Destination Wedding?
A friend had to go to a "destination wedding" in Joshua Tree this weekend. Beyond the fact that I generally find wedding travel an imposition on one's guests (beyond having to attend at all), doesn't Joshua Tree seem like a better place for a "destination divorce"?
Hey! There's an idea somebody should capitalize on...like the quickie marriage industry in Vegas: Club Med For Breakups! Speed-Dating all around! (I mean, after the group divorce.) If you're lucky, you'll go home with somebody better than the guy or girl you came in with!
Joshua Tree is really gorgeous. Not much of a night life, apart from looking at the stars, but if your car is totalled at 6am, I happen to know that you can find the bars are already open (or haven't closed?)
jerry at October 21, 2007 12:49 PM
I'm all for going there; I'd just skip the wedding portion of the weekend.
You just reminded me of the time I did go to Joshua Tree. I'd just moved from New York, and, one March weekend, a friend said we'd "go to the desert for the weekend." Hmm, the desert? I pictured Lawrence of Arabia-type weather, and brought a sarong and the like. Of course, it was freezing the entire time, and I ended up wearing every single piece of clothing (including the sarong) on my head. I wish the photos of me there were 1. findable and 2. digital, because they're pretty funny.
Amy Alkon at October 21, 2007 1:18 PM
Oops. Wore the sarong on my head, other pieces of clothing elsewhere.
Amy Alkon at October 21, 2007 1:19 PM
"It looks sarong... But if feels so right!"
- April Winchell, Circa '00
Crid at October 21, 2007 7:08 PM
I've always thought Joshua Tree is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I could think of worse places to get married.
Jerry is right -- not much of a night life. There's the Twentynine Palms Inn (which is probably where you'd be staying if you got married there). I suppose you could drive out of the park and into the town of Twentynine Palms and hang out at one of the bars. Usually they're full of Marines from the nearby base.
LMM at October 22, 2007 11:58 AM
I could think of worse places to get married.
I suggest the trip without the wedding!
Amy Alkon at October 22, 2007 12:05 PM
Amy suggests that I take the trip without the wedding. No problem -- that's what I've been doing for years. I'm pretty much with you, Amy, when it comes to marriage. I've got nothing against the institution, and I've seen lots of happy, life-long marriages (in fact, I've seen more of them than I've seen unhappy marriages or divorces), but it's not for me.
LMM at October 23, 2007 6:11 AM
I grew up in Joshua Tree and going back is like a trip back in time for me.
But I wouldn't get married there.
As for the 29 Palms Inn... Eh.
I have eaten there several times and had mediocre food and service there several times.
They are just lucky there really isn't anywhere else to go there for dinner if you want something besides pizza.
And the rooms are overpriced, in my opinion. Last time I went out there (for a recent meteor shower that never appeared) I stayed where U2 stayed: the Harmony Motel. It was quirky, but clean and a lot cheaper than the 29 Inn.
Atypical Cal Girl at October 24, 2007 3:22 PM
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