ELITELANDBLOG.COM

Southern Pacific Rattlesnake on a Joshua Tree Tour!

2012-05-27T12:31:40Z

The Southern Pacific Rattlesnake is also called the Black Diamond Rattlesnake. This snake preys upon small mammals, birds and lizards. It uses its tongue and heat sensing pits to hunt. When it bites its prey, the snake will release 20-55% of its venom, which is 300 times what is needed to kill a small rodent. It does this because its venom is used to break down the tissue of the animal, as well, helping to digest the victim. The southern pacific hunts during the day on warm days, but waits until nightfall when the days become hotter. It is hunted by various birds of prey, including the red-tailed hawk. The photo below is from a recent Joshua Tree Adventure Tour!

"Jumping Cholla" - also known as Teddy Bear Cholla!

2012-05-26T12:37:43Z

The "jumping cholla" name comes from the ease with which the stems detach when brushed, giving the impression that the stem jumped. Often the merest touch will leave a person with bits of cactus hanging on their clothes to be discovered later when either sitting or leaning on them. The ground around a mature plant will often be covered with dead stems, and young plants are started from stems that have fallen from the adult. They attach themselves to desert animals and are dispersed for short distances. Other names for this cactus include chain fruit cholla, cholla brincadora, teddy bear cholla, and velas de coyote. The photo below is from a recent San Andreas Fault Tour!

Cactus Wren: up close and personal!

2012-05-25T12:52:55Z

The cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) was named the Arizona state bird in 1931. Its name means curved beak. It is the largest wren in North America, measuring 7-9 inches long. They are commonly found in areas below 4,000 in elevation, and it is not unusual to find them in populated areas. The cactus wren is a skittish creature, so it is difficult to get too close. They are also very noisy, and when building their nest they will scream and 'bark' at anyone (including dogs) that may interfere with their project. The male and female cactus wrens look alike. Chollas and saguaros are their favorite places to nest, and the cactus wrens produce three to six eggs per clutch. It is a true bird of the desert and can survive without freestanding water. The photos below were taken on a recent Joshua Tree Adventure Tour!

Having fun on the night tour!

2012-05-24T12:41:44Z

The photos below are from last night's Nocturnal Treasure's Tour! What a blast everyone had. The family came all the way from Nashville, Tennessee to see our spectacular desert. They got to see an eyeful at the best part of the day! http://www.elitelandtours.com

San Andreas Fault is a real adventure!

2012-05-23T12:51:32Z

One family found out quickly that our San Andreas Fault Tour is a real adventure. They came across a rattlesnake, a few chuckwallas (largest non-venomous lizard in the U.S.), a black-tailed jackrabbit, and a few other desert creatures. They also enjoyed the magnificent display of desert wildflowers. It turned out to be a memorable day for all! The second photo from the top is a hummingbird nest with an egg in it the size of a Tic-Tac candy!

Looking out for predators or prey?

2012-05-22T12:33:00Z

Perching themselves on a rock, tree or bush, the desert wildlife is either watching out for predators that could eat them or looking for prey they could eat. Whichever the case may be, having a wide field of view is necessary for survival. The photos below were from several tours.

Creating special memories for a lifetime!

2012-05-21T11:47:09Z

When you take one of our exciting desert tours, you're creating special memories that will last a lifetime. You will visit unique sights that will leave a lasting impression. Fascinating wildlife, unusual geology, majestic plants, and colorful birds will surround you. Make sure your camera is charged and you have plenty of storage because there's a very good chance you may fill up your memory card!

Archenemies! Joshua Tree Adventure Tour!

2012-05-20T12:16:38Z

After mating, the female wasp (top photo) goes looking for a tarantula (bottom photo) for her young one's feed. She uses her sense of smell to track down tarantulas or their burrows. Once she finds her prey's hideout, she will wheedle the tarantula into coming out of the burrow, by tampering with the tarantula's silk webbing cast at the burrows entrance. The tarantula is made to believe the web has struck lunch and comes out of the burrow to lap up the meal. Once the female wasp manages to finagle the tarantula out of the burrow, she uses her 1/3-inch stinger to nail her prey. The poison from the stinger, when injected into the tarantula causes it to become paralyzed. She then drags her find all the way to her burrow and lays her egg onto the paralyzed tarantula and leaves the burrow. The morbid aspect of the hunting technique is that the female does not kill the tarantula, instead paralyzes it. The egg hatches to reveal a hungry larvae, which then begins to suck out all the fluids from the paralyzed and live tarantula. The larvae first sucks out all the fluid, then consumes the entire tarantula body. So the poor tarantula dies a slow, torturous death. Talk about morbidity! Both photos were taken on a recent Joshua Tree Adventure Tour!

The O.C. VIP Tour!...the other Beverly Hills!

2012-05-19T12:31:15Z

Celebrity homes, yachts, magnificent ocean-front properties, sea life, and incredible vistas await you on your private luxury O.C. VIP Tour! You'll not only see multi-million dollar homes, you'll get the inside scoop from your personal tour guide. This tour includes a gourmet lunch and a tour of Newport Bay in an electric boat!

Hunting for geodes! Coming soon from Elite Land Tours!

2012-05-18T12:51:48Z

The mysterious earth-shaped geodes have long challenged geologists to explain how they are formed. Geodes are a variable phenomenon and, therefore, many theories exists to explain how they are created. The term geode is derived from the Greek word Geoides which means "earthlike." In simplest terms, a geode is a sphere shaped rock which contains a hollow cavity lined with crystals. Are you ready to discover one of earth's mysteries? This exciting new tour will be available in October 2011.

Desert Mallow - also known as Apricot Mallow

2012-05-17T12:09:47Z

This, the most drought-resistant member of the Mallow Family (Malvaceae), is grazed upon by Bighorn Sheep. In wet years it forms spectacular orange display across the Desert Southwest. The photo below was taken on a recent Joshua Tree Adventure Tour. Desert Mallow is known by many other common names, including:

Globemallow
Apricot Mallow
Desert Hollyhock
Mal de Ojo
Sore-eye Poppy

The last common name is derived from the fact that the leaf hairs are an eye irritant to some people. Perhaps this is because the hairs are star-shaped, as can be seen under a magnifier. There are nine species of Globemallow in California.

Hollywood VIP Express Tour!

2012-05-16T12:34:09Z

Lights, camera, action!...it's your own Hollywood VIP Tour! You'll see all the best sights and dine where the celebrities dine. This all-inclusive day trip is a one-of-a-kind experience. Paramount Studios, Hollywood, Chinese Theater, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Strip, and Malibu are just some of the places you'll visit on the exciting excursion. Bring your camera as you never know who you'll see!!

Cactus Wren on Joshua Tree Adventure Tour!

2012-05-15T12:18:17Z

The cactus wren lives in desert thickets and areas with large cactus like the cholla. It needs areas with cactus or thorny plants or bushes strong enough to hold its large nests. The cactus wren forages for food on the ground. It uses its long bill to turn over things on the ground. It eats ants, beetles, grasshoppers, wasps, fruits and seeds. Sometimes it will eat small frogs and lizards. It is adapted for life in the desert and gets most of the water it needs to survive from the food it eats. The photos below were taken on a recent Joshua Tree Adventure Tour.

Desert to Stars Tour - it's out of this world!

2012-05-14T12:51:24Z

First stop: Calico! This old West mining town has been around since 1881 during the largest silver strike in California. With its 500 mines, Calico produced over $20 million in silver ore over a 12-year span. When silver lost its value in the mid-1890's, Calico lost its population. The miner's packed up, loaded their mules and moved away abandoning the town that once gave them a good living. It became a "ghost town." Walter Knott purchased Calico in the 1950's architecturally restoring all but the five original buildings to look as they did in the 1880's. Calico received State Historical Landmark 782 and in 2005 was proclaimed by then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to be California's Silver Rush Ghost Town. After spending time at Calico, your tour continues to the Deep Space museum where three large areas are dedicated to current missions, past missions, and Deep Space Network history - plus there is a "hands-on" room for children. Your guided tour then travels around the 53-square-mile complex to view the large antennas...actually home of the largest antenna! Clearance for this one-of-a-kind private tour is included and will be handled by Elite Land Tours.

Caution: we stop for snakes!

2012-05-13T11:37:14Z

We never know what we will run into on our exciting desert adventures. But one thing we know for sure, we travel cautiously so that we never disturb the local wildlife. On our Joshua Tree Adventure Tours, it is common to see many different species since it is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world! More than 25 reptiles call it their home including the desert tortoise. The photo below is a harmless gopher snake.

Coachella Valley Grapes as seen on the San Andreas Fault Tour!

2012-05-12T12:53:11Z

For the period from 1993 to 1997 grapes produced in the Coachella Valley comprised 13% of the total table grape production in California. This area is important, as the fruit from this valley is the first to reach the market each year. The majority of vineyards in the Coachella Valley use low volume irrigation systems (drip irrigation). The water supply comes from the Colorado River. The major cultivars grown there are Perlette, Flame Seedless and Thompson Seedless. The photo below was taken on a recent San Andreas Fault Tour!

O.C. VIP TOUR & HOLLYWOOD VIP TOUR!

2012-05-11T12:24:23Z

We had an amazing time with four incredible guests from Australia. They did both our OC VIP Tour and our Hollywood VIP Tour. They only had two days in California and spent both of them with us. We were honored they selected us for their sightseeing and tours. We showed them some of the very best sights in Southern California including a boat tour of Newport Bay, Laguna Hills, Balboa Island (transported then in the HUMMER on the Balboa Ferry), the Queen Mary, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Chinese Theater (Peter O'Toole just put his hand prints there), Calabasas, and Malibu. We can't wait to go to Australia and visit them!

HUMMER/Helicopter Combo Birthday Tour!

2012-05-10T12:28:15Z

This was a birthday surprise for her husband. He knew he was doing a desert tour in a Hummer but had no idea it would end with a helicopter tour of the valley. He was really shocked! We supplied the cake, balloon, snacks, and drinks and the guests supplied the smiles!

Rare Whiskered Screech Owl spotted on tour!

2012-05-09T12:43:11Z

It is not common to see this Whiskered Screech Owl on any of our tours since they occur mainly in Mexico and Arizona. But we were lucky enough to see one on our Nocturnal Treasures Tour. It was a treat for our guests because it is the smallest of the three Screech Owls that live in North America. Bristles on the ends of its facial-disc feathers (“whiskers”) give it the name trichopsis, meaning hairy appearance, but are difficult to see.

Television Crew tapes our Palm Springs Windmill Tour!

2012-05-08T12:41:07Z

A television crew came all the way from Korea to tape our Palm Springs Windmill Tour. It was the perfect day since the wind was really turning the blades. The crew is creating a show on renewable energy and our guide, Craig, loaded them up with all the facts on wind energy!