California - Palm Springs - what to do there, if one stays for 1 week?

We will be staying at the Marriott timeshare in Palm Springs for 1 week, starting on Dec 31.

Besides the pool and other golf related activies (we do not golf), what can we do (there are 3 adults, and 3 children ranging in ages from 10 through to 16) in Palm Springs, or within easy day's driving distance.

Activies include sightseeing,hiking, shopping, skiing etc.

Can one go to Death Valley in one day?

Are there any Xmas lights, in Palm Springs, or nearby locations?

Are there any good fireworks, in Palm Springs, or nearby locations?

Palm Springs is a rather gay area, great for antiques shopping, go to street fair on Thursday nights downtown (careful where you park, don't get a ticket). Visit El Paseo in Palm Desert for more conventional fancy stores, nice for a stroll (as is downtown PS).

Hit the Elephant Bar in on 111 in PD for a great happy hour M-F. Good food, good drinks, nice terrace, family friendly, look in the Desert Sun on Wends or Friday for EB coupons and for other restaurants. Nice hostess at EB will usually give a coupon or special offer flier if you ask. Even without coupons quite reasonable. Keep in mind that PS area restaurants get very full on weekends. Good idea to go early or reserve.

Don't forget the famous flea market at the College of the Desert in PD on weekends. Fun for all.

And, of course, if you don't like to golf ... there is lots of tennis and biking.

Finally, go to the Joshua Tree National Park. Very worthwhile for just a drive through or a hike. Can also visit the Marine Base at 29 Palms on the way. This is a full day trip from PS. You will really get sense of the vastness of the desert. And, be sure to visit Indian Canyons.

Great discount shopping at Cabazon (about 20 minutes drive east on Fway 10).

Shame on the Moon is a great (not cheap) restaurant. they also have a second place whose name i cannot recall...

Also there is a little Fish and Chips shop at the edge of downtown PSP where the two one way streets combine back into one street... cannot recall the name but it is small and good!

Shopping in the city is somewhat touristy ..

Joshua Tree was already mentioned . nice drive probably 2/3 a day out and back and thru it.

there is an arial tram up to the top of a mountain . the restarant on top is fair but fun.

just relax in the high dessert!

For the adults, sometimes the casinos like Morongo get shows that could pass for an evening's entertainment (i.e. I saw Glen Frye at Aqua Caliente last year). Here are a few other suggestions with the kids:

The Living Desert
http://www.livingdesert.org

Malki Museum
http://www.malkimuseum.org/

Unfortunately, I think Knott's Soak City is closed until spring. Also, with moving traffic you will only be about 2 hours from the San Diego Zoo Wild Animal Park. Might be a decent day trip -- the wild animal park is very cool and they have a Festival of Lights throughout the holiday season. There is also a lot of stuff (wine, children's workshop, etc) in Temecula which would be on the way (or even a day trip in itself).

If the weather is OK in the mountains, take a ride on the tram.

Take a walk in Palm Canyon.

Can one go to LA/Anaheim (seeing Disneyland or Universal Studios), San Diego (seeing Sea World or the San Diego zoo or the Wild Animal Park), or Las Vegas, see the city attaction(s), and come back to Palm Springs, all in one day?

I hope you enjoy it. We went 2 years ago and stayed at the JW and I have never been so bored in my life as I was the week we were there. We were with a group of friends that we always travel with at least once a year. I was ready to go after one day, just wasnt my cup of tea. And I'm not entirely sure why, just did not care at all for the area. I didnt find any decent eating places, nothing interesting to do, just pretty much bored the whole time...I had never been happier to leave one town...LOL

DisneyWorld 90 minutes each way w/o traffic
Universal City 2 hours each way w/o traffic

So both would be doable if kids and you can handle the driving (i.e. I do day trips from Santa Monica to Palm Springs). Just try to avoid park traffic times as that can double the trip time.

For San Diego, the Wild Animal Park is better than the Zoo and closer (not so much in distance, but traffic from Encondido down to Sea World/Zoo can be relly bad so it is probably 2 hours w/o stops vs 3 to downtown). Las Vegas is probably too far for a day trip at 4+ hours each way.

PS is laid back but a great place to relax. As mentioned, do the tram to the top of the mountain (sights and hiking), the living desert and Joshua Tree. OC (Disneyland) and SD (Wild Animal Park) are easier to get to off-peak than Universal Studios or SD Zoo. PS is more touristy than Palm Desert...but both are good places to stroll, shop and have drinks/dinner. PS has several very good steak houses--Falls Steak House and LGs. Also a great Mexican spot with outdoor patio--La Casuelas. Palm Desert has a Tommy Bahamas cafe with outdoor dining...good spot...and a Las Casuelas (but not as good, INMO, as the one in PS. Nearby shopping at Cabazon Outlet Center will take care of 1/2 day. You can also go skiing (if open) at Big Bear about 2 hours up the mountain...or do some boating on the Colorado River (about 1 1/2 away). Have fun...

Any good holiday lights in Palm Springs, Palm Desert, or any other nearby places?

Will there be New Year's eve fireworks, in the area?