What is there to do in Palm Desert with kids?

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, the Children's Discovery Museum, free splash pads and the playground at Civic Center Park, the Palm Desert Aquatic Center, and the family-friendly Bump and Grind hiking trail.

Is the Living Desert good for toddlers?

Yes — flat paths, a petting area, the model train exhibit, and giraffe feeding work well for under-fives. Bring a stroller; the full loop is over a mile.

Is Palm Desert or Palm Springs better for families?

Palm Desert for families with young kids — the zoo, discovery museum, and splash pads are all there, and hotels are often cheaper. Palm Springs has the tram and better pool scenes for teens.

How hot is too hot for the Living Desert?

Above about 100°F the animals retreat to shade and the experience drops off. In summer, arrive at opening (often 7 a.m.) and leave by 10.

Is there a free splash pad in Palm Desert?

Yes — Civic Center Park runs a free splash pad in season, next to the valley's best public playground.

Palm Desert with Kids: The Living Desert, Splash Pads & Easy Desert Adventures

The east valley's family capital — zoo mornings, free parks, and the Bump and Grind

Palm Springs Spots Editors · Published Sep 5, 2026 · Updated Sep 5, 2026

Palm Desert with Kids: The Living Desert, Splash Pads & Easy Desert Adventures

Palm Desert is quietly the best base in the valley for families: the Living Desert zoo, the Children's Discovery Museum, free splash pads, and beginner-friendly hiking all sit within ten minutes of each other — and hotels here often cost less than comparable Palm Springs resorts.

Palm Desert does not market itself as a family destination, which is exactly why it works: shorter lines, cheaper hotels, and the valley's two best kid attractions.

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

The main event: a zoo-and-botanical-garden hybrid on Portola Avenue focused on desert animals — giraffes (you can feed them for a few dollars), rhinos, cheetahs, bighorn sheep, and an enormous model-train exhibit that children stare at for an hour. Go at opening; by 11 a.m. the animals are napping and so should you be. [Full guide with hours and ticket tips](/living-desert-zoo-guide).

Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert

A hands-on indoor museum near the Westfield mall with climbing structures, building stations, and art projects — the air-conditioned answer for summer afternoons and the valley's best answer to a 115-degree day.

Splash pads and parks

Free splash pads run in season at Civic Center Park (which also has the valley's best playground, a duck pond, and a skate park) and the Palm Desert Aquatic Center has multiple pools and a small slide complex for a few dollars admission.

Easy hiking: the Bump and Grind

The valley's most popular family-capable trail: a roughly four-mile loop with steady switchbacks and a summit view over the whole valley. Kids 8+ handle it fine; bring water and go before 9 a.m. For something flatter, the Randall Henderson trail at the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains visitor center is a gentle two-miler with a staffed nature center.

Where to eat and stay

Family restaurants cluster along Highway 111 and at Westfield Palm Desert, and most El Paseo restaurants welcome kids at lunch. For hotels, Palm Desert's resort options (the JW Marriott with its boat-navigated lobby waterways, the Westin's family pool) often run cheaper than Palm Springs equivalents. [Best Palm Desert hotels](/best-hotels-palm-desert).

FAQ

What is there to do in Palm Desert with kids?: The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, the Children's Discovery Museum, free splash pads and the playground at Civic Center Park, the Palm Desert Aquatic Center, and the family-friendly Bump and Grind hiking trail.
Is the Living Desert good for toddlers?: Yes — flat paths, a petting area, the model train exhibit, and giraffe feeding work well for under-fives. Bring a stroller; the full loop is over a mile.
Is Palm Desert or Palm Springs better for families?: Palm Desert for families with young kids — the zoo, discovery museum, and splash pads are all there, and hotels are often cheaper. Palm Springs has the tram and better pool scenes for teens.
How hot is too hot for the Living Desert?: Above about 100°F the animals retreat to shade and the experience drops off. In summer, arrive at opening (often 7 a.m.) and leave by 10.
Is there a free splash pad in Palm Desert?: Yes — Civic Center Park runs a free splash pad in season, next to the valley's best public playground.

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