advice for first timers please

spending a week march 28th to april 4th. We have an 11 y/o and a 1 y/o. We are staying at the Cimarron Club. Has anybody stayed there recently? Would love some advice on activities for the family or the kids. We will have a car. Can anybody recommend nicer restaurants which are child friendly? Thanks for all replies.

advice for first timers please

Haven%26#39;t stayed in Cathedral City, or the Cimarron Club. I know lots of the restaurants in the area. What is your budget for nicer restaurant with children? below are some average ones,

One of our favorite casual restaurants in Cathedral City is Red Tomato Pasta and House of Lamb. We are repeat visitors there with family for many years.

http://www.theredtomatoonline.com/

Haleiwa Joe%26#39;s on Hwy. 111 in Rancho Mirage is in a Frank Loyd building and is decorated Hawaiian Style and built into the hillside. Good seafood and steaks. They like kids here, too.

http://www.haleiwajoes.com/

Mimi%26#39;s Cafe are always good for families.

If you want to drive down Hyw. 111 to La Quinta, another choice for a family would be the Cliff House. It%26#39;s built right in the mountain. Fun to sit outdoors next to the waterfall.

http://www.laquintacliffhouse.com/

As for activities, take the kids to the Living Desert Zoo, a ride up the Tram, Knott%26#39;s Soak City. I%26#39;d suggest the Follies in Palm Springs, but you have to be at least 6 years old, so your little one could not go.

advice for first timers please

Thanks. What a nice variety of restaurants. I%26#39;m especially intrigued by the menu at the Cliffhouse and the ahi dishes at the hawaii themed restaurant. Are these middle of the road prices for the area? I have no problem paying the prices on their menus if the food is good. I still would like to hear someone%26#39;s experience at the Cimarron Resort. The reviews are a little old but are worrisome.

Rancho mirage is nearby and has lots of family restaurants.

You will not have any problems finding places to eat in Palm Springs. What I like to do is ask the locals where they go. For lunch we usually go to Sherman%26#39;s Deli or the Fish House on Indian Canyon. For dinner just go to Palm Springs and walk Palm Canyon Drive. Most places have their menu%26#39;s posted.

For some natural history, and lots of beauty, how about Indian Canyons, Coachella Valley Preserve (where you can stand astride the San Andreas Fault!) and Joshua Tree National Park. All are marvelous treasures of the desert. A drive on the Palms to Pines Highway, ending at Idyllwild or Borrego Springs, will lift you from low desert to alpine terrain in an hour or so, and provide thrilling views.

For Mexican food, any of the Las Casuelas restaurants (there are 4, I believe) in the valley would be fun for your 11-year-old. On the upscale shopping strip, El Paseo (Palm Desert), both Sammy%26#39;s Woodfired Pizza and Tommy Bahama%26#39;s are casual enough for a baby, and good. For Asian, P.F. Chang%26#39;s at The River (Rancho Mirage) where you will also find one of the FEW movie theaters in the valley -- theriveratranchomirage.com.

You will be coming at the very height of the season, so it would be very wise to reserve your restaurants in advance, even in this economy! :-)

Hope you have a fabulous time.