Things to do / Travel Guide
Consider an organized tour of the wide-open ranges of the California Desert or of its charming cities. A guided tour, from the comfortable (heavily) air-conditioned seat of a bus, or bouncing around backcountry roads in a jeep, is a great way to see the region up-close and in-depth and to get a look at regional sites you probably wouldn't manage to tour on your own.
Celebrity Tours of Palm Springs
A perennial favorite in Palm Springs is Celebrity Tours, which offers tours of three different lengths, guaranteed to give you an earful of the town's celebrity gossip and glamour. Depending on the tour you choose, you'll be able to see Rancho Mirage (the “Playground of the Presidents”) and Indian Wells (the wealthiest city in the nation). In addition, you'll likely catch a glimpse of the estates of celebrities past and present, including Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion, Bob Hope, Dina Shore, Alan Ladd, Elvis, Liberace, Dean Martin, and many others. Celebrity tours are given twice a day, six days a week.
Off-Road Jeep Tours around Palm Springs
Guided off-road Jeep tours of the Palm Springs area are also a great way to take in some of the region's natural scenery. Guided tours explore such famous sites as the Indian Canyons and the Santa Rosa Mountains, with guides well-versed in the history and folklore of the area. Several operators in town offer these services, and one of the most popular is Desert Adventures, with both two and four-hour tours.
Guided Outdoor Adventures
Want to see the surreal landscapes of Joshua Tree National Park, but don't feel like tackling the area alone? Consider a day tour with one of the several companies in Palm Springs. Joshua Tree Tours offers bus tours every Thursday and daily hummer tours of the rock gardens and Joshua Tree forests - among the most beautiful spots in California. The tour guides will impress you with their knowledge of the area's plant and animal life, as well as its Native American history and folklore.
Sky Watcher Sky Gazing Tour
Held at the La Quinta Hotel on Fridays and Saturday from 6:30-8:30 p.m., these magical tours of the desert stars in Palm Desert will surely leave you breathless on a clear desert night. Binoculars and telescopes are provided, and visitors are treated to Native American storytelling and mythology from the guides.
Covered Wagon Tours near Palm Springs
Capture that Old West feeling on a two-hour-long covered wagon crossing of the Coachella Valley Preserve. On your guided tour you'll hear about the area's history and flora, as well as probably see some local fauna, like jackrabbits and quail. As the mules pull your covered wagon across the terrain you can sit back and imagine how the area looked to early pioneering settlers. The unique tours are offered daily and include a sumptuous barbecue dinner.
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