With the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend fast apraoaching, here are a lucky 13 play places for kids in Greater Palm Springs.
1. Wet ’n’ Wild
How do you stay cool in this nine-city playground? Slide rides; rafts; a long, lazy river; and the surfing simulator, Flowrider. 1500 S. Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, 760-327-0499; www.wetnwildpalmsprings.com
2. children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert
Interactive exhibitions to explore and experiment in a creative indoor environment. Build your own race car, create a pipe maze, and pick up pizza ingredients to create your own pie (albeit with fabric dough and felt pepperoni). 71701 Gerald Ford Drive, Rancho Mirage, 760-321-0602; www.cdmod.org
3. Splashtopia at Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa
Resort guests can float around the lazy river, slip down the 100-foot slides, or dip their toes in the water play zones. 41000 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, 866-423-1195; www.rancholaspalmas.com
4. Desert Ice Castle
Night skates, youth hockey programs, open skating, and lessons that locals and visitors alike can enjoy. 68600 Perez Road, Cathedral City, 760-324-0400; www.deserticecastle.com
5. Laser Oasis
Family Entertainment Center featuring laser tag, a ropes course, a laser maze, an arcade, and a full-service restaurant. 46805 Dune Palms Road, La Quinta, 760-777-4321; www.laseroasis.com
6. Big League Dreams Sports Park
Take a swing at major league ballpark replicas of Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and Yankee Stadium. Test the batting cages. 33700 Date Palm Drive, Cathedral City, 760-324-5600; www.bigleaguedreams.com
Boomer’s
Go-karts, batting cages, bumper boats, and miniature golf all in one convenient spot, along with an indoor arcade. 67700 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City, 760-770-7522; www.boomerspalmsprings.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LIVING DESERT ZOO & GARDENS
The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens allows visitors to get up close with the animals.
7. Boomer’s
Go-karts, batting cages, bumper boats, and miniature golf all in one convenient spot, along with an indoor arcade. 67700 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City, 760-770-7522; www.boomerspalmsprings.com
8. Skate parks
Choose from Indio (83089 Highway 111), La Quinta (Avenida Bermudas, Blackhawk Way), Cathedral City (33300 Moreno Road), Coachella (51805 Shady Lane), Palm Springs (401 S. Pavilion Way), and Palm Desert (43900 San Pablo Avenue).
9. Escape Room Palm Springs
A physical adventure game in which groups of people are locked together in a room and must solve puzzles to get out before time is up. 560 Williams Road, Palm Springs, 760-779-8888; www.escapeps.com
10. Desert Rocks Indoor
Climbing Gym Indoor wall-climbing facility is open for climbers of any age but hosts special classes for younger kids who rock. 19160 McLane Street, Desert Hot Springs, 760-251-1618; www.climbdesertrocks.com
11. Robin Hood Archery
Classes for every level. Adults also welcome. 45435 Van Buren Street, Suite 7, Indio, 760-347-8828; www.robinhoodarchery.com
12. DesertPipe
Available for guests at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa, DesertPipe gives riders a thrill in a rotating, human-sized hamster ball that is filled with just enough water to keep things interesting. 44600 Indian Wells Lane, Indian Wells, 760-776-1234, www.indianwells.regency.hyatt.com
13. THE LIVING DESERT ZOO & GARDENS
Explore and experience the world’s desert animals and plants at The Living Desert zoo and botanical garden. Get up close and personal with cheetahs, giraffes, bighorn sheep, zebras, mountain lions, jaguars, and more. Feed the giraffes, ride a camel, or take in an educational show or private tour and learn about a mission of conservation through preservation and education. Join in special events as The Living Desert celebrates The Year of the Cheetah, and learn how to help save animals from extinction. 47900 Portola Avenue, Palm Desert. 760-346-5694; www.livingdesert.org