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Best outdoor days, October to April
The desert is at its best in the cool months. Trails, parks, gardens and canyons for the whole family.
- Mornings can be chilly and afternoons warm. Dress in layers.
- Wildflowers usually peak from late February to March after a wet winter.
- Trails get busy on weekends. Go early.
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- Joshua Tree National ParkKid-friendlyFamily favoriteBoulder scrambling, Hidden Valley, Cholla Cactus Garden; Junior Ranger program for kids.
Palm Springs Aerial TramwayKid-friendlyFamily favoriteWorld's largest rotating tram car up to Mt. San Jacinto; trails and snow play at the top, often 30–40° cooler.- The Living Desert Zoo & GardensKid-friendlyFamily favoriteDesert zoo and botanical garden with giraffe feeding, rhinos, carousel and a kids' play area.
- 40 by 30 ChampionsKid-friendlySports league in Palm Desert.
- 7 Lakes Country ClubGolf course in Palm Springs.
- Agua Caliente ParkPark in Cathedral City.
- Andalusia Country ClubGolf course in La Quinta.
- Andreas Canyon TrailheadHiking trail in Palm Springs.
- Anza-Borrego Desert State ParkKid-friendlyGiant metal sculptures of dinosaurs and animals, spring wildflowers and an easy palm oasis hike. Start at the visitor center for maps and ranger walks.
- Araby TrailheadHiking trail in Palm Springs.
- Arroyo ParkPark in Desert Hot Springs.
- Arroyos Desert PrincessGolf course in Cathedral City.
- Art Smith TrailheadHiking trail in Palm Desert.
- Avondale Golf ClubGolf course in Palm Desert.
- AYSO Region 588Kid-friendlySports league in Desert Hot Springs.
- Bagdouma ParkA 46-acre park with a community pool, tennis courts, sports fields and picnic areas.
- Baristo ParkPark in Palm Springs.
- Bautista's Family Organic DatesFarm in Mecca.
- Bear Creek Nature TrailheadHiking trail in La Quinta.
- Bear Creek Oasis TrailHiking trail in La Quinta.
- Big Horn Overlook Hiking TrailPark in Rancho Mirage.
- Big League Dreams Sports ParkKid-friendlyMini replicas of famous ballparks; youth leagues, tournaments and batting cages.
Big Morongo Canyon PreserveKid-friendlyShaded boardwalk through a desert marsh; famous for birdwatching.- Bighorn Golf ClubGolf course in Palm Desert.
- BIKE Palm Springs Rentals & ToursBike rental in Palm Springs.
- Bike Palm Springs Rentals On Tahquitz Canyon WayBike rental in Palm Springs.
- Blixseth Mountain ParkDesert landscaping and walking paths with mountain views.
- Boomers! Cathedral CityKid-friendlyGo-karts, mini golf, bumper boats, batting cages and arcade.
- Browns Town ParkPark in Desert Hot Springs.
- Bump N Grind Hiking TrailHiking trail in Palm Desert.
- Butler Abrams TrailHiking trail in Rancho Mirage.
- Cabazon DinosaursKid-friendlyThe giant dinosaurs off the I-10, about 20 minutes past Palm Springs. Seeing them outside is free; the dinosaur walk and museum cost extra.
Cabot's Pueblo MuseumHand-built Hopi-style pueblo with guided tours and a hilltop viewpoint.- Cahuilla Hills ParkA shady park with picnic tables near the hillside trails.
- Cahuilla ParkPark in Indio.
- Caliente Springs ResortHot springs in Desert Hot Springs.
- Casita at Mi Kasa Hot SpringsHot springs in Desert Hot Springs.
- Cathedral Canyon Country ClubGolf course in Cathedral City.
- Cathedral Canyon Golf ClubGolf course in Cathedral City.
- Cathedral Canyon Tennis ClubKid-friendlySports league in Cathedral City.
- Cathedral Canyon TrailheadHiking trail in Cathedral City.
- Cathedral City Cove Hiking TrailsHiking trail in Cathedral City.
- Cathedral City Soccer ParkPark in Cathedral City.
- Century ParkPark with basketball, tennis and pickleball courts, barbecues and shade.
- Cesar Chavez Memorial ParkPark in Coachella.
- Chuckwalla TrailPark in Rancho Mirage.
- Citrus PlazaPublic plaza in Indio.
- City of Cathedral City Parks & RecreationPark in Cathedral City.
- Civic Center CampusPark in La Quinta.
- Civic Center ParkPark in Palm Desert.
- Civic Center Skate ParkSkate park in Palm Desert Civic Center Park.
- Classic ClubGolf course in Palm Desert.
- Coachella Tot LotA small play area made for young children.
- Coachella Valley History MuseumKid-friendlyHistoric adobe campus with date-farming history and the Date Museum.
- Coachella Valley PreservePark in Palm Springs.
Coachella Valley Preserve (Thousand Palms Oasis)Kid-friendlyFan-palm oasis with boardwalk trails and a rustic visitor center.- Coachella Veterans Memorial ParkPark in Coachella.
- College Golf CenterGolf course in Palm Desert.
- Cove Oasis TrailheadHiking trail in La Quinta.
- Crystal Springs Ranch WestEquestrian facility in Thermal.
- Crystal Springs WestEquestrian facility in Thermal.
- CVP Pushwalla TrailHiking trail in Desert Hot Springs.
- Date Palm Country ClubGolf course in Cathedral City.
- Dateland ParkNeighborhood park with a skate park, next to Bobby Duke Middle School.
- De Oro ParkPark in Coachella.
- Demuth ParkPark in Palm Springs.
- Dennis Keat Soccer ParkSeveral soccer fields with shade, next to a middle school.
- Desert Hot Springs - The Spa CityHot springs in Desert Hot Springs.
- Desert Hot Springs SkateparkPark in Desert Hot Springs.
- Desert International Horse ParkEquestrian facility in Thermal.
- Desert Princess Country Club Golf ResortGolf course in Cathedral City.
- Desert Valley DateFarm in Coachella.
- Desert View TrailHiking trail in Palm Springs.
- Desert Willow Golf ResortGolf course in Palm Desert.
- DHS Bike ParkSkate park in Desert Hot Springs.
- Dominguez ParkPark with a splash pad, playground, basketball courts, barbecues and walking paths.
- Earl Henderson TrailheadHiking trail in Palm Springs.
- Eisenhower Mountain TrailMountain in Palm Desert.
- Eisenhower ParkPark in La Quinta.
- El Mirador Park, Palm Springs, CaliforniaPark in Palm Springs.
- Eldorado Polo ClubEquestrian facility in Indio.
- Elite Otters Swim TeamKid-friendlyAmateur sport team in Palm Springs.
- Escena Golf ClubGolf course in Palm Springs.
- Escena Palm SpringsGolf course in Palm Springs.
- Esperanza ParkA 7.5-acre open park in the Dream Homes neighborhood.
- Fairway ParkA small, open half-acre park.
- Falsetto Dog Park Palm DesertPark in Palm Desert.
- First Tee – Coachella ValleyKid-friendlyYouth golf and life-skills programs for beginners.
- Fish Traps Archaeological SitePark in Thermal.
- Flying Disc RanchFarm in Thermal.
- Frances Hack ParkPark in La Quinta.
- Frances Stevens ParkShady downtown park on Palm Canyon Drive.
- Frank Bogert TrailheadHiking trail in Palm Springs.
- Fred Wolff Bear Creek Nature PreserveNature reserve in La Quinta.
- Freedom ParkPark with pavilions, statues and a fountain, next to an elementary school.
- Fresh Dates by AndersonFarm in Thermal.
- Fritz Burns ParkPark in La Quinta.
- George S Patton ParkPark in Indio.
- Golf with Freedom Lesson CenterGolf course in Cathedral City.
- Guy I Tedesco ParkPark in Desert Hot Springs.
- Heritage PalmsGolf course in Indio.
- Heritage Palms Golf ClubGolf course in Indio.
- Hike to the Palm Desert CrossPark in Palm Desert.
- Hits Desert Horse ParkPark in Thermal.
- Homestead TrailheadHiking trail in Palm Desert.
- Hovley Soccer ParkSoccer fields with a playground and shade.
- Idyllwild Nature CenterKid-friendlyPine forest trails, a small museum with live animals, and snow play in winter, up the mountain from the valley. Adults $6, kids 2 to 12 $3.
- Indian Canyon TrailHiking trail in Indio.
- Indian CanyonsNature reserve in Palm Springs.
- Indian Canyons (Andreas & Palm Canyon)Kid-friendlyPalm oases on Agua Caliente land; Andreas Canyon is an easy ~1.2-mile family loop with a creek.
- Indian Canyons Golf Resort-South CourseGolf course in Palm Springs.
- Indian Palms Country ClubGolf course in Indio.
- Indio Community ParkLarge park with a big playground, soccer fields and picnic areas.
- Indio Hills Badlands TrailheadHiking trail in Indio.
- Indio Hills Community ParkCommunity park with a playground, basketball court, picnic area and grills.
- Indio Municipal Golf CourseGolf course in Indio.
- Ironwood ParkNeighborhood park with a playground and shade canopies.
- Ivey Ranch Country ClubGolf course in Thousand Palms.
- Ivey Ranch Equestrian CenterFarm in Thousand Palms.
- Jackson Hole Horse EmporiumEquestrian facility in Indio.
- Jewel Park, Indio, CaliforniaPark in Indio.
- Josie Johnson Vista ParkPark in Palm Springs.
- Kim Nicol TrailHiking trail in Desert Hot Springs.
- La Quinta Civic Center ParkPark in La Quinta.
- La Quinta Community ParkPark with a playground, a baseball diamond and basketball courts.
- La Quinta ParkCity park with a splash pad.
- La Quinta Park Skate ParkSkate park in La Quinta.
- La Quinta Resort & Club Pickleball CourtsKid-friendlySports league in La Quinta.
- La Quinta Resort Mountain CourseGolf course in La Quinta.
- La Quinta Village ParkPark in La Quinta.
- La Quinta X ParkSkate park in La Quinta.
- Ladder Canyon TrailHiking trail in Palm Desert.
- Lake Cahuilla Camp GroundsLake in La Quinta.
Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional ParkKid-friendlyLake with fishing, camping, a seasonal splash pad and trailheads.- Lake LaQuintaLake in La Quinta.
- Leja DatesFarm in Coachella.
- Lykken Trail - Palm SpringsMountain in Palm Springs.
- Magnesia Canyon Ecological ReservePark in Rancho Mirage.
- Magnesia Falls Neighborhood ParkPark in Rancho Mirage.
- Magnesia Falls ParkGrassy park with a playground and shaded seating.
- Marriott's Shadow Ridge Golf ClubGolf course in Palm Desert.
- Maynard's Mine Trail TrailheadHiking trail in Palm Springs.
- McCallum TrailHiking trail in Thousand Palms.
- Mecca Sports ParkSports park with soccer, volleyball and a gazebo.
- Mesquite ParkPark in Palm Springs.
- Michael S. Wolfson ParkVictorian-style park with a fountain, picnic tables and a walking path.
- Miles ParkPark in Indio.
- Mineral Spring Date FarmFarm in Desert Hot Springs.
- Mission Creek PreserveNature reserve in Desert Hot Springs.
- Mission Hills North Golf CourseGolf course in Rancho Mirage.
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