The minute you get off the plane at the Palm Springs airport, you know you are on vacation (even if you are not) – palm trees and blue skies are just a few feet away. The mountain vistas, pleasant climate in the winter (it stays nice October thru April), and relaxing atmosphere with plenty of golf make it a popular destination for snowbirds. There is plenty to do for golfers (golf carts get their own lane on the streets of this town) with dozens of courses for every taste.
And if you are looking for some R&R – the spas in this town are top notch. You are near two national parks and just a few hours from LA. And don’t forget the swimming! 
Of course, if you are traveling with kids, your focus will be slightly different, so we picked our top things to do in Palm Springs for families. The following attractions are perfect for families of kids up to 5 years old, but there are other things to do in town older kids would enjoy, such as the Air Museum or the Aerial Tramway ride up the top of the mountains.
No matter which attraction you visit in Palm Springs, you will enjoy your California vacation.
The Living Desert
This incredible outdoor park/zoo in Palm Desert/Indian Wells is a short drive from downtown or Rancho Mirage and it is a must-see, the one place your kids may like more than swimming. There are trails you can cover with your own (or rented here) stroller, on foot for avid hikers, or by shuttle that covers the entire grounds. Make sure you have comfortable shoes and PLENTY of water; it is the desert after all. 
What’s unique about this place is that you will see a little bit of everything representing the desert.
First, there are the amazing botanical gardens that show the full spectrum of the desert plants, with incredible rows of cactus. You can explore cactus and other plants from Mexico, Africa and Madagascar. In fact, the trail in The Living Desert goes through two sections – North America and Africa – and you can probably cover the entire place in a matter of hours but frequent stops will make for a longer adventure.
The birds, the butterfly garden and the animal clinic at the plant area will keep the kids here for a while. And if that’s not enough, there is the fun carousel representing rare animals found in desert locales. With gorgeous views of the desert and the mountains around, it’s a memorable ride. Some animals (seats) go up and down and others are stationary, easier for little kids. 
The African area is quite a sight with zebras, giraffes, ostriches, leopards, camels and other animals. You can witness the animals being fed and talk to the keepers. This area gets very hot, so make sure to hydrate frequently and have everyone wear a hat. Towards the end of the African section you will run into Watutu Village – you can buy some crafts and gifts here, as well as break for lunch or snack at the cafe. The petting area nearby will keep your kids occupied for a while too. Make your way back, taking in the sights and sounds of this living desert once again. Near the Palm garden, you will find the Model Train display. It’s a really entertaining little train town with models of buildings, cars and, of course, trains going around the miniature town. Even if your little ones don’t nap, the trip to the Living Desert will surely be talked about for weeks on end.
Note that this desert park has reduced hours June through September (hot summer months), open just until 1.30 unlike the usual 5 pm.
Moorten Botanical Garden
This one is hard to find, truly off the beaten path; there is not even a dedicated parking lot, you’ll have to park on the street. It only takes 15 minutes at the most to walk around this entire private estate garden turned public arboretum but you’ll be blown away by the variety of cactus shown here – over 3000 types sprawled around the scenic winded nature trail.
This private arboretum was originally started in 1938 by Patricia and Chester “Cactus Slim” Moorten in a different location and is now carried on by their son Clark. Incidentally, Moortens did beautiful landscaping work at the Frank Sinatra’s house also here in Palm Springs.
Some plants could use more care but it is still fun to see the variety of plants from various geographic regions and kids will enjoy walking around the cactus lanes, through the greenhouse and around the meditation garden. There are also some unique objects made of petrified wood, some birds and gardening paraphernalia for sale. This place is different and a nice quick stop on your way to or from downtown.
Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert
This two-story house of fun is a perfect destination when you’ve explored the rest of the city or if the weather is bad. There is barely anything here for babies but toddlers and preschoolers will have a lot of fun. Located on two floors and with additional space outside, the museum offers a music station with various sound exhibits, a rock climb boys would dig, a rope maze at the front, a grocery store, a pizza parlor, a vet room, an amazing “paint the Bug” area and much much more.
If the weather is good, which is often the case here, take it outside to kick the balls on the grass or play around under the canopy. Unfortunately, there is no place to eat directly at the museum, aside from some snacks at the gift shop, but there are tables outside if you bring your own lunch, and plenty of eateries nearby in Rancho Mirage.
Downtown Palm Springs
I don’t know about your kids but mine love exploring new cities. Palm Springs downtown does not seem as glamorous as it used to be in the days when Hollywood stars whose names show up on most streets (Sinatra, Bob Hope) frequented here. There are still some fun things to see. The stars on the ground are entertaining – fun if you haven’t seen the ones in LA. Rock Hudson, Marilyn Monroe, and Marlene Dietrich are a few of the many we spotted, though many stars were simply bought by the local humanitarians.
Then, there is the sculpture of Sonny Bono, once a mayor of this town. 
There is fun and dancing happening all day at Las Casuelas – easily the best Mexican restaurant in Palm Springs. And don’t forget the little squares and fountains, the old history museums and the shops. “The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies” show runs downtown showcasing the best music and dancing from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s with celebrity performers, though this may be the night you’ll need to find a babysitter. There are a few events happening in Palm Springs not far from the downtown area, which the kids will enjoy exploring with you, such as the Palm Springs Classic Car auction we were lucky to catch.
Top Family Restaurants in Palm Springs, CA
- Ruby’s – Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, 60’s inspired diner decor and style, burgers and shakes kids will love
- TKB (The Kid’s Bakery) – various locations, Free cookies for all kids
- Nicolino’s – Cathedral City, great pizza
- Las Casuelas – Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, yummy Mexican food, family friendly atmosphere
- Red Robin – Rancho Mirage, great burgers and a free balloon for kids
- Kobe – Rancho Mirage, Japanese table-style cooking, delicious and plenty to share, plus a fun fish pond where kids can feed the fish
- Upper Crust Pizza – Cathedral City, awesome pizza and game room
- Tooties Texas Bar-B-Q – Cathedral City, yummy bbq and inexpensive meals for kids
