Top Ten Gay-Friendly Places to Visit

[Zan_of_Texas]

Out & About, a monthly gay travel newsletter has picked ten up-and-coming gay-friendly travel destinations. Also, top ten romantic ones for gay men or lesbians.

We have a pretty global crowd here. So, what's your opinion of places on these lists you've been? Or, places YOU would put on the lists?

Top 10 Up-and-Coming Gay-Friendly Destinations
1. Buenos Aires, Argentina
2. Melbourne, Australia
3. Fort Lauderdale, FL
4. Vancouver, B.C. Canada
5. Hong Kong
6. Cape Town
7. New York
8. Berlin
9. San Diego
10. Philadelphia

Top 10 Romantic Destinations for Gay and Lesbian Couples
1. Paris
2. Hawaii
3. Vermont
4. St. Barts, French West Indies
5. Santa Fe, NM
6. Prague, Czech Republic
7. Provincetown, MA
8. Montreal
9. Cape Town
10. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

[Drifter]

1. What ... No Texas !!!

Just kidding.

Cheers
Drifter

[Misunderestimator]

2. Here's my personal Frommer's guide to your lists... FWIW

Of the places I've been:

3. Fort Lauderdale, FL
Very hip... nice bars on the canal waterfront. Close to Miami and not too far from Key West.

7. New York
Lived in Manhattan for 10 years. The best place I've lived as far as gay culture being integrated with the rest of city life. Biggest number of lesbian bars in any city I've been. All my friends are still in NY.

8. Berlin
Classy and Risque... I was in Berlin a little over 6 years ago. Someone mistook me for a prostitute on the subway (and someone there told me that women don't usually travel alone unless they are, so I decided not to take it personally)... perhaps that's changed, we can hope... but the city is magnetic and the night life is hopping.

9. San Diego
Gorgeous weather here. Didn't spend much time scoping out gay life this time as I was there on business (ick).

10. Philadelphia
Lived in Philly for 4 years, but that was almost 20 years ago. I loved living there, and living in the heart of Center City was amazing. Now, I hear that Center City is gayer than ever. I can't wait to visit Philly again.

3. Vermont
Lots of quaint gay and gay-friendly bed and breakfasts in Vermont. If you're into skiing, it can be a wonderland.

5. Santa Fe, NM
Spent a couple of summers in Santa Fe. That place is magical, and there are several gay communities in Santa Fe and in surrounding places (I heard once that Taos had the largest population of lesbians per capita in the country, but I could be wrong). Summer season brings in several famous artists and dozens of promising apprentices who perform at the Santa Fe Opera.

7. Provincetown, MA
Have been there in summer and winter. Definitely recommend going in the summer. Everything is gay! Everything. (Oh, and artsy too.)

10. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Ok... I've only been here when I was a wee little child, so it doesn't count. I hear it's very nice though. :)


OK.... now why isn't San Francisco on this list?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. well new york city rocks!

but only manhattan and parts of brooklyn.

i loved montreal

[Rowdyboy]

4. I can't imagine why this list doesn't include New Orleans....

From guest-houses, hotels and restaurants run by gays and lesbians to Decadence Days in late summer, New Orleans WELCOMES GLBT visitors.

[JackDragna]

12. Amen to that.

I live in Louisiana and am proud New Orleans is such an accepting place. The city has always been progressive compared to many other big cities in the south.

[dolo amber]

5. My best friend lives in Key West

She says it's pretty evenly matched (gay/straight), and possibly the most laid-back atmosphere for gay people she's ever seen. It's not even an issue. (She's straight, FWIW.)

:)

[Blue-Jay]

7. Key West was the first place I thought of.

All them queers down there "turnin' people gay"...

/freep-speak off. :D

I love Key West, and all the Keys in general. I wish I could be so laid back all the time and enjoying beaches and beautiful weather. <sigh>

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

18. I'm going there in May. Never been, whats it like?

I'm excited

[Blue-Jay]

19. It's wonderful.

Nice people, great food, good live music, no hurries, no worries. You'll have a blast.

[Misinformed01]

6. Asheville NC

I love that town

[LeftCoast]

8. No San Francisco?

:wtf:

[Zan_of_Texas]

10. Summarizing so far....

Okay, I'm hearing San Francisco, New Orleans, Key West, and Asheville, NC.

(Maybe some were left off because they're already so widely known and not "up and coming"?)

Great feedback!

[Misunderestimator]

11. New York City

Since you seem to be tallying from subject lines... :)

[Zan_of_Texas]

14. New York was on the original list

But thanks for your great "Frommers" tour in your original post!

[terrya]

9. Well, not to brag, but we Chicagoans are pretty gay friendly.

Gay and lesbian DU'ers, please visit Chicago. I guarantee you'll have a great time.

terrya...acting for the Chicago Gay and Lesbian tourist board. :-)

Terry

[amazona]

13. amsterdam, new orleans should be on list, right ? NT

.

[foreigncorrespondent]

15. Well I can talk for Melbourne, Australia.

No matter where you go in the state of Victoria, no one will look at you twice if you are a gay/lesbian couples.

Sapph and I visited some of the smaller country towns when she was here last, and no one had problems with giving us a room key with only one bed in it. Unfortunately I can't say the same for the U.S. When we did our cross country trip there, we got quite a few looks, quite a few times.

In Melbourne the best place to hang around at for the night life is the inner city suburb of St Kilda. Fitzroy Street has some wonderful restaurants, including the famous Monroe's (named of course after Marilyn.)

We do have our own gay pride thing every year, just ours isn't as big as what Sydney's is, but it still has all the charm and elegance that Sydney's mardi gras is known for.

One of the more romantic spots to stay in the state of Victoria, away from Melbourne is Philip Island. There is a lovely little cottage down there, owned by a straight couple. You can rent this little cottage out for a few days, and when you look through the guest book they ask for you to sign and leave a comment in, you will see plenty of same sex couples.

The cottage itself is small, cosy, and very romantic. Sapph and I will be making a trip or two back there, for sure. :) And the lady who owns it, will leave you little things laying around like chocolates, cookies, sour dough bread. Truly a remarkable couple.

[mouse7]

16. No Portland OR?

There's some Multnomah Co. Commissioners that would be highly disappointed by that.

[Zan_of_Texas]

17. Additional nominees, cumulative:

San Francisco
New Orleans
Key West
Asheville, NC
Chicago
Portland, OR
Amsterdam

How about anywhere in the Caribbean? Any more in Central or South America? Ireland? (just asking -- never been there)

I have been to Copenhagen once, and found it charming (but I was just in junior high, so needless to say I wasn't bar hopping). Visited Vancouver during the Gay Games, and other times, and it's a very fine city.

[TrogL]

20. Vancouver is so gay

it has a straight ghetto.