The tour was so much more than we expected. We are locals and didn't think there was anything new…read morewe could learn about our town but we were totally wrong. We experienced a new restaurant as well as learned so much history about the places we went to. We also made new friends with some of the other people taking the same tour which is always a benefit! Definitely recommend!

Palm Springs Old and new!…read more The MAGIC CART RIDE is such a fun activity for tourists and locals alike. I'm a long-time local, but I still have so much to see and learn. I work with many tourists who ask me about great activities and this is the top on my list. Donnie and Kathy (the tour guides) are so much fun- taking us through the history of Palm Springs, while pointing out the newer details about the area. History, culture, art, food, what more can we ask for? They kept us hydrated and filled with beverages, water, food and even a nifty gift bag. This tour is small and intimate, with only 6 guests, so everyone has a chance to ask questions and absorb! The tour includes several stops featuring cocktails, mocktails and food while you enjoy the experience. Some of our stops included several popular and my personal choices, Eight Four Nine and Crudo. We were treated to Crudo's pistachio lime cocktail - perfect beverage to feel relaxation at its finest! These may be on your tour, or there will be other wonderful places. Best to even take the tour again, in case you missed something! I don't want to give much more away so just trust me and make your reservation now. It's truly memorable and magical!

To start I want to say we had a fantastic time, and the only reason for three stars is because of…read moretechnical issues that I think can totally be fixed. We did the Joshua Tree UFO tour outside the park. We even dressed up with tin foil hats and our dog in a ufo costume to really get into the mood. The first half of the tour was very very cool and we had a lot of fun. There were many interesting stops and we saw a lot of cool stuff. Here's where I think can be improved. The second half of the tour puts you way farther on a dirt road than feels comfortable. If you have an off road vehicle it probably would be way better. Unfortunately my car didn't fare so well. What really sucked is you cannot skip a clue unless you are basically on top of it. I would have loved the option to skip a clue entirely without having to be so close or travel to that spot at all. We weren't comfortable traveling further into the desert, and with no option to skip we ended up giving up. If that feature is ever fixed or allows you to skip entirely without having to travel to that spot, I would purchase another tour. Overall we loved it and had a great time

Wow! Joshua Tree has some great hidden gems. We had so much fun solving the all the clues and…read moreriddles. We get like we were in a treasure hunting movie Plus, we got so many great photos. 10/10 would recommend. P.S. We decided to take 'The Secret Tour' because it was their most popular. We went to a ton of really cool locations. There's a lot of weird culty/ufo culture. We loved the tour.

When visiting Palm Desert in mid-February, the concierge recommended the Legends & Icons tour with…read moreFive Star. We met up with Annette and her sprinter van which was packed to the gills! We got the very last seats in the back with our friends. It was an unseasonably cold day with pouring rain. PS gets 1-4" rain per year, and received 1" of that on the day of our tour! Annette said the heat was on (and I did feel it further upfront when disembarking), but I was freezing the entire time in the last set of seats. The tour itself was good - Annette was full of stories and very entertaining. We were glad we opted for a guided tour like this versus a self-guided walking tour. It lasted close to 2 hrs and costs $130/person. Note that the tour did NOT include the tour of the Rat Pack Hideway specifically listed on their website tour description spelled out below. The asterisk they added just lists the people who partied and played, and the elongated plus sign was probably meant to be a disclaimer that we may not see this property, but there is no such disclaimer or explanation of that symbol anywhere that I could find on their site. "The Rat Pack Hideaway: Tour the private property of The Rat Pack Hideaway, where Frank, Dino, and Sammy partied and played.*† ( We are the only company given access to exclusive movie star properties.)" Regardless, the tour was good with lots of info and recommendations for places to eat and explore further (although covered so quickly the none of us could recall specifics after we left!) It was hard to see much of some homes, hidden behind gates/landscaping. A tour of an actual home, such as the Rat Pack hangout, would have been awesome.

We have been coming to Palm Springs for several decades and finally decided to do a tour of it. Of…read morecourse I didn't know of any so I went on Yelp. Found this one and another and according to the number of reviews, reviews themselves, and availability went with Five Star. The worst issue we had was finding them in downtown Palm Springs and that is because there isn't an actual building you are looking for. It's a pick up location. When I booked the tour I was told it was somewhat tricky to find them and boy they were not kidding. So if you are reading my review here is the tip, park in the parking structure located on the corner of Indian Canyon Drive and Baristo Road (in Palm Springs not Cathedral City) The Bank Dispensary is seeable from the structure. After parking, walk out of the structure onto Baristo Road and hang out on the Baristo Road by the parking structure and The Five Star black van will pull up and load all in. I tried calling about 5 times into the office because I was so lost and fearful I would be left behind. I was getting very flustered nobody was taking my call or returning it. "Why not?" I asked since they were giving a tour. However come to find out they only had one van operating with one tour guide since people just aren't going back to work these days after the pandemic so I needed to ease up on my frustration. Annette was our tour guide and she was very apologetic about it all. She was an amazing tour guide!!! So much information to share with us (8 of us total). We saw so many stars homes. She didn't lack on info or comedy. We loved her. She even had info on the land and the local Indian tribes which was fascinating in it self. The van fit all of us comfortably and it was nice and cool. One guest did sit in the front seat so that helped us three in the way back not feel so cramped. We made one stop at Frank Sinatra's house to get out and take a pic otherwise we were in the van the entire, maybe 2 hours. As we drove back to the pick up/drop off location, she pointed out all the yummy food restaurants which was great. She really knew her Palm Springs history and more. I'd go on this tour again with her. It was something well worth spending your money on especially with Annette. Make sure to get out and get a pic at Sinatra's house, you won't be disappointed because Annette will surprise you with a photo ((wink, wink)).

We had a great tour last week to the San Andreas faults. We learned a lot and beautiful pics. The…read moresalton sea portion was anticlimactic- so this could even be removed as part of tour bc hard to see from so many miles away. Saw some wild life and great tour guide.

A great ride, every time!…read more - - - - - - - - February, 2025 Visit - - - The Concise Overview - - - Big Wheel has been doing this for years; you'll be glad you rode with them... we rode the Earthquake Canyon Bike Ride You can talk on the phone and ask questions, but you sign up / register online. 1) You meet; 2) the van drives you to the starting point; 3) you get your bike and confirm it's set "just right" and get water; 4) riders ride and Big Wheels follows you - mostly downhill with minimal pedaling for 15-16 miles, which you'll likely cover in 30-45 minutes; minimal pedaling the last 4-5 miles, all flat, no uphill; Recommended... DO slow and/or stop and take it in and capture photos and have a great time; 5) at the end you ride back in the van. - - - Brief Background - - - My wonderful wife and I just enjoyed a trip to Pam Desert and San Diego, with a visit to La Jolla. One of the more exciting activities was riding the Earthquake Canyon ride... again! I first rode wit Big Wheel Tours, just me, on one of our trips to Palm Desert back around 2005; then in 2008 or 2009 we enjoyed a family ride, my wife pedaled with our daughter in a pumpkin seat and I pedaled with our son in a pumpkin seat. Now they are both in college so we are traveling, together, just us. On this trip, my wife recommended this ride, and what a recommendation! Even if the weather was not as amazing as it was (clear skies, mid-80s), it would have been a great ride. - - - The Prep - - - All riders meet at the pickup location; we happened to meet in Palm Desert, at the parking lot for Morton's, across the street from the JW Marriott & Marriott Vacation Club's Desert Spring Villas. From there, you're all in the van. Three of us couples rode that day; Ben was our friendly and helpful and knowledgeable guide + chauffeur + chase van driver. Ben is wise about many things, from the weather and geology of the Coachella Valley, and nearby Joshua Tree National Park, to animals including his falconry interest, and much more. Ben is also helpful in getting you ready to ride. The Earthquake ride is through the Box Canyon... It's off I-10, east of the Valley; at the same exit, to the South, as you would take if you were going north to the Joshua Tree Cottonwood National Park Entrance. Ben parks in a safe place and provides the helmets and bikes; they are hybrid bikes with tires thicker than 10-speed road bikes and not as thick as a mountain bike. You share your height when you register, and they bring a couple extras to make sure you have one that fits. The bikes have bottle holders and BWB provides water bottles. And you can leave all things in the van and they will be there when you are picked up; and if you need something you can stop and get it. - - - The Ride - - - A fellow rider was accurate when she shared: biking / cycling / riding is just the right pace... driving is too fast to take in all the beauty of the desert and this canyon, and walking is too slow. So true. So true. The Coachella Valley leads down to the Salton Sea, which is the second-lowest elevation in North America, at -234 feet below sea level; most of places visitors stay in the Valley - Palm Springs, Palm Desert, etc., are ~ 250-450 feet in elevation. The Earthquake Canyon ride starts just over 1,500 feet in elevation and finishes ~ -180 below sea level. On the drive you'll notice the gentle uphill climb along I-10 eastbound. That similar slope is your Earthquake Canyon friend. Ben shared the five sections of the canyon, and each is distinct and readily seen; thanks, Ben for sharing! BWB will pace you in the van, so you can ride at your pace and stop for photos and to take it in. Impressive are the views of the layers of the rock that are tilted by the San Andreas fault, which you ride over! Impressive are the plants growing along the ride. Impressive are the minimal vehicles you'll likely encounter. Toward 15 miles you'll cross over one of the aqueducts that brings water to the farmland that provides so much of our food in the grocery stores, especially the produce we enjoy in the winter. The ride will likely end in Mecca; you'll hand back the helmets and turn in the bikes; you may likely stop by a stand where you can get fresh-cut fruit or something else. - - - The Ride Back - - - BWB will get you to a place with a restroom before the drive back. The ride back helps you see more farmland and some palm tree farms. Soon you're back at the drop-off/pickup spot, and happy for such a great ride. Review Thank you, Ben, and Big Wheel Tours! ----- ----- -----

Our guide, Travis, was so informative! We learned so much about the history of the area…read more Especially enjoyed the Oasis we walked to, the box canyons we drove through, and the slot canyons we squeezed through! Book it and enjoy the sunset on your return!

Steve our tour guide was amazing. He is so full of personality and very informative . We learned so…read moremuch about the beautiful place we live in. We hiked some amazing spots and the red Jeep was a fun and cool way to get around. I highly recommend and ask for Steve. You won't be disappointed.

this is the 2nd year I've ridden in the event; 102miles…read more this last year was awesome and a substantial im over the previous year. CV Link addition was awesome awesome food! The crowds and people cheering everyone on- for over 5 hours under the sun! thanks to the bands that were out there playing music all day ! definitely attending next year !

Last two times I attended the route is out and back to Fantasy Springs and it's not a good route…read morecompared to the Dillon road loop. Highly unlikely to attend if the organizers keep the out and back route.

Have you ever been on a Jeep ride adventure? I have. I will continue seeking more road trips, muddy…read moreand rocky grounds anywhere in the world with experienced drivers in Southwest 4x4 Adventures. I don't own my own Jeep, however, I didn't let that stop me from joining on a ride with like minded people who love the outdoors. Thanks Southwest 4x4 Adventures for my first but not my last rides in the future.

From the owner: Southwest 4x4 Tours is an off-road guide and pack service specializing in trails and tours in the…read moreSouthwestern US. If you need a guide for a day or a week or if you need to get your gear to a hard to reach location, we can get you there. We also have great tours going into exciting historical areas in the southwest such as the the Mojave Desert and Death Valley in California, pioneering trails in Arizona and many other amazing places. We have tours from one day and up to a week. If you don't have your own vehicle, not to worry, we will assistant you. All our guide are licensed and certified. Call us for more information and tell us where we can take you.

A fascinating tour for engineers or wind power enthusiasts. Our tour guy was Bill, and he was both…read moreenthusiastic and knowledgeable about every aspect of wind and solar power. We highly recommend this tour for anyone in the Palm Springs area!

Great information, both the history of wind energy in the area and the current state.read more

Joe at Bike Palm Springs was super helpful with getting my husband and I set up with bicycles on…read moreFriday! We had such a fun time exploring the neighborhoods of Palm Springs. We went 8 miles round trip and it was a perfect day for biking. Joe set us up with a map and told us a safe route to go. Thank you so much for making my birthday special!

Rented bikes on my wife's birthday to ride around PS. Process was easy with tons of great quality…read morebikes. The reason for the raving review is store employee Joe. Coolest guy ever -- he was so charismatic & helpful -- gave us great directions on how to see the most on our adventure. He turned the experience from something fun to a special afternoon!

I recommend this tour heartily. Kurt is so impressively knowledgeable about design and architecture…read moreand he adds interesting side stories about the former residents of famous persons. I didn't take many pictures because I was enthralled by my guide.

It was great, the weather was beautiful but a little too hot but in all the place was great.read more