• Palm Springs Visitor Center - The Palm Springs audio tour kicks off in the parking lot of the Palm Springs Visitor Center, situated at 2901 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262. If you’re not already there, it’s time to make your way over.

Important Note: While Palm Springs boasts many historic celebrity homes, most are concealed behind walls or fences.

Palm Springs Tour Note: This 22-mile tour highlights the best of Palm Springs in 2-3 hours.

Joshua Tree Tour Note: This 68+ mile tour covers the key attractions of Joshua Tree National Park.

Purchase once, enjoy for a year! Ideal for extended stays or return visits within 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 US! 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 design a home called Fallingwater in Pennsylvania. When he decided to build a vacation home in Palm Springs, he sought the best and hired architect Richard Neutra. Neutra was renowned for designing open and adaptable houses with a distinctly modern look, and he applied all his expertise to the Kaufmann House.

• The Movie Colony - Driving through the Movie Colony, this neighborhood was home to many Hollywood stars 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 would retreat to this hotel for peace and quiet in the desert. Many decided to stay, commissioning 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, step out and look for the colorful sculptures peeking from behind the trees at the corner of East Granvia Valmonte and North Arquilla Road. It will be on the right.

• Walk of the Stars Palm Springs - Here, 450 stars honor larger-than-life figures in Palm Springs history. But it’s not just movie stars; humanitarians, architects, artists, soldiers, athletes, and city pioneers are celebrated on this walk! If they contributed to Palm Springs in any way, they earn a star!

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

• Palm Springs International Airport - In 1939, the United States Corps of Engineers sought a location 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 items 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 challenging 4-mile hike takes about three hours and ascends 500 feet. Along the loop, you can spot birds, desert wildlife, and wildflowers if visiting in spring!

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

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

• Forever Marilyn - This enormous statue of Marilyn Monroe stands here thanks to sculptor Seward Johnson, who designed this 26-foot-tall statue in 2011. He initially secured funding to display it in Chicago for a year, then obtained sponsorship to bring it to Palm Springs. The statue remained in Palm Springs for two years before touring the world, showcasing the artist and his work. It even traveled to Australia for a time.

• 1326 N Rose Ave - The house at 1326 North Rose Avenue is often claimed to be Marilyn Monroe’s residence. Bus tours and maps of famous houses have perpetuated 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 of the property. It’s famous for several reasons. Firstly, the architect who designed it is known as the father of “desert modernism.” Albert Frey was Swiss, earned his architecture diploma in Switzerland, and worked in Zurich, Belgium, and France. At 27, he moved to the United States. In New York, he began building the American modernist architecture movement. After completing work on the Museum of Modern Art in New York, he settled in Palm Springs. It was just after World War II, and the population was booming! These people needed homes.

• Palm Canyon Trail - Palm Canyon Trail is a relatively easy hike. It’s 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. However, be aware before setting off: There is an entrance fee for this trail. The small building in the parking lot, called The Trading Post, is where you can pay the fee.

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

• Moorten Botanical Garden - The Moorten Botanical Garden is a must-visit for desert plant enthusiasts. Chester “Cactus Slim” and Patricia Moorten established this garden in the 1940s. Cactus Slim had been an actor in the 1920s and 30s and even served as a stand-in for Howard Hughes! However, he developed a severe case of TB on a film set and discovered he 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, ascending to the wilds of Mount San Jacinto State Park. Along the way, the tram car slowly rotates 360 degrees, offering a spectacular view of the valley below! The mountaintop features restaurants, a gift shop, and plenty of 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 several other showbiz figures invested in transforming this spot in the California desert into a living, breathing movie set. They purchased 32,000 acres of land and turned it into Pioneertown. They could film movies, vacation, and even have second homes here!

• Joshua Tree Visitor Center - The tour of Joshua Tree begins at the Joshua Tree Visitor Center. From here, you’ll drive through this unique park where two deserts meet. Along the way, prepare to marvel at the peculiar Joshua trees for which the park is named, embark on awe-inspiring hikes, and witness an unforgettable sunset.

• Joshua Tree - Before entering the park, you’ll pass through the town of Joshua Tree. It’s filled with charming shops and restaurants, making it the perfect place to grab a snack or souvenir before or after your park visit.

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

• Willow Hole - A 7-mile trail leads to Willow Hole, a seemingly 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 one of the park’s most popular climbing spots. It dramatically rises from the earth, daring visitors to scale it. The buttress features a massive pile of boulders, offering fun scrambling opportunities for climbers of all skill levels.

• 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, only about a mile long, making it a must-see hike in Joshua Tree.

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

• Cap Rock Trail - Cap Rock is a peculiar sight, with a small boulder seemingly perched atop a larger rock formation. Here, you’ll find a quick quarter-mile trail filled with information about the local flora.

• Lost Horse Valley - Lost Horse Valley is a vast desert valley named after the McHaney Gang’s misdeeds during the Wild West era. As you drive through, you’ll hear tales of an overconfident miner’s attempt to retrieve his stolen horses!

• Queen Valley Road - Another abandoned mine awaits in Queen Valley. The gold discovered in this mine 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 serves as 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 an excellent 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 final stop along the main tour route. It’s located in the town of Twenty-Nine Palms, not far from where the tour began. If you wish to continue exploring Joshua Tree, you can follow the detour route, which heads south through the rest of the park and exits via the southern gate.

• General Patton Memorial Museum - The General George S. Patton Memorial Museum’s location is no coincidence. It sits on the former site of Camp Young, part of the World War II Desert Training Center. The museum houses a variety of 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, and a rich history of miners and outlaws, among other wonders! Then, venture to Palm Springs to delve into the glamorous past of Hollywood’s golden era. Explore homes that were once owned by icons like Elvis, Liberace, Frank Sinatra, and more, while learning about the fascinating history of this dazzling city.

Important Note: Palm Springs boasts numerous historic celebrity residences, though many are concealed behind walls or fences.

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 stable internet connection or Wi-Fi access. From there, 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.
• Important Note: While Palm Springs is home to many historic celebrity homes, most are hidden behind walls or fences.
• Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car’s stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.

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