Going to Palm Springs, CA
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August 2008
I HIGHLY recommend Two Bunch Palms, a beautiful and tranquil spa in Desert
Hot Springs, outside Palm Springs. http://www.twobunchpalms.com
I went there with some girlfriends several years ago and have longed to go
back ever since. Not cheap, but gloriously relaxing. If you want get
into town for a night out, it's not far.
steph
I would suggest Palm Springs and the all the towns around it. It is very
pretty, warm in December, there are spas aplenty, shopping, and outdoorsy
stuff to do. It is a 2 or 2.5 hour drive from LA and a short flight from
SFO. We stayed at La Quinta resort over spring break and had a great time.
Sedona is pretty sweet, too. But it takes a little time to get to.
[Editor note: additional responses to this question are here:
Girls Weekend Away in December]
March 2004
We are traveling to the Rancho Mirage/Palm Springs area with our
2 year-old daughter for the weekend. Does anyone have
recommendations for fun places to go? What about family-
friendly restaurants to try? Thanks a bunch!
The Living Desert, which is a kind of an open-air zoo that you
ride through on trams, is nice for kids. My family likes
Elmer's on 111 just south of Palm Springs for both breakfast
and dinner. We're also fans of the big Mexican place right on
Palm Canyon (I think it's called Terraza and there's another
one in Rancho Mirage called Nuevas, both owned by the same
family). It looks like it's oriented toward young adults but
really the waitstaff is very kid friendly.
Ann
We were in Desert Hot Springs for a conference when my child was
almost 2 y/o. If you are looking for a place to stay the
Marriott Desert Hot Springs Resort was fabulous and relatively
cheap (but this was a conf rate and June)- the rooms were huge
and beautiful and the pools were terrific for toddlers - 3 or 4
pools with very shallow areas. There is a desert zoo that would
have been a bit more fun had we not risked heat stroke to go
there.
Anon
For Sunday Brunch that will keep the little ones entertained,
try Los Casuelas Nuevo (sp?) in Rancho Mirage. Mexican buffet,
champagne, outdoor courtyard, and mariachis.
Try the living desert. Take the tram ride to the san jacinto
forest (bring layers, cold on top).
p.s. fan
Feb 2004
Hi - I wrote in another time for recommendations for my in-laws' 50th anniversary
celebration. I am so grateful for the recommendations I received on this list. It
seems, though, that my in-laws are now considering Palm Springs. I checked the
website and there was only one listing dating back to 1999. I was hoping someone
had been there more recently with kids and could let me know about great places to
stay, things to do, places to eat and the like. Unfortunately, the only kid will be our
then 6-year-old. Also, my husband needs to be active - no lounging by the pool all
day, for example. Thanks!
Lori
We just got back from a mini vacation in Rancho Mirage which is
close to Palm Springs. We stayed at the Marriott Rancho Mirage
Las Palmas resort and got a pretty good deal on it through
priceline (about 1/2 off the rate if you booked directly
through the hotel). It's a nice place although not the nicest
in the area - there are so many hotels/resorts. This one had a
great pool area for kids, it was nicely heated, had a water
play area and pretty big water slide. They also have a
playground, golf course and spa. Rooms were nice with
comfortable beds and they brought us a small refridgerator.
As far as things to do, I would recommend the Living Desert
Museum in Palm Desert and the revolving tram that goes up a
mountain in Palm Springs. The Living Desert shows you all the
plants and animals you might see in the desert and has a great
brand new play area for kids.
We went out to dinner one night to Las Casuelas Nuevas (forgive
me if I butchered the name!), they had a great outdoor patio,
mariachi band, and excellent margaritas!
It's an interesting place, don't know that I'd make it a
regular vacation spot but we had a good time. Have fun!
Jackie
There is a GREAT children's museum in Rancho Mirage
(http://www.cdmod.org). And the Living Desert in Palm Desert is
a zoo that would be fun for a 6-year-old. Have fun!
Liz O.
Palm Springs:
Hiking: Palm Canyon; Tahquitz Canyon. Tahquitz is a bit more
strenuous. Both are beautiful. Both are Native American lands.
Tahquitz requires a reservation and provides a tour guide.
Food: Rancho Mirage, Las Casuelas Nueva's Sunday Brunch is
great. out door, mariachis, buffet. champagne, but very family
friendly.
Activities: Living Desert: like a zoo/hike/botanic garden all
in one. kids activities occasionally, I think. The TRAM up to
san jacinto forest/mtns. Hot chocolate at the top!
Check with the Native American Communities. We attended a Pow
Wow/fair before children that I think a child over toddler age
would really appreciate: lots of costumes; drumming; dancing.
You might check food channel archives. Rachel Ray did a show on
Palm Springs on 40 dollars a day and found great breakfast;
fish tacos; and a 2nd happy hour in the later evening (when you
leave kids w/ grand parents maybe?)
You are only 1 hour and a bit from Joshua Tree. and there's an
interesting nature area just minutes up the road toward joshua
tree from 10 with hikes. I also think you can tour the
windfarms. also there are hot springs spas in desert hot
springs. i can't imagine having shortage of things to do there.
have fun.
Jessica
March 2003
My husband and I have never been to Palm Springs, but have heard it is a fun place for families so we're planning a trip with our children (ages 6 and 8) this Spring. Does anybody have recommendations for things to do with the children (or things to avoid). Also, has anybody stayed at either the Embassy Suites in Palm Desert or the Marriott Desert Springs and can give us feedback?
Thanks!
We stay at the Marriott Desert Springs for a week or two every
year. There are many attractions for children in the area. They
have activities in the Villa's during the day for various ages.
The hotel and villas are very well kept up. Several swimming
pools on the grounds as well as a golf course, spa, shops, boat
rides and tram rides around the grounds. Great place.
jh
We've gone to Palm Springs with our small children (3 & 6), and
they love it! We're going again in mid-April. Besides
beautiful weather, hanging out at the hotel pools, etc. Palm
Springs has an AMAZING Discovery Museum for kids. (Air-
conditioned too!) It's got wonderful activities for the kids,
and your children are the perfect age for it! Also, there is
the Palm Desert zoo -
Have fun!
SF Mommy
There are a several places that are fun. A good bet is the
Living Desert in Palm Desert. It's like a desert zoo and is
quite pretty. What impressed me the most were the big horn
sheep you could see up close. Also fun is the Aerial Tramway in
Palm Springs. The view is really striking and the weather
change is dramatic. At this time of year it should be about 80
degrees in Palm Springs but, at the top of the mountain (I think
it's San Jacinto mountain), there might be snow. A bit further
away (about a 1 hour drive) is Joshua Tree National Park. March
and April are the best times to go to Joshua Tree because you
are likely to see the desert flowers in bloom and it's not too
ungodly hot just yet. There's also a big water park somewhere
around Rancho Mirage - not exactly a desert attraction but it
might be fun with the kids. Have fun !
- Desert Native
Be sure to visit the Living Desert Museum (a zoo of desert
animals), the Palm Springs Desert Museum (which also has
scheduled children's science and art activities), the Indian
Canyons hikes (great with palm trees, streams, etc), the tram to
the top of San Jacinto (there can be snow there when it is warm
on the valley floor), and a trip to see the amazing scenery of
Joshua Tree National Park (For a good guide to hikes, see
Furbush's ''On Foot in Joshua Tree.'')
Have a great time.
Melissa T
The Living Desert is a nice family activity with nature shows
and a fun tram ride through the zoo. It's about 20 minutes
south of Palm Springs.
Ann
The Children's Museum of the Desert is GREAT. It is in Rancho
Mirage. http://www.cdmod.org/. I also recommend the Living
Desert, which is a small zoo, in Palm Desert. Other than that,
we spent a lot of time in the pool!
Liz O.
Palm Springs has some nice options for children. The Living
Desert is a good visit. The tram ride might also be a hit.
There's a restaurant of sorts at top for hot chocolate and
meals. The sunday brunch at Los Cosuelas Nuevas (sp?) in Rancho
Mirage is very family friendly. Mexican Buffet, outdoor dining,
mariachi music. We stayed for many helpings enjoyed the music
and were never once rushed by the courteous staff. The buffet
has American and Mexican style breakfast/brunch items and ice
cream fruit and several other desserts.
Jessica
A couple of years ago we went to Palm Springs for Spring
break,had such a great time that we bought a Marriott timeshare
at Shadow Ridge. Some fun things to do: take bikes if you can,
weather is perfect in spring for a ride and it is very flat
there-- there is a water park with wave pool, slides etc. good
for one day,--golf is superb!--and of course just go to the pool
where you are staying. We hang at the pool for many hours
everyday. My kid is taking a friend this year.
Janet
From: Petra (2/99)
Very nice are:
- Joshua Tree NP: the area around the Hidden Valley is very pretty with
lots of small 2-3 mi hikes; 2mi hike to see the beautiful view from the top
of the hill next to the Lost Horse Mine
- Telepherique from Palm Springs to the San Jacinto Peak; there is probably
snow now
- for an afternoon or so, there is a palm oasis close to Palm Springs (at
the visitor center they know the location) with short hikes and very sandy
area, very warm, good to let small children walk around and explore.
this page was last updated: Dec 3, 2012
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