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Beyond Palm Springs

Palm Springs Modernism Architecture & History Bike Tour

Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Palm Springs, USA
  • 2 hours 55 minutes to 3 hours 10 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

5.0
·
· Lesley_V ·
May 2026
This tour was so fun! Brennan was fantastic. He took us to some amazing houses and taught us a lot about Mid-Century Modern architecture. The ride was leisurely and the scenery was gorgeous. I cannot recommend this tour enough!
· Mary_M ·
Apr 2026
The tour was awesome. Easy bike rental. Your guide was fun and informative. The ride was easy and the day was beautiful. Highly recommended.

Overview

Pack seeing three South Palm Spring neighborhoods into just one morning with this South Palm Springs Architecture, History, and Bike Tour. Although your bike rental isn't included, you can bring your own bike for ultimate comfort along the way or get a discount to rent a bike nearby. You'll explore Deepwell Estates, Twin Palms, and Indian Canyons while your guide tells you the history of the area.
  • Explore historically significant neighborhoods in South Palm Springs
  • A guide tells you about the history and architecture numerous neighborhoods
  • Bring your own bike for comfort or rent one nearby at a discount
  • An early morning start time allows you to be done before noon

What's Included

  • Expert Tour Guide
  • Perfect Weather
  • Bottled water
  • Bikes are NOT INCLUDED in the tour price. Please rent from Big Wheel Tours, or you are welcome to bring your own bikes if you have access to some.
  • Bring sunscreen! We have 500 days of sun a year!
  • Bring extra water! It's the desert -- you'll be glad you did!
  • Tour Guide gratuity is completely optional, of course! (cash or Venmo or margaritas, lol)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Big Wheel Tours-Palm Springs
    1590 S Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92264, USA

    Tour start location will be Big Wheel Tours where you'll rent your bikes, if you're not bringing your own. (Please don't go to the Palm Desert location!) Free off-street parking is available behind the shop. We can wait 10 minutes for late arriving guests.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.8:30 am

Itinerary

Make your own way to the meetup point where you can rent a bicycle (if not bringing your own). Meet your guide and small group of fellow explorers and push off on your tour of South Palm Springs architecture and history.

Pedal your way first to Deepwell Estates, home to many luxury midcentury houses built in the 1950s and beyond, where your guide points out its variety of architectural styles.

Your next stop is the historic neighborhood of Twin Palms Estates, which was built by the Alexander Construction Company and designed by William Krisel.

Next is Canyon View Estates, a condo community designed by William Krisel in 196, which recently appeared in the movie "Don't Worry Darling.”

Your final stop is the mountain–surrounded Indian Canyons Golf Resort where the luxury vacation homes date from 1960.

Your tour ends back at the meeting point.

South Palm Canyon Drive (Pass By)

1

Deepwell Estates

45 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

2

East Twin Palms Drive

30 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

3

Canyon View Estates

30 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

4

Indian Canyons Golf Resort

1 hour Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

5.0
based on 398 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Sort by: Most insightful

This tour was so fun!...

Lesley_V, May 2026
This tour was so fun! Brennan was fantastic. He took us to some amazing houses and taught us a lot about Mid-Century Modern architecture. The ride was leisurely and the scenery was gorgeous. I cannot recommend this tour enough!

Highly Recommend this Tour!

Tamra_M, May 2026
We rented bikes at the Big Wheel store where we met and they were very accommodating, allowing me to choose their only bike with coaster brakes as I wished. The tour itself was so much fun and Brennan was a fantastic guide. He was super knowledgeable and fun. In fact, it was my adult daughter’s second time touring with Brennan and she is the one who recommended it to me.

If you love mid-century design - do this tour!

helen_d, May 2026
Do it! This bike tour is a great way to see some awesome mid century modern residential architecture and get a good understanding of the historical influences at various periods. Brennan is an awesome guide . He provides lots of great information about history and design, fun and amusing stories about former and current inhabitants of many of the homes as well as Palm Springs in general. The pace is leisurely Brennan keeps everyone engaged in the conversation. We highly recommend this tour. My husband and I felt it was the best of all the cool things we did in PS over our long weekend.

The tour was awesome....

Mary_M, Apr 2026
The tour was awesome. Easy bike rental. Your guide was fun and informative. The ride was easy and the day was beautiful. Highly recommended.

Brennan’s Tour is a Delight

Michael_G, Apr 2026
Brennan is clearly passionate and knowledgeable about Palm Springs architecture, history, and culture. He was so friendly and willing to answer our many questions. The pace was relaxed but we still saw and learned so much! I’m so glad we did this tour early in our trip! We rented bikes from the bike shops where the tour started. That worked really well. A+ all around!

Don’t miss out!

Kathleen_V, Apr 2026
One of the best things to do in Palm Springs! Don’t miss out on this experience! Brennan was the absolute best! His knowledge of the area and of architecture was amazing!

Look at Palm Springs through a new lens now

Quan_T, Apr 2026
3hours went by quick! Brennan was charming , witty, and very knowledgeable. Equipped with an iPad to turn history to life!

A Fantastic Palm Springs Tour Experience

sue_w, Mar 2026
Brennan was incredibly knowledgeable and so much fun to spend time with. He shared wonderful stories about the area and kept us entertained the entire tour. We loved seeing the interesting homes and really appreciated all the historical tidbits he brought to life. It was such an enjoyable and memorable experience.

Fab way to see cool architecture and beautiful gardens!

Lowry_G, Mar 2026
Brennan was easy to love right out of the gate with his warm, funny personality and awesome knowledge of the architecture, pop culture history, and extensive information about the Palm Springs area. My husband, 14 yo daughter, and I all loved this tour, and will absolutely do it again when we’re back in town (which sounds like it’ll be next spring already to hear my husband talk about how he wants to bring his friends here!) Additionally, the ride was very easy and Brennan did a great job of stopping half way through for coffee, as well as frequently throughout (and in the shade!) to talk about notable homes, which made it completely manageable - even in the high 90s dry desert heat! I cannot say enough good things! You will highly enjoy this tour!

Palm Springs Architecture Tour

blondiebytes, Mar 2026
Chill bike ride with great history about Palm Springs and the architecture here. Beautiful homes and a fun surprise at the end! Brennan is super knowledgeable and a wealth of information while still being super entertaining! Helped us avoid the heat on a super hot day.

Palm Springs history on wheels

Raymond_F, Mar 2026
This was a fabulous time with a fabulous guide, Brennan. The content is a mix of architectural history, city planning, Golden Age of Hollywood, and insider gossip. Honestly the 2.5 hours passed so quickly and we could have kept going. The bike riding part is very easy as the area covered is basically flat. We were on broken down bikes from our hotel and we managed fine. The heat is an issue though, so make sure you bring water and sunscreen. Wearing a hat that covers your neck and maybe light long sleeves would make it more comfortable. There is shade along the way, but not always.

A fun morning exploring Palm Springs!

Joan_H, Mar 2026
Brennan is a wealth of knowledge and a fun, interesting tour guide. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves - great pace, good content, a nice variety, and friendly conversation. He shared so many great examples of mid-century architecture with detailed stories to go along. Highly recommend this tour!!

Best way to see mid-century homes and history of the area

gina_b, Mar 2026
Such a fun day on a bike ride touring mid century homes and the history of the many neighborhoods. Brennan our guide was absolutely the best!! So knowledgeable, witty and full of fun facts. kept us engaged the entire tour.

Best Bike Tour

Renee_K, Mar 2026
Everyone had a blast on our Architectural Bike Tour. Brennan is full of interesting and fun facts. Super informative and fun! Highly recommend!

Wonderful Ride with a Great Tour Guide

Sue_T, Mar 2026
The ride was easy on a good rental bike. Brennan gave us information about different homes and types of architecture. I would give this a 10 if it were an option.

Best bike tour ever!

John_M, Mar 2026
Brennan was an excellent tour guide! Knowledgeable and fun! So much interesting architectural history in Palm Springs neighborhoods and Brennan knew about it all!

This tour was a lot of...

Julie_J, Feb 2026
This tour was a lot of fun! We really enjoyed Brennan, and we learned so much about Palm Springs itself, and it’s architecture.

Super fun relaxed ride

Suzanne_B, Feb 2026
A great ride through gorgeous neighborhoods with a very funny and knowledgeable guide. Brennan was fabulous. We have been to this area numerous times but learned so much today and saw areas we would never find on our own.

Palm Springs Architecture with juicy stories

David_K, Feb 2026
Fun bike tour of different Palm Springs neighborhoods with distinct mid-century architectural styles. Host was informative with many anecdotal stories.

Brennan took us on a tour...

Dorthe_L, Feb 2026
Brennan took us on a tour of three residential sections of Palm Springs that showcase three unique eras of architecture. He is very knowledgeable about the history of the area and ties it all together, adding anecdotes and fun facts along the way. Highly recommend!

Great Guide makes a great bike tour

Janet_M, Feb 2026
Great ride through history with a great guide.Clever, funny and very knowledgeable. Ride was very easy

modernists View of Palm Springs

Casonti_M, Feb 2026
Our tour with Brennan was awesome Brennan knows so much about the history and architecture of Palm Springs it was fascinating

Great tour!

Jacqueline_M, Feb 2026
Brennan provided a very interesting history of Palm Springs architecture. The bicycle ride was very easy and car traffic was minimal.

Architecture tour by bike

michael_C, Jan 2026
Excellent tour Funny knowledgeable guide, answered questions patiently-clearly passionate about what he was doing. Safe, and interesting tour

Exceptional Mid-Century Modern Architecture Tour

Kirsten_C, Jan 2026
An easy bike cruise through quiet, beautiful and historic neighborhoods of Palm Springs, with many Mid-Century landmark homes. Our guide, Brennan, was knowledgeable, witty and great fun to be with. So enjoyable I was sorry when it ended!

Highly recommended

Robert_W, Jan 2026
Brannon is an incredibly knowledgeable and passionate person. We enjoyed three hours learning so much about architecture and history in a small group and having a good time.

Great tour, fabulous guide!

Holly_S, Jan 2026
It’s an easy ride on flat ground. You will learn how Palm Springs came to be such a design icon. Brennan was a superb guide, very knowledgeable, funny, and we enjoyed conversations with him. You will not regret this experience.

Wonderful tour of Palm Springs

Sara_J, Jan 2026
Wonderful tour of Palm Springs by bicycle. We learned so much about the architecture and history, and rode through various fascinating neighborhoods with lots of Hollywood glam. The ride was flat and easy to do on simple, cruiser-style pedal bikes. I'd definitely recommend this tour for anyone with a curious mind!

Great way to spend a morning in Palm Springs

Joseph_N, Dec 2025
Brennan was knowledgable and patient with all questions. He was kind and made the trip easy and enjoyable. We really enjoyed the neighborhoods he showed and the pace he went at. A very leisurely pace

Must do Palm Springs Tour

Justin_R, Dec 2025
Must do tour when visiting Palm Springs. Do it as early as possible during your visit. You learn a ton and it’s super entertaining.

From $115.00

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 20 days in advance.

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