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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.
19 placesClear filters
- 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.
- 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.
- Cabot's Pueblo MuseumHand-built Hopi-style pueblo with guided tours and a hilltop viewpoint.
- 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.
- Coachella Valley Wild Bird CenterKid-friendlyWildlife rehab center with educational visits and bird encounters.
- First Tee – Coachella ValleyKid-friendlyYouth golf and life-skills programs for beginners.
- 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.
- 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.
- Painted Canyon & Ladder Canyon TrailColorful slot canyon with ladders; best for older kids in cool months.
- 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 Springs Swim CenterKid-friendly50-meter public pool at Sunrise Park with swim lessons and open swim.
- Pioneertown Mane StreetKid-friendly1940s Western movie set town with shops; weekend gunfight shows.
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