Living Desert Zoo Day Trip Near Palm Springs, California

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The Living Desert Zoo is 15 miles southeast of Palm Springs, California. This family-friendly attraction is a breathtaking experience at the foot of the Santa Rosa Mountains and a worthwhile destination for any weekend getaway.

This 1,200-acre exotic learning center provides the perfect environment for adults and kids to experience the majesty of wild animals and exquisite desert gardens in a stunning natural setting.

The Living Desert was established in 1970 by several Palm Springs Desert Museum trustees who recognized the destructive impact a resort community would have on their local desert ecosystem.

An interpretive nature trail and preserve in Palm Desert was planned to counteract those effects. After 45 years, the Living Desert continues its important work of preserving, conserving, and teaching about the desert and its varied animal life.

The area offers several trails for all levels that allow visitors to explore a variety of habitats and regions of the world. The North American course features animals and plants that thrive in all four of North America’s deserts.

Popular Exhibits

The first stop is the small animal exhibit, designed to highlight various small desert animals. Many are active primarily at night due to the extreme daytime temperatures.

Along with the manicured pathways, visitors often encounter various wildlife, including birds of prey and numerous four-footed friends hiding in the jagged rocks of Eagle Canyon or Bighorn Mountain.

For the botanists, the luscious landscapes of the area’s botanical gardens will delight you as you traverse a diverse blend of plant life found throughout the many North American deserts. The colorful Sage Garden hosts more than 35 species, and something is always in bloom.

One of the Living Desert’s most popular attractions is the opportunity to climb aboard an Arabian camel and ride through the wondrous flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert.

One of the park’s more unique features is an authentic replica of a village in northeast Africa known as the WaTuTu. Mud-walled huts with grass-thatched roofs and many animals and plant life indigenous to the region’s jetting mountains and windswept plains can be observed.

Visitors can also learn more about the African and Native American cultures taught through ancient folklore and stories by museum docents.

Kids Activities Living Desert Zoo

There is the Miriam U. Hoover Discovery Center for the young and young-at-heart. This indoor exploration center includes a prehistoric fossil and bone exhibit that allows visitors to experience the animals that once inhabited the Coachella Valley hands-on.

For the little ones, there is a craft counter with paper and colored pencils for drawing a firsthand account of their experience and several interactive areas to discover facts about the world’s deserts.

The huge LGB model train layout is a popular attraction for kids and adults at the Living Desert Zoo. The design is enormous. There are trolley cars, cable cars, ghost towns, tunnels, and mountains.

Your experience at Living Desert can be a guided tour, or you can roam alone. Most visitors find that they can explore the entire park in about four hours, so plan accordingly.

Where is the Living Desert Zoo

The Living Desert Zoo is located in Palm Desert, California, two hours from Los Angeles or Orange County. If traveling from the San Fernando Valley, add 30 minutes to the drive. Lodging for every budget is available in the nearby city of Palm Desert, and there are plenty of places for dinner.

Area temperatures can soar to a sweltering 115 degrees during the summer, so winter and spring are optimal times to visit. Wear comfortable shoes and protect yourself from the sun with a hat and sunscreen.

Hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm every day except Christmas, October 1 to May 31. The last admission is at 4:00 pm. From June 1 to September 30, hours change from 8:00 to 1:30 pm, with the previous entry at 1:00 pm. Address: 47900 Portola Avenue, Palm Desert, California. Website.

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