Chandler

Every spring, Chandler throws a festival in honor of ostriches – a nod to the days when bird farms here supplied feathers for the hat fashions of the era. A trip to Chandler, in the southeast of the Greater Phoenix area, takes you to a modern city with chip factories, a charming historic downtown, and desert landscapes all around.

From Ranch to Chip City

Veterinarian Alexander John Chandler bought land south of Mesa in the late 19th century and founded the city that bears his name in 1912. He had the elegant San Marcos Hotel built, Arizona's first golf resort, which is still open today. For a long time, Chandler lived off cotton, alfalfa, and ostrich farms. Beginning in the 1980s, the city transformed into a technology hub: Intel operates one of its largest manufacturing sites here, and numerous suppliers followed. The population grew rapidly as a result.

Sights in Chandler

Historic Downtown Chandler, centered on A. J. Chandler Park and Arizona Avenue, preserves arcades from the city's founding era and sculptures, including, of course, ostriches. The Chandler Museum tells the story of the city, and the Chandler Center for the Arts offers concerts and theater. Veterans Oasis Park, with its lakes and hiking trails, and the Environmental Education Center are popular with bird-watchers. On the edge of town lies the Gila River Indian Community with the Huhugam Heritage Center, which showcases the culture of the Akimel O'odham and Pee Posh. In March, the Ostrich Festival takes place, with ostrich races, concerts, and a carnival.

Eating and Going Out in Chandler

Downtown Chandler has developed into a small nightlife strip with breweries, bars, cafés, and restaurants, many with patios for the mild evenings. The cuisine ranges from Mexican dishes like carne asada and tamales to barbecue to a surprisingly large selection of Indian, Chinese, and Korean restaurants, brought along by the many international professionals working in the tech industry. In winter, an illuminated Christmas tree made of tumbleweeds draws visitors to the park.

Golf, Resorts, and Recreation

Numerous golf courses surround Chandler, including the historic course at San Marcos. Resorts such as the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass, on Gila River Indian Community land, combine wellness with Indigenous culture; horseback rides into the desert are also offered in the area. Families visit Tumbleweed Park with its playgrounds and the Chandler Museum. In summer, people escape to air-conditioned shopping centers like Chandler Fashion Center or head to the Salt River to float down the river on inner tubes.

Getting Around Chandler and Best Time to Visit

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is about 25 minutes to the northwest, and the smaller Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is a similar distance to the east. Valley Metro buses run within the city, but in practice a car is essential. The best time to visit is October through April, with sunny, warm days; in summer, temperatures regularly exceed 104°F. Day trips lead to South Mountain Park, the Salt River, the Superstition Mountains, and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, home to a centuries-old Hohokam adobe structure.