Planning a long holiday weekend can be tricky. It should be an easy trip and a good mix of activity and relaxation so you can combine the two in three or four days. The Palm Springs area delivers on every level, and for families, the nearby Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa is a remarkable epicenter of family fun.
I recently took my family to this resort in Rancho Mirage, about 25 minutes from downtown Palm Springs, for a weekend that combined swimming and water parks, relaxation, visits to nearby Joshua Tree National Park, and of course, more than one of the region’s famous date shakes.
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My children were immediately won over by the vast family aquatic complex which includes a swimming pool, cabanas and a water park. We all loved the mix of activities available around the resort (more on that below), and before we left we were already planning to return with our grandparents and cousins.
Things to know about the Omni Rancho Las Palmas
- If you’re there with kids, try to get a room near the family pool. It was very convenient to be close enough to the room that I could easily return for a hat, forgotten water bottle, or extra sunscreen.
- Although the buildings are scattered and easily accessible by foot, you can always call for a golf cart to take you anywhere on the property.
- The resort is a good destination for a multigenerational group, with a ton of activities to keep all ages entertained and happy.
- Although the Omni Rancho Las Palmas isn’t in Palm Springs proper, it still has that vibe and is close to all of Palm Spring’s most popular sites.
What families need to know
Of all the things we did in the Palm Springs area, my kids’ favorite was the resort’s Splashtopia water park. The small but varied water park includes two slides, a lazy river, a zero-entry beach particularly suitable for babies and toddlers, and a paddling pool which becomes increasingly popular as the day warms up.
We opted for a cabana for our pool day (the family pool and water park are part of the same space). The mixture of shades; misters and overhead fans; and included cold waters, welcome cocktails or smoothies, and a fruit plate kept us all feeling energized and happy even though the temperatures exceeded 100 degrees. It was a perfect base for adults and a place for kids to recharge their batteries between the water slides and the pool. Since cabana rentals are all day, we could also take a break for some off-resort activities and return in the late afternoon to enjoy more of the pool.
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There are a number of buildings surrounding the pool and water park, and it was very convenient to stay in a room in one of these neighboring buildings so that we could easily return to the hotel room without interrupting our day at the pool.
For parents, grandparents, and anyone looking to balance kid-pleasing activities with something quicker, there’s also an adults-only pool, two nine-hole golf courses on the property, a spa, 20 tennis courts and 20 pickleball courts.
Omni Rancho Las Palmas reviews
Omni Rancho Las Palmas gets high marks not only from me, but from other guests as well. On Kayak, the property is rated Excellent with a rating of 8.2 based on around a thousand reviews. And Tripadvisor reviews average 4 out of 5, with past guests praising the location and amenities but sometimes disliking the noise during times when the resort has events.
Key details about Omni Rancho Las Palmas
Location
The Omni Rancho Las Palmas is located in Rancho Mirage, approximately 20 minutes south of the Palm Springs Airport, 25 minutes from downtown Palm Springs and 45 minutes from the south entrance to Joshua National Park Tree.
The property
The Omni Rancho Las Palmas is its own little resort world that’s full of both activities and ways to relax. The property is home to four swimming pools (including a spa pool), a water park, two nine-hole golf courses, a large spa, and a huge tennis and pickleball court with 20 tennis courts and 20 pickleball courts.
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It’s easy to come and go; Rooms are spread throughout the property, but you’re never so far from your car that you can’t easily hop in and go for a hike, shop, or buy a famous local shake.
Everywhere I went on the property it felt like I was in a desert oasis. The beautifully landscaped property is lush against a backdrop of desert hills and mountains, and the dry desert air gives off that special, wonderful sage aroma.
Dining
The resort has a main restaurant, Bluember, as well as a multitude of other dining options. Bluember has a lovely indoor-outdoor space and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was both delighted with the menu and impressed with what came out of the kitchen. In addition to the usual resort favorites like steaks and Caesars, there was a creative mix of healthy yet delicious options ranging from acai bowls at breakfast to ceviche at dinner. There’s also a surprisingly robust kids’ menu (the Junior Chef Menu) with much more than the typical chicken fingers and buttery pasta: think salmon, salads, and smashburgers, as well as favorites like chicken and mac and cheese.
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Beyond the Bluember, there’s a great menu at Conchilla Valley Pool Bar & Grill, the mix of offerings that will please kids and adults at the family pool’s Splash Bar (if you’re ordering food from a cabana, it’s from here), the pizza- and the atmosphere of the sports bar R Bar (this one is also family-friendly) and the Country Club atmosphere of Between the 9s at the Club, which offers snacks, full meals and drinks. There’s also the takeaway Palms Cafe near the lobby, which offers hot meals, local coffee and snacks and, during my stay, was particularly popular with parents of young children who get up early.
Spa
The Omni Rancho Las Palmas has a cool history as a celebrity wellness spot, and with its recent refresh, the spa at La Costa has doubled down on its reputation as a self-care destination. It now has three salt rooms, steam rooms with new aromatherapy options and more than 50 treatment options, many of which feature local California desert ingredients.
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