• Palm Springs Visitor Center - The tour kicks off in the parking lot of the Palm Springs Visitor Center at 2901 N Palm Canyon Drive. If you’re not already there, it’s time to head over. Before starting, it’s important to note that Palm Springs is filled with historic celebrity homes, though many are concealed behind walls, hedges, or fences.

Note: This is a Joshua Tree route, a 68+ mile-long tour covering the essentials of Joshua Tree.

Purchase once, and enjoy for a year! Perfect for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

• Liberace House - Shortly, there will be an option to detour to see the Kaufmann and Liberace Houses, two of Palm Springs’ most renowned homes. The detour takes about five minutes and is recommended if time permits. To visit, turn right onto West Vista Chino ahead. Otherwise, continue straight to bypass the detour.

• Kaufmann House - The Kaufmann Desert House is on the right, beyond the white gate. It’s regarded as one of the finest examples of mid-century modern architecture in the U.S.! Businessman Edgar Kaufmann, who owned a successful department store in Pittsburgh, was passionate about architecture. He even commissioned the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright to create a home called Fallingwater in Pennsylvania. When he decided to build a vacation home in Palm Springs, he hired the best, architect Richard Neutra. Neutra was known for designing open and adaptable houses with a distinctly modern look, and he applied all his skills to the Kaufmann House.

• The Movie Colony - Driving through the Movie Colony, the neighborhood where many Hollywood stars moved in the 1900s. Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore, Cary Grant, David O. Selznick, Jack Benny, and Tony Curtis all lived here. The neighborhood’s charm owes much to El Mirador Hotel, which opened in 1928. It featured an Olympic-size swimming pool, tennis courts, stables, and a bell tower that became a Palm Springs landmark. In Hollywood’s early days, movie stars flocked to the hotel for peace and quiet in the desert. Many didn’t want to leave and hired famous architects like Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, and Donald Wexler to build permanent homes.

• Robolights - After the next intersection, find a spot to park. Then, get out and look for the colorful sculptures peeking from behind the trees on the corner of East Granvia Valmonte and North Arquilla Road, on the right.

• Walk of the Stars Palm Springs - Here, 450 stars honor larger-than-life figures in Palm Springs history, including more than movie stars. Humanitarians, architects, artists, soldiers, athletes, and city pioneers are all celebrated on this walk! If they contributed to Palm Springs in any way, they receive a star!

• Coachella Valley - Leaving downtown Palm Springs to explore more of Coachella Valley. Does the name sound familiar? It should! This valley hosts the world-renowned Coachella Music Festival, but there’s much more to it!

• Palm Springs International Airport - In 1939, the United States Corps of Engineers sought space to build an Army Air Corps landing field. With the country on the brink of war, they needed space to train more soldiers. Coachella Valley’s favorable weather and mountain protection from strong winds made it ideal. After the war, it became a civilian airport.

• Desert Memorial Park - Sinatra passed away in 1998 and was buried with a bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey, a Zippo lighter, a pack of Camel cigarettes, and 10 dimes. The first few make sense, but what’s with the dimes? They date back to December 1963.

• Willis Palm Trailhead - Ahead is the Willis Palm Trailhead. This moderately strenuous 4-mile hike takes about three hours and climbs 500 feet of elevation. On the loop, you can see birds, desert wildlife, and wildflowers if visiting in spring!

• Pushwalla Palms Trailhead - Pushawalla Palms trail is on the right, at the bottom of the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, but it goes in the opposite direction. It’s a moderate 4.5-mile hike with a 700-foot elevation gain. The views are stunning! Walking on the ridge of the San Andreas Fault, you’ll see palm tree oases where water bubbles up from deep in the Earth! It takes around three hours to complete.

• Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve - Arriving at the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve! This magical place offers plentiful walking trails, wildlife, and lush scenery. Officials are renovating much of the preserve after a storm, so the visitor center is closed until further notice. However, the trails are open from sunrise to sunset!

• Forever Marilyn - This massive statue of Marilyn Monroe stands here thanks to sculptor Seward Johnson, who designed the 26-foot-tall statue in 2011. Initially displayed in Chicago for a year, it was later sponsored to be placed in Palm Springs. The statue stood in Palm Springs for two years before touring the world, showcasing the artist’s work. It even moved to Australia for a while.

• 1326 N Rose Ave - The house at 1326 North Rose Avenue is purportedly Marilyn Monroe’s house. Bus tours and maps of famous houses have claimed this for years. However, locals suggest it may not have been hers!

• Frey House II - The Frey House II at 686 Palisades Drive isn’t open to the public, but the Palm Springs Museum offers guided tours. It’s famous for several reasons. Firstly, the architect, known as the father of “desert modernism,” was Albert Frey, a Swiss architect. He earned his architecture diploma in Switzerland and worked in Zurich, Belgium, and France. At 27, he moved to the United States, where he began building the American modernist architecture movement. After completing the Museum of Modern Art in New York, he settled in Palm Springs. Post-World War II, the population boomed, and people needed homes.

• Palm Canyon Trail - Palm Canyon Trail is an easy hike, only 2 miles out and back with a 200-foot elevation gain. Most people complete it in about an hour. Hikers enjoy fabulous canyon scenery along the way. Be aware: there is an entrance fee for this trail. The Trading Post in the parking lot is where you can pay the fee.

• Andreas Canyon Trailhead - Andreas Canyon is an easy hike, a mile loop with a 175-foot elevation gain. Most complete it in about half an hour. Along the trail, you’ll see over 150 plant species within half a mile! The trail features many palm trees, interesting rock formations, and Andreas Creek. You can even see dents in the rock where Cahuilla people ground their food. It’s a beautiful hike!

• Moorten Botanical Garden - The Moorten Botanical Garden is a must-see for desert plant enthusiasts. Chester “Cactus Slim” and Patricia Moorten created this garden in the 1940s. Cactus Slim had been an actor in the 1920s and 30s and a stand-in for Howard Hughes! He developed TB on a film set and needed the dry desert air to breathe.

• Palm Springs Aerial Tramway - The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the world’s largest rotating tram car. It travels 2.5 miles along Chino Canyon, climbing to the wilds of Mount San Jacinto State Park. The tram car rotates 360 degrees for a spectacular valley view! The mountaintop has restaurants, a gift shop, and hiking trails.

• Pioneertown - Yeehaw! There’s no place like Pioneertown! This town was created by Hollywood to mimic the Wild West. In 1946, Dick Curtis, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and other showbiz people invested in making this California desert spot a living, breathing movie set. They bought 32,000 acres and transformed it into Pioneertown, where they could film movies, vacation, and have second homes!

• Joshua Tree Visitor Center - The Joshua Tree tour begins at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center. From here, drive through this unique park where two deserts meet. Marvel at the bizarre Joshua trees, embark on awe-inspiring hikes, and catch an unforgettable sunset.

• Joshua Tree - Before entering the park, pass through the town of Joshua Tree. It’s full of quaint shops and restaurants, perfect for picking up a snack or souvenir before or after your park visit.

• Samuelsons Rock - This peculiar landmark is accessible via a moderate, 3.3-mile trail. Nearly 100 years ago, an enigmatic man named John Samuelson etched musings and declarations onto these rocks. They remain a strange, almost mystical sight.

• Willow Hole - A 7-mile trail leads to Willow Hole, a miraculous oasis in the desert. Surrounded by willow trees, it must be seen to be believed. Many visitors initially think it’s a mirage!

• Hemingway Buttress - The Hemingway Buttress is a popular climbing spot in the park. It dramatically juts from the earth, daring visitors to scale it. The buttress features a huge pile of boulders, fun to scramble up, and climbers of all skill levels can enjoy it.

• Hidden Valley Nature Trail Trailhead - Ever wanted to see a Wild West gang’s hideout? You’ll find it on this trail, along with stunning desert scenery. The Hidden Valley Nature Trail is an easy trek, about a mile long, making it a must-see hike in Joshua Tree.

• Intersection Rock - Intersection Rock is a hub within Joshua Tree. Its towering size is visible from a distance, casting a striking silhouette against the desert sky. It’s a popular climbing spot with numerous routes like Knuckle Cracker, Ignorant Photons from Pluto, and Sympathy to the Devil.

• Cap Rock Trail - Cap Rock is a strange sight, featuring a small boulder perched atop a larger rock formation. Here, a quick quarter-mile trail is full of information about local flora.

• Lost Horse Valley - Lost Horse Valley is a sweeping desert valley named after the McHaney Gang’s Wild West misdeeds. Hear all about it as you drive through, including what one miner did to retrieve his stolen horses!

• Queen Valley Road - Another abandoned mine awaits in Queen Valley. The gold found here was the motive behind at least one murder and much more.

• Skull Rock - This iconic desert granite formation resembles a human skull. It’s easily accessible from the roadside and is the trailhead for an easy 2-mile trail, one of the park’s most popular hikes.

• Sky’s The Limit Observatory and Nature Center - Sky’s The Limit Observatory and Nature Center is a fantastic spot to learn about Joshua Tree’s flora, fauna, and stars. As a dark sky area, Joshua Tree offers impressive stargazing, so try to stay after dark if possible!

• Oasis Ranger Station - The Oasis Visitor Center is the last stop on the main tour route. It’s in the town of Twenty-Nine Palms, near where the tour began. To continue exploring Joshua Tree, follow the detour route south through the park, exiting the southern gate.

• General Patton Memorial Museum - The General George S. Patton Memorial Museum’s location is no accident. It sits on the former site of Camp Young, part of the World War II Desert Training Center. The museum houses historic artifacts, including actual tanks!

• Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
• Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
• Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
• Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
• Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
• Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
• Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
• Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!

• Park Passes

Set off on a captivating adventure through Joshua Tree & Palm Springs with these two self-guided driving tours. Journey through the expansive desert of Joshua Tree National Park, where you’ll encounter striking boulder formations, enchanting Joshua trees, a rich history of miners and bandits, and much more! Then, travel to Palm Springs to delve into the world of classic movie stars. Explore homes that once belonged to icons like Elvis, Liberace, Frank Sinatra, and others while learning about the fascinating history of this dazzling city.

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require a reliable internet/Wi-Fi connection. From there, simply follow the audio instructions and the route.

Purchase once and enjoy for a full year! Perfect for extended stays and return visits over the next 12 months.

• How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
• How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
• Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
• Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
• Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.