Top 10 things to do in Palm Springs with kids

Here is our countdown to the top 10 things to do in Palm Springs with kids.

California is a great holiday destination to take the kids, it’s jam packed with fun things to do that will keep the kids entertained throughout the whole holiday. Ok let’s take a look at our top 10 things to do in Palm Springs with kids.

Let’s get started…

If your children (& big children) love water slides, wave riding and a good old splash about then they will love this place. Although wet ‘n’ wild isn’t the biggest waterpark it’s a great day out for all the family. The theme of the waterpark is 1950’s southern California coast and with 18 intense water slides, wave pools and a whole host of attractions laid out over 21 acres it will keep the whole family cool and happy in the summer sun.

For the more adventurous of us, there is the exhilarating multi-person raft ride that includes a 132-foot long tunnel that drops riders 75 feet into a six-story funnel. Wow! More high-speed thrills await you at Tidal Wave Tower.

This water park is aimed at age 6 and up but smaller children can still have a fun time having a splash about.

Wet ‘n’ Wild also have “dive in” movie nights, how cool is that?

The Indian Canyons are the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente band of Chauilla. There are 3 southern Canyons, Palm Andreas and Murray Canyons. All of these trails offer fantastic hiking experiences but with children the most suitable trial will be the Andreas Canyon as it offers a relatively flat one-mile trail through the lush oasis canyon.

There are over 150 different species of plants on this amazing trial. Why not make a day of it and bring a picnic and enjoy the Streams, natural palm oasis and canyon formations, just a few of the natural wonders awaiting you.

The living desert is a geographically laid out zoo and botanical gardens in Palm Springs with a rescue and wildlife treatment center on site. The Living Desert’s mission is desert conservation through preservation, education and appreciation This place truly is a must see with kids, you can tour many different exhibits with rare animals and creature that they have probably never seen before.

The living Desert zoo focuses on educating its visitors about animals from deserts in North America and Africa, including giraffes, jaguars and bighorn sheep, plus many more. They will also see lots of other animals like see zebras, jaguars, mountain lions, hyena’s camels to name a few.

The zoo offers a range of programs for families such as “park at dark” where you are invited to see the animals at night to see what they get up to when all the people go home.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the world’s largest rotating tram car that travels over two and a half miles along the stunning cliffs of Chino Canyon. The 10-minute tram ride transports passengers up to Mt. San Jacinto State Park with beautiful 360-degree views of palm springs.

The kids will love the experience of the tram! As you zip up the mountain the wonderful picturesque views will leave you in awe. The Mountain Station is elevated at 8,516 feet, you will have left the desert behind and will now be surrounded by lush greenery or even snow in the winter!!

There are two restaurants, an observation decks, natural history museum (kids will find this interesting), two documentary theatres (showing videos about the trams history), a gift shop and over 50 miles of hiking trails. Be sure to bring a jacket up as temperatures are a bit cooler then the desert!

What child doesn’t love airplane?! I know mine does, we have 2 toy airports out as I write this!! If your child loves planes then this is the place for them. Visitors can view the largest collection of flyable WWII planes in the world at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

Air museum is filled with World War II aircrafts, some of which you can actually have a walk through. Even if your child has no knowledge of WWII they will enjoy learning and looking at the aircrafts through the exhibits on show as well as the research library and intriguing volunteers who served during the war. In addition to its extraordinary plane collection the museum also has flight simulators, vintage cars and documentary screenings.

Only a 45-minute drive from Palm Springs, Joshua Tree feels like a world away. The twisty tree shapes, large rock formations and scenic views make for a brilliant family day out. The 1 mile loop is probably best if you have small kids, you could even just take a scenic drive through the valley.

The preserve is the result of two great deserts, the low Colorado and the high Mojave, which come together at Joshua Tree to create a 794,000-acre geological wonderland. The Visitor’s Center has games and activity books for the little ones as well as a café at the park’s entrance.

The Cabazon dinosaurs are well known for being one of the best road side attractions on the I-10. With over 50 life like dinosaurs, a dig site and a t rex model where your kids can climb into its mouth!! this is sure to be a big win with the kids.

Villagefest is the place to be on a Thursday Evening. The kids will love the transformation of the downtown area into a bustling fair with over 180 varieties of vendors, food stalls, and brilliant entertainment.

It takes place from May- October each year with local shops staying open later for the occasion. Many of the Palm Canyon Drive eateries and shops stay open late for the occasion.

It’s no surprise that Big Red jeep won the trip advisor certificate of excellence this year. Their Extraordinary jeep tour takes you through the scenic labyrinth of canyons in the San Andreas Fault Zone. There will be a guide on board explaining everything you need to know about your surroundings.

You will be taken to a private Ranch, experience the spectacular landscape of active volcano, walk through deep canyons created by the movement of tectonic plates and explore the natural palm oasis where the water bubbles up from the aquifer. All this will fascinate both adults and children alike!

This museum is a great place to let your children have fun and learn at the same time with more than 50 hands on exhibits to keep their minds completely occupied. When it’s too hot outside be sure to take a trip here.

The museum encourages children to learn about themselves and the world around them with exhibits that are grouped into different themes such as physical activities, science and exploration.

There are activities such as rope climbing, dress up and archaeological digging where children learn without even realising it. The museum has ever changing exhibits to constantly keep the kids well and truly entertained.