Whether you’re single and ready to mingle, part of a family, or couple, there are tours of every shape, subject, and size to get you out and about in the desert. Here are some of the best tours in Coachella Valley.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway promises a lot of up, up, and away. See things from the point of view of a superhero when you soar to new heights on the 12-minute ride. Once at the top, enjoy camping, hiking, even cross-country skiing. See amazing views from Peaks, a fine-dining experience that offers some of the best food in the Coachella Valley. Celebrate your favorite holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day with a Tram ride. The first tram car goes up at 8 a.m.
1 Tramway Rd., Palm Springs.
760-325-1449
www.pstramway.com
Palms Springs Modern
Architecture Tours Founder and tour guide, Robert Imber, honors the designers and architects that shaped desert modernism. From Richard Neutra to Albert Frey, this three-hour tour will reshape how you see Palm Springs.
Palm Springs Visitors Center
2901 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs.
760-778-8418
www.palmspringsmoderntours.com
Joshua Tree National Park Scenic Tours
To all U2 fans and everyone in between, this day trip will make you “Rattle and Hum.” Take a four-hour Hummer voyage through Joshua Tree National Park and San Andreas Fault. Guides Jeff Gardner and Allen Keeney will show you through the backcountry and “all that you can’t leave behind.”
877-656-2453
www.joshuatreetour.com
Windfarm Tour
“What you see over there aren’t giants, but windmills.” Don Quixote had a great sense of imagination and whimsy, and so will you when you take the Windfarm Tour. Stoke your intellectual fire and stare back at the past as you learn about renewable energy. See how far we’vecome technologically, as you glimpse our eco-friendly future.
760-320-1365.
Five Star Adventure Tours
Whether you’re thinking of entertaining your inner-hipster at one of the Rat Pack’s hideaways, brushing up on your knowledge of modernism architecture, or simply needing to go off the grid with an ATV ride, Five Star Adventure Tours goes above and beyond with seven spectacular treks. Gain an appreciation of the environment during the San Andreas Fault Line Tour, which leads you through the spacious desert Badlands. Your guide will teach you about the Cahuilla Indian Tribe, the Coachella Valley’s geology, and more.
292 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs.
760-320-1500.
The Living Desert Zoo & Botanical Garden
It’s alive! The Living Desert is an excitement-charged expedition that educates and thrills. This California safari consists of self-guided, narrated riding. Explore the North American and African deserts, showcasing each region’s plant and wildlife. Discover the giraffes, spot a cheetah, or swing by the interactive animal hospital. By the time you leave, you’ll feel connected to the other animals in the kingdom. Kids, couples, and seniors are welcome.
47900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert.
760-346-5694
www.livingdesert.org
BTWest Palm Springs Celebrity Tours
This tour started almost 50 years ago and still goes strong. Fall under the spell of the Sinatra on Saturdays Tour — an outing that would make “Old Blue Eyes” proud. The Palm Springs Bike Tour is a favorite among cyclists. It guides you through a Coachella Valley road adventure. For added intimacy, ask about private tours.
67555 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Ste. C-111, Cathedral City.
760-770-2700
www.thecelebritytour.com
Modernism Week Tour
Palm Springs Modernism Week which celebrates midcentury architecture and design, also encourages preservation. The event features walking tours, and double-decker bus trips, as well as seminars and parties. Act fast to attend this once-a-year event which draws tens of thousands of visitors. The fall tour season kicks off Oct. 11-14, and ushers in Modernism Week 2014, Feb. 13-23.
www.modernismweek.com
Best of the Best Tour
You’ve tried the rest; now try Best of the Best Tours. Take a two-and-a-half-hour tour through Indian Canyon — a 90-minute excursion of celebrity homes. Sign up for the Bonanza Tour, which combines the Indian Canyon Tour, Rich and Famous Celebrity Home Tour, and the Palm Springs Windmill Tour for up to four hours
of fun.
490 S. Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs.
760-320-1365
www.thebestofthebesttours.com
