Palm Springs Attractions
Palm Springs Attractions
 | Agua Caliente Cultural Museum 219 S. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA In the Village Green Heritage Complex, this small free museum offers various cultural exhibits about the Agua Caliente Cahuilla Indians. The main topic covered is basket-making, and a short video, "Song of the Basket," gives an interesting overview. Best For: Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert 71-701 Gerald Ford Dr. Rancho Mirage, CA • 760-321-0602 This creative museum is a real hit with kids, who find innumerable ways to keep very busy among the various hands-on exhibits. From a rock-climbing wall and a rope maze to dress-up play in "Grandma's Attic," plenty of interactive fun awaits. A special area is reserved for toddlers to explore toys and blocks and listen to stories. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9) |
 | Indian Canyons 38500 South Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA • 760-323-6018 The three southern canyons managed by the Agua Caliente Cahuilla Indians are Palm, Andreas and Murray Canyons, all of which offer hiking trails. On very hot days, one of these areas may be the better choice than Tahquitz Canyon (below), since a portion of these canyons' trails take in a shaded palm oasis. Probably the best choice for small kids is Andreas Canyon, which offers a relatively flat one-mile trail. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Knott's Soak City 1500 S Gene Autry Trail Palm Springs, CA • 760-327-0499 As water parks go, Knott's Soak City isn't huge. But if you want a day of fun sliding, floating, playing and wave-riding, this water park certainly delivers for many families. Features include water slides aplenty of various forms and speeds, an 800,000-gallon wave pool, the inner-tube-teeming Sunset River and a multi-rider raft ride. Most of the attractions require kids to be 48" minimum height, so be sure your little one(s) measure up in that regard before you plan your stay. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Palm Springs Aerial Tramway One Tram Way Palm Springs, CA • 888-515-8726 Rides aboard what are reputedly the world's largest rotating Tram cars are only around 10-minutes long one-way, but they're a lot of fun and very worthwhile. As you zip up above rocky mountainside, you'll enjoy wonderful views of the valley floor and beyond. By ride's end, you've left the desert behind for the 8,516-foot Mountain Station, surrounded by San Jacinto Mountains greenery (and, in wintertime, likely snow). At the Station, there's a small natural history museum that some younger kids might find interesting, as well as a little theater showing videos about the tram and San Jacinto State Park. There's an onsite restaurant and cafe, and nature trails are nearby. Be prepared for the temperature shift -- cooler up top than on the desert floor. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Tahquitz Canyon 500 W. Mesquite Palm Springs, CA • 760-416-7044 This two-mile loop trail is a great way to explore some of the local wilderness considered sacred to the Agua Caliente Cahuilla Indian people. Though much of the hike is in open canyon (and therefore, unshaded and potentially hot), the trail leads to the 60' Tahquitz Falls, where there is shade and a refreshing creek to splash in. Because of a 350' elevation gain on this hike and lots of steps, it's perhaps not the best choice for younger kids inexperienced with hiking. Admission is charged and ranger-led hikes are scheduled up to four times daily (though, during the hottest times of year, only an 8 a.m. may be available). Best For: Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | The Living Desert 47900 Portola Avenue Palm Desert, CA • 760-346-5694 The Living Desert -- including a zoo, a rescue and treatment facility, and botanical gardens, is an educational and entertainment grounds all in one -- and a true must-see. Its mission and objectives are inspiring, and include preserving a portion of the Colorado Desert and building up of populations of certain endangered species of flora and fauna. One could spend hours strolling the desert gardens, but the kids will likely be keener to meet the animals. We especially enjoyed seeing the jaguar, mountain lion, bobcats, zebras and golden eagle, and my daughter was thrilled to ride atop a bighorn sheep on the Endangered Species Carousel and groom goats and sheep in the petting corral. Camel rides are available October through May. Parents of toddlers beware that, if your wanderer isn't yet clear about the kinds of things that are and aren't okay to touch (or taste!), you'll need to be extra vigilant here. Innumerable spiny cacti and other plants with thorns reside here. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
Read more about Palm Springs Resorts Read more about Palm Springs Family Vacations
© Copyright 2012. The Independent Traveler, Inc.
All rights reserved. This file may be downloaded for personal
use only. Other copying or reproduction is expressly prohibited.
All rights reserved. This file may be downloaded for personal
use only. Other copying or reproduction is expressly prohibited.
- Independent Traveler independenttraveler.com
- Cruise Critic cruisecritic.com
-
FREE Family Travel Newsletter -
Family Travel Tips (10 New)
– Family Planning and Tips
Sure, free drinks and complimentary Wi-Fi rank high on the lists of most desirable hotel perks among travelers in general, but when it comes to visiting with kids in tow, which hotel amenities are most revered by families? From onsite airline check-in to in-room babysitting and kid concierges, con...
Favorite family biking locales in North America combine stunning scenery with a relatively easy grid of bike trails and uncongested backcountry roads. All of these locales offer exhilarating rides, guaranteed to inspire all ages to travel on two wheels. Many of the cities on the list, like San Anton...
1. Celebrate a Historic Anniversary. Boston's historic Fenway Park celebrates its 100th anniversary this year -- the perfect time to take in a ballgame while enjoying the history of America throughout the city. Give your school-aged children an up-close and personal history lesson by visiting some ...
The unofficial start to summer is nearly here, and this May 25 to 28 weekend is filled with enticing deals for families. Get out there and start your summer!
Broadmoor Resort, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Escape to the Colorado mountains for a two-night Memorial Day Family Escape at the Broadmoor. ...
There are few rites of passage as exciting as taking a child on his or her first camping trip. Families bond while roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, making shadow animals on the tent wall, chasing after fireflies and inhaling fragrant whiffs of pine. Whether you are an experienced camper from pre-...
1. The National Mall
There's no question that the National Mall, the two-mile strip of wide-open green stretching between the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol and surrounded by Smithsonian museums and national monuments, is a must-see destination for kids. "The Mall," chock full of our nation'...
1. gogo Kidz Travelmate
If you're traveling with a child weighing less than 50 pounds, you won't want to leave home without this ingenious contraption that in seconds lets parents convert most car seats into a stroller. With the gogo Kidz Travelmate, there's no more lugging both a heavy car seat ...
On a recent ski vacation, my family of five traveled with five cellphones, three laptops, three iPads, two iPods and just for good measure, a GPS! Given the prevalence of electronic devices in our daily lives and our somewhat compulsive reliance upon them, taking a true vacation feels almost imposs...
The 1969 film, "If It's Tuesday, This Must be Belgium," depicted a funny, but sometimes all too true, look at a tour group of Americans traveling through Europe so quickly they barely knew where they were and what they were seeing.
Today, tour groups are quickly becoming an attractive option for ...
When you think of an all-inclusive vacation, your mind goes straight to the Caribbean, doesn't it? But you don't need to leave the country to get an all-in-one vacation -- resorts in the U.S. also provide all-inclusive getaways with accommodations, meals, and activities all packaged in one easy pric...