Top 30 Things To Do In Gilbert, Arizona - Updated 2024

things to do in gilbert arizona
Maria Cristina
Maria Cristina 
Updated
| 12 min read

Outside of Metro Phoenix, on Mesa’s south and Chandler’s east is a former agricultural community that has become one of the top 100 largest and most prosperous cities in America. Visitors get to enjoy Vrbo vacation rentals and Airbnb vacation rentals as they explore the best of what the city has to offer. Gilbert, Arizona is where the historical past and modern present converge in an interesting mix of town attractions drawing in tourists yearly. Visit Gilbert Historical Museum, the former elementary school built in 1913 currently a registered National Historic Site that shows nine exhibits of the town’s history. The Heritage District displays ancient buildings restored and converted into an entertainment center. Various art forms, good food, and outdoor recreational activities abound in Gilbert. Go stargazing using the state-of-the-art equipment of the Gilbert Rotary Centennial Observatory. Birdwatch at the Riparian Preserve and have a picnic at Freestone Park. Below is a list of things to do in Gilbert, Arizona that you must try when visiting.

1. Go bird watching at Water Ranch


Take a break from the concrete jungle and spend a few hours bird watching at the Riparian Preserve at the Water Ranch. The preserve was built to educate people on the conservation and propagation of Arizona’s natural surroundings. The man-made lakes filled with pumped recycled water and the well-tended landscape simulating desert foliage and trails has become a natural attraction for over 200 varieties of birds and wildlife as well as campers and birdwatchers. Go camping and enjoy the Water Ranch for a fee or join tours organized by volunteers and nature lovers.

Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch

Address: 2757 E Guadalupe Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85234, USA

Website: Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch

Opening hours: 5:30am - 10pm (daily)

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2. Dine and drink at Mulligan’s Grill

Drop on in on this beautiful day at Mulligans for $5 All You Can Eat Pancakes! And also $5 Bloody Mary Bar. Tell...

Posted by Western Skies Golf Club on Sunday, 28 July 2013

This laid-back neighborhood grill and bar in the Western Skies Golf Club property has been serving patrons the best cold drinks and delicious dishes for ages. Mulligan’s is open all year round and welcomes everyone even non-golfers. Aside from the best greens to work your golf game, there are more than 14 HDTVs where you can watch sporting events thus making it your next favorite hangout!

Mulligan’s Grill

Address: 1245 E Warner Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85296, USA

Website: Mulligan’s Grill

Opening hours: Mon, Wed - Thu: 8am - 7pm; Tue: 8am - 8pm; Fri: 8am - 9pm; Sat - Sun: 6am - 7pm

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3. Watch live shows at the Hale Centre Theatre


This privately owned theater, built in 1947, is the longest-running American theater company. Their technical and creative achievements have been recognized with over 30 Arizona awards. They perform family-friendly full-scale shows like musicals, tributes, classics, dramas, youth, and comedy productions. Their unique theater-in-the-round stage is surrounded by 350 seats, so guests have a more intimate view of the show. Tickets can be bought online, by phone, or by dropping by their West Page Avenue location.

Hale Centre Theatre

Address: 50 W Page Ave, Gilbert, AZ 85233, USA

Website: Hale Centre Theatre

Opening hours: Thu - Sat: 10am - 6:30pm; Mon - Wed: 10am - 5pm (closed on Sun)

Price: 20 USD

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4. Jump over to BounceU Amusement Centre


BounceU was created for kids and the kids-at-heart! The business is owned by a couple who have two kids and a bottomless passion for entertainment, children and serving the community. It’s the happiest place on Earth if you book it for a private party. The party venue is complete with inflatable equipment and amenities needed for a one-of-a-kind and stress-free celebration that includes child safety. A huge portion of the party proceeds is donated to their selected charity organizations.

BounceU Amusement Centre

Address: 1166 S Gilbert Rd Ste 110 Gilbert, AZ 85296

Website: BounceU Amusement Centre

Opening hours: Varies

Price: 9.99-10.99 USD

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5. Visit Saint Anne’s Catholic Parish


The Catholic Parish of Saint Anne’s gathers its multi-cultural disciples under one church to worship as one community. It started out as a simple church in 1936, built by volunteers with a capacity of 70 people. It was renovated in 1943 with a 220-seater church financed by a charity fund of 80,000 USD. The parish is one of the largest registered congregations in the country and it is still growing. The lovely altar and façade of the temple is the perfect venue for celebrations like weddings, baptisms, and other religious ceremonies under the Catholic faith.

Saint Anne Roman Catholic Parish

Address: 440 E Elliot Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85234, USA

Website: Saint Anne Roman Catholic Parish

Opening hours: Varies

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6. Shop 'til you drop at SanTan Village


SanTan Village is an open-air mall that has everything you need “under one roof”. Aside from shopping at their 50 branded and outlet stores and dining in their 26 fast-food outlets and sit-down restaurants, the mall also offers special services. They offer mall events, in-mall security, store discounts, free Wi-Fi, a children’s play area with a splash pad, ATMs, restrooms, and a community room great for meetings, interviews, and recruiting events.

SanTan Village

Address: 2218 E Williams Field Rd Suite 235, Gilbert, AZ 85295, USA

Website: SanTan Village

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 9pm; Sun: 11am - 6pm

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7. Organise barbeques at Freestone Park

things to do in gilbert arizona | organise barbeques at freestone park
Source: instagram

The most famous park in the city is a vast community park with a recreation center, a mini amusement park, baseball fields, a kid’s playground, basketball courts, a mini train ride, and a skate park. Freestone Park has a lake where visitors can go fishing or have a barbecue picnic. Its lush foliage offers several shaded areas and creates a charming natural scenery that is perfect for Instagram pictures and family portraits. A trip to Freestone Park with everything it offers becomes a whole day fun-filled affair!

Freestone Park

Address: 1045 E Juniper Ave, Gilbert, AZ 85234, USA

Website: Freestone Park

Opening hours: Sat - Fri: 5:30am - 10pm

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8. Solve puzzles at the Gilbert Escape Room


Gilbert Escape Room offers a venue wherein you have a unique way of bonding with your friends, family, and colleagues. The escape rooms are for the exclusive use of your group with a minimum requirement of six people. Your team is placed in a room to find clues, solve puzzles, and find ways to get out of it within a given time limit. Every room has a theme and a special scenario that encourages everyone to work together in order to escape. The activity is perfect for birthday parties, team building, and special events.

Gilbert Escape Room

Address: 1422 W. Warner Rd, Space A 102 Gilbert, AZ 85233

Website: Gilbert Escape Room

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 10am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 10pm

Price: 26 USD

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9. Hit the target at Gun Club 82


Gun Club 82 is Gilbert’s premier indoor shooting range and offers a gun club membership. The facility provides a safe environment for practice targeting and shooting your guns. Every gun shooting practice is an exciting experience at Gun Club 82. They also offer gun lessons, a shop for your guns and ammunition needs, a showroom, a roof deck, and the Ti Ammo restaurant serving handmade pizza on-site.

Gun Club 82

Address: 1695 S Santan Village Pkwy, Gilbert, AZ 85295, USA

Website: Gun Club 82

Opening hours: 9am - 9pm

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10. Learn about planets in the Gilbert Riparian Observatory


Witness Gilbert’s beautiful sunsets and learn about our solar system at the Gilbert Riparian Observatory. Using their high-powered telescope, peek into the galaxy and on a good day, you might spot a planet or two. Staff will assist you in handling the equipment and provide you with all the information you need regarding astronomy. Flash photography is prohibited though. The observatory is beside the library at Guadalupe and Greenfield in the Riparian Preserve. Come every second Friday of the month at 7:30 pm for the Sky Watch program - a free lecture on astronomy plus free telescope viewing hours.

Gilbert Riparian Observatory

Address: Gilbert, AZ 85234, USA

Website: Gilbert Riparian Observatory

Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Price: 5 USD

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11. Go local at Gilbert Farmers Market

Posted by Gilbert Farmers Market on Saturday, 22 December 2018

GFM (Gilbert Farmers Market) is a great place to shop and have brunch on a Saturday morning. All year round every Saturday, people gather in downtown Gilbert. Hundreds of vendors congregate to sell fresh, local and organic produce of the season. The whole family will enjoy the games, food trucks, local dishes, and live entertainment.

Gilbert Farmers Market

Address: 222 N Ash St, Gilbert, AZ 85234, USA

Website: Gilbert Farmers Market

Opening hours: Sat: 8am - 12pm (October to March), 7am - 11am (April to September)

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12. Watch a movie at Regal Cinemas Gilbert 14


Catch the latest movies at Gilbert 14 Cinemas that boast of plush king-sized recliners and a fully loaded concession stand. They feature standard movies and digital 3D movies in their theaters. Join the Regal Crown Club and earn rewards like free passes to movies. They also sell gift cards which are the best gift of entertainment that you can give for any occasion.

Regal Cinemas Gilbert 14

Address: 1012 S Gilbert Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85296, USA

Website: Regal Cinemas Gilbert 14

Opening hours: 10:45am - 10:45pm (daily)

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13. Practice your swing at TopGolf

Putt the squad together and come Par-Tee at Topgolf!

Posted by Topgolf on Friday, 15 March 2019

This sprawling driving range isn’t just a venue where you can practice your swing. Bring your friends over and they can relax in the stylish lounge enjoying some food and drinks while playing golf. The state-of-the-art driving range is pleasing to the eyes even at night when all the neon lights are lit. Luxuries like free Wi-Fi, 200 HDTVs, full-service bars and restaurants, and private meeting rooms and event spaces are provided to guests. It’s a unique entertainment place, great for all ages whether they play golf or not.

TopGolf

Address: 1689 S Santan Village Pkwy, Gilbert, AZ 85295, USA

Website: TopGolf

Opening hours: Sat: 8am - 1am; Sun: 8am - 11pm; Mon - Thu: 9am - 11pm; Fri: 9am - 1am

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14. Play great games on the greens at Western Skies Golf Club

Posted by Western Skies Golf Club on Sunday, 26 May 2019

Book your tee time as early as 6 am and start your day right. Western Skies Golf Club offers the most challenging and well-maintained greens to golfers seeking a game of fun and good value. The golf club constantly improves its facilities so regardless of what the weather condition might be, their golfers will always have the best game. Members are rewarded with great discounts for using the greens and enjoy access to great food and beverages in their famous in-house restaurant, the Mulligans.

Western Skies Golf Club

Address: 1245 E Warner Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85296, USA

Website: Western Skies Golf Club

Opening hours: Sat - Fri: 6am - 8pm

Price:15 USD for 9 holes; 22-29 USD for 18 holes

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15. Visit the Gilbert Historical Museum

Happy Flag Day!

Posted by HD SOUTH - Home of the Gilbert Historical Museum on Thursday, 14 June 2018

The Gilbert Historical Museum used to be an elementary school in 1913 and is now registered as a National Historic Place. There are nine exhibit rooms featuring a collection of memorabilia about the town’s history, a 100-year-old schoolroom, the citizens of Gilbert, and the Old West. It’s a great place to bring your kids and friends to know about Arizona’s participation in World War II.

Gilbert Historical Museum

Address: 10 S Gilbert Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85296, USA

Website: Gilbert Historical Museum

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 9am - 4pm (closed Sun - Mon)

Price: 40 USD

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16. Pamper yourself at the El Bella Day Spa-Gilbert

Posted by El Bella Day Spa - Gilbert on Tuesday, 1 August 2017

Feel like a celebrity when you step into the El Bella Day Spa-Gilbert. Their luxurious facilities provide complete beauty services for all sexes customized for the ultimate comfort and confidentiality. Their professional staff performs massages, facials, manicure and pedicure, body polish, haircut and style, and more. Book an appointment and try one of their exclusive beauty packages.

El Bella Day Spa-Gilbert

Address: 3303 E Queen Creek Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85297, USA

Website: El Bella Day Spa-Gilbert

Opening hours: Sat: 9am - 6pm; Sun: 10am - 5pm; Mon - Fri: 9am - 7pm

Price: 21 USD

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17. Create your masterpiece at the SunDust Gallery Paint & Pottery Party Studio


The SunDust Gallery Paint & Pottery Party Studio was built in Mesa in 2009 initially, with the intention of bringing together local artists and providing them with a space to exhibit their work. After four years, the gallery expanded and moved to Gilbert offering art programs and classes to non-artists, families, and children. Their lessons are taught in a neighborhood classroom set up to accommodate up to 50 students each.

SunDust Gallery Paint & Pottery Party Studio

Address: 183 E Williams Field Rd #109, Gilbert, AZ 85295, USA

Website: SunDust Gallery Paint & Pottery Party Studio

Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 9am - 6pm; Thu: 9am - 9pm; Fri: 12am - 9pm; Sat: 10am - 9pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm

Price: 20 USD

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18. Honor the 9/11 Memorial

DSC_0504
Source: Photo by Flickr user Jay Thompson used under CC BY-SA 2.0

The Gilbert 9/11 Memorial remembers and honors the many individuals who died during the worst terrorist attack in the USA. It features a beam from the World Trade Center North Tower angled on the floor so that even little children can reach and touch the memorabilia. It’s surrounded by four granite walls inscribed with the names of those who perished. The memorial is laid on a pentagon-shaped area laid with bricks and engraved with messages from their donors.

Gilbert 9/11 Memorial

Address: 50 E Civic Center Dr, Gilbert, AZ 85296, USA

Website: Gilbert 9/11 Memorial

Opening hours: 24/7

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19. Read books in the Southeast Regional Library

Posted by Southeast Regional Library on Monday, 3 June 2019

The Southeast Regional Library is one of the coolest places to hang out if you want to catch up on your reading. It’s a huge facility, right beside the Riparian Preserve at the Water Ranch on the corner of Greenfield and Guadalupe road. The high-tech library offers over 170,700 reading material in various formats, computers with internet access, word processing public computers, programming with no age limit, and activity computers for kids.

Southeast Regional Library

Address: 775 N Greenfield Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85234, USA

Website: Southeast Regional Library

Opening hours: Sat: 10am - 5pm; Sun: 1pm - 5pm; Mon - Wed: 10am - 9pm; Fri: 10am - 5pm

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20. Watch a musical show at the Higley Center

Posted by Higley Center on Sunday, 23 September 2018

Higley Center for the Performing Arts features a small theater and a huge, fully equipped concert hall where you can watch plays, musicals, drama shows, dance performances, and corporate presentations. You can also rent the center for school and corporate events, exhibits, or meetings. The maintenance of this lovely theater is dependant on donations, ticket sales, and rental fees. The center has impressive modern interiors, a spacious lobby connecting the Little Theater and Concert Hall, dressing rooms, a scene shop for loading and unloading equipment and scenery, quick-to-connect power outlets, and a motor-coach hookup.

Higley Center

Address: 4132 E Pecos Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85295, USA

Website: Higley Center for the Performing Arts

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21. Go cycling on the Gilbert Central Trail System


Gilbert’s popular Central Trail System has earned its reputation as a “bicycle-friendly community”. It features 54 miles (86.9 km) of bike trails running parallel to the canals and equestrian tracks, making it a haven for the outdoorsy types. The three trail systems - Marathon, Santan Vista, and Heritage Trail, run from north to south connecting the city’s parks and canal systems. There are several pocket parks, ramadas, drinking fountains, other entertaining features, and fascinating monuments that people can see once they cycle through the trails.

Gilbert Central Trail System

Address: Gilbert, AZ 85299 United States

Website: Gilbert Central Trail System

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22. Cool off at the Heritage Square pop-jet fountain


Head to the Heritage Square when you want to cool down from the summer heat. The square is located in the Water Tower Plaza which is a memorial to the iconic 1927 water tower which was the main water source of the town. The tower was restored and the area beneath it was converted into a park with fascinating water features like a pop-jet fountain, a splash play area for kids, a water wall beside a cantilever bench, and a huge granite kugel ball that sprays water. Admission is free and anyone can come over to get wet!

Water Tower Plaza

Address: 45 W Page Ave, Gilbert, AZ 85233, USA

Website: Water Tower Plaza

Opening hours: 7am - 10pm (daily)

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23. Walk your dogs at the Cosmo Dog Park


Cosmo Dog Park is a paradise for dogs where they can run leash free. It’s a popular 17 acre (0.026 square miles) park in Gilbert built especially for dogs. It features a lake where they can dive into, several doggie drinking fountains, an obstacle course, wash stations, tables, benches, and walkways. The park is named after the town’s first police dog, Cosmo.

Cosmo Dog Park

Address: 2502 E Ray Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85296, USA

Website: Cosmo Dog Park

Opening hours: Wed - Mon: 5:30am - 10pm; Tue: 12pm - 10pm

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24. Try thirst-quenching craft beers and brews at 12 West Brewing Co.

Throwing a party for the long weekend? Swing by the Taproom for bottles, cans, and crowlers!

Posted by 12 West Brewing on Sunday, 2 September 2018

12 West Brewing Co. is your go-to place when you want a taste of handcrafted brews and beers. It is a huge facility with a 10-barrel brewing system that produces enough beer for the community. Visit the taproom where guests can taste 12 different kinds of freshly made craft beer and a variety of other beverages. This family-friendly establishment allows dogs on the patio. You can bring the kids and there are board games to keep them busy while you watch a ball game on one of their three TVs.

12 West Brewing Co.

Address: 3000 East Ray Road Barnone, building 6, suite 110, Gilbert, AZ 85296, United States

Website: 12 West Brewing Co.

Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 11am - 10pm; Thu - Sat: 11am - 11pm; Sun: 11am - 9pm

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25. Enjoy American fast food at Joe’s Farm Grill

Posted by Joe's Farm Grill on Monday, 2 November 2015

At Joe’s Farm Grill, they make your dining experience in Gilbert memorable with a farm-to-table style of serving dishes. The restaurant was started in the owner’s residence. The 60s structure of the building was retained and the interiors updated with a mid-century burger joint look so diners can have a beautiful dining experience in a working farm. Joe’s Farm Grill serves classic American dishes fast-food style using the freshest and high-quality local produce. They use all-natural beef burgers, and trans-fat free oils for their marinades, dressings, and even in their frying.

Joe’s Farm Grill

Address: 3000 E Ray Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85296, USA

Website: Joe’s Farm Grill

Opening hours: Sat - Fri: 7am - 9pm

Price: 5 USD

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26. Play pool and darts at Champions Sports Saloon


Champions Sports Saloon is a no-frills place but is the coolest bar to hang out and grab a few drinks after dinner. The staff and the customers are so friendly you’d feel right at home. They offer Happy Hour drinks and pub grub with darts, TVs, and a pool table for entertainment.

Champions Sports Saloon

Address: 211 N Gilbert Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85234, USA

Website: Champions Sports Saloon

Opening hours: Sat - Fri: 10am - 2am

Price: 2 USD

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27. Tour the Morrison Ranch Silos


Silos are a classic town symbol and Morrison Ranch Silos is named after the family that owns the ranch and established this unique community in Phoenix’s southeast valley. The Morrisons developed the land into one of the biggest cropland, dairy farm, and ranching business. Surrounding the silos is a vast, well-appointed landscape with a mix of residential and business units in a campus-like set up where it’s ideal to reside, raise a family, set up a business, and eventually retire in.

Morrison Ranch Silos

Address: Gilbert, AZ 85296, USA

Website: Morrison Ranch Silos

Opening hours: 24/7

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28. Get laser tagged at Bowlero Gilbert

www.hauteeventphotography.com www.HautePhotoVideo.com

Posted by Bowlero on Tuesday, 20 June 2017

Bowlero is not your ordinary bowling alley! Aside from 44 bowling lanes Bowlero also features various arcade games, billiards, and laser tag games. It’s a complete entertainment every day of the week for the whole family. It’s also the perfect venue for dates, birthday parties, teambuilding sessions, corporate events, and social gatherings.

Bowlero Gilbert

Address: 1160 S Gilbert Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85296, USA

Website: Bowlero Gilbert

Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 11am - 1am; Sun: 11am - 10pm; Mon - Thu: 11am - 11pm

Price: 3 USD

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29. Explore the Gilbert Arizona Temple

Gilbert Arizona Temple
Source: Photo by user Jerry Ferguson used under CC BY 2.0

This amazing temple was built to accommodate the large overflow of worshippers from the nearby temple in Mesa, Arizona. The marvelous architecture of the temple is made of an ivory exterior with intricate detailing and lovely crafted glass windows. Its notable single central spire is topped by a gold-leaf statue of a Moroni angel. Explore the surrounding temple grounds flanked on both sides with circular well-tended gardens featuring a pond with a fountain.

Gilbert Arizona Temple

Address: 3301 S Greenfield Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85297, USA

Website: Gilbert Arizona Temple

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30. Challenge yourself with a zombie game (from USD 20.0)

This exciting game will train you how to outlast a Zombie attack by taking you into various parts of the city to gather the food and supplies you might need. Using an app on your smartphone, you and your team will be told where to find tools, weapons, food, shelter, and supplies after answering a few tricky questions and enduring a few challenges. You gain more points and virtual weapons with more things that you find. You will have more chances of surviving the Zombie apocalypse and beating the rival teams.

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Adventurous Scavenger Hunt in Gilbert by Zombie Scavengers

Duration: 1 hour

Great things await in Gilbert

With so many wonderful things to do and see in Gilbert, it won’t be a surprise if you decide to make your stay a permanent one. Try one of our recommendations above and have an unforgettable visit to Gilbert! Don’t forget to book one of the best vacation rentals for your accommodation needs.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Tina is a free-spirited writer and traveler. She likes to experience unfamiliar places, cuisines, and scenery. She prefers beaches to mountains though as she is afraid of heights. Visiting museums,...Read more

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