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.
35 placesClear filters
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Show moreShowing 30 of 35
More guides
Hot daysFreeOutdoor seasonIndoor daysToddlersGrandparentsTeensBirthday partiesEating out with kidsShopping with kidsDoctors for kidsKids haircuts