2020 PARADE TOURS
As each Porsche Parade visits a different area of North America, Parade Tours offer the opportunity to focus in on what is unique about that area. We have tours for attendees regardless of age, driving ability or car (rental cars are welcome on tours). We hope you will register for one or more driving tours and discover everything the Palm Springs area has to offer!
Parade Tours are offered on multiple days and times, giving you choices and the opportunity to participate many Parade activities.
There are two types of tours: Guided and Self-guided.
Guided tours consist of multiple groups of 12-15 cars per group. Each group has a pre-assigned leader, and a “sweeper” car at the back, keeping the group together. The self-guided tours offer alternatives for those with schedule conflicts, or for those who wish to do something on their own.
This year the Parade tours are as much about the journey as the destination. Although the Palm Springs area is certainly going to be hot, several of the guided driving tours head up into the San Bernardino National Forest (west) and Angeles National Forest around Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead (northwest) where the temperatures can be as much as 30 degrees cooler. Driving routes in the mountains will be both windy and extremely scenic. This year, there will be no bus tours or evening dinner cruises. We promise, it will be great!
Sign up for the Guided tours during Phase ll of Parade Registration beginning March 31 at 12:00 Noon EDT
GUIDED TOURS
Big Bear Lake Cruise Tour (w/Lunch)
Dates: Tuesday through Friday, June 23-26 (tentatively)
Tour Meet Time: TBD
Method of Travel: Driving tour starting at Palm Desert High School
Description: This driving tour will take the groups from Palm Springs northwest along Interstate 10 (unavoidable) to the San Bernardino area, then north and northeast along a scenic, windy mountain highway to the mountain town of Big Bear Lake. There, the group will board the Miss Liberty cruise boat for a 1 ½ hour narrated cruise featuring highlights of Big Bear’s rich history dating back to 1845, facts and folklore and much more. A catered lunch on board will be provided. Afterward, tour attendees are free to spend time exploring Big Bear Lake and choose their own return routes, any of which will be winding and scenic.
Lake Arrowheaed Village and Lunch Tour at Lake Arrowhead Resort
Dates: Tuesday through Friday, June 23-26 (tentative)
Tour Meet Time: TBD
Method of Travel: Driving Tour starting at Palm Desert High School
Description: This driving tour, like the tour to Big Bear, initially heads northwest in I-10, but takes a different route into the mountains up to Lake Arrowhead Village, which is a quaint village with shops and boutiques right on Lake Arrowhead. The beauty of this tour is that the temperatures at the lake are usually 25-30 degrees cooler than in the Palm Springs area. A buffet lunch will be provided by Lake Arrowhead Resort on their outdoor terrace overlooking the lake. In case of inclement weather (highly unlikely) there will be an indoor backup plan. Valet and self-parking options will be available at the resort. This tour is definitely a “driver’s tour” with an endless procession of twists and turns as the road gains over 5000 feet in elevation on the way up to Lake Arrowhead Village with outstanding scenery along the entire route.
Julian, CA Eagle Mining Company and Jeremy’s Restaurant tour
Dates: Monday through Friday, June 23-26 (tentative)
Tour Meet Time: TBD
Method of Travel: Driving Tour starting at Palm Desert High School
Tour Description: Discover an exciting learning experience at The Eagle Mining Co. in Julian, California. The old-fashioned gold mine offers terrific and informative tours that guide adventures through the world of a 1870s mining operation. Experience life just like the miners of old did, panning for gold at The Eagle Mining Co.. The enlightening tours preserve the tools, machinery, knowledge, and history of the early Californians. This is an educational tour about the California gold rush days in an actual gold mine. A top-notch lunch from a special menu developed just for Parade attendees will be served at Jeremy’s On the Hill Restaurant in Julian. Julian’s specializes in farm to table cuisine by working with local farms, ranches and wineries to bring a fresh, seasonal approach to the back country of southern California.
California Porsche Restoration tour
Dates Offered: Tuesday through Friday, June 23-26
Tour Meet Time: TBD
Method of Travel: Driving Tour starting at Palm Desert High School
Tour Description: California Porsche Restoration (CPR) has been in the business of restoring Porsche 356 and 911’s for over 40 years and have restored some of the best cars in the world. They pride themselves on providing customers with a one-stop resource for the complete rebuilding of these models. Whether it is a thorough restoration or minor repair customers can be sure that it will be done to original factory standards by Porsche experts. All work is done in house—no farming out to third party businesses. The tour over to their business will travel over some of the most scenic and windy roads in southern California. Once there Parade attendees will be divided into different groups and given a detailed tour of each area of the restoration process—disassembly, metal and fabrication, body preparation, paint, mechanical, assembly and electrical. This tour is for Porschephiles interested in all the nuts and bolts of classic Porsche restoration, e.g. the ultimate technical education session! There will be a catered lunch on site as part of the tour.
SUV Off-Road Tour
Dates: Tuesday and Wednesday, June 23 and 24
Tour Meet Time: TBD
Method of Travel: Off-Road SUV only tour starting at Palm Desert High School (4WD/AWD SUV’s only)
Description: This off-road tour is still under development. Details will be forthcoming as they are known. Basically, this tour will travel the backroads to the south with sections covering old mining roads. The current plan to to have the tour end up at the General Patton Museum southeast of Palm Springs with an option to continue into Joshua Tree National Park for those who wish. Be advised, a National Park Pass is required to enter Joshua Tree National Park.
SELF-GUIDED TOURS
Self-guided tours offer alternatives for those who choose not to participate in the organized, guided tours or just wish to head out on your own for a day to a destination not covered by the guided tours.
Self-guided tours offer the flexibility to go on the day and time of your choosing, and at your own pace. We are still finalizing the self-guided tour destinations, but our initial selections include:
Joshua Tree National Park
Pioneertown (Pappy and Harriet’s Saloon)
Palm Springs Tramway
Palm Springs Air Museum
Idyllwild Park
Temecula Wineries
Palomar Observatory
Cabot's Pueblo Museum
GENERAL TOUR INFORMATION
Parade attendees must register for all Tours during Phase II Event Registration. Attendees will not be able to register for tours at Parade check-in. Guided tours are designed for everyone to travel as a group. Each participant is asked to do their part to keep the tour group together. Parade Tours follow the PCA Minimum Standards for Driving Tours. For safety, we recommend all tour participants have a working cellular phone and a GPS device. Two-way radios (walkie-talkies) are permitted if they can be tuned to both a radio channel and a security sub-channel (e.g. channel 7 and security channel 12). The passenger/navigator should be the operator of any such radios, so that the driver stays focused on the road. Please drive safely and courteously on all tours.
Drivers should be aware of the high volume of traffic in the Palm Springs area. Please allow plenty of time for travel to the Palm Desert High School staging area.
Also, please consider volunteering to help with tours. We need both leader and sweeper cars on all routes, as well as help in the staging areas. This should be done as part of Phase 2 registration. Driving Tour volunteers must be registered for Parade. A driving tour volunteers meeting will be held on Sunday, June 21st at the La Quinta Resort following Parade Check-In. An email will be sent to volunteers with more details.
We recommend packing sunscreen and hats for any outdoor tour. Air-cooled Porsches should take precautions.
All tours and times are subject to change. Please check the Parade website for the latest information.
Greg Halverson, Chair
Parade Tours
speedohalverson@comcast.net