The East Valley's best-kept secrets.
Gilbert, Chandler and the corners of the East Valley that keep surprising people.
Gilbert and the East Valley don't announce themselves the way Scottsdale does, and that's exactly the draw. New builds sit next to citrus farms, patios are quieter, and the pace is a notch slower without giving up good food or things to do.
Here's how I'd spend a day out this way.
Morning
Start at one of Gilbert's farmers markets or a local bakery downtown, then walk the Heritage District before it gets warm. The historic water tower and old storefronts make for an easy, unhurried start.
Afternoon
Lunch downtown, then browse the boutiques and antique shops tucked along the district's side streets. If you're touring homes, afternoons are also when new-build communities open their model homes, worth a walk-through even if you're just looking.
Evening
Downtown Gilbert comes alive at night with patios, live music, and a lineup of restaurants that rival anything closer to the city. It's the kind of evening that makes people reconsider what they thought they knew about the East Valley.
If it changes your mind about where to live, that's usually the point.
