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If you’re looking for a sunny escape this season, Palm Springs is known for its comfortable temperatures, reliable sunshine and fun family activities during fall and winter months. Hop on a quick three-hour nonstop flight from Seattle to the Palm Springs airport, book a rental car and you’ll be catching up on your vitamin D in no time.
Find your home base at a kid-friendly hotel
Palm Springs is known for mid-century modern architecture, which makes for fun walking neighborhood tours during your stay. Take a nice stroll through the Las Palmas neighborhood and the Movie Colony. Bonus: If you need a solid playground stop, Ruth Hardy Park in the Movie Colony was renovated earlier this year.
While you can rent many desert contemporary homes through Stay Poppy or Airbnb, my kids would point you to their favorite destination in Palm Springs: the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort and Villas. Why? The resort’s incredible outdoor water park has a lazy river, a splash pad and two 30-foot-tall twisting water slides. The resort has nine pools total across its property, including a shallow wading pool. The updated and spacious rooms, on-site dining options and prime location make it an excellent hotel choice for me too.
Other notable amenities at The Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort and Villas include the Agua Serena Spa, a large 24-hour fitness center, outdoor sports courts and lawn games, free bike rentals and evening s’mores pits, and more family-friendly activities. The restaurants offer inspired menus from celebrity chef Angelo Sosa. Plus, the resort is adjacent to the Indian Wells Golf Resort’s 36-hole course.
Sample the local flavors at Palm Springs restaurants
Great Shakes is a must-stop for an indulgent treat in downtown Palm Springs. It offers an extensive milkshake menu featuring small-batch ice cream and quality ingredients. Bonus: All shakes can be made lactose-free. They also have Dole Whip.
California’s Coachella Valley produces over 90 percent of the U.S. date supply, hence the iconic date shake that you’ll see on lots of menus in the area. The variations on date shakes at Great Shakes were tempting, but we all opted for the over-the-top shakes topped with mini doughnuts.
Here are a few more of my family’s favorite dining stops:
- Grapefruit Basil, Indian Wells: Make a reservation for this relaxing spot at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort, where you can play bocce ball before dining alfresco.
- Tía Carmen, Indian Wells: Indulge in elevated Southwestern dining curated by chef Angelo Sosa at the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells. This is a culinary experience!
- Lulu California Bistro, Palm Springs: Kids will love ending their meal with a bowl of famous pink hand-spun cotton candy at this lively place.
- Nékter Juice Bar, Palm Desert: Close to the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells, this juice bar has the best smoothies and açai bowls.
- Roadrunner Grab+Go, Joshua Tree: This is a great place to grab fresh picnic fare on your way to or from Joshua Tree. It’s conveniently located in the Joshua Tree Visitor Center.
Put these must-see destinations on your itinerary
Hike through a desert oasis on the Andreas Canyon Trail, home to lush California fan palms along the Andreas Creek. This 1.2-mile loop trail is easy for families but is not stroller-friendly. You can purchase your day-hike admission ticket at the Indian Canyons Toll Gate just before the trailhead. Tip: Print an Indian Canyons Jr. Ranger Activity Book for educational enrichment.
Joshua Tree National Park has trails for everyone, even a few wheel-friendly trails on flat, smooth pathways of finely crushed granite rock. A national parks pass is required. If you have a fourth grader, you get into all national parks for free by signing up for the Every Kid Outdoors pass before you arrive. Make sure to pack plenty of water before you hit the trails.
Just driving through Joshua Tree, you’ll be mesmerized by the landscape of Dr. Seuss-like Joshua trees and piles of smooth, rounded monzogranite boulders. While my kids’ newfound love of scrambling over rocks slowed down our hiking, it was a welcome exchange for less complaining on the trails and allowed the adults to soak in the beauty of the desert. The Hidden Valley Loop Trail (1-mile loop), Barker Dam Nature Trail (1.1-mile loop), Cap Rock Trail (0.4-mile loop) and Discovery Trail (0.7-mile loop) are all good places to start with kids.
Tip: Stop by the Joshua Tree Visitor Center to pick up a Jr. Ranger Activity Book. Complete activities throughout your visit and return to the visitor center for an official Jr. Ranger badge.
Take off on the world’s largest rotating tram car, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. It transports you from the desert floor up to the alpine climate at Mount San Jacinto State Park, providing 360-degree views of the Coachella Valley. At 8,516 feet, step off into 50 miles of nature trails and seasonal snow.
We took the short 0.7-mile nature trail loop and also enjoyed the stunning desert valley and mountain views at V.W. Grubbs Viewpoint. Tips: Even when it’s not snowy at the top, the temperatures can be 30–40 degrees cooler than the desert base. Wear layers and bring winter coats. During winter months with snow, bring your own sleds (must be small plastic sleds or saucers) or snowshoes, as rentals are not reliably available. Book time-slot tickets in advance, especially during peak season when walk-up wait times can be long.
Noteworthy, but more challenging hikes include:
- Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon, Mecca: A moderate 4.4-mile loop trail.
- Murray Canyon Trail to Seven Falls, Indian Canyons: A moderate 4-mile out-and-back hike.
- Skull Rock Trail, Joshua Tree: A 1.8-mile loop.
Fill in free time with these family-friendly activities
Palm Springs Air Museum, Palm Springs
Aviation buffs will revel in this living history museum of aircraft from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Global War on Terror. There are lots of planes to step into, and sometimes you can see planes in flight while standing on the runway. My kids enjoyed the interactive flight simulators in the library, the hands-on children’s area and seeing the F-117 Nighthawk.
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Palm Desert
This Palm Desert zoo is rated one of the best in the United States. Its unique desert landscape gives life to flora and fauna from the Mojave and Sonoran deserts, and the African savanna. Walk among the freely roaming animals in the Australian Adventures section. Take a hike on the desert trails, wander 50 desert gardens, and book popular interactive experiences like feeding giraffes and rhinos. Tip: Visit during the WildLights Holiday Festival (get your tickets in advance as they do sell out!), when the zoo sparkles with over 3 million holiday lights and displays.
Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert, Rancho Mirage
Explore, express, experiment, move, imagine and dream through the exhibits at this renovated children’s museum, which reopened in 2024. There are also outdoor exhibits, including a Tike Track with adaptive bikes for all abilities. The museum is recommended for kids age 8 and younger.
Moorten Botanical Garden, Palm Springs
Add a quick stop to admire this impressive display of more than 3,000 varieties of cactuses and wander its renowned “Cactarium.” Discover plants you’ve never seen before, and keep your eye out for the resident tortoises!
Palm Springs Windmill Tours, Palm Springs
Curious kids may be interested in the ins and outs of this massive wind farm. Travel by golf cart on a guided tour (book ahead) or listen to the audio program from the comfort of your own car. The tour lasts about 90 minutes.
Cabazon Dinosaurs, Cabazon
Dinosaur lovers will delight in these giant brightly colored roadside dinosaurs. Outdoor photo ops and visiting the gift shop inside the belly of 150-foot-long “Dinny” are free. Or you can pay admission to climb inside the 65-foot-tall tail of “Mr. Rex” and sit inside his open jaws. Admission also gives you access to an outdoor museum with more than 100 smaller dinosaur friends.
Leave happy
Whether you choose to spend your days poolside or explore what Palm Springs has to offer, you’re sure to find something to please everyone in your family.
