vary for various outdoor facilities; Recreation Center is open 5 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays with special weekend and holiday hours; most outdoor facilities are open 6 a.m.-10:30 p.m. daily.
Cost: Varies at the rec center and in other park locations for various exercise or recreation programs.
The 62,000-square-foot rec center is the city’s largest facility and is one of the centerpieces of a 200-acre park with athletic fields, pavilions, the “Playtopia” shaded and other play areas, a 1.3 mile paved sidewalk, shaded benches and pavilions and 18 tennis and 18 newly opened 18 pickleball courts.
The Chandler Museum focuses on history and other education programs.
Bill Timmerman/City of Chandler
Location: 300 S. Chandler Village Drive
Hours of operation: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays; 1-5 p.m. Sundays; closed Mondays.
Cost: No charge for admission
The general-purpose local and regional museum celebrates historical and cultural elements of the city, state and the Southwest with both rotating exhibits and adult and age-group programming. Various spaces on-site or the entire museum can be rented out for special events.
Tumbleweed Ranch is on 14 acres on the southeast corner of Tumbleweed Park.
City of Chandler
Location: 2250 S. McQueen Road
Hours of operation: Generally 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed as of June 2026 for facility improvements.
The southeast-most 14 acres of Tumbleweed Park are a historic ranch facility operated by the Chandler Museum. Meant to celebrate the area’s agriculture heritage, the buildings and other features are tied most closely to the 1910s and 1920s, but other items — especially in equipment on display — are from other eras.
The ranch is a regular destination for educational school field trips and is part of FFA and special events, such as the annual Chandler Chuck Wagon Cook‑off. On-site features include the McCroskey House, Edwards House, the Red Shed Theater, an early‑1900s grocery store, demonstration fields and antique agricultural equipment.
Visit chandlermuseum.org or 480-782-2717 for the latest status of the ranch.
Downtown Chandler art galleries
The city of Chandler’s two foundation-run downtown art museums have rotating exhibits.
City of Chandler
Locations: The Gallery at CCA, 250 N. Arizona Avenue; Vision Gallery, 10 E. Chicago Street
Cost: No charge for admission or parking; some art pieces and keepsakes are for sale
Hours of operation: The Gallery at CCA hours are Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays noon to 5 p.m. Vision Gallery: Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both are closed Sundays.
These foundation-run downtown galleries are a few blocks apart, though both focus heavily on local or Southwestern artists and youth / student shows and exhibits.
Desert Breeze has among the most features of any city park in the Valley. The west Chandler place has lake, splash pad, fishing and a train that loops much of the park.
City of Chandler
Location: In Desert Breeze Park, 660 N. Desert Breeze Blvd. East
Cost: Three tickets to ride the Express train; tickets can be purchased at the park for $2.50 each or 10 for $22.50. Children younger than age 1 ride free with a paid adult.
Hours of operation: The park is open for public use from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
As if having a summertime splash pad, lake, sprawling grassy areas to sports fields, shady pavilions, picnic areas, a fishing lake with resident ducks, a multi-use field, tennis courts, diamond fields, sand volleyball, snack bar, hummingbird habitat and walking paths weren’t enough, this west Chandler park has its own train that runs Labor Day through Memorial Day.
Open-air coaches wind through a scenic three-quarter mile tour of the park. Children shorter than 42 inches in height must be accompanied by paid adult.
For park activities or reservations, call 480-782-2727.
Koli Equestrian Center horseback rides
The KOLI Equestrian Center offers horseback tours of Gila River Indian Community trails.
Casual Fridays Photography via KOLI
Location: 6940 W. Broken Ear Road
Cost: Ride packages start at $40 per rider. Packages are seasonal and include March-through-November options.
The horseback riding experience on the Gila River Indian reservation is guided by wranglers who tell of the culture and history of the surrounding landscape. All skill levels, from novices to experts, as well as singles, large groups, and families with children as young as age 7, are welcome.
The Chandler Fashion Center includes the only Scheels in Arizona and much more for all ages.
Independent Newsmedia file/Jason W. Brooks
Location: 3111 W. Chandler Blvd.
Hours of operation: Main mall hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays and some holidays.
Anchored by Dillard’s and the only Scheels in Arizona, the two-level indoor mall’s recent additions include Johnny Rockets and the Round1 bowling alley and arcade. Several Valley brands are among the restaurants located along the outer drive.
The Chandler Nature Center focuses on education programs, such as this one in which bird feathers are identified.
Sherrie Buzby for the city of Chandler
Location: 4050 E. Chandler Heights Road
Hours of operation: 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays,
Cost: No charge for admission or parking
Home to nature-oriented educational programs, all aspects of green living, and exhibits, the center is mostly program and presentation-oriented, though the "Chandler Solar System" walk and outdoor discovery field packs are self-guided during open hours.
There are also a few regular drop-in programs, such as “Meet the Snakes,” which is the first Wednesday and Friday afternoons of each month .Nature hikes in the park, Southwest garden maintenance and “Meet the Creature” exhibits are added regularly.
Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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