Palm Springs Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour with Celebrity Homes and Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve
by Adventures with Action
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$16.99Overview
Start this self-guided driving tour in the parking lot of the Palm Springs Visitor Center at 2901 N Palm Canyon Drive. Use the downloadable Action Tour Guide app on your phone to receive location-triggered audio stories as you drive through Palm Springs at your own pace. The tour covers more than 22 miles and includes over 53 narrated stops, taking about 2 to 3 hours to complete. Along the route, you can take an optional five-minute detour to see the Kaufmann Desert House and Liberace House. The Kaufmann House is a noted example of mid-century modern architecture designed by Richard Neutra. You will also drive through the Movie Colony neighborhood, historically home to stars like Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore, and Cary Grant, with stories about the El Mirador Hotel and the architects who designed homes there. The tour includes stops such as the colorful Robolights sculptures, the Walk of Stars honoring various Palm Springs contributors, and the Frank Sinatra gravesite with details about his burial items. It passes the Willis Palm Trailhead and the Pushawalla Palms trail near the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, where you can view walking trails and desert wildlife. Additional highlights include Forever Marilyn, a 26-foot-tall statue by Seward Johnson, and the Frey House II, linked to architect Albert Frey, known as the father of desert modernism. Other points of interest are the Palm Canyon Trail and Andreas Canyon hikes, the Moorten Botanical Garden specializing in desert plants, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway offering views of Chino Canyon and Mount San Jacinto State Park, and Pioneertown, a Hollywood-created Wild West movie set town. This audio tour app works offline after download, allows pausing and resuming at any time, and is designed for hands-free use while driving. Homes along the route may be partially hidden by gates or foliage, so visitors are asked to respect privacy. The tour provides lifetime access with no expiration and can be used on multiple visits.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Palm Springs Visitor Center
The tour begins in the parking lot of the Palm Springs Visitor Center at 2901 N Palm Canyon Drive. Visitors should be at this location to start the audio tour. The complete tour covers over 22 miles, includes more than 53 audio stories, and takes about 2 to 3 hours to finish. Lifetime access to the tour is granted after purchase.
Optional Detour to Kaufmann and Liberace Houses
Shortly after the start, there is an optional five-minute detour to see the Kaufmann Desert House and Liberace House. To take this detour, turn right onto West Vista Chino; otherwise continue straight to skip it. Guests are reminded that celebrity homes may be obscured by gates or vegetation and privacy should be respected.
Kaufmann Desert House
The Kaufmann Desert House appears on the right beyond a white gate. It is a notable example of mid-century modern architecture, designed by Richard Neutra for businessman Edgar Kaufmann, who also owned the famous Fallingwater house in Pennsylvania. The house reflects Neutra’s open and modern architectural style. Privacy of the property must be respected.
Movie Colony Neighborhood Drive
The route passes through the Movie Colony, a neighborhood that attracted Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore, Cary Grant, David O. Selznick, Jack Benny, and Tony Curtis. The El Mirador Hotel, opened in 1928, was a key attraction with an Olympic-sized pool, tennis courts, stables, and a landmark bell tower. Stars commissioned architects like Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, and Donald Wexler to design homes here.
10 min
Robolights
After the next intersection, drivers can park and walk to see colorful sculptures at the corner of East Granvia Valmonte and North Arquilla Road on the right side. These sculptures are part of the Robolights art installation.
10 min
Palm Springs Walk of Stars
This stop features 450 stars embedded in the pavement honoring individuals who have contributed to Palm Springs’ history. The honorees include movie stars, humanitarians, architects, artists, soldiers, athletes, and city pioneers.
10 min
Coachella Valley Drive
The tour leaves downtown Palm Springs to explore more of Coachella Valley, known for the Coachella Music Festival and other attractions beyond the festival.
10 min
Former Army Air Corps Landing Field
The route passes the site chosen in 1939 by the US Army Corps of Engineers for an Army Air Corps landing field due to favorable weather and mountain protection. This site later became a civilian airport.
10 min
Frank Sinatra Gravesite
The gravesite of Frank Sinatra, who died in 1998, is marked with personal items including a bottle of Jack Daniels, a Zippo lighter, a pack of Camel cigarettes, and 10 dimes, the latter referencing an event from December 1963. Property privacy should be respected.
10 min
Willis Palm Trailhead
This trailhead offers a moderately strenuous 4-mile loop hike that takes about three hours to complete and climbs 500 feet. Hikers can spot birds, desert wildlife, and seasonal wildflowers, especially in spring.
10 min
Pushawalla Palms Trail
Located near the bottom of the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, this moderate 4.5-mile hike with a 700-foot elevation gain follows the San Andreas Fault ridge, featuring views of palm tree oases fed by underground water. The hike takes around three hours.
10 min
Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve
This preserve offers walking trails, wildlife observation, and lush desert scenery. The visitor center is currently closed for renovations after storm damage, but trails remain open from sunrise to sunset.
Forever Marilyn
The 26-foot-tall statue of Marilyn Monroe, created by sculptor Seward Johnson in 2011, originally stood in Chicago before being displayed in Palm Springs for two years and later toured internationally, including Australia.
10 min
Marilyn Monroe House at 1326 North Rose Avenue
This house has been identified on tours as Marilyn Monroe’s former home, but local sources dispute that it was actually hers.
Frey House II
Located at 686 Palisades Drive, this house is connected to architect Albert Frey, considered the father of desert modernism. Frey was Swiss-trained and influential in American modernist architecture before settling in Palm Springs after World War II. The house is not open to the public, but guided tours are offered by the Palm Springs Museum. Privacy around the site should be respected.
Palm Canyon Trail
This easy hike is a 2-mile out-and-back route with a 200-foot elevation gain, typically taking about an hour. The trail offers canyon views. An entrance fee is required and can be paid at The Trading Post in the parking lot.
Andreas Canyon Trail
An easy one-mile loop with about 175 feet of elevation gain, usually completed in 30 minutes. The trail passes over 150 plant species, palm trees, rock formations, and Andreas Creek. Rock indentations from food grinding by the Cahuilla people are visible along the path.
Moorten Botanical Garden
Founded in the 1940s by Chester “Cactus Slim” and Patricia Moorten, this garden specializes in desert plants. Chester was a former actor and Howard Hughes stand-in who sought the dry desert air for health reasons. Visitors are reminded to respect privacy around nearby homes.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
The world’s largest rotating tram car travels 2.5 miles along Chino Canyon to Mount San Jacinto State Park. The tram car slowly rotates 360 degrees, offering views of the valley. The mountaintop has restaurants, a gift shop, and hiking trails.
Pioneertown
Created in 1946 by Hollywood figures including Dick Curtis, Roy Rogers, and Dale Evans, this town was designed as a Wild West movie set on 32,000 acres in the California desert. It served as a filming location, vacation spot, and second home area.
Meeting point
Start on Route 111 near 3180 E Vista Chino, Palm Springs, just past the N Gene Autry Trail junction. Head east on Route 111 and follow it into downtown. Suggested start; we’re not affiliated, so staff won’t have tour info. Audio auto-starts—check email/text for setup, download on strong internet.
End point
This tour will end at Thousand Palms Canyon Rd.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Palm Springs Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour with Celebrity Homes and Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve
by Adventures with Action
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$16.99Overview
Start this self-guided driving tour in the parking lot of the Palm Springs Visitor Center at 2901 N Palm Canyon Drive. Use the downloadable Action Tour Guide app on your phone to receive location-triggered audio stories as you drive through Palm Springs at your own pace. The tour covers more than 22 miles and includes over 53 narrated stops, taking about 2 to 3 hours to complete. Along the route, you can take an optional five-minute detour to see the Kaufmann Desert House and Liberace House. The Kaufmann House is a noted example of mid-century modern architecture designed by Richard Neutra. You will also drive through the Movie Colony neighborhood, historically home to stars like Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore, and Cary Grant, with stories about the El Mirador Hotel and the architects who designed homes there. The tour includes stops such as the colorful Robolights sculptures, the Walk of Stars honoring various Palm Springs contributors, and the Frank Sinatra gravesite with details about his burial items. It passes the Willis Palm Trailhead and the Pushawalla Palms trail near the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, where you can view walking trails and desert wildlife. Additional highlights include Forever Marilyn, a 26-foot-tall statue by Seward Johnson, and the Frey House II, linked to architect Albert Frey, known as the father of desert modernism. Other points of interest are the Palm Canyon Trail and Andreas Canyon hikes, the Moorten Botanical Garden specializing in desert plants, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway offering views of Chino Canyon and Mount San Jacinto State Park, and Pioneertown, a Hollywood-created Wild West movie set town. This audio tour app works offline after download, allows pausing and resuming at any time, and is designed for hands-free use while driving. Homes along the route may be partially hidden by gates or foliage, so visitors are asked to respect privacy. The tour provides lifetime access with no expiration and can be used on multiple visits.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Palm Springs Visitor Center
The tour begins in the parking lot of the Palm Springs Visitor Center at 2901 N Palm Canyon Drive. Visitors should be at this location to start the audio tour. The complete tour covers over 22 miles, includes more than 53 audio stories, and takes about 2 to 3 hours to finish. Lifetime access to the tour is granted after purchase.
Optional Detour to Kaufmann and Liberace Houses
Shortly after the start, there is an optional five-minute detour to see the Kaufmann Desert House and Liberace House. To take this detour, turn right onto West Vista Chino; otherwise continue straight to skip it. Guests are reminded that celebrity homes may be obscured by gates or vegetation and privacy should be respected.
Kaufmann Desert House
The Kaufmann Desert House appears on the right beyond a white gate. It is a notable example of mid-century modern architecture, designed by Richard Neutra for businessman Edgar Kaufmann, who also owned the famous Fallingwater house in Pennsylvania. The house reflects Neutra’s open and modern architectural style. Privacy of the property must be respected.
Movie Colony Neighborhood Drive
The route passes through the Movie Colony, a neighborhood that attracted Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore, Cary Grant, David O. Selznick, Jack Benny, and Tony Curtis. The El Mirador Hotel, opened in 1928, was a key attraction with an Olympic-sized pool, tennis courts, stables, and a landmark bell tower. Stars commissioned architects like Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, and Donald Wexler to design homes here.
10 min
Robolights
After the next intersection, drivers can park and walk to see colorful sculptures at the corner of East Granvia Valmonte and North Arquilla Road on the right side. These sculptures are part of the Robolights art installation.
10 min
Palm Springs Walk of Stars
This stop features 450 stars embedded in the pavement honoring individuals who have contributed to Palm Springs’ history. The honorees include movie stars, humanitarians, architects, artists, soldiers, athletes, and city pioneers.
10 min
Coachella Valley Drive
The tour leaves downtown Palm Springs to explore more of Coachella Valley, known for the Coachella Music Festival and other attractions beyond the festival.
10 min
Former Army Air Corps Landing Field
The route passes the site chosen in 1939 by the US Army Corps of Engineers for an Army Air Corps landing field due to favorable weather and mountain protection. This site later became a civilian airport.
10 min
Frank Sinatra Gravesite
The gravesite of Frank Sinatra, who died in 1998, is marked with personal items including a bottle of Jack Daniels, a Zippo lighter, a pack of Camel cigarettes, and 10 dimes, the latter referencing an event from December 1963. Property privacy should be respected.
10 min
Willis Palm Trailhead
This trailhead offers a moderately strenuous 4-mile loop hike that takes about three hours to complete and climbs 500 feet. Hikers can spot birds, desert wildlife, and seasonal wildflowers, especially in spring.
10 min
Pushawalla Palms Trail
Located near the bottom of the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, this moderate 4.5-mile hike with a 700-foot elevation gain follows the San Andreas Fault ridge, featuring views of palm tree oases fed by underground water. The hike takes around three hours.
10 min
Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve
This preserve offers walking trails, wildlife observation, and lush desert scenery. The visitor center is currently closed for renovations after storm damage, but trails remain open from sunrise to sunset.
Forever Marilyn
The 26-foot-tall statue of Marilyn Monroe, created by sculptor Seward Johnson in 2011, originally stood in Chicago before being displayed in Palm Springs for two years and later toured internationally, including Australia.
10 min
Marilyn Monroe House at 1326 North Rose Avenue
This house has been identified on tours as Marilyn Monroe’s former home, but local sources dispute that it was actually hers.
Frey House II
Located at 686 Palisades Drive, this house is connected to architect Albert Frey, considered the father of desert modernism. Frey was Swiss-trained and influential in American modernist architecture before settling in Palm Springs after World War II. The house is not open to the public, but guided tours are offered by the Palm Springs Museum. Privacy around the site should be respected.
Palm Canyon Trail
This easy hike is a 2-mile out-and-back route with a 200-foot elevation gain, typically taking about an hour. The trail offers canyon views. An entrance fee is required and can be paid at The Trading Post in the parking lot.
Andreas Canyon Trail
An easy one-mile loop with about 175 feet of elevation gain, usually completed in 30 minutes. The trail passes over 150 plant species, palm trees, rock formations, and Andreas Creek. Rock indentations from food grinding by the Cahuilla people are visible along the path.
Moorten Botanical Garden
Founded in the 1940s by Chester “Cactus Slim” and Patricia Moorten, this garden specializes in desert plants. Chester was a former actor and Howard Hughes stand-in who sought the dry desert air for health reasons. Visitors are reminded to respect privacy around nearby homes.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
The world’s largest rotating tram car travels 2.5 miles along Chino Canyon to Mount San Jacinto State Park. The tram car slowly rotates 360 degrees, offering views of the valley. The mountaintop has restaurants, a gift shop, and hiking trails.
Pioneertown
Created in 1946 by Hollywood figures including Dick Curtis, Roy Rogers, and Dale Evans, this town was designed as a Wild West movie set on 32,000 acres in the California desert. It served as a filming location, vacation spot, and second home area.
Meeting point
Start on Route 111 near 3180 E Vista Chino, Palm Springs, just past the N Gene Autry Trail junction. Head east on Route 111 and follow it into downtown. Suggested start; we’re not affiliated, so staff won’t have tour info. Audio auto-starts—check email/text for setup, download on strong internet.
End point
This tour will end at Thousand Palms Canyon Rd.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.