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Palm Springs, California might not scream “kid-friendly vacation spot” however we just lately had THE BEST trip there with our household (our children are 9 and 13). So right here’s a fast rundown of our favourite must-see sights in Palm Springs in addition to information about the place we stayed, what we ate, and what we’re excited to take a look at subsequent time. As a result of we undoubtedly might be again!
Did I point out we additionally introduced our nine-pound chihuahua with us? So most of our recommendations are dog-friendly too!
Why Trip With Youngsters In Palm Springs?
We selected Palm Springs for lots of causes. First, our East Coast-born children had by no means been to California! After all, there are many choices for California holidays. However we needed to keep away from the hustle of a much bigger metropolis like Los Angeles or San Francisco, and we favored the thought of introducing them to the unfamiliar desert geography. Sherry’s mother additionally lives in California, so it was an incredible likelihood to fulfill up along with her on her facet of the nation. Palm Springs has a whole lot of persona and distinctive sights, plus it promised to be heat in mid-March throughout our spring break, in order that sealed the deal.
We thought of an analogous vacation spot like Sedona or Flagstaff, Arizona – however Palm Springs turned out to be simpler and cheaper for us to get to from our small Florida airport.
When To Go to Palm Springs
Most individuals advocate visiting Palm Springs within the winter or early spring (November – April). That is when the climate is usually essentially the most hospitable with common daytime highs within the 70s and 80s. The summer season months often see temps over 100 levels, and a pal who lives there year-round says it may be extraordinarily intense. Really her phrases had been “depressing” as a result of it might attain 120+ levels, with swimming pools heating as much as 100 levels themselves! In these months she sometimes avoids going exterior apart from very early within the morning or late at night time.
The one draw back to coming within the extra fascinating “vacationer season” of winter or spring is that costs will be larger and issues could also be extra crowded. Nonetheless, we had been there in mid-March over our children’ spring break and the climate was nice (most days had a excessive of 75-80) and we didn’t discover something overly busy. We’ll share how we saved cash on our Airbnb as a substitute of paying these additional excessive peak season costs slightly additional down on this submit too.
How We Bought To Palm Springs
We flew into the Palm Springs Airport (PSP) as a result of it’s handy, charming, and centrally-located within the metropolis limits. And it took us beneath 10 minutes to drive from there to our Airbnb! We had flown into the PSP airport as soon as earlier than (for work) and may’t recover from how a lot of the airport is totally outside. The picture beneath was taken after we went by safety on our journey house. Which means sure, as soon as you might be deep into the airport you get to be exterior! The airport can get busy throughout peak occasions, however in our expertise it has been a really low-stress, easy-to-navigate airport.
Alternatively, some individuals fly into a bigger airport like LAX in Los Angeles or LAS in Las Vegas for cheaper and/or direct flights. The drive to Palm Springs from LA is about 2-3 hours (relying on visitors) and from Vegas it’s about 4. In case you’re planning to hire a automotive to make use of in Palm Springs anyway, which we advocate, you would possibly get pleasure from having the additional highway journey and the excuse to see sights in one other metropolis.
The place We Stayed In Palm Springs
On a earlier work journey to Palm Springs, Sherry and I stayed on the Saguaro Lodge. It was enjoyable and iconic-looking (see beneath), however after we journey with our children (and the canine!) we love and Airbnb or VRBO as a result of we get entry to a whole house. It’s all the time good to unfold out a bit extra, have entry to our personal kitchen, have a pool all to ourselves, and so on. So this time we rented an Airbnb positioned simply north of downtown Palm Springs.
The Airbnb that we rented ended up being one of many highlights of the journey. We splurged as a result of it was just some nights and it was Sherry’s birthday whereas we had been there. By splurge we imply every of the three nights we stayed was round $450 – however inns for that very same peak spring break week weren’t a lot much less (some had been extra!). We additionally used bank card factors in direction of the battle to offset our trip bills (we have now a Capital One Enterprise Card).
Fast tip: Our Airbnb can swell to $1200 per night time (!!!), however we snagged a deal as a result of they had been attempting to fill just a few empty days between two different bookings. So searching for weekdays between two booked weekends (we stayed Tues, Wed, and Thurs night time) would possibly prevent cash as a result of there’s usually much less demand for these days, which implies they get marked down.
As for the home itself, we’d say the views and the partitions of glass and the pool and spa had been the highlights. It was additionally very clear and had a cool fashionable and ethereal really feel. Although we have now a pool at house, the youngsters had a lot enjoyable on this one which we even canceled another sightseeing plans we initially needed to spend extra time swimming and lounging as a household. It’s all the time good when a trip really finally ends up being enjoyable! Plus, we simply couldn’t recover from the view of the snow-capped mountains.
If the Airbnb we rented isn’t accessible (otherwise you don’t want one thing dog-friendly) listed here are another choices to contemplate (all of which swing fairly wildly in value relying on the dates):
What We Did With Youngsters In Palm Springs
I’ll be the primary to confess that we didn’t have a quintessential journey to Palm Springs. Between spending a whole lot of time having fun with the pool and lounging with the youngsters (and visiting with Sherry’s mother, who got here to our Airbnb to swim and have some meals with us), we didn’t do a ton of sightseeing. However the issues that we did make time to exit and do had been A LOT OF FUN. So I’ll cowl what we did and in addition embrace some issues that we need to come again and do subsequent time.
Cool off in a pool
Like I stated earlier than, the (stunning) spotlight of our journey was the pool! Although we have now a pool with a sizzling tub at house, the addition of some enjoyable pool options (just like the basketball hoop and the raised spa with a view of the mountains) saved drawing us in. Plus with just a few 80-degree afternoons, everybody felt sizzling sufficient within the desert solar to need to get into the pool. So we extremely advocate choosing a resort or home with a pleasant place to swim, as a result of though we wouldn’t have guessed it might have drawn us in so usually, it actually felt nice to swim in that desert warmth!
Hand around in Downtown Palm Springs
The most important buying & eating district in Palm Springs is alongside South Palm Canyon Drive and it’s an incredible place to stroll, get souvenirs, and seize dinner or dessert. We ate all of our dinners on this space (we did some breakfasts and lunches at our Airbnb) and wished we’d spent extra time exploring the encompassing shops – so we’ll undoubtedly be again! There are nationwide chains, small boutiques, and kitschy vacationer retailers. One of the best half: parking downtown is free and plentiful! We’ll cowl particular eating places and issues we loved a bit additional down on this submit.
Try the Cabazon Dinosaurs
Talking of kitschy vacationer sights, we drove 20 minutes to this campy roadside attraction after dinner one night (to beat the warmth!). It’s largely a enjoyable picture op, however you may as well pay admission to stroll by an exhibit that’s overflowing with dinosaur fashions and info which additionally permits you to go up into the most important dinosaurs – like a lighthouse, however toothier. We had enjoyable taking pictures of the youngsters doing wacky issues and simply typically absorbing the kitsch. We had been there in March so that they had been nonetheless painted for Valentine’s Day. In case you simply need the pictures of the large dinosaurs, you are able to do the entire thing without cost from the parking zone, however we paid to discover slightly extra and go up in them and had been glad we did.
Go to Joshua Tree Nationwide Park
One other perk of visiting Palm Springs is your proximity to Joshua Tree Nationwide Park, which is about an hour away. As a result of canine are restricted in most trails in Joshua Tree, we largely did a driving tour with just a few roadside pitstops alongside the way in which. The entire tour took us about 4 hours from our Airbnb and again, together with a fast cease for lunch and buying within the city of Joshua Tree exterior the park, and let me inform you, it was one other spotlight of the journey! We fully felt like we had been in some alien panorama. The youngsters are nonetheless speaking about how cool it was and so are we!
Our greatest tip is to enter by the North Entrance in Twentynine Palms, CA (close to the intersection of Utah Path and Freeway 62). It’s a couple of 15-minute drive previous the extra standard West Entrance, but it surely was TOTALLY price it. We had NO wait on the North Entrance (this was a Thursday morning) and adopted Park Blvd by the park to exit on the West Entrance. After we left, there was a line of not less than 60 automobiles ready to get in on the West entrance and we had zero wait to get into the North one we used!
Pack snacks and plenty of water – it was sizzling & dry, even by 11am. It will’ve been enjoyable doing one of many hikes, however we nonetheless felt completely happy having seen it by automotive over many hours with a whole lot of enjoyable stops to discover. Our favourite cease was on the Reside Oak Picnic Space, proven within the pictures above. It was uncrowded and the youngsters beloved climbing the rocks.
We additionally stopped at The Rock Store on the way in which out of Joshua Tree and so they had some fairly wonderful crystals. Sherry and the youngsters every took some house of their suitcases!
Discover the funky neighborhoods
Sherry and I most likely might’ve spent all day touring the attention-grabbing mid-century neighborhoods in Palm Springs, however as a substitute, we did a few post-dinner drive-arounds. Maybe our favourite was the Sahara Cell House Park behind the Ace Lodge. If in case you have a free afternoon, I feel one in every of these strolling or biking excursions could be fascinating.
Eat one thing yummy
Palm Springs had an abundance of eating choices, so we barely scratched the floor on our brief journey. Everyone’s favourite meal was dinner at Birba (above), which felt upscale and particular, but in addition completely child (and canine!) pleasant. We snagged a reservation upfront (by 2 days!) so plan forward and guide one just a few days out – possibly even every week forward of time if you happen to can.
We additionally beloved grabbing tacos at El Patron on our first night time (beneath).
And I’m really nonetheless fascinated with the poke burger I acquired at Haus of Poke. I picked up a to-go order there that we ate by the pool and it was *cooks kiss*.
What We Need To Do Subsequent Time
I notice that’s not at all an exhaustive listing of issues to do with children in Palm Springs. However listed here are among the issues we have now on our to-do listing for subsequent time.
Experience the Palm Spring Aerial Tram
This distinctive rotating tram is meant to supply a panoramic journey up Mt. San Jacinto, supplying you with an unimaginable change of surroundings (and temperature!).
Hike Tahquitz Canyon Path
Some associates of ours stated the Tahquitz Canyon Path was their favourite path in Palm Springs. It’s a family-friendly hike that begins proper from downtown and takes you to a scenic waterfall.
Peruse the Palm Springs Artwork Museum
Our youngsters love an artwork museum, so we expect this could’ve been a enjoyable cease for all of us – particularly as a result of it’s additionally proper downtown close to all the pieces! If nothing else, it might be enjoyable to discover the various sculptures and artwork installations close by, like the large Marilyn Monroe statue above.
Go to the Dwelling Desert Zoo
This Dwelling Desert Zoo & Gardens is about half-hour exterior of Downtown Palm Springs and is meant to be a good way to be taught extra in regards to the native wildlife up shut.
Tour a Wind Farm
We had been all remarkably fascinated by the large windmills seen exterior of city, and I feel we really would’ve beloved to get a better have a look at them by taking an official Windmill Tour. They even have an app-guided driving tour that may’ve allow us to get pleasure from them at our personal tempo.
Off Street in a Purple Jeep Tour
These off-road Purple Jeep Excursions are stated to be a enjoyable and memorable method to discover the distinctive desert terrain, so I feel our children would’ve beloved taking one if we had extra time.
Get pleasure from Thursday night time VillageFest
Each Thursday night time between October and Might, Downtown Palm Springs turns into the VillageFest avenue pageant with distributors, artwork, meals, and music. We had been so beat from our Joshua Tree journey (and had an early flight the subsequent morning) so we skipped it, however we want we had gotten to see it. Subsequent time!
Have breakfast at Cheeky’s
Two completely different associates really useful Cheeky’s for breakfast, so we’ll need to attempt that subsequent time. It’s owned by the identical individuals as Birba (and so they’re actually subsequent door to one another) so if it’s even half pretty much as good as our dinner there, we’ll completely adore it.
Issues To Do With Youngsters In Palm Springs: A Abstract
In case you’re somebody who likes having an inventory of issues to do, here’s a fast bulleted abstract of all the sights, eats, and actions we mentioned above.
Different Household Journeys We’ve Taken
In case you’re concerned about our tackle different locations or are seeking family-friendly journeys, you may also get pleasure from these posts:
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