Family-Friendly Fun

outdoor adventures offer breathing room.

As you look for ways to keep your kids entertained and inspired, Palm Desert’s top family attractions are reopening with new safety protocols and procedures to make your trip fun and safe.

Living Desert Zoo & Gardens

Living Desert Zoo & Gardens

A trip to Palm Desert wouldn’t be complete with a visit to our wildest attraction, The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens. The entire family will love the animal exhibits and gardens with plants from desert climates around the world. The Living Desert’s new Australian Adventure offers you a chance for an immersive walkabout with wallabies bouncing by and cockatiels flying overhead. Be sure not to miss the unbeatable photo opportunities during the Giraffe Feedings. However you spend your day, you’re sure to find plenty of excitement.

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Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

For year-round adventures, don’t miss the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Rotating tramcars whisk you to the 8,516′ elevation of Mt. San Jacinto where you disembark to enjoy the view and wander underneath the pines. In summer, you can enjoy miles of hiking paths, including family-friendly short nature trails and longer jaunts out into a state wilderness area. When snow covers the ground in winter, bring the family for snow play and sledding, followed by a cup of hot chocolate in the cafe. (Temporarily closed.)

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CHILDREN’S DISCOVER MUSEUM OF THE DESERT

Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert

With over 80 hands-on exhibits, the Children’s Discover Museum of the Desert is the place for some serious fun. Kids can unleash their curiosity as they explore the worlds of science and nature. A can’t-miss museum for families with toddlers through elementary school age! (Temporarily closed.)

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Palm Springs Air Museum

Don’t underestimate the kid-friendly factor at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Children of all ages are entranced by the big planes, and entertained with related activities including the kid-sized control tower and flying the flight simulators.

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Palm Desert Aquatic Center

For even more fun with the kids – or just the kid in you – come cool off at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center, an eight-acre facility containing a 1,200 sq. ft. recreation pool, a fun splash park for the kids, two 20-foot water slides and an Olympic-size swimming pool for a bit of exercise. (Currently open for lap swimming and youth team sports.)

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Your Trip Starts here

Palm Desert Visitor Services

Planning a trip, or just arrived? The Palm Desert Visitor Services staff is ready to help you find your happy place. We're open inside Palm Desert City Hall’s North Wing where you can browse our brochures, guides and maps, and ask for assistance and advice.

Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is also available by phone, email or the chat function in the lower right hand of this screen to answer any questions you may have.

Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Closed weekends and major holidays

Contact Us

73510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260

vcenter@palmdesert.gov

760-568-1441 800-873-2428