THE GOOD HOUSE

We will be tying the proverbial knot at The Good House in Desert Hot Springs, CA. Located on a protected hot spring of world-renowned quality, this lush property is surrounded by the San Jacinto mountains and canopied by towering palm trees. This place was literally a hideout for Hollywood stars in the 1950s!

Traveling to the Mojave Desert has long been a way that we have celebrated special occasions together, and we are thrilled at the opportunity to share this magnificent place with those closest to us.

The wedding ceremony and reception will both be taking place on-site at The Good House, but we encourage our guests to take the weekend to explore this beautiful part of California. Below are a few recommendations for both resting your head and filling your bellies!

WHERE TO STAY

Located across the street from The Good House (like, REALLY across the street!) and with an added bonus: all overnight guests have access to their mineral pools, hot tubs, and saunas! There is an on-site café open seven days a week, and you’ll also have 24/7 access to their Himalayan Salt Room (please report back to us on what that’s all about!) and an indoor Desert Ice Room!

A whopping one-minute drive from our venue, Onsen Hotel & Spa offers complimentary breakfast, spa services, natural hot springs (Hey! The name of the city is accurate!), and even free parking. Their rates start at under $200 a night – a steal! Voted the #1 hotel in Desert Hot Springs by TripAdvisor, this spot is a winner all-around.

WHERE TO EAT + CAFFEINATE

Koffi

We are officially endorsing this establishment as our go-to coffee stop in the area. Want the full Chris + Alli desert experience? Stop by Koffi for a breakfast burrito and malted mocha freeze. They have several locations in the area!

King’s Highway

Located on the property of the Ace Hotel and Swim Club in Palm Springs, this diner offers indoor and outdoor seating from 7am-10pm. Breakfast is served until 2pm, they have date milkshakes, and even a bar that offers beer, wine, and piña coladas. You can peruse their menu here.

Sunshine Café

Located in Desert Hot Springs, this 1950s diner is attached to the Desert Hot Springs Spa Hotel. It’s casual, it’s got carpet. But if you want to skip the bustle of the city and pull into a big parking lot with guaranteed space to enjoy some great fries: this is the spot. Take a look at their menu here.

PLACES TO GO + THINGS TO DO

Maybe you’re the kind of person who finds yourself making an hours-long journey and then goes, “Wow, I just really wish I had more steps to walk right now.” You know what? Good for you! We’ll be rooting for you from the comfort of our hot tub! Here are some activities to check out if you’re looking to expand your horizons or get away from your hotel roommate for an hour (it’s cool, we won’t tell them.)

Joshua Tree National Park

Less than an hour from Desert Hot Springs, you’ll find THE Joshua Tree National Park. This is perhaps the national park with the lowest commitment, since you can drive through the entire park on a very smooth road (there will be signs to watch out for tortoises, but we’ve yet to see one.) Our first time here, we listened to U2’s The Joshua Tree while driving through the park, and it was a very enjoyable experience! If you’re feeling really wild and want to explore, there are many places to pull off of the road and wander down low-elevation trails. Just don’t wander too far, k dad? You have somewhere to be on Saturday.

The Living Desert Zoo + Gardens

Look, we know that when you first caught wind of our destination wedding, you were immediately wondering what the chances of you feeding a giraffe were. Great news: decently high. The Living Desert is a small zoo located in Palm Desert, open from 8am-5pm. If you found yourself a little bummed that you didn’t see a tortoise at Joshua Tree National Park (whew, what a busy weekend you’ve had already!), don’t fret: you’ll see one here. And, for an extra $10, you can feed a giraffe.

Palm Springs Walk of Stars

If you’ve always wanted to experience a Walk of Stars without the slightly off-brand Spiderman and the faint smell of sewage, you are in such luck. Palm Springs is home to a Walk of Stars that includes everyone from Liberace to KC and the Sunshine Band to Lisa Vanderpump. This is a fabulous low-stakes activity that is 100% free and gives you 20 new tabs to open up on Wikipedia.

Cabot’s Pueblo Museum

Feeling scholarly? Check out Cabot’s Pueblo Museum and spend some time leisurely admiring this Hopi-inspired building that was crafted by human rights activist Cabot Yerxa in 1941. Filled with Native American artifacts and art, the Pueblo is 35 rooms, 4 stories, and spans 5,000 square feet. If you needed even more incentive, this experience is ONE minute away from our wedding venue!

GET YOUR BOOZE ON

As soon as we made the decision to host a wedding without alcohol, we started seeing a bunch of Reddit threads telling us that all of our friends and family were going to hate us and refuse to attend. We hope that you won’t let a few hours of sobriety get in the way of enjoying a wonderful desert party with us! (We also decided not to have a dance floor, so hopefully that quells some of your jitters.)

And hey, it was a great way to leave money in our budget for more important things, like our amazing trailblazing Mexican-Cajun fusion three-course dinner that you’re going to be talking about for years!

All that said, here are some great nearby places to get hammered before or after our ceremony – just please travel responsibly!

Playoffs Sports Lounge - Desert Hot Springs (1.6 mi away)

Boasting an extensive liquor selection to accommodate any drink order, Playoffs is a well-loved sports bar that is an easy four-minute drive from our wedding venue. Open from noon to 2:00am, this is a no-brainer for grabbing a drink, shooting pool, or catching a game on one of their twelve TVs! Their only policy is “Be Good, or Be Gone!”, so make sure to bring your best behavior, you rascals.

The Downtown Bar - Desert Hot Springs (1.8 mi away)

A whopping six-minute drive from our venue (or a forty-one minute walk if you're feeling especially adventurous), The Downtown Bar is ready to greet you with pinball, pool, and a cold drink. Open until 2:00am and there's a jukebox for you to commandeer!

Bootlegger Tiki - Palm Springs (11.8 mi away)

Looking for a drink AND kitsch? Bootlegger Tiki is a favorite among Palm Springs regulars as a bar that offers old-fashioned fun, handcrafted cocktails, and even tiki torches. Reservations are $30 for a table, and last call is 12:40am.

Melvyn’s - Palm Springs (13.4 mi away)

Feeling fancy? Take advantage of your wedding attire and pop into Melvyn’s at the Ingleside Estate in Palm Springs. Enjoy a cocktail in a hidden gem that at one time served legends like Brando and Sinatra. Bar service is open from 11am to 12am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Tiny Pony Tavern - Yucca Valley (22.8 mi away)

You've definitely seen your friends post this place on social media; you'll recognize the black walls, iconic signage, and enormous oil painting of a white cat looming over the seating. Giddy up for a large selection of beers ranging from a traditional nitro tap Guinness to a cold 805 (hey!), as well as cocktails, espresso martinis, and more. Stomach growling? They're also serving up wings, nachos and more!