Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert

The Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert in Rancho Mirage is the Coachella Valley's dedicated children's museum — a surprisingly well-rounded facility for an area better known for golf and spa resorts than family attractions.

The museum covers about 24,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space with exhibits that hit the traditional children's museum beats: pretend-play stations (supermarket, post office, construction zone), a dedicated toddler area, hands-on science exhibits about the local desert ecosystem, and creative arts stations. The desert ecology angle is a genuinely useful educational thread — most kids visiting Palm Springs or Rancho Mirage on a family trip have limited context for what makes desert environments unique, and the museum addresses this well without being preachy.

The outdoor water play area is the most popular feature during spring and fall visits — interactive water tables and splash elements give kids a tactile desert-cooling experience that's genuinely fun. In the extreme summer heat, the museum's entirely indoor exhibits become the main focus; confirm which outdoor areas are operating before your visit.

For families spending several days in the Palm Springs / Palm Desert area, this museum pairs naturally with The Living Desert zoo in Palm Desert — both are under 30 minutes apart and cover different age interests. The museum skews young (under 10), while The Living Desert appeals to a broader age range.

Admission is more affordable than most comparable children's museums in urban California, which makes it a low-risk add-on to a Coachella Valley family trip.