Riding High In The Low Desert by Ciambella
Take a drive, take a ride, take some photos, and take home some nice memories. Palm Springs aerial tram is absolutely worth the time and cost.The price is $22 for an adult ticket before 3PM and $18 after 3PM. Since this is Palm Springs, and the light is so plentiful, and the weather is so hot, I would suggest taking any of the after-3PM rides. Not only do you save a few dollars, but also the crowds and the temperatures both diminish as the day progresses. And the photos will still come out beautifully.
There is a pretty drive of a few miles from the entrance of Mt. San Jacinto national park to the initial departure station of the tram. And then it's a 10-minute ride from the base to the top. The tram is large, well-ventilated, standing room only.
A cheerful, very knowledgeable, disembodied voice narrates as you're transported up and down the mountain. You can hear all about the construction of the tram, the incredible change in elevation, the flora and fauna, etc. But the best part? Absolutely the best part is that the floor of the tram revolves. Oh, yeah! 360-degree views and the vague sense of being on a "natural wonders" carousel that's also a dangling escalator. It's fun and, needless to say, perfect for photo ops. Even people who have a fear of heights have managed to enjoy the experience!
At the top, there's exactly what you would expect at any national park: an information center, limited gift shop, even more limited cafeteria-style food, foot trails, telescopes, several vantage points for photos, breathtaking views, and thin, clean air. Snow in the winter, for the kids to romp.
Give it a whirl. Brownie points if you offer to take a photo of the tourist family next to you. :)
Cars depart every 15 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on the time of day. First car starts at 8AM on weekends and holidays, 10AM on weekdays. Last car up is 8PM and last car down is 9:45PM.