Nate's Blog

Hello! Sorry this took so long to get to you. Tailoring my normal list of recommendations to families with a one year old had my head spinning, even though we were just down there in the same situation.

The main recommendations are -

• Check out the Living Desert Zoo in Palm Desert. All the animals are animals of the desert, and it's one of the coolest zoos we've ever seen.

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• If you're going to to Joshua Tree, hit up Joshua Tree coffee. You can swing by Pappy and Harriett's for some BBQ, and enjoy the wild west themed Pioneertown.

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• Enjoy Downtown Palm Springs!

Downtown Palm Springs is lovely & walkable

Downtown Palm Springs is basically a single, very long strip - Palm Canyon Drive. It's wonderfully walkable with tons of great restaurants and local shopping.

So much of our favorite stuff is on Palm Canyon between Alejo and Amado. We recommend parking nearby (there's plenty of parking) and starting at Palm Canyon and Alejo and walking south.

Some of our favorite things in this immediate area, in no order -

Shopping

• Just Fabulous - wonderfully gay gift shop. Great kids' section.

• Michael Weems art gallery - this place is definitely not family friendly, but young babies are ignorant to dark and vulgar humor.

• Mojave Flea Trading Post & Mentosa coffee - this spot has what feels like infinite small art, clothing and general wellness vendors (soaps, oils, etc) set up in a place where everyone feels cooler than me, but then I feel cooler for just being there. Mentosa coffee makes really interesting drinks.

• Wabi Sabi - All Japanese Everything. Amazing pottery, snacks, high end whiskies & knives.

Food & Drink

• TacQuila - amazing upscale mexican food. We recommend going here for lunch /w a baby.

  • If you can't get into TacQuila, check out Clandestino a few blocks away. They have the same owners and share a lot of the same menu.

• La Bonita's - downscale Mexican. Very good. Where you go if you want a chimichanga, or a taco with a cheese shell with flaming hot cheetos crushed into it.

• Las Palmas Brewing - this place is the best. Wonderful beer & often a popup taco situation happening in their beautiful patio. Family friendly.

• Cafe Mon Amour - adorable french place. Quiches off the hook.

• Gelato Granucci - Nothing beats this gelato, especially on a hot day.

And this is all just in one block of Palm Canyon drive. We recommend walked all the way down. Other things to do along the way -

• Take a photo in front of the giant Marilyn Monroe statue by the Art Museum.

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• Go to the Art Museum! It's a great museum.

• Grab a Date Shake somewhere. They're a local speciality.

• We got some cute onesies at Peepa's

Other food recommendations

• Sherman's Deli - This place is an institution of a jewish deli. We order for takeout here every time we're down. Amazing Ruebens, latkas, carrot cake, etc.

• Townie Bagels - if you're looking for some bagels, this place rocks.

• Aspen Mill - delicious sandwiches and great bread