Settled prosperously at the base of Mt. San Jacinto, this place is famous for its perennial sunshine, beautiful landscapes, palm stress and of course the architecture. Hollywood stars such as Sinatra, Sonny Bono, and Bob Hope made their residential houses here. Amongst the contemporary stars, we have DiCaprio and Eastwood following their predecessors’ footsteps in settling down here at Palm Springs. Many people are under the impression that Palm Springs is not a great spot for a family vacation, but unfortunately, they are completely unaware of the fact that this place can be perfect for a family retreat. From its glorious art installation to aeroplane museums, this place has family-friendly activities lying all over itself. Palm Springs is easy to reach as it is just a two-hour long drive from LA or San Diego. Get yourself checked in one of the many rental homes in Palm Springs to get your adventure started.

Living Desert Zoo

Families love the zoo and the kids are often fascinated by the number of animals they can see in one place. The living desert that stretches to almost 1200 acre of land is a zoo cum botanical garden. Ranging from different kinds of cacti to a big section for desert foliage, you can expect a rich variety of plants in the botanical section. When it comes to biodiversity this place doesn’t lack any since it is home to numerous species of animals from North America to Africa. Some of the animals are birds, giraffes, lizards, zebras et al. If the heat is too intense and unbearable, visit the animal hospital for a quick tour. If you are tired of walking around the park, hitchhike a tram ride to go around the park. You can expect workshops and other activities if you arrive here in the morning.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

This tramway will elevate you up to around 8516 feet at the top of Santa Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountain with the help of a rotating Tramcar. The floor of the boogie rotates so that the riders can have a complete view of the valley. Once you reach up top, you can expect other activities such as hiking or skiing. If you get tired after the hike, there are eateries that serve great food. The drinks lounge is great for tourists too. Once you reach up top, look for observation kiosk where you can have the panoramic view of the valley and its nearby towns. To be able to ride this tram, you’d need to take a small hike of two minutes to reach here.

Air Museum

This non-profit institution is run by many war veterans who can give you proper tours on the planes showcased there. There are more than eighty functional planes lying in that huge stretch inside the warehouse. You can also look out for artefacts, artworks, and documents related to aeroplanes. You can also talk to the veterans and learn more about each plane. They often share their personal accounts on the war which you wouldn’t find on any written texts. If you want a test flight then there you can try your hands-on simulation. Prices may vary depending on the hours you put in.

Jeep Tour

Kids love adventures as much as adults do. So, get yourself a jeep and book a tour to see the fault lines of San Andreas. The tour can get intense as it will be going through the desert where you can learn a lot about earthquakes, geology, Cahuilla et al. The backdrop of this place is quite amazing so you wouldn’t be bored exactly. The tour guides have a consolidated amount of knowledge about the geographical peculiarities of this place. Be sure to have a guide for your own convenience.

Art Museum

This museum is located at the heart of Palm Springs where art exhibits are shown that came from a diverse set of backgrounds. There are 28 galleries in the museum, all filled with mesmerizing artworks and artefacts. There is a sculpture garden as well which houses some of the best exhibits that this place has to offer. There are over 55,000 recorded objects found in this museum. The art shown here offers a rich cultural insight and also fills you with certain historical highlights.

Splashtopia

Located at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa, this place is the only resort in the area to have this kind of arrangement. There are about 20 water rides, 13 water slides, and other attractions. You can also head to the big pool section where you will be pitted against simulated waves. There is also a designated kid’s area of activity which is highly supervised. Food and other amenities are also being served here.

Walk of the stars

Palm Springs used to Hollywood’s best kept secret and was the getaway spot for many Hollywood stars. So, to pay tribute to these starts, they have made their own walk of the stars. Your kids can walk down the lane while learning about these legendary actors. It is quite obvious of a thing to introduce your children to big names like Sinatra, Rogers et al.

Horse Riding

Exploring the town on the back of the horse is a quite a unique thing to do. Your kids are probably going to love doing that as well. Head to the Smoke Tree Stables for horse rides. The place is quite easy to locate as it is situated right on the heart of Palm Springs. These stables are tidy, kid-friendly and have experts who can help you and your kids with relevant information.

Some of the places that are worth mentioning here are the Elmer’s Restaurant. Cabazon Dinosaur Museum, and Palm Springs Skatepark. This is a comprehensible list of places that you can look out for but obviously, there are activities which haven’t been listed here and neither places for you can discover them by yourself with the help of the locals. When it comes to family-friendly places, Palm Springs is not lagging behind.

Bringing the whole family together for a vacation can be a lot more work than you would think. You cannot just throw a few things into a suitcase, throw the suitcase into the back of your car, and then drive off, especially if you plan on vacationing for a week or longer. To have a memorable vacation, you need to plan things out, and there are a lot of factors you’ll have to juggle if you want to keep travel stress to a minimum.

1. Build a Budget

Vacations cost money. There’s fuel if you’re going by car and rental fees if you aren’t taking your personal vehicle. Consider other possible expenses, such as food, lodging, plane tickets, and entertainment costs. You must pay for suitcases and backpacks if you do not have them yet, and if your vacation takes you camping, you’ll need to buy necessary gear and possibly a camping trailer or an RV. You need to have your money on hand both before and during your vacation; therefore, it is wise to add up your expected costs and add approximately 25 percent more for emergencies.

2. Give Your Luggage a Dry Run

When the morning of your big vacation begins, you’ll want to get on the road early, whether it’s to reach an early flight or beat the morning traffic. Due to this, you will not want to waste time trying to fit your baggage into your vehicle. Otherwise, you might find out that you don’t have enough space. Ideally, you should pack as much into your vehicle, as you can, the night before and make sure the extra bags you will add in the morning will fit in the remaining space.

3. Develop Your Itinerary

Image via Flickr by Grand Canyon NPS

Before you head out on your family vacation, you should take some time to research your destination. What are the local tourist destinations? Where are all the best restaurants? Are there any big plays or concerts you’d want to see while you’re in the area? Use the answers to these questions to build your itinerary. Just remember you don’t have to follow it too strictly. You should not stress over fun things. In fact, you may find a hidden gem if you follow your child’s whim instead of your schedule.

4. Check Everyone’s Health

Medical emergencies are never good, but the situation is worse when they happen a thousand miles away from home. If you are going on a weeklong vacation or more, your family should check in with their doctors before they go, especially if they have ongoing health problems. You should also make sure everyone’s vaccines are updated, especially if you plan on going overseas.

It is wise to find out if your health insurance plan covers out of state or out of country doctor visits or emergencies. If possible, find an in-network provider prior to arriving at your destination. In the event you or your family needs medical care, you will know where to go ahead of time. Seniors over 65 can qualify for Medicare coverage and its supplemental insurance plans. Such individuals have an advantage because supplemental Medicare insurance plans allow them to use any Medicare health care provider within the United States.

5. Get Input from Everyone

The whole family should have some say on where they want to go and what they want to do when they get there. Young kids are not very good at planning, but by a certain age, they will know what activities they like and do not like. Older relatives might not be able to keep up if you stay too active, and a museum that is great fun for one person might be dull to everyone else.

A big family vacation can be just as stressful as it is fun, but you can do something about that stress. Plan your schedule and your budget, make sure everyone’s packed and healthy, and always remember to communicate with family members to make sure that all will enjoy the vacation.