Looking for things to do with kids in Palm Springs? I’ve got you covered with a list that features some of my favorite things!
Palm Springs is known for being many things: Desert chic. A historic celebrity enclave. A mecca of Mid-century architecture. Funky, artsy and a little bit out there.
It’s all of those things and more, and my family and I have come to love this famous desert city in the Coachella Valley. Located about two hours from Los Angeles, San Diego, and my home in Temecula wine country, Palm Springs makes for an easy—and endlessly fun—road trip getaway for millions of Southern Californians.
When people think of Palm Springs, they most likely picture sipping drinks and lounging by the pool, not necessarily a family-friendly getaway. But Palm Springs actually has plenty to offer families!
I’ve visited Palm Springs several times with my daughter—three times in the past year alone!—and we’ve discovered plenty of activities that we’ve both loved. So today, I’m sharing my rundown of the best things to do with kids in Palm Springs to help you plan a fun, family-friendly visit.
My Favorite Things to Do With Kids in Palm Springs
1.) Visit the Living Desert Zoo
First up is one for the animal lovers: The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is a non-profit zoo and botanical garden with unique exhibits and plenty of opportunities to get up close with the animals. My daughter absolutely loved getting to feed the giraffes!
Beyond being a fun family attraction, the zoo is also active in conservation, habitat protection, breeding programs and education initiatives both locally and around the world.
2.) Take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Perhaps one of the most unique experiences you can have in Palm Springs is taking the world’s largest rotating tram car 2.5 miles up into the wilderness of Mt. San Jacinto State Park. The park sits at more than 8,500 feet above sea level, so temperatures tend to be much cooler than they are down in the desert. In fact, temperatures at the top average 30–40 degrees lower than on the desert floor! Needless to say, sweatshirts and jackets come in handy.
The 10-minute journey each way is definitely a big part of the fun, but once you arrive, breathe in the mountain air and explore! Go for a hike, and let the kids climb on the huge boulders and collect pine cones while taking in the mountain landscapes and towering pine trees. There are also two dining options at the top, but I like to bring along snacks.
One tip: Reserve timed tickets online or get there early in the day! I was mildly horrified at how long the queue was when we arrived in the late morning, so learn from my mistake and book ahead.
3.) Play at the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert
When my daughter and I visited the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert, I didn’t have super high expectations or expect it to be anything special. But let me tell you, this place surprised me… It’s wonderful and has so much to do! With 40 hands-on exhibits designed to inspire learning through play, it’s a great place to spend a morning or afternoon and let your kiddos explore and use their imaginations.
The Children’s Discovery Museum is also a nice place to beat the notorious heat of Palm Springs if you’re visiting during the warmer months. When we were there last in early June, it was 110 degrees all week! Needless to say, we were happy to have an air-conditioned place to spend an afternoon.
4.) Make Time for Pool Fun
Palm Springs is synonymous with chilling by the pool, and if you’re a parent, that “chilling” may mean throwing endless pool rings and playing pool tag! Needless to say, if you’re visiting Palm Springs with your family, I highly recommend staying at a resort with great pools and plenty of kid-friendly amenities.
We usually stay in Palm Desert at Marriott’s Shadow Ridge, which has a great main pool with a fun waterslide and splash pad, as well as another pool with an outdoor movie theater where they show movies and sports events. The resort also has a kids’ activity center, playground, and ice cream and snow cone offerings right by the pool. Needless to say, you could easily spend an entire day here without ever leaving the resort!
A few other resort options to consider include the Hilton Vacation Club Palm Canyon Palm Springs, Grand Hyatt Indian Wells, The Westin Desert Willow Villas, and Omni Rancho Las Palmas.
5.) Hike and Explore Indian Canyons
Here’s another one for fellow outdoor adventurers! Just about 15 minutes from downtown Palm Springs lies Indian Canyons, a beautiful area with a rich history and a network of trails to explore. Indian Canyons is the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and is comprised of Andreas Canyon, Murray Canyon and Palm Canyon.
We absolutely love the Murray Canyon Trail to Seven Falls—a 4-mile out-and-back hike with about 600 feet of elevation gain. The trail features a palm tree oasis, rock scrambles and several stream crossings, which my daughter especially loved. We’ve only hiked it during the winter months, when the water can be high and very chilly… so bring a bathing suit if you’re up for a cold plunge!
6.) Play at Boomers
Another fun thing to do with kids in Palm Springs is spend a few hours at Boomers. With attractions including an arcade, go-karts, mini golf, a rock wall, batting cages and bumper boats, there’s sure to be something your kiddos—and perhaps you—will love!
Tip: Check the website before you go, as Boomers offers various discounts and specials throughout the year.
7.) Visit Forever Marilyn
Every time we visit Palm Springs, we make a point of stopping to see the iconic Forever Marilyn statue. Situated in the heart of downtown, Forever Marilyn is a 26-foot-tall, 34,300-pound sculpture of Marilyn Monroe inspired by the famous photograph taken on the set of the film The Seven Year Itch. It’s always fun to admire the larger-than-life statue and, of course, take a few pictures in front of it!
One of Great Shakes’ famous date shakes
8.) Satisfy your sweet tooth with dessert downtown
There are some great dessert shops in the heart of Palm Springs where you can treat the whole family to something sweet. A few of our favorites are Great Shakes, which offers insane gourmet milkshakes; Lolli & Pops, a great candy boutique that’s sure to invoke nostalgia from us parents; and Gelato Granucci, a nice gelateria that offers gelato pops, vegan gelato, and gelato cannoli in addition to your classic gelato flavors.
Our tradition is to pick up dessert, then walk over to Forever Marilyn to sit and enjoy it!
Palm Springs is a lively, fun town to visit, and we’ll most likely be back for a long weekend sometime this winter. I hope I’ve given you some ideas of great things to do with kids in Palm Springs!
One more thing… some favorite eateries!
In no particular order, here are a few of our favorite places to eat in Palm Springs:
- Chef Tanya’s Vegan Kitchen – From their cute market that offers items like chickpea “tuna” salad and the delicious sandwiches on their menu to soft-serve at their Kreamery, Chef Tanya’s is a casual healthy spot that I adore.
- Palm Greens Cafe – We stop here for a healthy breakfast on every Palm Springs trip!
- Peninsula Pastries – After breakfast at Palm Greens, we can’t resist treating ourselves to something awesome at Peninsula Pastries! It’s a traditional French bakery that offers mouth-watering pastries, cakes, tarts and breads.
- Clandestino – A dinner idea! Clandestine is an upscale Mexican restaurant with great cocktails.
- FARM – A lovely brunch spot in the middle of downtown.. Get the crepes!
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