SPONSORED
BMW Performance Center
Buckle up and get ready to unleash your inner driver at the BMW Performance Center Driving School, nestled inside the exclusive Thermal Club near Palm Springs — the only place on the West Coast where the “ultimate driving machine” truly roars to life.
Whether you’re looking to sharpen your teen’s skills or push your own to the limit, there’s a course (and a BMW) for you. Zoom through high-speed straights, tackle technical corners, and master precision driving with help from pro instructors and a fleet of the latest BMWs.
Go off-roading in the BMW X5.
Photo courtesy BMW performance center
Instructors guide you through each experience.
Photo courtesy BMW performance center
Choose a quick thrill with our half-day experiences or go full throttle with one- and two-day driver’s school courses. Want more? Conquer off-road terrain in a BMW X5, race against the clock in autocross, or throw on a virtual reality headset and drive a digital track — yes, while actually driving!
Hosting a group? We’ve got you covered with a modern facility, private meeting spaces, and gourmet catering. Fast cars, fast fun — this is more than just a day at the track.
86050 Jasper Lane, Thermal
888-345-4269
Photo courtesy Red Jeep Tours by Desert Adventures
Photo courtesy Red Jeep Tours by Desert Adventures
SPONSORED
Red Jeep Tours by Desert Adventures
Get up close and personal with some of the most breathtaking natural wonders of the desert, from the badlands of the San Andreas Fault to the lush palm oases in the Indian Canyons to the scenic landscape of Joshua Tree National Park. Since 1988, Desert Adventures has been one of the area’s most highly regarded tour companies, offering entertaining tours in classic open-air Jeeps as their expert naturalist guides describe the flora, fauna, geology, and history of the scenic surrounds. Signature San Andreas Fault Jeep Tours explore the company’s private location in the Indio Hills, where riders get to visit a natural palm oasis, a replica Cahuilla Indian village, and the narrow canyons of the San Andreas Fault zone. Guided hikes take you through slot canyons to amazing overlooks. Desert Adventures also offers customized private and group tours and VIP experiences.
74794 Lennon Place, Suite B, Palm Desert 760-324-5337
Drag & Fly Tours owner/guide Anita Doll with bus.
Courtesy drag & Fly Tours
Guided Tours
Learn about the area’s fascinating history with an expert guide.
Five-Star Adventures Tours
Peek behind the gates of celebrity homes and soak in Palm Springs’ midcentury design legacy on this classic architecture and star tour.
Drag N Fly Tours
See Palm Springs through a sassier lens on this lively, laughter-filled tour hosted by a local drag queen. Expect celebrity gossip, campy history, and plenty of photo ops as you cruise in a custom air-conditioned tour bus.
Palm Springs Historical Society Walking Tours
Downtown walking tours guided by knowledgeable docents cover a variety of topics — architecture, famous residents, civic history, and more. Great for visitors who want something on foot.
Desert Tasty Tours
A guided food tour of Palm Springs with tastings at several restaurants and specialty shops — ideal for culinary-focused visitors who want to sample local flavors while learning some history.
Big Wheel Tours
Explore Indian Canyons, Joshua Tree, and other natural wonders on a hiking, biking, or SUV adventure — led by a local guide.
Adventure Hummer Tours
Climb aboard an open-air or air-conditioned Hummer for an off-road journey through some of the region’s most rugged and scenic terrain.
Covered Wagon Tours
The Old West lives on in Indio, where mule-drawn wagons carry guests through the desert by day or under the stars. Expect crackling campfires, cowboy stories, and a step back in time.
Fantasy Balloon Flights
Family-owned since 1981, this company floats guests high above the desert in colorful hot air balloons — a peaceful ride with sweeping views and room for two to 10 passengers.
Off-road with Covered Wagon Tours.
Photo courtesy covered wagon tours
Musems Surrounding the Coachella Valley
Small museums with big stories.
Malki Museum
Located on the Morongo Band of Mission Indians reservation in Banning, this is California’s oldest museum founded by Native Americans. It preserves and shares Cahuilla culture and heritage through artifacts, oral histories, and educational programming.
Gilman Historic Ranch & Wagon Museum
Once a stop along the Bradshaw Trail, this preserved 19th-century ranch in Banning includes original adobe structures, a heritage orchard, and a collection of antique wagons that bring frontier-era California to life. 951-922-9200
General Patton Memorial Museum
Dedicated to the World War II general and the nearby Desert Training Center he commanded, this museum at Chiriaco Summit displays tanks, weapons, and wartime memorabilia along a sunbaked stretch of I-10.
Fantasy Balloon Flights pilot preps for takeoff.
Photo by daniela stallinger
Hi-Desert Nature Museum
Part science museum, part local history center, this family-friendly stop in Yucca Valley features hands-on exhibits exploring desert wildlife, geology, and early human settlement. Rotating displays and events add a lively local perspective.
Joshua Tree & Southern Railroad Museum
Located near Joshua Tree National Park, this museum offers rides on fully operational 15-inch and 7½-inch tracks during scheduled events. Vintage locomotives, cabooses, and G-scale displays round out the experience.
Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center
This visitor center in Twentynine Palms includes a small museum that explores the Indigenous history and natural wonders of the park. Exhibits, books, and handmade crafts offer insight into the people and environment that define the region.
Western Science Center
In Hemet, about an hour from Palm Springs, this regional museum houses Ice Age fossils uncovered during the construction of Diamond Valley Lake — including Max the mastodon. Kids can create their own fossil rubbings.
