Our family of 7 was looking for an adventure during our week-long holiday visit to Palm Springs. And we got one! We were picked up at our rental house at 12:30 for an afternoon trip that would end with an incredible sunset watch from one of the highest peaks at Joshua Tree. Our guide, Patrick, was knowledgeable, affable, and entertaining throughout the trip. He regaled us with stories, folklore, and history that made the trip so much more fruitful than if we had simply driven to the park on our own and wandered around. First we stopped at the 1000 Palms Oasis for a stroll through the trees and a bit of history, including a lesson on the area's relationship to the San Andreas Fault. Beautiful, and so interesting - we may go back for further exploration. Then back in the van to Yucca, where we transferred into the Hummer that would be our chariot for the backroad entry into the Park and the fun really began. We stopped a couple of times to hear about various types of cacti, the history of the Park, some of the prominent characters who played roles in the preservation of the vast acreage and its plant materials, and then we stopped for a short hike. After the hike we piled back into the Hummer and headed up to a peak for the sunset. It was magnificent. Wow. As breathtaking as anything we've seen - and as awe-inspiring as moments in the Grand Canyon. We really felt we were having an experience we couldn't possibly have had on our own - a unique and irreplaceable opportunity to explore areas of the park you can't access in a car from the main entrance. Wow. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting the area. Fabulous!