Planning to visit Palm Springs with kids? Don’t hesitate, this family friendly paradise is only a two-hour drive from Los Angeles, and is blessed with an average of 350 days of sunshine each year. Aside from being a favorite place for western Canadians to visit over Christmas and Spring Break, the area has other seasonal events worth checking out.
The Palm Springs International Film Festival the first week in January offers 12 days of events and film screenings featuring over 200 films from 60+ countries.
The Desert Classic Golf Tournament in mid January consists of four days at La Quinta Country Club, PGA West Palmer Private, and PGA West Nicklaus Private courses with 144 professionals and 144 amateurs.
At the end of January you can take in The HITS Coachella Desert Circuit, a nine-week equestrian show jumping competition with about $3 million in prize money!
Modernism Week February 13-23 highlights midcentury modern architecture, art, interior and landscape design, and vintage culture at various locations throughout Palm Springs.
The BNP Paribas Tennis Tournament usually coincides with Spring Break and brings in about 300,000 tennis fans.
The Coachella Valley Music Festival and Stagecoach run back to back in April, but get your tickets way in advance.
Fun Things To Do In Palm Springs With Kids
Your visit to the Coachella Valley isn’t complete without a trip up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. There is a gorgeous park at the top as well as a restaurant and interpretive center. We love to go up when there’s snow!
Tailgating at Polo is fun for the whole family. We always go with a crowd of friends and have picnic.
The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens is one of our favorite places in the desert. For several years we had an annual membership so we could visit often. There are always fun activities for kids. The gardens are amazing and we love visiting the butterfly exhibit.
Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert -a fun interactive museum where children can experience the joy of learning through hands-on exploration.
Palm Desert Aquatic Center
Joshua Tree National Park
Brunch at The Parker Parker Palm Springs
Shields Date Garden – cheap and yummy breakfast – date shakes Shields Date Garden
I didn’t know there were such places like that to enjoy in Palm Springs. I had this notion that the place is for the privileged few. I am so wrong. If we ever get to visit California, I will make sure we include Palm Springs in our itinerary.
I live in California, but can you believe I’ve yet to visit Palm Springs? I just shared your post with my husband. We both agree that we need to go this spring. Thank you so much for this travel inspiration!
Oh I’d love a trip in here! There are much fun and exciting things to do!
I’ve been to a bunch of states but going to west coast hasn’t been one of them. It is something that I have always wanted to do but never have had the money. But I’m going to do my best to start going somewhere once a year, even if it’s local.
Sounds like a great place to go with the family. I am sure that my kids would love it there, and looks like there is plenty to do.
Palm Springs looks very kid-friendly! I always thought that it was mostly upscale shops with little to do but shop and golf.
We’ve never been to CA, but if ever we get to go, Palm Springs is one of the places that we’re going to explore. Thanks for the ideas.
Palm Springs with kids looks like so much fun! I love the idea of visiting here with kids, some day!
There seems like so much to do with kids and hiking and sight seeing. I always thought of it as a place for the ultra rich but some of these places are just perfect.
I would really love to take a trip with my kids to Palm Springs. We would have so much fun together.
It’s been years since I’ve been to Palm Springs, but I remember the tram! This would be fun to do with the kids.
This looks like a blast! I’ve never been to Palm Springs before. I think we’d love that tramway.
Palm Springs sounds like a lot of fun. We’d definitely have to spend some time hiking and the tram would be cool too!
Those blue skies are just eye-popping Lizzie. Love ’em. Palm Springs is high on my travel list. Thanks for the rocking share.
Thanks Ryan! The only thing that gets me through the short dark days of winter in BC is knowing that I can hop on a plane and enjoy the warmth and blue skies of Palm Springs for next to nothing $.