20 places
- Joshua Tree National ParkKid-friendlyFamily favoriteBoulder scrambling, Hidden Valley, Cholla Cactus Garden; Junior Ranger program for kids.
- Palm Springs Aerial TramwayKid-friendlyFamily favoriteWorld's largest rotating tram car up to Mt. San Jacinto; trails and snow play at the top, often 30–40° cooler.
- Palm Springs Air MuseumKid-friendlyFamily favoriteWWII and Cold War aircraft in air-conditioned hangars; flight simulators and cockpit sit-ins for kids.
- The Living Desert Zoo & GardensKid-friendlyFamily favoriteDesert zoo and botanical garden with giraffe feeding, rhinos, carousel and a kids' play area.
- Big League Dreams Sports ParkKid-friendlyMini replicas of famous ballparks; youth leagues, tournaments and batting cages.
- Big Morongo Canyon PreserveKid-friendlyShaded boardwalk through a desert marsh; famous for birdwatching.
- Cabot's Pueblo MuseumHand-built Hopi-style pueblo with guided tours and a hilltop viewpoint.
- Coachella Valley History MuseumKid-friendlyHistoric adobe campus with date-farming history and the Date Museum.
- Coachella Valley Preserve (Thousand Palms Oasis)Kid-friendlyFan-palm oasis with boardwalk trails and a rustic visitor center.
- Hi-Desert Nature MuseumKid-friendlySmall natural-history museum with live reptiles and a kids' discovery room.
- Indian Canyons (Andreas & Palm Canyon)Kid-friendlyPalm oases on Agua Caliente land; Andreas Canyon is an easy ~1.2-mile family loop with a creek.
- International Banana MuseumKid-friendlyQuirky roadside museum near the Salton Sea with banana shakes; a fun family pit stop.
- Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional ParkKid-friendlyLake with fishing, camping, a seasonal splash pad and trailheads.
- McCallum TheatreMain performing-arts venue; family shows and arts education outreach.
- Moorten Botanical GardenKid-friendlySmall family-run cactus garden with a 'cactarium'; quick, easy outing with kids.
- Old Schoolhouse MuseumLocal history museum in a 1920s schoolhouse run by the historical society.
- Painted Canyon & Ladder Canyon TrailColorful slot canyon with ladders; best for older kids in cool months.
- Palm Desert Civic Center ParkKid-friendlyLarge park with playgrounds, skate park, aquatic center nearby and community events.
- Palm Springs Art MuseumLargest cultural institution in the valley; contemporary, Western and Native American art.
- Pioneertown Mane StreetKid-friendly1940s Western movie set town with shops; weekend gunfight shows.