Palm Springs Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

based on 52 reviews

Duration:2 hours to 3 hours (approx.)
Location: Palm Springs, California

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Soak up some sun with this self-guided driving tour of Palm Springs, where movie stars and other big-time celebs have flocked for almost a hundred years to get away from it all. Visit architectural marvels left behind by these eccentric stars, like the opulent Liberace House. Stop outside the gates of Frank Sinatra’s old estate and hear some wild tales about Ol’ Blue Eyes’ time in Palm Springs. And so much more! Plus, this driving tour of Palm Springs will take you to the serene Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, a desert gem rich in natural beauty.

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 good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Palm Springs Visitor Center
Our tour begins in the parking lot of the Palm Springs Visitor Center at 2901 N Palm Canyon Drive. If you’re not there already, you should head there now. Before we get started, there’s something important you should know about this tour: Palm Springs is bursting with historic celebrity homes, but most of them are hidden behind walls, hedges, or fences. Note: This 22-mile-long tour covers the essentials of Palm Springs in 2-3 hours.
2.
In just a moment, we’ll have the option to take a detour to see the Kaufmann and Liberace Houses, two of Palm Springs’ most famous homes. The detour takes about five minutes, and I’d recommend it if you’re not in a rush. To visit the houses, turn right onto West Vista Chino ahead. Otherwise, continue straight to skip the detour.
3.
The Kaufmann Desert House is on our right, beyond that white gate. It’s considered one of the finest examples of mid-century modern architecture in the US! Businessman Edgar Kaufmann owned a successful department store in Pittsburgh. And he absolutely loved architecture. He even had famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright create a home he called Fallingwater in Pennsylvania. So when he decided to build a vacation home here in Palm Springs, he knew he wanted to hire the best. He contracted architect Richard Neutra for the job. Neutra was famous for designing open and adaptable houses with a distinctly modern appearance. And he put all his skills to use for the Kaufmann House.
4.
We’re driving through the Movie Colony, the neighborhood where many of Hollywood’s darlings moved in the 1900s. Frank Sinatra had a home here. Dinah Shore. Cary Grant. David O. Selznick. Jack Benny. Tony Curtis. They all lived here. The neighborhood owes much of its allure to El Mirador Hotel, which opened in 1928. It had an Olympic-size swimming pool, tennis courts, stables, and a bell tower that became a Palm Springs landmark. In the early days of Hollywood, movie stars would flock to that hotel for a bit of peace and quiet out here in the desert. And once they came here, many didn’t want to leave! So they contracted famous architects like Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, and Donald Wexler to build them permanent houses here.
5. Robolights
Once we pass the next intersection, find a spot to pull over and park. Then get out and look for the colorful sculptures peeking out from behind the trees on the corner of East Granvia Valmonte and North Arquilla Road. It’ll be on our right.
6.
Here, 450 stars honor larger than life figures in Palm Springs history. But they honor more than movie stars. Humanitarians, architects, artists, soldiers, athletes, and city pioneers are all over this walk! If they made a contribution to Palm Springs in some way, they get a star!
7.
We’re going to leave downtown Palm Springs now to see more of Coachella Valley. Does that name sound familiar? It should! This valley is home to the world-renowned Coachella Music Festival. But there’s so much more to it than that!
8.
In 1939, the United States Corps of Engineers sought out space to build an Army Air Corps landing field. The country was on the brink of war, and they needed space for training more soldiers. Coachella Valley had pretty good weather almost all year round, and the mountains shielded the area from strong winds. It was perfect! After the war, it soon became a civilian airport.
9. Frank Sinatra Gravesite
Sinatra passed away in 1998. He was buried with: A bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey, a zippo lighter, a pack of Camel cigarettes, and… 10 dimes. Okay, the first few make sense, but what’s with the dimes? Those go back to December of 1963.
10.
Just ahead is the Willis Palm Trailhead. This moderately strenuous 4-mile hike takes about three hours and climbs 500 feet of elevation along the way. But on the loop, you can see birds, desert wildlife, and desert wildflowers if you’re visiting during the spring!
11.
Pushawalla Palms trail is coming up on our right. This is right at the bottom of the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, but it actually goes in the opposite direction. It’s a moderate 4.5-mile hike with an elevation gain of 700 feet. But oh the views! You’ll be walking on the ridge of the San Andreas Fault, and you’ll see those palm tree oases where the water is bubbling up from way down deep in the Earth! There are groves and groves of palm trees! It takes around three hours to complete.
12.
We’ve reached the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve! This magical place is home to plentiful walking trails, wildlife, and lush scenery. Officials are renovating a lot of this preserve at the moment after a storm hit it pretty hard, so the visitor center is closed until further notice. But the trails are open from sunrise to sunset!
13. Forever Marilyn
This huge statue of Marilyn Monroe stands here courtesy of sculptor Seward Johnson, who designed this 26-foot-tall statue in 2011. He got the money to put it up first in Chicago for a year, then he got sponsorship to put it here in Palm Springs. The statue stood here in Palm Springs for two years, then toured the world showcasing the artist and his work. It moved to Australia for a while.
14.
This house at 1326 North Rose Avenue was ostensibly Marilyn Monroe’s house. Bus tours and maps of famous houses here have been saying that for years. But according to locals, it may not have been hers!
15. Frey House II
The Frey House II at 686 Palisades Drive isn’t open to the public, but the Palm Springs Museum hosts guided tours of the property. It’s famous for a couple reasons. First of all, the architect who made it was known as the father of “desert modernism.” Albert Frey was Swiss. He got his architecture diploma in Switzerland, and he worked in Zurich, Belgium, and France. When he was 27, he moved to the United States. In New York, he started to build the American modernist architecture movement. After finishing 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 here was booming! Those people needed homes.
16. Palm Canyon Trail
Palm Canyon Trail is a pretty easy hike. It’s only 2 miles out and back again and has an elevation gain of only 200 feet. Most people take around an hour to complete it. Hikers are treated to some fabulous canyon scenery along the way. But be aware before you set off: There is an entrance fee to do this trail. The little building in this parking lot is called The Trading Post. You can pay the entrance fee there.
17.
Andreas Canyon is an easy hike. It’s only a mile loop with an elevation gain of about 175 feet. Most people do it in about a half hour. Along the trail, you’ll see more than 150 plant species within a half a mile! The trail features tons of palm trees, lots of interesting rock formations, and Andreas Creek. Plus, you can still see dents in the rock where Cahuilla people would grind down their food to cook too. It’s just a beautiful hike!
18. Moorten Botanical Garden
The Moorten Botanical Garden is a must-see for desert plant lovers. Chester “Cactus Slim” and Patricia Moorten created this garden in the 1940s. You see, Cactus Slim had been an actor in movies in the 1920s and 30s. He’d also been a stand-in for Howard Hughes! But he developed a bad case of TB on a film set and discovered he needed the dry desert air to breathe.
19. 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 and climbs high up to the wilds of Mount San Jacinto State Park. Along the way, the tram car slowly rotates 360 degrees for a spectacular view of the valley below! The mountaintop has restaurants, a gift shop, and plenty of hiking trails
20.
Yeehaw! There’s no place like Pioneertown! This is a town created by Hollywood to mimic the Wild West. In 1946, Dick Curtis, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and several other show biz people invested in making this little spot in the California desert a living, breathing movie set. They bought 32,000 acres of land and transformed it into Pioneertown. They could film movies out here, they could vacation, and they could even have second homes out here!

ADDITIONAL INFO

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
• How to start the tour: 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. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Amazing Savings: why pay for an expensive, crowded, and limited bus tour — priced per person! — when you can have ONE amazing audio guide on your OWN phone for your WHOLE group?
• Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It's perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
• Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
• Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
• Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
• Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
• Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app's features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : H7362JBmichaelb
Taking the self-guided tour was so much fun and easy to use. The directions were easy to understand and very concise. The narrator was easy informative with pertinent information.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-12 12:20:55

Posted By : Kevin_C
Interesting info. Good trip overall. See parts of Palm Springs you wouldn’t see otherwise. Just wish the app was more intuitive with today’s GPS technology. When you miss something or pass a turn, it doesn’t reroute you.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-04 09:08:52

Posted By : Trail49511862642
This is the third time. I still find it confusing and could not get audio through the car speakers. I missed the last part, because we were not able to finished and I couldn’t restart. I liked what we did see and the stories connected.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-02 01:08:46

Posted By : Leslie_T
It was fun driving from spot to spot and hearing the stories behind the houses and venues. The narration was great. We even had a celebrity sighting!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-28 00:00:22

Posted By : jjberg91
This was great! Perfect way to spend an afternoon in Palm Springs. Easy, informative, great price, just the right amount/distance. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-25 21:14:38

Posted By : 230denyseb
Great fun, interesting facts, and engaging. Just the right amount of information. We will look for this whenever we travel now.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-21 17:34:15

Posted By : Curiosity108728
We had some issues with the technology but resolved it in the end. Could be improved to make more user friendly. We were disappointed that the Coachella Valley Preserve was not open when the sign stated it should have opened May 1st.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-15 21:49:22

Posted By : Marie_A
The tour was great. We would not have been able to find the celebrity homes or learnt as much about the Hollywood history of Palm Springs without the commentary. Tech worked very well for navigation and commentary. One suggestion for improvement would be to build a coffee break suggestion into the commentary. Probably the logical spot would be before you head out of town to the desert. It was a great experience all round. We’d do another self guided tour again based on this experience.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-15 12:50:32

Posted By : wladwig
The audio tour helped to highlight many things you would have missed otherwise. Interesting to see how many celebs were neighbors. I liked the background of the area - not just the celeb houses. The app does a decent job of geolocating you, but it doesn't always tell you when to turn so you have to hold your phone in your hand and be looking at it while you drive. It would be great if they could somehow figure out how to integrate the map portion with your car's navigation system. It was a good way to explore while getting out of the sun during the heat of the day.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-14 13:10:37

Posted By : Patty_S
An easy way to get some Palm Springs history in the comfort of your own car with your own peeps. Very organized, informative and easy to do!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-06 12:10:58