12 DAYS • 17 MEALS

Days One through Three - Our Adventure Begins!
We’re off for our Desert Oasis Adventure! Traveling west, overnights in Missouri, Texas and Arizona lead us to California and the riches Palm Springs has to offer.
(2 Dinners and 2 breakfasts)

Day Four- Welcome to California’s Desert Oasis
Today we arrive in the Golden State of California, appropriately nicknamed based on the discovery of gold in 1848, and each spring’s blanket of golden poppies. Nestled at the base of the majestic San Jacinto Mountains, Palm Springs has been called the ultimate desert playground for outdoor adventure, arts, culture and entertainment. It’s true that Palm Springs is year-round “Fun in the Sun.” We check into our hotel, our home for the next four nights. (Breakfast)

Day Five- Palm Springs Celebrity Homes
and the Palm Springs Air Museum
Today our local guide joins us for a guided tour of Palm Springs. With its rich Native American heritage, beautiful palm tree-lined streets and fabulous desert scenery, Palm Springs is also quickly becoming the center of mid-century modern architecture called “Desert Modernism” with wonderful examples for us to see. Since the 1920s, Palm Springs has been sprinkled with Hollywood stardust and has served as the film industry’s desert playground for celebrities to escape the hustle and bustle of showbiz. This put Palm Springs on the map as celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Marilyn Monroe purchased hideaway homes here. We’ll drive through the same neighborhoods where at one time it was common to see Kirk Douglas watering his lawn. We’ll see the homes and hear the stories that go along with them.

Later we visit the Palm Springs Air Museum, one of the nation’s largest collections of World War II flyer aircraft. We’ll enjoy a docent-led tour through hangars to view the collection of the most significant aircraft which were instrumental in winning World War II. In the Buddy Rodgers Theater, documentaries about aviation in the military with an emphasis on World War II are shown. The museum is host to a library of 6300 volumes primarily related to aviation and American military history. Tonight, dinner is at Billy Reed’s Restaurant Bakery. A Palm Springs institution since 1975, Billy Reed’s features award-winning recipes and “real American” baking, served in a warm, rich atmosphere. (Breakfast and dinner)

Day Six- The Living Desert Museum
and the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies
This morning we explore the desert portion of Palm Springs, which lies in the Colorado Desert, a subdivision of the Sonoran Desert, which extends into Arizona and Mexico. The Living Desert Museum strives to preserve the Colorado Desert in its natural state and practices conservation through preservation, education and appreciation. A zoo and botanical garden, The Living Desert specializes in the plants and animals found throughout the deserts of the world. Stroll through the North American desert where golden eagles, mountain lions and bobcat flourish. In the African desert, see the camels, giraffes, cheetahs and more which roam here.

This evening we are treated to the finest entertainment this Desert Oasis has to offer, as we see the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies at the historic Plaza Theatre, once home to the national radio program broadcasts of both Jack Benny and Bob Hope. Rescued from certain demolition in 1992, the Plaza Theatre is now home to the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies whose cast members are all between the ages of 56 and 86. At the Follies, variety is certainly the spice of life in a stage show which has featured everything from vaudeville to Cirque de Soleil combined with the song and dance of lavish production numbers. Be prepared to be wowed! (Breakfast)

Day Seven - Free Day in Palm Springs or
Optional Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Today has been set aside to enjoy Palm Springs on your own. The village atmosphere of Palm Springs has been preserved and embellished over the years. The streets, lined with palm trees, invite you to explore the boutique shops, art galleries, museums and even Palm Springs’ own “Walk of Fame,” while soaking up the sunshine or dining outdoors among stunning desert scenery. Some may wish to join an optional excursion on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the top of Mount San Jacinto. Imagine beginning at the Valley Station and traveling to an elevation of 8,516 feet aboard the world’s largest rotating Tram cars, offering unparalleled views of the pristine wilderness of Mt. San Jacinto State Park. Your Tram adventure continues at the Mountain Station which offers a natural history museum and theater showing two documentary style films on the Tramway and the State Park. There is also a restaurant, a café and a lounge located at the Mountain Station. Tonight, dinner is at the Old Creek House, featuring delicious food in a wonderful Spanish Colonial atmosphere.
(Breakfast and dinner)

Days Eight and Nine - The Painted Desert
We begin the journey home across states that have made this country famous. In Arizona, we stop at the Painted Desert Visitor Center to see the exhibits and view the orientation film. The Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark is a Pueblo Revival-style structure which replaced the original lodge built here and features skylights painted by the Civilian Conservation Corps and a mural by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie. When you first see the Painted Desert, you are fascinated by the multitude of colors ranging from lavenders to shades of gray with vibrant colors of red, orange and pink. (2 Breakfasts and dinner)

Days Ten through Twelve - The Journey Home
Continuing the journey home, our Tour Manger hosts a farewell dinner with the opportunity to share memories of our trip to Palm Springs - where the desert blooms.
(3 Breakfasts and dinner)