Spring break in the valley
A week of family days out: attractions, outdoor fun and treats, all checked against our family checklist.
- Spring is the busiest season. Book tours and popular spots ahead.
- Mix one big outing with an easy park day so nobody burns out.
- Weekday mornings are the quietest time almost everywhere.
37 places
- Children's Discovery Museum of the DesertKid-friendlyFamily favoriteHands-on museum for young kids: building, art and pretend play; birthday parties.
- 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.
- Palm Springs Air MuseumKid-friendlyFamily favoriteWWII and Cold War aircraft in air-conditioned hangars; flight simulators and cockpit sit-ins for kids.
- The Living Desert Zoo & GardensKid-friendlyFamily favoriteDesert zoo and botanical garden with giraffe feeding, rhinos, carousel and a kids' play area.
- Berger Foundation IceplexKid-friendlyPublic skating, skating lessons, camps and youth hockey.
- 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.
- Boys & Girls Club of Coachella ValleyKid-friendlyAfter-school and summer programs at several clubhouses across the valley.
- Cabot's Pueblo MuseumHand-built Hopi-style pueblo with guided tours and a hilltop viewpoint.
- Chuck E. Cheese Palm DesertKid-friendlyArcade games, pizza and birthday party packages.
- 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.
- Desert Ice CastleKid-friendlyIce rink with public skating and lessons.
- Desert Recreation DistrictKid-friendlyValley-wide parks district running youth camps, gymnastics, dance and martial-arts classes.
- Desert Rocks Indoor Climbing GymKid-friendlyIndoor climbing walls for all ages with classes for young climbers.
- Escape Room Palm SpringsThemed escape rooms; good for older kids, teens and family outings.
- First Tee – Coachella ValleyKid-friendlyYouth golf and life-skills programs for beginners.
- Get Air Trampoline ParkKid-friendlyWall-to-wall trampolines, ninja course, foam pits and dodgeball.
- Hi-Desert Nature MuseumKid-friendlySmall natural-history museum with live reptiles and a kids' discovery room.
- 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.
- International Banana MuseumKid-friendlyQuirky roadside museum near the Salton Sea with banana shakes; a fun family pit stop.
- JW Entertainment Zone (JW Marriott Desert Springs)Kid-friendlyRetro arcade, VR games, duckpin bowling and air hockey inside the resort.
- Kids ClubhouseKid-friendlyIndoor playground with soft-play zones, slides, ball pits and a pretend 'mini town'; party rooms.
- 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.
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