Rides aboard what are reputedly the world’s largest rotating Tram cars are only around 10-minutes long one-way, but they’re a lot of fun and very worthwhile. As you zip up above rocky mountainside, you’ll enjoy wonderful views of the valley floor and beyond. By ride’s end, you’ve left the desert behind for the 8,516-foot Mountain Station, surrounded by San Jacinto Mountains greenery (and, in wintertime, likely snow).

At the Station, there’s a small natural history museum that some younger kids might find interesting, as well as a little theater showing videos about the tram and San Jacinto State Park. There’s an onsite restaurant and cafe, and nature trails are nearby. Be prepared for the temperature shift — cooler up top than on the desert floor.