Attractions of Interest to Children

Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert

71-701 Gerald Ford Drive

Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

760-321-0602

Tues-Sat. 10  - 5 , Sunday Noon-5 , and Mon. (January-April) from 10  - 5 

A Hand-On Museum with over 50 exhibits for children to manipulate, explore, and discover such as "Dig It", an archaeological dig where children can dig for actual Cahuilla Indian artifact replicas. The campus boasts an Outdoor Amphitheater, the Dinah Shore Center for Performing Arts, a Covered Picnic Area, Community Gardens, and a beautifully landscaped campus.

Palm Springs Swim Center

Open April - Sept. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Oct.-Mar. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Night swimming in summer.

760-323-8278.

Located in Sunrise Park on Sunrise Way and Ramon Rd., the Palm Springs Swim Center features a 50-meter Olympic-size public pool, two 1-meter diving boards, one 3-meter board, spacious lawns, sun deck and a separate section for children. The temperature is maintained at 80-84 degrees. Instruction for all ages.

Palm Springs Oasis Waterpark

Off I-10 south on Gene Autry Trail between Ramon Rd. and E. Palm Canyon Dr.

760-325-7873.

Open daily 11 - 5:30 , March-Labor Day, plus weekends Sept. 9-Oct. 29.

Discounts after 3:30 p.m. June 10-Labor Day.

This 21-acre water park features over a dozen water slides, free-fall slides, body-and board-surfing in a 2/3-acre wave pool, an inner tube ride, beach volleyball and even a Squirt City for small children. Beach food, rental cabanas, lockers and dressing rooms.

Joshua Tree National Park

Take route 62 through Morongo and Yucca Valley to Park Blvd. in Joshua Tree.

760-367-5500

Mojave and Lower Colorado desert join to form the park. Varied flora and wildlife, campgrounds, horse and hiking trails.

Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Admission $10 per car.

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

47-900 Portola Ave.

Palm Desert/Indian Wells

760-346-5694

Open daily year round, except December 25. Hours 9 - 5, last admission 4 p.m., guided tours, Summer hours; June 16 - August 31, 8 -1:30.   Admission charged.

1,200 acre wildlife and botanical park, featuring rare and endangered desert animals and African wildlife, hiking trails, picnic areas, café and gift shop. Shaded and misted areas throughout the park

Knotts Soak City

1500 S. Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs

(760) 327-0499   

Open daily at 11 a.m mid-March thru Labor Day, weekends through October 28.

Deluxe, family-oriented water playground with 13 water slides, wave pool, Lazy River ride, Monte Carlo Beach with mist-cooled private cabanas, gift shop, food and beverages.

Uprising Outdoor Adventure Center

1500 S. Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, Next to Knott's Oasis Waterpark,

760-320-6630

Open year round. 10.- 8 weekdays, 10- 6  weekends. Summer hours Tues. – Fri. 5 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Call for admission fee.      

Try rock-climbing: . Beginner lessons for ages 6 and older. Shaded, micro cooled.  Center also provides climbing adventures to Joshua Tree National Park and Idyllwild.

Parks and Wildlife Preserves

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

Morongo Valley, CA 92256

760-363-7190

Located directly off State Highway 62, the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

is over six miles long featuring 3,900 acres of virgin territory dating back two billion years.

Moorten Botanical Gardens

1701 South Palm Canyon Drive

Palm Springs, CA 92264

760-327-6555

Fifty years in the making, Morton's Botanical Gardens luxuriant labyrinths

feature over 3,000 varieties of desert plants including prickly pears, agaves and

cacti .

Open daily.

Seaview Ranch Date Gardens

84-510 Johnson Street

Thermal, CA 92274

760-397-2200

Seaview Ranch proudly features both the Deglet Noor and the Medjool varieties.

The Coachella Valley literally saved the Medjool date from extinction.

Seaview Ranch Date Gardens offers samples.

Shields Date Gardens

80-225 Highway 111

Indio, CA 92201

760-347-0996

Shield's features everything from dates to dried fruits with a cornucopia

of nuts and fruit flavored wines in between. Make sure you sample one of

their delicious date shakes.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

(760) 767-5311

With over 600,000 acres, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest desert state park in the contiguous United States. 500 miles of dirt roads, two huge wilderness areas and 110 miles of riding and hiking trails.

Joshua Tree National Monument

Twentynine Palms

760-367-7511

The Joshua Tree National Monument is the unique result of two great deserts, the

low Colorado and the high Mojave, coming together to create a geological and

floral fantasy land that is unsurpassed.

The Living Desert

47-900 Portola Avenue

Palm Desert, CA

760-346-5694

Open daily 9am - 5pm, last admission 4:30pm.  Admission charged.  Free parking.

Mountain lions, wolves, javelina, bobcats, golden eagles in a natural setting nestled at the foot of the Santa Rosa Mountains.

Coachella Valley Preserve

343-1234

Gates open dawn to dusk. Visitor's Center opens 8 a.m. - noon daily except August

Take Ramon Rd. over I-10 left 2 miles on Thousand Palms Canyon Rd.      

13,000 acre preserve containing the spectacular Thousand Palm Oasis and rare wildlife.

Hiking and riding trails

Lake Cahuilla

Fishing, boating , swimming pool, lifeguard April - October

Picknicking, camping, hiking. Lake stocked (license required)

Open daily 6 a.m. - until dark year round.

Night fishing Friday & Saturday in summer

Take Hwy 111 east from Palm Springs to Jefferson St., Indio, turn right about 6 miles