Puppy-watching is free. Photo: Jessica Boehm/Axios
Here's a hot take: A Chandler Fashion Center stroll is the best free toddler activity in the Valley.
The intrigue: The mall has lots for little eyes to look at, wide-open spaces for strollers/wagons and, unlike other malls (I'm looking at you Scottsdale Fashion Square), there's only two levels, so you don't have to spend the bulk of your time in a crowded elevator.
The highlights: These are my 1-year-old's must-visit spots:
🐶 Arizona Animal Welfare League: Say hello to the puppies up for adoption!
🐟 Scheels: The 16,000-gallon fish tank keeps us busy for at least 20 minutes. It's no OdySea Aquarium, but it also doesn't cost $50 to walk in the door.
🧀 Wildflower Bread Company: The food court can get a little too overstimulating for us, so we head to this quiet downtown spot to split a cup of mac-and-cheese when we need a break.
