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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.
- 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.
- AYSO Region 588Kid-friendlySports league in Desert Hot Springs.
- 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.- Boomers! Cathedral CityKid-friendlyGo-karts, mini golf, bumper boats, batting cages and arcade.
- 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.
- Cathedral Canyon Tennis ClubKid-friendlySports league in Cathedral City.
- Coachella Valley History MuseumKid-friendlyHistoric adobe campus with date-farming history and the Date Museum.
Coachella Valley Preserve (Thousand Palms Oasis)Kid-friendlyFan-palm oasis with boardwalk trails and a rustic visitor center.- Elite Otters Swim TeamKid-friendlyAmateur sport team in Palm Springs.
- First Tee – Coachella ValleyKid-friendlyYouth golf and life-skills programs for beginners.
- 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 Canyons (Andreas & Palm Canyon)Kid-friendlyPalm oases on Agua Caliente land; Andreas Canyon is an easy ~1.2-mile family loop with a creek.
- La Quinta Resort & Club Pickleball CourtsKid-friendlySports league in La Quinta.
Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional ParkKid-friendlyLake with fishing, camping, a seasonal splash pad and trailheads.
Moorten Botanical GardenKid-friendlySmall family-run cactus garden with a 'cactarium'; quick, easy outing with kids.- Palm Desert Aquatic CenterKid-friendlyPublic pool with recreation swim, slides and swim lessons.
Palm Desert Civic Center ParkKid-friendlyLarge park with playgrounds, skate park, aquatic center nearby and community events.- Palm Desert Swim ClubKid-friendlyAmateur sport team in Palm Desert.
- Palm Springs Swim CenterKid-friendly50-meter public pool at Sunrise Park with swim lessons and open swim.
- Palm Valley Country ClubKid-friendlySports league in Palm Desert.
- Paradise PickleballKid-friendlySports league in Palm Desert.
- Pscc IndiansKid-friendlyFootball club in Palm Springs.
- Rancho Mirage Racquet ClubKid-friendlySports league in Rancho Mirage.
- Riley's at Los Rios RanchoKid-friendlyApple orchard in Oak Glen, about an hour away: u-pick apples in fall, a cider press, a bakery and nature trails. Call ahead to check what's ripe.
- Suncrest Country ClubKid-friendlySports league in Palm Desert.
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