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We decided to pop over to the Palm Springs area for a quick weekend getaway at the end of September. Going to the desert was never very appealing to me, but this was our second time visiting, and both weekends were the best!
Since we were only visiting for two days, we didn’t plan a lot of activities. Our list was short and sweet: hang out at the resort pool and see some dinosaurs in Cabazon! There’s much more to do out there, but we’ll save that for future weekends.
Where to stay near Palm Springs
We stayed at the Marriott’s Shadow Ridge I-The Villages, and it was a hit for all three of us! It is located in Palm Desert, just 20 minutes southeast of Palm Springs.
The resort’s rooms, pools, and views are fantastic, and there’s a bonus – there’s a waterslide! It reminded us a lot of the Fairmont Resort in Scottsdale, AZ but at a much more affordable cost.
Waterslide = happy kids!
I love the look on my son’s face when he finds out our hotel has a waterslide.
It says, “This is going to be the best time ever!” My husband and I thought the same, relaxing by the pool with our cocktails and watching him repeatedly go down the waterslide. 🤣
You must be 48 inches tall to ride on the slide, and our son barely squeaked by. There were two attendants on duty all day, and even though we watched our son, it was nice to have the extra sets of eyes.
I was surprised that it wasn’t hectic all day. The longest the line got was about three to four kids. Other times, my son would go through 10 times all by himself.
As the day went on, our son made friends, and they ran from the waterslide to the pool and then into the hot tub for hours. It was perfect!
Going for a dip
This resort has pools for everyone! There was a kid’s pool, a large pool where most families hung out, a smaller pool with primarily adults, and a large hot tub. Even better, all the pools were heated! Then, there was a cute splash pad for the little ones to run through.
Although the resort wasn’t crowded, the pool area had a good number of lounge chairs, and we never had trouble finding a spot. Another thing I liked was the blocks of lounge chairs they have under large shades. The shades also have misters, which are perfect for staying cool during summer visits.
If you get hungry or want a beverage, there’s a bar and grill at the pool and a server taking orders around the pool. Just be warned that it will cost you a pretty penny! We ordered two drinks, which came to $50 after tip. Sheesh! Like most other guests, we brought our roadie cups after that. 😁
The villas
We stayed in a one-bedroom villa, and it was huge. The resort also has standard studio rooms with kitchenettes and two-bedroom villas.
Our villa had a full kitchen, washer and dryer, dining area, and a living room with a sofa bed. It also has a large bedroom with an oversized bathtub, two vanities with sinks, and a bathroom with a shower. Then, there was a large balcony, which was great for a morning cup of coffee or a glass of wine in the evening.
I also loved that our villa overlooked the golf course and pond, had great views of the mountains, and was very quiet.
Other amenities to enjoy
Near the pool was an activity center with a small fenced-in playground for little kids. You can also squeeze in a workout at one of their fitness centers. In the lobby, there is a marketplace where my husband bought some sunscreen for the low, low price of $28. 😳 If you need sunscreen, buy it beforehand or go to the nearby Costco.
Tee time! If you like to golf, you don’t have to go far. The Shadow Ridge Golf Club is located at the resort. Check the website for reserving tee times and fees.
If you like to walk, an easy four-mile trail loops around the resort. I wanted to do this, but my son had zero interest, so we headed to the pool!
Must-try restaurants near Palm Springs
The Shadow Ridge gave us a list of restaurants around Palm Springs to try that would give us a 10 to 20 percent discount for being guests, and the front desk attendant highlighted three that we should definitely try. We tried two of the three, and wow! Both exceeded our expectations by far, and we wished we had more time and more room in our bellies to try the third!
Babe’s Bar-B-Que and Brewery
On the first night, we tried Babe’s Bar-B-Que and Brewery in Rancho Mirage. I was surprised by how big the restaurant was, and when we walked in, there was no doubt we were in a BBQ spot. They were smoking meats that smelled delicious, although my son thought otherwise and didn’t hesitate to tell the server. 😂
We decided to have an early dinner and arrived around 5:15 p.m. on a Friday. The restaurant wasn’t busy yet, so we grabbed a bar booth. It started getting busier closer to 6 p.m.
My husband ordered the brisket, tri-tip, and short rib, and I got the half chicken. The food came out a few minutes after we ordered, which was a little worrisome to me, but the meats were cooked to perfection. There is also a kid’s menu, and our son ordered the chicken tenders, which looked good.
The drinks were great, too. I ordered a chardonnay, and they definitely gave me a “mommy pour!” 😁 My husband enjoyed the beer and the good selection they offered.
To make the experience even better, our server was excellent. When the restaurant started to get busy, he did not miss a beat.
Las Casuelas Nuevas
Since our hotel’s first recommendation was so good, we decided to try Las Casuelas Nuevas, and it did not disappoint! This restaurant in Rancho Mirage is beautiful, with a sculpted fountain outside and traditional decor and architecture.
Again, we arrived around 5 p.m. on a Saturday, and it wasn’t busy yet, so we were quickly seated in a large booth.
The margarita selection was interesting, with many different options, and you can make them spicy, if you prefer. I had the cucumber jalapeno and the pineapple mint spicy. Both were great, but I’m not sure how I feel about the mint with jalapeno – there were a lot of flavors going on there. Nonetheless, it was still delicious. My husband liked the skinny margarita – the regular and the spicy version.
Mexican food is one of our favorites, and we have a lot of great options in San Diego, so we tend to be a little picky. The food at Las Casuelas Nuevas was some of the best we’ve ever had. I ordered the shrimp tacos, my husband had the carne asada fajitas, and they made our son a bean and cheese quesadilla. It was all spot-on, and we left with overstuffed bellies!
Papa Dan’s Pizza and Pasta
Papa Dan’s Pizza and Pasta was the third recommendation from the hotel, and we were bummed we didn’t get a chance to try it, since the first two were outstanding. It will be at the top of our list the next time we visit.
Cabazon is calling all dino lovers!
When you’re driving on Interstate 10 through the desert, you’ll see windmills galore and huge rocky mountains. What you don’t expect to see is the world’s biggest dinosaurs!
About 20 minutes west of Palm Springs, you will see the gigantic T-Rex, Mr. Rex, and brontosaurus, Dinny, from the 10 Freeway in Cabazon. Depending on the season, Mr. Rex and Dinny will be decorated differently. When we visited in February, both were decked out for Valentine’s Day. The dinosaurs were featured in the 1985 movie Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, so during our last trip, Mr. Rex was dressed in remembrance of the late Pee Wee Herman.
Hangin’ with the dinos
It is free to visit and take pictures with Mr. Rex and Dinny. Dinny also doubles as a gift store, so you can walk into the brontosaurus and look around.
After that, if you want to hang out with more dinosaurs and go to the top of Mr. Rex, you can pay to enter the Cabazon Dinosaur Park, which I highly recommend! You can purchase tickets from the gift store in Dinny or at the park entrance – just follow the dinosaur footprints from Dinny to find the park.
Inside the park is a bigger gift store, and past that, you will find the Dino Dig. When kids find a rock with the name of a dinosaur, they can take it to the gift store to get a prize. My son was stoked to get a blue dinosaur mask!
Once my son had his prize, we wandered along the paths and saw all of the dinosaurs in the park.
According to their website, there are more than 70 dinosaurs to see. The park was working on a couple of new exhibits yet to open.
When you reach the other side of the park, you’ll get to go up into Mr. Rex’s mouth. There are a few flights of stairs and then a narrow spiral staircase to get there. If heights bother you, like they do me, it can be a little scary coming out of the mouth as you’re looking down the staircase.
Best time to visit Cabazon Dinosuars
We have visited on a Friday afternoon in February and a Monday morning in October when they open. The Friday afternoon wasn’t too crowded, but Monday morning was the best time to go. There were only a few people there, and we had the place to ourselves most of the time. By the time we left, it was almost 11 a.m., and more people were arriving.
Looking at the popular times on Google, the most hectic times to go is midday on weekends, with Sunday being the busiest. If the park is busy, there might be a line to get into Mr. Rex, but aside from that, there’s lots of space to walk around and explore. I suggest going when they open, or even a few minutes earlier to take pictures with Mr. Rex and Dinny before people arrive.
Until next time
To say the least, we had a blast on this trip! It was nice not overdoing it with activities, and taking some time to relax by the pool. There are still lots of things to try, like the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, and the Tahquitz Canyon Loop, to name a few. It’s time for me to start planning our next trip!
Check out my Palm Springs Recommendations Quick Guide for a summarized list of my recommendations.
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