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2 0 1 5 T R A V E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A 181 INSIDER'S TIP » The mid-20 th -century Modernist movement imbues Palm Springs with much of its unique appeal. For a fascinating insight into sophisticated designs, explore the city with PALM SPRINGS MOD- ERNIST TOURS . You'll even get to see inside the famous steel houses, and perhaps even a home or two of the rich and famous. palmspringsmoderntours.com Colorado deserts and protects one of the most spectacular desert regions in North America. Popular with rock climbers, its dramatic landscapes are made surreal by the "Joshua tree" species of yucca, with strange, arm-like branches. From Joshua Tree, historic Route 66 unfurls past Mojave National Preserve, where the Kelso Dunes tower almost 1,000 feet above the desert floor. They're known as the "singing dunes" because they emit a buzz or rumble when sand slides down the dune-face. Nearby, 32 ancient volcanic cones stud Cinder Cones National Natural Landmark—a gateway to the stand-out draw of the northern Mojave: Death Valley National Park. The highest ground temper- ature ever recorded on earth was here, at Badwater, a sunken trough that reaches 282 feet below sea level. Yet Death Valley is rimmed by 11,000-foot mountains. Winter months are deliciously temperate, when tourists flock to marvel at chromatic canyons and sun-bleached salt pans. Well- paved roads lace the park, while dirt roads open up a world of extreme adventure for visitors with suitable vehicles. Cultural Connections Culture vultures thrill to find the desert is far from dry. The Native American Agua Caliente occupied the Palm Springs region long before Europeans arrived. Their proud legacy is on show at the Agua Caliente Cul- tural Museum in downtown Palm Springs. History buffs also delight in the Palm Springs Air Museum, replete with World War II-era warplanes from a P-51 Mustang to a B-17 Flying Fortress. The monied elite that pours into Palm Springs for the winter is a major patron of the arts. Hollywood star and long-time resident Kirk Douglas was a major donor