It’s definitely picture-taking time for families.  Whether you are looking for the ideal backdrop for your holiday card or thinking of possible locations to gather the extended family for a great, keepsake reunion photo, Chandler, AZ has some fantastic places to preserve those special moments.

Veterans Oasis Park

The natural beauty of the Sonoran desert and its ease of access makes Veterans Oasis Park a wonderful pick for couples and families of all sizes.  With its unique combination of lake, wetlands, open trails and wildlife – the 113-acre park is a great option for a picturesque spot. In addition to the open park land, visitors may want to head to the east side of the lake where a waterfall cascades on its way to the lake or take advantage of some of the wildlife viewing areas for some unique photo backdrops. Or make your way to the southwest corner of the park to capture Chandler's Veterans Memorial: Field of Honor which pays tribute to past, present and future veterans of the Southeast Valley.

Map to Veterans Oasis Park - 4050 E. Chandler Heights Road, Chandler AZ 85249

Downtown Chandler

When talking about possible sites for a family photo and mention Downtown Chandler, without hesitation, people often think of the timeless appeal of the trellis-covered walkways, Dr. A.J. Chandler Park or the beautiful courtyard of the Crowne Plaza Resort Phoenix Chandler Golf Resort. However, take a quick look around the historic square and you’ll discover pocket parks and a number of buildings with great angles and unique, subtle backgrounds. Need a pop of color in the background? No problem, the downtown district features many dynamic murals that provide a lot of character for those keepsake photos. For example, the south-facing, outside wall at the southeast corner of Boston St. and Arizona Avenue shows the remnants of a vintage Levis Strauss & Co ad - how fun would that be with the family in their ‘Levis’ and color-coordinated tops? Or find colorful, floral-infused murals at the Chandler Overstreet development at the southwest corner of Chandler Blvd. and Arizona Avenue. Not to worry, there is plenty of free parking in Downtown Chandler making it easy to get in and around the district.

Map to Downtown Chandler - South of Chandler Boulevard along Arizona Avenue

Chandler City Hall

You may not have instinctively thought of City hall – but Chandler certainly has a beautiful city hall campus that offers many wonderful options. If you are early birds, the morning sunrise is a great time to catch a family photo that is overflowing with golden sunlight as it reflects from all the glass windows onto the grassy, tree-lined courtyard. Furthermore, the stonewalls, large glass walls and metal structure offer beautiful angles for a more modern backdrop and plenty of lush trees and foliage for a great blend of modern and nature.

If your last name is Chandler or you happen to be commemorating a reunion of sorts, consider planning a late afternoon, sunset shot with the west-facing wall of Chandler City Hall and capture not only the end of day sun, but some of the fun, neon light glows that emanate from the Chandler City Hall starting at dusk. 

Map to Chandler City Hall - 175 S. Arizona Avenue, Chandler AZ 85225

Brothers at Tumbleweed Park

Tumbleweed Park

At the corner of McQueen Road and Germann Road, Tumbleweed Park is undoubtedly a great spot, a wonderful place to capture some multi-generational photos, pictures with the kids being kids, or couples and families having fun together. From the quiet, serene backdrop of yesteryear at Tumbleweed Ranch filled with historic homes and vintage farm equipment to the active, and buzzing play structure at Playtopia, the park has a lot of great locations for creating photos that are sure to be treasured.

Train fans may want to make their way over to the Arizona Railway Museum to capture photos for their train enthusiasts – but please check the schedule as the volunteer-led facility has seasonal hours of operation.

Map to Tumbleweed Park - 2250 S. McQueen Road, Chandler AZ 85286

Paseo Vista Recreation Area

Having been built on a former landfill, the Paseo Vista Recreation Park offers a unique, elevated viewpoint with 360-degree views of the East Valley. The 40-foot high park has a curved walking path, along with its more traditional playground, one of four Chandler dog parks, an archery range, and disc golf – great for capturing active families and couples enjoying Arizona’s great outdoors.

Map to Paseo Vista Recreation Area - 3850 S McQueen Road, Chandler AZ 85286

Desert Breeze Park

The park features a large lake for lakeside photos in addition to the well-known spray pad for great for shots with young kids (even when not in operation), playground equipment, and carousel and train – great for young family photos. The Desert Breeze Railroad and carousel have certain hours of operation and require a small fee, but are great options for candid images of capturing kids being kids. 

Map to Desert Breeze Park - 660 North Desert Breeze Blvd E, Chandler AZ 85226

Fulton Ranch

The Fulton Ranch neighborhood offers a classic style with its manicured grass, Stonework Bridge and water features. This is an active neighborhood, so this location is better suited for smaller families and couples.  

Map to Fulton Ranch community - West of Arizona Avenue, off Ocotillo Road

Have fun collecting those special moments in Chandler, Arizona and feel free to tag us on Instagram at #VisitChandler to share those photos and for a chance to be featured on our Instagram channel!