Palm Springs Family Friendly Activities Beyond the Pool
Palm Springs has a reputation for being a grown-up getaway, and it’s earned that reputation honestly. The mid-century architecture, the cocktail hours, the design hotels with their Instagram-perfect pools. But if you’ve ever tried to entertain a ten-year-old for a full week in a place built around relaxation, you know the pool stops being enough by day two.
The good news is that Palm Springs and the surrounding Coachella Valley are genuinely full of things to do with kids, and a lot of them are more interesting than a standard theme park. This guide focuses on activities that families with school-age children actually enjoy, not just places to keep kids occupied while parents wish they were somewhere else.
Start With the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
If you only do one thing with kids in Palm Springs beyond the pool, make it this. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the world’s largest rotating tramcar, and the 10-minute ride from the desert floor to the top of Mount San Jacinto is unlike anything most kids have experienced.
You leave the valley at around 2,600 feet elevation and arrive at Mountain Station at 8,516 feet. The temperature drop is dramatic, often 30 to 40 degrees cooler at the top than at the valley floor. In winter, kids who just swam in a heated pool the day before find themselves in snow. That contrast alone is worth the trip.
At the top, the Mount San Jacinto State Wilderness offers hiking trails ranging from easy walks near the station to strenuous routes for more adventurous families. The most popular short walk is the two-mile loop to Round Valley, which winds through pine and fir forests with views across the wilderness. Wildlife sightings of mule deer and golden-mantled ground squirrels are common.
The tram runs daily, and the ticket office is located off Highway 111 north of downtown Palm Springs. Buy tickets in advance on weekends and holidays since the trams fill up fast, particularly in cooler months when snow at the top draws large crowds.
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
The Living Desert sits in Palm Desert, about 20 minutes east of downtown Palm Springs, and it’s one of the most thoughtfully designed nature parks in Southern California. Unlike a standard zoo, the Living Desert focuses specifically on desert ecosystems, and the exhibits are built around naturalistic habitats rather than traditional animal enclosures.
For families, the highlights include the Petting Kraal where kids can interact with goats, a model train garden that winds through a cactus landscape, and walk-through aviaries where roadrunners and other desert birds move freely around you.
The African wild dog exhibit draws serious attention from kids who’ve seen these animals in wildlife documentaries. Seeing them up close, watching the pack dynamics play out, is genuinely captivating. The meerkats are a crowd favorite for obvious reasons.
Plan to spend at least three hours here, and arrive early in summer before the heat builds. The park opens at 7 a.m. during hot months specifically to give visitors a window of comfortable time before temperatures climb.
Explore the Coachella Valley Preserve
The Coachella Valley Preserve protects one of the last intact habitats of the desert palm oasis in California, and it’s one of the most distinctive natural environments kids in this region will ever walk through.
The preserve’s main feature is the Thousand Palms Oasis, a cluster of California fan palms growing along a fault line where water surfaces naturally from underground. Walking into the oasis from the surrounding desert feels like discovering a secret. The change in temperature, sound, and light is immediate and striking.
The trails here are mostly flat and accessible, making them good for families with younger kids. The longest loop through the oasis and surrounding desert habitat runs about four miles and takes roughly two hours at a relaxed pace. Keep an eye out for the preserve’s resident Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizards, which are uniquely adapted to move across loose sand and almost exclusively found in this region.
The preserve is managed by the Center for Natural Lands Management and is open for day use free of charge. The main entrance is off Thousand Palms Canyon Road.
Indian Canyons: Hiking Through Living History
The Indian Canyons sit just south of downtown Palm Springs on the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians’ reservation, and they offer a hiking experience that combines natural beauty with cultural depth. These canyons have been home to the Cahuilla people for thousands of years, and evidence of that habitation, rock art, grinding holes, ancient irrigation channels, shows up throughout the landscape.
Palm Canyon is the crown jewel and contains the largest natural fan palm oasis in the world. The main trail follows a creek through a grove of hundreds of mature palms, with trading post access and guided ranger programs available. The creek runs seasonally and creates a lush green corridor that feels improbable in the middle of a desert mountain range.
Murray Canyon offers a more active hiking experience with some light scrambling over boulders, and it rewards perseverance with a small seasonal waterfall at the back of the canyon. Kids with enough energy for a three-to-four-mile roundtrip will find this trail more engaging than the more accessible Palm Canyon walk.
There is an admission fee to enter the Indian Canyons, and the reservation is closed on certain tribal ceremonial days throughout the year. Check the website before visiting. The canyons are open fall through spring; summer hours are limited.
Sunnylands Center & Gardens
Sunnylands is a bit of a family activity list, but hear this one out. The 200-acre estate built by Walter and Leonore Annenberg has hosted presidents, world leaders, and artists for decades. The visitor center tells that story through well-designed exhibits, and it’s genuinely interesting for kids with any curiosity about American history or diplomacy.
The free entry gardens are the real draw for families. Nine acres of desert-adapted landscapes surround the property with an art collection placed throughout, and the paths are pleasant for morning walks any time of year. The combination of art, architecture, and desert plants gives kids a lot to look at and ask questions about.
The center also hosts family programming and special events throughout the year. The holiday light installation in December draws large crowds from across the region and makes for a memorable evening.
Sunnylands is located in Rancho Mirage and is free to visit the grounds. Tours of the estate house require advance reservation and paid tickets.
Big Morongo Canyon Preserve
About 20 miles north of Palm Springs near the town of Morongo Valley, Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is a hidden gem that outdoor-loving families often overlook. The preserve sits at the edge of the Mojave Desert and protects one of the largest cottonwood-willow riparian habitats in Southern California.
Riparian means water-adjacent, and water in the desert draws life in extraordinary concentrations. Big Morongo Creek runs year-round through the preserve, making it one of the top birdwatching destinations in the state. Spring migration brings hundreds of species through the canyon, and even during slower seasons, the bird activity here is significantly richer than at most desert locations.
The main boardwalk trail runs about a mile through the riparian corridor and is accessible for young children and strollers. Side trails offer longer loops for families looking for more mileage. The combination of running water, tall cottonwoods, and abundant wildlife makes this feel like a different ecosystem entirely from the Palm Springs desert floor.
Admission is free, and the preserve is open daily for day use. Arrive in the morning for the best bird activity.
Evening Strolls in Downtown Palm Springs
Downtown Palm Springs on a warm evening has a particular energy that families can tap into without any admission fee. Palm Canyon Drive closes to vehicle traffic on certain evenings for the Thursday night VillageFest market, where local vendors, food stalls, and street performers create a lively walkable event that kids of all ages enjoy.
Even outside of market nights, Palm Canyon Drive is walkable, well-lit, and lined with shops and restaurants that run the range from casual tacos to proper sit-down dining. The Cahuilla Hills Park at the northern end of town has picnic facilities and a pleasant setting for a late afternoon snack before dinner.
The mid-century modern architecture that makes Palm Springs famous is most visible and most enjoyable at street level on foot. Even if your kids have no interest in architecture, the scale and color of the buildings, combined with the mountain backdrop, create a visual experience that photographs well for the family album.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the best age for kids to enjoy Palm Springs activities?
A. Kids from about 5 years old and up get the most out of most Palm Springs activities. The aerial tramway delights kids across a wide age range. The Living Desert and Indian Canyons work well for ages 6 and up. Younger toddlers can enjoy the Coachella Valley Preserve boardwalk trails and Sunnylands gardens without issue.
Q. Is Palm Springs too hot for families in summer?
A. Summer in Palm Springs brings serious heat, with temperatures regularly exceeding 110 degrees in July and August. Families can still have a great time by scheduling outdoor activities for early morning and evening, spending midday at the pool or in air-conditioned attractions, and taking the aerial tramway to the cool mountain station. It requires planning but is manageable.
Q. Are the Indian Canyons accessible for young children?
A. Palm Canyon’s main trail is flat and stroller-accessible for the first portion, making it suitable for young children. Murray Canyon involves rougher terrain and is better suited for kids 7 and up who can handle some scrambling. The entrance area and trading post are accessible to all ages.
Q. What is the best time of year for a family trip to Palm Springs?
A. October through April offers the most comfortable conditions for outdoor activities. The sweet spot is November through March, when daytime temperatures are warm enough for outdoor adventures but cool enough to be genuinely comfortable. Spring break in March and April is popular and busy, so booking accommodations early for those dates is important.
Q. Are there free activities for families in Palm Springs?
A. Yes. The Coachella Valley Preserve, Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, and Sunnylands gardens are all free to enter. Downtown Palm Springs walking and the Thursday VillageFest market are free. The Indian Canyons and Living Desert Zoo have admission fees, but they offer solid value for the experience.
