Joshua tree is gorgeous and fascinating.

PP probably never leaves the mall.

Joshua Tree has amazing rock formations and unique flora and fauna. It's fun to climb around (good place for rock climbing and "bouldering" i.e. small scale climbing) and pretend you are an old west cowboy. The sunsets are amazeballs. Good place for a low-risk campout.
Palm Springs is known for golf, tennis, old people, 1950s architecture & hotel pools although nothing like Orlando or Vegas.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Santa Barbara
Natural History Museum in LA
There's a science museum in OC - near Anaheim
La Jolla
Solvang
Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree is a desert which is 4 hours drive from LA.

The LA Zoo is very good.

Manhattan Beach is lovely

San Diego has The Aquarium of the Pacific and a good marina area which is nice to visit.

But it is not 4 hrs away from Palm Springs, which is what OP asked for .. in and around LA *and* Palm Springs.

And what will OP do when she and her kid get there, kick rocks? Its a DESERT.

Why go to the Redwood forest. It's just trees. What are you going to when you get there? Hug a tree?"
Why go see the Dolomites? It's just a big rock.
Why go see the Grand Canyon? It's just a big ravine.



Joshua Tree park is actually quite a popular tourist attraction. Guess you've never been.

Malibu for day at the beach, with restaurants, tide pools, beautiful drive up coast.

Manhattan Beach for another beach day option, with so man fun restaurants and cafes and shopping. Bike riding along beach. Super fun.

Are you staying in Palm Springs? Highly recommend. Awesome place to veg out. Great resorts where you can lay around & drink while kids swim. Good restaurants at night.

From LA, great places that are 2-3 hours: San Diego, Santa Barbara, Catalina Island (can take ferry over). You can go glamping. Aliso Ranch in Santa Ynez is an awesome resort stay in wine country, pool, golf, horse back riding.

Reagan Library.

The Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace in Yorba Linda is not to be missed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Santa Barbara
Natural History Museum in LA
There's a science museum in OC - near Anaheim
La Jolla
Solvang
Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree is a desert which is 4 hours drive from LA.

The LA Zoo is very good.

Manhattan Beach is lovely

San Diego has The Aquarium of the Pacific and a good marina area which is nice to visit.

But it is not 4 hrs away from Palm Springs, which is what OP asked for .. in and around LA *and* Palm Springs.

And what will OP do when she and her kid get there, kick rocks? Its a DESERT.

It's posts like the above why I have quit DCUM on more than one occasion. And you'd think the Travel forum would be less dramatic.

Not the Joshua Tree poster, but it's a national park. Who knows how old the kids are. Maybe 12. Maybe 1. Maybe 25. I have friends in San Diego who have taken their kids (ages 2 and 4) to Joshua Tree and loved it.

Some NPS suggested trip itineraries:
http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/itineraries.htm

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Santa Barbara
Natural History Museum in LA
There's a science museum in OC - near Anaheim
La Jolla
Solvang
Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree is a desert which is 4 hours drive from LA.

The LA Zoo is very good.

Manhattan Beach is lovely

San Diego has The Aquarium of the Pacific and a good marina area which is nice to visit.

But it is not 4 hrs away from Palm Springs, which is what OP asked for .. in and around LA *and* Palm Springs.

And what will OP do when she and her kid get there, kick rocks? Its a DESERT.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Santa Barbara
Natural History Museum in LA
There's a science museum in OC - near Anaheim
La Jolla
Solvang
Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree is a desert which is 4 hours drive from LA.

The LA Zoo is very good.

Manhattan Beach is lovely

San Diego has The Aquarium of the Pacific and a good marina area which is nice to visit.

But it is not 4 hrs away from Palm Springs, which is what OP asked for .. in and around LA *and* Palm Springs.

San Diego is 2 hour drive or beautiful train ride along the pacific. They have a great zoo, sea world, or go to
Mission beach where they have a roller coaster and some fun stuff on the water.

Anonymous wrote:Santa Barbara
Natural History Museum in LA
There's a science museum in OC - near Anaheim
La Jolla
Solvang
Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree is a desert which is 4 hours drive from LA.

The LA Zoo is very good.

Manhattan Beach is lovely

San Diego has The Aquarium of the Pacific and a good marina area which is nice to visit.

Santa Barbara
Natural History Museum in LA
There's a science museum in OC - near Anaheim
La Jolla
Solvang
Joshua Tree

If you like Snoopy, Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park has a lot of Peanuts/Snoopy stuff.

In and around Los Angeles and Palm Springs. Staying overnights are fine, but don't want to drive more than 2-3 hours a day. Also, amusement parks other than Disney or legoland?