There is SO much to see, do and experience in the Coachella Valley, but with the current pandemic climate it can seem as though all of the best kid-friendly options are closed. Not true! We’ve rounded up 5 ideas that are currently open and safely operating.
The Living Desert
A fun experience for kids and adults alike, The Living Desert Zoo is currently open with safety measures in place. Here you can see a variety of desert wildlife, flora and fauna. Kids will flock to the “Petting Kraal”, model train exhibit and giraffe feeding. Note that some exhibits may be closed due to regional guidelines.
Tip: arrive early morning while the weather is cool to ensure seeing all of the animals. They like to hide out in the shade in the afternoons!
Take a Hike
We’ve all felt a bit “cooped up” in the past year, so why not make the most of the beautiful desert weather and get outside? If you’re staying at one of our La Quinta properties, the extensive network of trails in La Quinta Cove are right in the neighborhood and offer a variety of hiking options for all skill levels (including a paved, stroller-friendly path!).
The Kid’s Clubhouse
The Kid’s Clubhouse in Rancho Mirage has become one of my son’s favorite things to do when we visit the Valley, and with admission set at $10/child (accompanying adults are free) for a 2-hour time slot it’s a place we don’t mind frequenting! Inside, you’ll find a variety of play zones for crawlers, little tots and older kids. Their “mini town” is a great place for exploring and creative play.
The Kid’s Clubhouse currently has extra safety precautions in place such as temperature checks, reduced capacity and thorough disinfecting routines. Advance reservations required.
Red Jeep Tours
Kids 3 and up (and adults, too!) are sure to enjoy an open-air jeep tour with Red Jeep Tours. They offer several tour options (some include walking and/or hiking) throughout the greater Palm Springs area for visiting the San Andreas Fault Zone, Indian Canyons, Painted Canyons and Joshua Tree National Park. And their expert guides will entertain you with stories, history and impressive facts about the area.
Red Jeep Tours has introduced new safety and sanitization protocols along with flexible booking and cancellations.
Visit the Cabazon Dinosaurs
Every time we would drive past the Cabazon dinosaurs when I was a kid, I would *beg* my parents to stop so that we could get an up-close look. The two, iconic, steel-and-concrete dinosaurs (named Dinny and Mr. Rex) stand proudly along I-10, and make for a fun pit stop on the way to or from the Coachella Valley.
Visiting the dinosaurs is free, with an admission charge for going inside of Mr. Rex. The Wafflesaurus truck also visits the site on Saturdays and Sundays.
You can tack this on to a shopping trip to Cabazon, or stop in to Hadley’s for a date shake!
