Over the weekend we took a road trip to Palm Springs for a Family Desert Escape. There's so much to do in Palm Spring and I wanted to highlight some of our favorites things to do as a family. We wanted to explore around town and avoid deviating too far from the heart of Palm Springs, so everything I will mention down below is no further than a 30 minute drive with one exception, and it's a GOOD one. I'm excited to share this Palm Springs Family Travel Guide, where we stayed and what we did on our weekend desert escape. Hope you find some fun ideas for your Palm Spring Family Travel!
Where To Stay: Palm Springs Family Travel Guide
Vista Mirage Resort is a desert oasis in the heart of Palm Springs! Our 2 bedroom suite was clean, spacious and perfect for a family getaway. Aside from their spacious & clean 2 bedrooms the room comes with a full kitchen, 2 restrooms and a full living and dining room. Having a full kitchen is extremely convenient, specially when traveling with kids. Plus eating out 3 times a day can get pricey with a family so having a full kitchen is extremely convenient and can help families stay on budget.
The resort also has tons of amenities great for family travel. They have 2 large heated pools, tennis court, ping pong table, & BBQ grills. Enjoying all the hotels wonderful amenities is also a great way to keep the family entertained without having to dig deeper in your wallet. Always a huge plus! You can see more or book your stay here !
Fun fact is that Vista Mirage Resort is part of ResorTime family! This is a nightly rental website that features exclusive rates at their Grand Pacific Resorts across California, Hawaii, and beyond. You can check them out for your next travel adventure HERE !
Check out our video HERE!
Things To Do
The Living Desert
We had a wildly fun time at The Living Desert during our Palms Springs visit.
We took a scenic 30 min drive from Vista Mirage Resort to feed the Giraffes and walk alongside bouncing Wallabies. We saw so many other amazing animals but these experiences were so unique and some of our favorites! Safe to say we had such a blast and highly you add this to your Palm Springs visit. To see more or to purchase tickets visit: www.livingdesert.org
Check out our video HERE
Palm Springs Windmills Tour
We had always seen the iconic Palm Springs windmills from the freeway but this time we decided to stop to take a closer look! We did the Palm Spring Windmill Tour from the comfort of our car using their exclusive narrated app. We learned about the evolution of these windmills and how they create energy from the wind! It was a great opportunity for a unique and educational experience for the kiddo plus they allow visitors to get out and take pictures! I encourage you to visit next time you are headed into Palm Springs to learn all about the first wind farm in SoCal. Plus at the end of the tour, stop for the best date shake in Palm Springs! More on that down below!
Check out our video HERE
Windmill Market
This is a must stop after the Windmill Tour for Palm Springs famous date shake and lunch. The Windmill Market is a hidden gem just north of Palm Springs. The location has the perfect backdrop right by the stretch of windmills which makes it the perfect spot after a tour. It's what some would consider a little hole in the wall market with a small beautiful patio for outdoor seating. Their sandwiches were great and the date shake is an absolute must. It's thick, creamy, and they use real ice cream and fresh dates. It's no wonder they call it the best in Palm Springs. You are sure to have a happy smiling family after this stop because who doesn't love a good shake!
Address: 17080 North Indian Canyon Dr North Palm Springs, CA 92258
Indian Canyons
Spring is the perfect time to explore Palm Springs and we decided to do some outdoor exploring and visited the Tahquitz and Indian Canyons. This beautiful Oasis has several hikes to choose from with something for everyone. This was our second visit but first time doing the Andreas Canyon Trail! It’s a 1 mile loop with mild elevation making it great for all ages and levels. Although it’s an easy trail it delivers so much beauty. It’s packed with plants, giant palm trees, beautiful rock formations, and a creek. The views are absolutely spectacular and we all LOVED it! Here are some thing to know before you visit.
Admission fee : $12 adult/ 6 children
Operating hours 8-5pm
Porta Potties available
check www.indian-canyons.com for closures due to weather conditions.
Address: 38520 S. Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs
If you’re looking for a beautiful waterfall hike, Murray Canyon Trail to Seven Sisters Falls is right by this same area. It's a bit longer but my daughter who was 8 at the time had not problem doing this hike. You can read all about it by tapping on the picture down below.
Palm Springs Visitor Center
This is a quick must stop for a picture with the Palm Springs sign. Makes for a great shot with the beautiful mountains in the back plus if you're with the kiddos its a great potty break stop as well.
Address: 2901 North Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Although we didn't have time to visit on this particular getaway, we have had a chance to visit before and it's always been a great experience. The ride itself up the mountain has some awesome views and last about 10 minutes one way. It's a great way to escape the summer heat as it's always cooler up in the mountain. During winter and early spring definitely expect some snow so come dressed in layers. They have 2 great restaurants on top of the mountain and some great trails to explore. To purchase tickets or to learn more visit here
Joshua Tree National Park
Looking for more outdoor adventures and have time to drive further out? How about Joshua Tree National Park! Just a little over an hour drive can take you to this amazing National Park. You can see tons of our family friendly recommendations inside the park following the link down below.
Good Eats
Windmill Market
I've discussed this up above but wanted to put it next to the Windmill visit since it's perfect after a tour.
Kalura Trattoria
If you enjoy Italian food this is a great option and right in the heart of Palm Springs. I recommend outdoor seating for a great view and outdoor ambience. We had no reservations but got seated right away. Service was great too! Here's what we got and loved. If interested here's what Yelp has to say https://www.yelp.com/biz/kalura-trattoria-palm-springs
Lulu California Bistro
Lulu California Bistro is a fun colorful spot for an affordable meal for the whole family. Plus they have a ton of variety. Plus the food was really good but reservations are highly encouraged.
Cheeky's
Cheeky's made for a perfect breakfast spot we all really enjoyed and really close to where we were staying. They have a fresh and inventive menu where everything is made from scratch using the freshest local ingredients. The outdoor seating was super nice and they had great service. It does get really busy and they don't take reservations so don't come starving. They are only open from 8am-2pm Monday -Sunday.
Address: 622 N. Palm Canyon Drive Palm Springs, CA 92262
Conclusion
Palm Springs made for a wonderful family getaway and I highly encourage you choose this beautiful Desert Oasis for your next family travel destination. Is there something you've done that should be on the list? Let me know in the comments and Happy Travel Planning.
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Talk to you later!
