We love going to The Living Desert when we are in Palm Springs. We go right when it opens so it's…read morecooler and typically there is more animal activity. We used to get a discount with our local (Oregon) zoo membership, but I guess that partnership has changed. We also bring reusable water bottles, snacks and sunscreen with us. All the staff are friendly and there are so many passionate volunteers onsite as well. We had several great conversations with staff and volunteers throughout our last visit. You can tell how much they genuinely care about the animals, They also are well versed in facts and fun tidbits about the animals as well. We love going to the wallabies enclosure- it's our kids's favorite. We go there first since it tends to be less busy and the wallabies are not chilling in the shade yet. It's so special to walk through and have the wallabies just hang out near you and jump around. We loved seeing so many wonderful animals- wolves, giraffes, zebra, rhinos, monkeys, just to name a few. You could easily spend at least half a day here. There is also a splash pad area for the kids to cool off. If in the area I highly recommend you check out The Living Desert.

Normally I'm a little uncomfortable with zoos since I'm unsure about caging animals that aren't…read morenative to the local area. The living desert zoo flips this idea on its head by focusing on geographical areas that have similar climates and explicitly not accepting animals that won't do well in the desert. We took the guided tour, not so much to avoid walking (even though it was nice to have a shaded golf court in the unexpected 100 degree heat) but so we would have access to a docent guide who could tell us stories. Leila more than did that -- she was incredibly knowledgeable, very nice, and engaging. There are three main areas to explore: African Safari, Australian Adventures, Wild Americas. There's also more than 50 gardens and 1000 acres of hiking trails. My highlights for each area: Australian adventures The laughing kookaburra gets its name from its maniacal-sounding laughs and hoots. Bennett's wallaby is similar to a kangaroo with larger ears. The emu is the second largest bird in the world, can run long distances up to 30 miles an hour, and has built in "sunscreen." Wild Americas Badgers are fierce, able to fight off an attacker many times their own size. Bighorn sheep are specially evolved for the rocky mountain terrain they live in. Chuckwalla lizards defend their territories with head bobbing and pushups -- no idea why that works. African Safari Painted dogs have vibrant color coats with big ears and are excellent pack hunters. The banded mongoose has a striking striped coat and interact with others in what appears to be social games. And of course the highlight of the whole visit -- we got to feed the giraffes. Their tongues are VERY long which they wrap around the lettuce. They are black to guard against sunburn and spongy (if you accidentally touch it). This zoo has something for everyone and every age.

Rude staff. Came in because my son wanted to play bowling. There was a private event at 530. We got…read morethere at 430pm and purchased a $30 card to play games. One of the gentlemen came and told us to leave after we had just paid to try the bowling out. Horrible customer service. The game takes like 5minutes to play and no one was in the facility yet for the private event. We left and will not return.

Part of the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa is it's very own arcade, dubbed the JW…read moreEntertainment Zone. Who thought you'd be able to game in Palm Desert? The aracde just opened in 2021, so everything is still brand new. It's open to the public, not just hotel guests. Just park in their free lot and find your way to it. It's right near the entrance of Mikado's or walking distance from the lobby. You can play some of the latest arcade game there. They have-old school arcade machines in the back with newer titles near the prize booth. There's a huge assortment of different games to try. My fav, given no love, is the magnetic pong game they leave in the back. The place uses cards, no coins or tickets. Perfect, if you want a game night with friends before or after dinner.

Amazing adventures! Awesome ride to Lake Hemet thank you Slinging 360 for an awesome rideread more

Let's just say "Bravo". I have been looking into purchasing a slingshot, but I did not want to…read moreactually purchase one without having a chance to really test drive it. I have seen in Las Vegas that they rented slingshots out, but never had a chance to do it. My wife surprised me on Father's Day with that chance. Luckily, Slinging 360 was here in the desert. The owners were extremely welcoming and professional. This made the experience a whole lot better. I can now say that I will be purchasing my own slingshot within the next few days. I may not be returning as a customer, but I definitely will be referring Slinging 360 to everyone. Trust me, you will not regret it.

Wednesday, 4-15-2026: This is our second time here. We came to see Kyle and Mistie Knight…read more Mistie has her own Instagram where she shares very quick & easy recipes. When I heard they would be at Marvyn's, I made sure to secure tickets. The theater is nicely laid out and makes for an intimate experience. They have entertainment before the start of the show and an amazing bar. I believe this show was sold out. In the seating area they have hilarious sayings on the screen over the stage. Wish I could remember them. Photography is forbidden in the theater. Anyhow, they are true entertainment professionals and know how to work the room. There were several things they did that we had our mind boggled. But we're the types who don't want to find out and rather like keeping the mystery intact. Amazing really doesn't begin to describe their show. We were beyond impressed. They kind and gracious to do a meet & greet after the show. It was a most enjoyable and magical evening!

Not sure how you rate a magic venue since the magician has the biggest impact on whether you…read moreenjoyed the night or not. Having said that... On a recent visit, tickets were $75 each plus a small fee. That's a decent value for a 75 minute show. The doors open an hour before the show. Since you have an assigned seat, you don't need to show up too early. If you do come early, there's a lounge with a bar (but no food) and some live entertainment with magic and music. There are specialty cocktails, a few wines, and draft beer. I don't remember the prices but it didn't seem that high. The theater fits about 130 people but you have a good view even in the back row. The seats themselves were comfortable. The magician invited multiple people up on stage, and not just those in the front row. There is a lot of improv blended throughout. I enjoyed the visit.

One of the best experiences of my life. Do not listen to the poor reviews. Remember that most…read morepeople that write reviews are doing so to complain, and you also have to realize that hot air ballooning is extremely dependent on the weather so what is possible is always changing. That being said, these guys were extremely friendly, knowledgeable and absolute pros at what they do. At no point did I feel unsafe or scared. And it was very exciting, they did low flybys near houses, ponds and golf courses, as well as reaching 2,000 ft altitude. Not just a lift off and fly straight to your landing zone. It was a surreal, euphoric experience and do NOT hesitate in booking this experience. Worth every penny. Looking forward to coming back next year.

These guys are great. Total pros that have been doing this forty years and racing all over the…read moreworld. There are some bad reviews here, but I can't relate. Our experience was great, start to finish.

Great fun! Food tents are great! I've purchased jewelry, hats, make bags, shirts, having the best…read moretime. And one repeat! A great experience!

I really enjoy this market. Not everything is well priced, but you'll often run into people with…read moregreat sales or who are going out of business. I got a bag of wonderful costume jewelry here. Also, I really enjoyed the dates- especially the bahri dates. Also got 2 of the best avocados I've had in a while at this market - a buck a piece. Parking is easy. There's plenty of food available if you're hungry.

These Smokehouse BBQ Ribs are so tender and tasty. I loved them so much really hit the spot. Every…read moreone should get this. The staff is so friendly and attentive. The food comes quick from the kitchen and tasting amazing

Our grandson and his teammates wanted to come here after a baseball tournament game. The wait for…read moretables was about an hour because of the NFC Division Championship game that evening. Yes, this is a sports bar with a dozen or more large screen TVs. Between the loud volume from multiple TVs, a field of arcade games, flashing lights, and an all-hard-surface interior, being here was an assault on my the auditory and visual senses. So we compromised -- teens got to stay, play and eat; adults moved on for supper at a quieter restaurant in The River.

What an amazing place to celebrate my wife's birthday. We checked in with Veronica Bush at the…read moreBonvouy Elite check-in counter and what an amazing person. Her smile, demeanor and attitude simply painted a picture of stellar and genuine customer service. Veronica has the gift of greeting and servicing the clients needs at check-in. We had a fantastic time at the bar area with service from Gerardo, another Veronica, David, Ricky and Jennifer all amazing individuals. We have known Gerardo for years and he is an amazing authentic and compassionate man with a gift to serve. I often state that people and relationship far exceed the location or event and here at JW you get the best of both worlds. Wonderful people and a slice of heaven here in Palm Desert. Veronica provided us a lovely view suite with the comforts of home. Marriott offers the best in their JW lineup and we are so pleased with the amenities, choices of dining and options including the spa, fitness center and even a boat ride around the Facilities. The staff truly made our stay 5 plus stars and tomorrow we celebrate my wife's birthday at Mikado another wonderful option at JW Marriott. Being a Bonvouy card holder the point system, features and membership offers are terrific and we utilize them often. Also Michelle is housekeeping was super efficient and very kind. Great lodging, dining, amenities and an amazing array of staff members who welcome and treat you like family. A Starbucks on site, music on Friday's, Saturday's and Sunday's a great breakfast option at Starwood, several bars, multiple pools and water features, shops on site and even a nightclub. An amazing resort and highly recommended.

I'd give this place 3.5 stars. It's a nice property, rooms looked like they've been redone in the…read morepast 2-5 years. I think the rest of the hotel could use some upgrading. Lots of the pool chairs looked like they've seen better days as well as hallways and other common areas. The thing that was the most off putting is the pool seems like it's turned into a public pool. No key card is needed, no one is watching the door... anyone can walk in. I definitely noticed a lot of people who seemed to be using the pool that weren't staying at the hotel. Overall, I rather stay at other Marriott properties. The extra money isn't worth staying here.

Could have been a repeat guest/customer but I will not be returning or recommending. Came here for…read morethe first time today at 645. Wasn't told certain attractions wouldn't be able to be used or closed at a certain time. Wasn't told the price didn't include certain things. Manager and employees chose not to either A: reimburse us and we leave. B: discount our 120$ purchase. C: offer us another day to return and leave 10 minutes into our trip today. Not smart as a business owner/manger. You want people to return. You DO NOT want to ruin rapport with families and avoid them ever coming back. We are in there for 10 minutes before we realized half the attractions were shut down. If you like to be scammed out of money and like employees who don't give you a heads up as you're paying 120$ for an hour, then come here. If you like honesty, updated websites/pricing and accuracy, polite employees, then don't come here. As an employee, your worker should have gave us a heads up as we never have been here and drove an hour after work today just to take my kids. Disappointed. Will not return. Will not recommend. Sorry. Don't like being scammed and inaccuracy.

Given that summers in the Coachella Valley limit outdoor playtime fun for young ones, this indoor…read moreplay place is a welcome reprieve from the constant, "I'm bored, there's nothing to do... It's hot..." We're part timers and we actually enjoy the summer months both here and at our other vacation property in Bullhead City, AZ. We do the usual swim time and go out on the lake in a boat where we live. We also go to Boomers down the street for the twilight specials. So, for the most part, my kids keep active. But this past Sunday, after mass, we decided to have breakfast at Dennys. From where I was sitting in our booth, I saw the sign for Zebra World Indoor Playground. I mentioned it at the table and my 3 young boys got really excited. Actually, my wife and I did, too, as the casino was literally across the street and we thought we could drop the kids off and spend some quality mama and Dada time. Sadly, no. When I called, at least one parent has to accompany the children. Sigh! The Sunday price was $24.99/ child with unlimited in's and out's. SOCKS are REQUIRED for all who enter, including adults. However, if you forgot to bring some, they charge $3.95 per pair. We decided to go back home (10 minutes away) rather than spend the $16.00 for the 4 of us. The temperature is nice and cool inside and my boys really, really enjoyed this place. We spent the better part of 3 hours here, got some snacks and took some pics. There are two obstacle courses, an indoor slide, and trampolines. The snack bar is just that, but they do offer hot dogs, chips, and sodas if you're so inclined. I saw a young orthodox couple with their child and I believe some of their prepackaged Blue Bunny ice creams are kosher. Almost every kid and parent there were polite. I didn't witness any disruptive behavior, which is nice, but also speaks well of the Valley in general. They have different party packages and we might consider this place for my 6 year old when he turns 7 in December. My boys had a blast here, made some new friends, and can't wait to come back. We timed the visit with our departure back to LA and it was one of the quietest car rides back, as my 3 guys were fast asleep after burning so many calories. Sure, $75.00 for a few hours of play is steep, but for that quiet ride home where my wife and I could actually talk to each other and hold hands, was priceless...

Had a wonderful time here as it was my birthday weekend! Our teacher Luca was a blast! Loved the…read morepicture too that we did! Didn't exactly come out the way I planned to but it's ok . I'm going to fix it. Loved the music too! I'll be back hopefully soon! Bartender was also very nice !

This is an amazing time !! great for date nights or just if you wanna get out and do something…read morefun