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Stop watching your kids fight over the last decent Wi-Fi spot at the same overcrowded beach resort. Plot your great escape to Chandler, Arizona, instead! Nestled in the Sonoran Desert (where cacti outnumber tourists 1000 to 1), Chandler offers the family vacation equivalent of finding an extra fry at the bottom of your fast-food bag—an unexpected delight! With attractions that will tear teenagers away from TikTok, activities that burn enough kid energy to ensure actual bedtimes, and adult diversions that don’t involve refereeing sibling rivalries, Chandler delivers for every family member. And with sunshine so reliable you could set your watch by it (seriously, pack SPF 1000), your vacation photos will feature actual smiles instead of the usual “Are we done yet?” grimaces that fill most family albums. We had to narrow our favorites to these nine great things to do in Chandler, Arizona, with kids.
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Arizona Railway Museum
All aboard! Start your Chandler adventure with a visit to the Arizona Railway Museum. A great place for train-loving kids and parents alike, this kid-friendly attraction features real train cars, interactive exhibits, and even the chance to step aboard a vintage train. Make it a point to walk through the train and check out the observation deck, there’s even a cute little miniature train set up. Stepping onto an 1800s train car is like stepping into the Old West with a touch of modern adventure! Kids can climb aboard train cars, and it won’t take long for them to pretend they’re conductors on a Wild West train adventure. It’s a fun activity for kids of all ages—and, yes, there are plenty of photo ops and a darling gift shop!
Thomas would have train envy. Photo courtesy of AZ Railway Museum
Crayola Experience
For the little Picasso’s in your family, the Crayola Experience in Chandler is the ultimate playground for creativity. Color, craft, and play! It’s a kid-friendly wonderland where the kids can create their own crayon (because who doesn’t want their name in color?), color giant murals like they’re at an art gallery, create colorful drawings on large digital screens, and explore the “crayon factory” – the sheer color range of purple crayons will blow your mind! Your whole family will get to dive into the magic of color, all while learning how Crayola crayons are made, and the best part is that there are no broken crayons in sight (nobody likes broken crayons.) It’s such a fun place to let your kiddo’s creativity run wild! And adults love the experience, too. Where else can you freely talk about the smell of a new box of crayons without sounding weird to your teens? Don’t forget to stop by the Crayola Store to grab exclusive, Crayola-themed souvenirs – giant inflatable crayons, anyone?
Tumbleweed Park
Chandler is full of surprises, and Tumbleweed Park is one of its gems. This beautiful park features basketball courts, miniature golf, a playground, and actually zero tumbleweeds, go figure! Whether you’re looking to enjoy a relaxing picnic or engage in some family-friendly competition, this park offers plenty of fun activities for all ages. The Tumbleweed Recreation Center also hosts special events, making it a lively spot for locals and tourists alike. Be sure to check out the Chandler Museum nearby for local history and art.
A pretty place to stretch little legs. Photo courtesy of Visit Chandler
Bear Creek Golf Complex
When in Chandler, one must golf. With at least seven courses in Chandler and many more surrounding the area, it’s considered the leading city for golf in Arizona. Bear Creek Golf Complex welcomes families with open bear paws! This public course offers championship golf links as well as a family-friendly beginner course. The Cub Course is designed to accommodate players of all skill levels and includes junior tees for the youngest golf pros in your family. Plus, Sundays are Family Golf Day, so grab some clubs and get swinging.
Par for the course! Photo by Sly Dizzle on Unsplash
Splash Pads, Water Slides, and Lazy Rivers Abound
When it comes to kid-friendly activities, Chandler sizzles, and it’s only a bit because of the heat! Water parks are to Arizona what alligators are to Florida…they’re everywhere. Water parks, splash pads, and lazy rivers are an essential part of any Arizona vacation, especially during the summer months because melting in the sun is so out!
- Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center is perfect for families with its lazy river and water slides, ideal for a cooling-down session after exploring the city. The family fun continues with a play area great for younger kids who want to splash around without going down the big water slides.
- Desert Oasis Aquatic Center is another cool spot to check out, featuring bump boats and a family play pool, perfect for everyone from toddlers to older kids.
- If you’re in the mood for a more relaxing water day mixed with a few shopping bags, make sure to check out the Chandler Fashion Center Mall, where you’ll find a splash pad in the heart of the city that fulfills every child’s need for streams of water up their nose!
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Phoenix Zoo
Just a hop, skip, and a short drive from Chandler, the Phoenix Zoo is a wild adventure you absolutely can’t miss. Featuring over 3,000 animals like the Bornean orangutans, Asian elephants, Sumatran tigers, Masai giraffes, and Komodo dragons, it’s an animal house of epic proportions. And it’s always hump day at the Phoenix Zoo, with camel rides that make you feel like you’re on a desert safari. Or, brave an up-close animal encounter of the Stingray variety at Stingray Bay – your kids will love your Dr. Dolittle impression! Plus, the zoo is a nonprofit, so it throws special events year-round to raise money and excitement; whether you’re there for a family picnic or planning a birthday party that’ll leave everyone roaring for more, there’s always something fun going on!
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Photo by: Brady Bellini @ unsplash
South Mountain Park and Preserve
This shouldn’t be a surprise, but there’s a massive desert oasis in Phoenix, Arizona, called South Mountain Park and Preserve. And it’s so huge that it’s called the Phoenix Point of Pride, which is basically the park’s way of flexing. We’re not just talking about cacti and dirt. Oh no, South Mountain’s got some sunny surprises for your whole family, like the Mystery Castle. It’s a funky, three-story mansion with 18 rooms and 13 fireplaces, and it looks like it was built by a time-traveling cowboy architect—and that’s a compliment. There are no castle tours, but you can still get your fill of weirdness by walking the area and checking out the boggling details. South Mountain has miles and miles of trails. You can wander trails while you wonder, or book a private petroglyph tour. Whether you’re on foot, bike, or horseback, you’ll find trails for all levels of adventurers. Just be sure to bring enough water—it is the desert, after all. Dobbins Lookout is another must—hike to the stone ramada for the perfect victory selfie. South Mountain Park’s got everything, including the weird, the wild, and the wonderfully unexpected.
The Dobbins Lookout hike rewards you with a shady stone ramada and panoramic views of Pheonix. Photo courtesy of visitphoenix.com
Big Air Trampoline Park
Looking for something…anything that your older kids will flip for and abandon their phones for a bit? Do you have a secret dream of being on American Ninja Warrior (we won’t tell), head over to Big Air Trampoline Park for hours of jumping fun. This high-energy park features a climbing wall, laser tag, arcade games, and…wait for it, a ninja warrior course. It’s the kind of place where your kids can chase, fight, and push each other around, and it just looks like they’re playing and having fun. That’s a mom win. It’s also a great place to duck into when the desert heat has you feeling like you’re melting like a crayon on the sidewalk.
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Makutu’s Island
For those with active kids, Makutu’s Island is a must-see destination. This indoor play paradise is essentially a trampoline park meets climbing wall meets play area that will have your kids burning off energy while you sit back and relax. The giant jungle gym is perfect for young kids, with slides, tunnels, plenty of places to explore, and plenty of fake foliage for you to hide behind and take a much-needed break. There’s also a kiddie slide for toddlers and an arcade where they can play games, lounge, and scroll after they’ve had enough climbing and bouncing.
When it’s a jungle in there! Photo courtesy of Makutus Island
[ctt template=”8″ link=”WfQa9″ via=”no” ]Looking to ditch the same-old family vacation spots? Discover Chandler, AZ where desert fun meets family adventures! From creating custom crayons to conquering ninja courses Check out our guide to 9 unmissable Chandler attractions.[/ctt]
Chandler Has It All
From water parks and arcade games to indoor playgrounds and creative activities, Chandler, Arizona, has something for everyone in the whole family. Whether looking for kid-friendly attractions or a relaxing day at the park, there’s plenty to do in this vibrant city. Get ready for family fun, Chandler-style. And for all you teens out there, we mean the city, not the character from Friends.
When you Go
Where to Stay In Chandler For Families
Booking a room at the Crown Plaza Resort Phoenix – Chandler Golf Resort puts you smack-dab in downtown Chandler, making it super convenient to visit everything on this list. And, per the name, it has golf, as well as an amazing outdoor pool, and outdoor dining.
The Double Tree Hotel,Chandler is a down-to-earth hotel with casual restaurants and convenient stores nearby. You can upgrade to rooms with minifridges and suites that have separate living room areas, sofa beds, and microwaves.
Just outside of Chandler is the Sonesta Select Phoenix, Chandler. It’s a modern/contemporary hotel offering great perks for the family—large suites, separate living areas, and minifridges. There’s also an outdoor heated pool and hot tub, perfect for ending your fun-filled days.
Getting to Chandler from Los Angeles
The great thing about getting to Arizona from Los Angeles is that it’s pretty painless – in terms of travel time and expense, “time is money,” as they say. And if you’re hauling the whole family around for spring break, these two resources are precious…and fleeting, as in “easy come, easy go.”
The most efficient way to get your fam to Chandler, Arizona, is by flying directly to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Many airlines offer direct flights from LAX to PHX. Top picks include Frontier, Spirit, and Delta. Flights range anywhere between $33-$145. If you wanna be on the low end of that range, flying on a Tuesday helps, and if you keep your eyes out, you can find great weekly/weekend deals on flights to Arizona.
WayAway is a flight search engine that looks for the best deals for destinations you’re visiting with the possibility of earning cash back on your purchases. Have you tried them yet? If not, give them a spin and see how much money you’ll save on flights.
Once you land, it’s just a short 20-minute drive to Chandler, and the Phoenix Airport has rental cars onsite—hooray! They are just a hop, skip, and a Sky Train ride away. It’s always a good idea to make a reservation because walk-in rentals are limited here. On the flip side, you can also catch an Uber/Lyft.
An excellent discount site for rental cars and flights is Booking! We’ve literally saved hundreds using it.
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Laura Kent
. I am a master brand storyteller, creative ringleader and kick-a content creator, based in Park City, Utah, where I live with my three incredible kiddos, my guy, and three of the goofiest doodle doggies you’ll ever meet. My specialties include copywriting, content creation, word smithing, editing, proofreading, SEO marketing, brainstorming, and picking brains. I’m also very good at multitasking, single-tasking, and “I’ll just do it myself” tasking. Last, but certainly not least, I specialize in spontaneous bursts of sheer brilliance. I traded life near the Pacific Ocean for mountain town living in Park City, which actually feels like a chill beach town…so, it’s a pretty even trade, except for the snow – obvi!