THE GOOD HOUSE

Located across the street from The Good House (like, REALLY across the street - it less than a five-minute stroll!) and with an added bonus that all overnight guests have access to their mineral pools and saunas, this hotel is a win. There is a cafe on-site that is 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!)

We will be celebrating at The Good House in Desert Hot Springs, CA. Located on a protected hot spring with world-renowned quality, this lush property is surrounded by the San Jacinto mountains and canopied by towering palm trees. Traveling to the Mojave Desert has long been a way that we have celebrated together, and we are thrilled at the opportunity to share this special 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 destination. Below are a few recommendations for both resting your head and filling your bellies!

WHERE TO STAY

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 + WET YOUR WHISTLE

Koffi

We are officially endorsing this establishment as our go-to coffee stop in the area. You want the full Chris + Alli desert experience? Stop by Koffi to grab a breakfast burrito and malted mocha freeze. They have several locations in the area, you check them out here.

The Living Desert Zoo + Gardens

Hey, you’re here for a good time! If you’re still looking for more things to ingest and/or explore, here are some more spots that might suit your fancy!

FOOD + DRINK

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 have a bar that offers beer, wine, and piña coladas. You can peruse 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, don’t worry — we won’t tell them.)

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 - 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 ever 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? You have somewhere to be Saturday.

Joshua Tree National Park

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 also 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.

STILL LOOKING FOR MORE?

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, pull into a big parking lot with guaranteed space, and enjoy some great fries: this is the spot. Take a look at their menu here.

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 Musuem

HOTELS + MOTELS

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 artifact 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!