Palm Springs With Kids: Family Things to Do and Where to Stay
Palm Springs works beautifully for families, and not only because of the pools. The Aerial Tramway, the Living Desert Zoo, a children’s museum built for small hands, easy hikes, Thursday night street fairs and a great big park all sit within a short drive of each other, and most of them are outdoors in a climate that is kind for much of the year. Here is what we do with our own kids, and what we have learned about making a desert trip with children actually work.
We manage several family-sized homes in Palm Springs and the east valley, and a lot of our guests arrive with car seats and pool noodles. The list below is what we send them.
What are the best things to do in Palm Springs with kids?
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The world’s largest rotating tram car carries you from the desert floor up into the forest of Mount San Jacinto. Kids love the spinning floor, and at the top there are trails, a cafe and, in winter, snow. It is also the answer on a hot day, because it is always cooler up there.
- The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Giraffes, cheetahs, camels and a model train, plus botanical gardens. Hand-feeding the giraffes is the memory our kids still bring up. It gets hot by midday, so arrive at opening in the warm months.
- Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert. Dozens of hands-on exhibits where little ones can build, climb, pretend-shop and paint. Our go-to when the afternoon is too hot for the park.
- Palm Springs Air Museum. Hangars full of World War II aircraft, a cockpit to sit in and a flight simulator. A big hit with young aviators.
- Moorten Botanical Garden. A small, shady garden of cacti and desert plants that makes a gentle hour, and home to a tiny “cactarium” kids find delightful.
- Palm Springs Art Museum. Family programs and plenty of large, colorful work that holds a child’s attention longer than you might expect.
- Horseback riding. Stables near the Indian Canyons offer guided rides suited to beginners, which is a lovely way to see the desert with older kids.
- Mini golf and a splash. Mini golf courses and the Palm Springs Surf Club, on the site of the old water park, are easy wins on a free afternoon.
Where can the kids just run around?
Ruth Hardy Park in Palm Springs is our favorite: play structures, open grass, tennis courts and shade. Palm Canyon Drive is a good family stroll with ice cream stops, murals and sculptures for photos. On Thursday evenings it turns into VillageFest, a street fair with crafts, food and live music that kids enjoy as much as adults. For a proper hike, the Indian Canyons have shaded, stream-side trails that work for little legs if you go early and keep it short.
What about a day trip?
Joshua Tree National Park is the big one. The boulders are a natural playground, the Joshua trees look like something out of a storybook and the short nature trails are manageable for most ages. Pack lunch, water and sunscreen, because there is little inside the park. On the drive in from Los Angeles, the Cabazon Dinosaurs, two enormous roadside dinosaurs you can walk through, are a stop every child remembers.
When is the best time to bring kids to Palm Springs?
This is the honest part. Late October through early December and February through April are the sweet spot: warm days, comfortable evenings and everything outdoors is open. Winter is lovely too, with a heated pool. Summer, and September more than people expect, is genuinely hot. If summer is your only window, plan around early mornings, the tram, the museum and the pool, and write off the middle of the day.
Where should families stay in Palm Springs?
With children, three things matter more than anything else: a private pool you can see from inside, a fenced yard and enough bedrooms that bedtime is not a negotiation. Our Palm Springs homes were chosen with that in mind.
- Acacia Retreat, four bedrooms sleeping eight, with a heated pool and spa, a fire pit, hammocks, pool toys and themed bedrooms kids genuinely like.
- Oasis Del Sol, a mid-century four-bedroom with a pool and a game room for the hour before dinner.
- Ultimate Outdoor Oasis, three bedrooms, pet friendly, with a pool, hot tub and mini putting green.
- Sip Sip Away, three colorful bedrooms including a bunk room, ideal for a family or two.
For bigger family gatherings, Coachella Sol Haus in Indio sleeps twelve across six bedrooms. All of our desert homes are on the Coachella Valley vacation rentals page.
What do you provide for families?
Pack and plays, high chairs, kids’ plates and cups, pool toys and board games turn up across our homes, but not identically in every house. If there is one item your trip depends on, message us before you book and we will go and check rather than guess. The same goes for pool heating: from November on, an unheated pool is no fun for children, so ask about heating when you reserve.
Frequently asked questions
Is Palm Springs a good destination for families?
Yes. The Aerial Tramway, the Living Desert Zoo, the Children’s Discovery Museum, parks, easy hikes and private pools make it an easy trip with kids, especially from fall through spring.
What is the best time of year to visit Palm Springs with kids?
Late October through early December and February through April offer warm days and comfortable evenings. Summer and early September are very hot, so plan mornings and pool time if that is your only window.
Do your Palm Springs homes have baby gear?
Many have pack and plays, high chairs and pool toys, but it varies by home. Message us with what you need and we will confirm exactly what is in the house you are considering.
Are the pools heated?
Acacia Retreat has a heated pool and spa. At several of our other homes heating is optional and arranged in advance for a fee, which we recommend from November through March.
Is Joshua Tree worth a day trip with kids?
Yes. The boulders and short nature trails suit most ages. Bring lunch, water and sunscreen, go early in warm months, and plan on a full day.
Book your desert stay direct
A family trip to the desert comes down to the house: a private pool, a yard and room for everyone to sleep. That is what we look for when we take on a home.
Booking on our own site rather than through a platform means no service fee and about 10 percent less on a like-for-like booking, with our cancellation terms shown before you pay. Browse every home we manage on our Coachella Valley vacation rentals page, or call us at (949) 407-7448 or email support@ratherbeproperties.com and we will help you choose.
Because there’s no place you’d rather be.
