Things to do when it’s 110°
Cool, shady and indoor places for the long desert summer, from splash pads to museums with good AC.
- Do outdoor things before 10 in the morning or after sunset.
- Bring more water than you think, even for short trips.
- Many museums and indoor play spots have summer camps and cheaper weekday hours.
43 places
- Children's Discovery Museum of the DesertKid-friendlyFamily favoriteHands-on museum for young kids: building, art and pretend play; birthday parties.
- Palm Springs Air MuseumKid-friendlyFamily favoriteWWII and Cold War aircraft in air-conditioned hangars; flight simulators and cockpit sit-ins for kids.
- Berger Foundation IceplexKid-friendlyPublic skating, skating lessons, camps and youth hockey.
- Boomers! Cathedral CityKid-friendlyGo-karts, mini golf, bumper boats, batting cages and arcade.
- Cathedral City LibraryKid-friendlyRiverside County branch library.
- Chuck E. Cheese Palm DesertKid-friendlyArcade games, pizza and birthday party packages.
- Coachella LibraryKid-friendlyNewer library in downtown Coachella with kids' space.
- Desert Ice CastleKid-friendlyIce rink with public skating and lessons.
- Desert Rocks Indoor Climbing GymKid-friendlyIndoor climbing walls for all ages with classes for young climbers.
- DoubleTree by Hilton Golf Resort Palm SpringsGolf resort with a large pool; reader-voted favorite.
- Escape Room Palm SpringsThemed escape rooms; good for older kids, teens and family outings.
- Get Air Trampoline ParkKid-friendlyWall-to-wall trampolines, ninja course, foam pits and dodgeball.
- Hi-Desert Nature MuseumKid-friendlySmall natural-history museum with live reptiles and a kids' discovery room.
- Hilton Palm SpringsDowntown hotel with pool, walkable to Palm Canyon Drive.
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Indio – Coachella ValleyValue hotel near Indio's festival grounds.
- Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & SpaKid-friendlyResort with multiple pools, waterslides and kids' programs.
- Indio LibraryKid-friendlyRiverside County branch library.
- International Banana MuseumKid-friendlyQuirky roadside museum near the Salton Sea with banana shakes; a fun family pit stop.
- JW Entertainment Zone (JW Marriott Desert Springs)Kid-friendlyRetro arcade, VR games, duckpin bowling and air hockey inside the resort.
- JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & SpaKid-friendlyLakeside resort with boat rides, family pools and the JW Entertainment Zone.
- Kids ClubhouseKid-friendlyIndoor playground with soft-play zones, slides, ball pits and a pretend 'mini town'; party rooms.
- La Quinta LibraryKid-friendlyLibrary in the civic center with kids' programs.
- La Quinta Resort & ClubKid-friendlyHistoric 1926 resort with dozens of pools, tennis and family packages.
- Margaritaville Resort Palm SpringsKid-friendlyResort with a large pool complex and family activities.
- McCallum TheatreMain performing-arts venue; family shows and arts education outreach.
- Miracle Springs Resort & SpaHot-mineral-pool hotel.
- Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & SpaTuscan-style boutique resort and spa.
- Old Schoolhouse MuseumLocal history museum in a 1920s schoolhouse run by the historical society.
- Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & SpaKid-friendlyResort with Splashtopia water park and lazy river.
- Palm Desert Aquatic CenterKid-friendlyPublic pool with recreation swim, slides and swim lessons.
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