Day 3: Jeep Tour, Pool & Arcade
We were told that the Red Jeep Tour guides were punctual. Not wanting to keep anyone waiting, we got up early to allow time for that complimentary hotel breakfast.
Jeep Tour
As expected, Jennie from Red Jeep Tours was waiting outside the hotel for us. During the summer, the tours go out early to avoid the midday heat. In fact, 7:30 is one of the later tours available.
Since 1988, Red Jeep Tours has taken tourists all over the Palm Springs Area. Tours include Joshua Tree National Park, Painted Canyon and the San Andreas Fault.
[Related: Guide to Joshua Tree National Park]
Our destination was the San Andreas Fault Zone, the most popular tour offered by Red Jeep. We piled into the jeep and were offered the option to leave the shade top on or take it off. The kids enthusiastically chose to ride top down. We headed out from the hotel to the 800-acre private Metate Ranch, our outdoor playground for the morning. Red Jeep holds the exclusive rights to this area. Once inside the gates, you’ll forget you’re just a few minutes from a city. The only other people we encountered were guest on another Red Jeep tour.
Our guide was knowledgeable about the plants, animals and geology of the area. The San Andreas Tour includes a walk between narrow slot canyon walls, the opportunity to explore a natural palm oasis and a tour of a recreated Cahuilla Indian Village. The Cahuilla people inhabited this area long before European settlers, westward pioneers and Hollywood movie stars arrived.
KidTripster Tip: There’s a cooler filled with water on the jeep. Granola bars are also provided. You’re welcome to bring additional snacks or drinks for your family. Pack some sunscreen, too! There are a couple of opportunities to use a restroom during the San Andreas Fault Zone tour.
Tour prices range depending on the type and length, but start at $150 per person.
The tour lasted about three hours. Afterwards, Jennie dropped us off back at the Homewood Suites. We took the opportunity to clean up before checking out. We were a little sweaty and dusty after our morning adventure.
Accommodations
From there, we were on our way to our next destination, the JW Marriott Dessert Springs Resort and Spa. We didn’t waste any time getting there as we had a cabana waiting for us poolside. Thankfully it was a short drive between the two hotels, about 15 minutes.
The kids were ready to hit the pool, but first we had to drop off our bags and change into our swimsuits. There was a hiccup, though. Once we walked into our room, they suddenly were in no hurry to leave.
Perhaps that was because we were booked in the Presidential Suite. Their jaws dropped (and so did mine!) when we walked into our room, an expansive 1,200 square feet. It included a living room, dining area, bar, two bathrooms, a full-length patio and an astonishingly large walk-in closet. The suite upgrade, complete with an adjoining double room, was an awesome surprise and it made our stay at the JW Marriott all the more memorable.
After running around opening every door and exploring the many amenities in the suite, the kids were finally ready to hit the pool. In fact, once they walked onto the balcony and got a birds eye view of the pool area, they didn’t need any convincing. It was clear that fun awaited us below.
We headed downstairs, and crossed over a foot bridge that took us to the Oasis Pools, a complex of three pools.
[Related: Review of JW Marriott Desert Spring Resort & Spa]
Pool
We were led to our cabana where we found a tray of chilled fruit awaiting us. The kids took a few nibbles before dashing off into pool. The tricky part was deciding which one to jump into first. The largest of the three pools is considered the “High Energy Zone” and that’s where most of the kids could be found splashing about. In most places, we appreciate a heated pool. Here, the main and lap pools are chilled in the summer allowing guests to cool off from the hot sun. I made the cabana my home base, ordering blended drinks and more snacks.
There’s another family pool here, too. The Springs Pool is located away from the hubbub of the Oasis Pools.
KidTripster Tip: Unlike many resorts, pool floats are allowed at the Oasis and Springs pools. You can purchase them on-site and staff will inflate them for you. Or bring your own floats and toys to save a little money.
Arcade
After several hours at the pool, we all needed a break from the sun so we headed indoors. There’s a perfect family respite inside the air-conditioned hotel … the JW Entertainment Zone. The 12,000 square foot arcade opened this summer. It offers a mix of new and classic arcade games. There’s also 4 lanes of bowling, plus Skee Ball and air hockey.
Each kid had their own playing card (like an arcade debit card) that they swiped to play. You can load these cards up with money rather than scrounging for spare quarters. Instead of getting tickets, points were loaded onto the cards for the kids to spend at the end of their visit. Prizes included things like candy, stuffed animals and toys. We spent a few hours inside the JW Entertainment Zone running around from game to game, I even joined in on some of them! Although supervision isn’t provided, this is a safe space for older kids to go without parents, as it’s contained within the resort. If games aren’t your thing, but air conditioning is, there’s a seating area where parents can hang out while the kids play.
Gondola Tour
Have we mentioned this property is expansive? So much so that guests can set sail for a gondola tour of the resort. The boats launch inside the lobby and provide passengers with a guided tour of the property. Check the activity guide to find out when sailing times are. Reservations are required, but the ride is free!
Dinner
Convenient for us, the boat dropped us off just outside the Rockwood Grill. The kids felt pretty fancy arriving to dinner by boat! (Truthfully, so did I!) We hadn’t had a proper meal all day so we arrived especially hungry.
The dishes were sophisticated, but not fussy. The restaurant was family friendly, too. For appetizers, we had grilled artichokes and bacon wrapped dates. Our salads came in huge wooden serving bowls. For mains, we opted for pasta and steak.
We’d started early and kept busy all day. Tired from the day’s adventures, my 8-year-old fell asleep on my lap at dinner. Too bad for him because the waiter had a special surprise in store for us – a Pink Flamingo Milkshake for dessert. It wasn’t just any pink milkshake. It arrived garnished with cotton candy, donuts, lollipops and sprinkles. The Pink Flamingo is a signature treat at the JW Marriott Desert Springs. With her brother asleep, my daughter took advantage of the opportunity to have the dessert all to herself. She made good work of it, tackling the garnishes first, then the shake itself.
With the pool open until 10, we’d originally intended to do a night swim, but we ended up heading back to our room. No complaints though (other than having to carry my sleeping 8-year-old through the lobby). After all, we’d barely had a chance to enjoy the suite. After tucking in my son, my daughter and I plopped onto the couch for some HGTV. We opened the patio doors to let the warm evening breeze into the living room. We could still hear the sounds of happy kids splashing outside.
What a day! Between sunrise and sunset, we’d managed to see some of the best that Greater Palm Springs has to offer. We found adventure in the natural desert landscape and entertainment and relaxation at a luxury resort. That’s the great thing about Palm Springs, you can experience both in a single day!
Click “4” to find out how we spent our final hours in Greater Palm Springs. We met some of the famous residents of JW Marriott Desert Springs.
