Queer Key West Events – Passport Magazine

Queer Key West

Pack your bags for Key West! This LGBTQ playground provides visitors with some of the most unique and exciting things to do, see, and experience throughout the year. Here are five of our favorite annual events that make this island destination one of the most popular places for travelers from around the world.

Key West Pride

Celebrate Pride—island style. Key West Pride is not just about the party, it also brings the entire community together to show off its long history of LGBTQ inclusivity. After all, the their motto is “One Human Family.” With a street fair, parade, and parties at some of the best bars and clubs, you’ll discover one of the most integrated and unique communities in the world. Show your Pride from June 6-10, 2018.

Key West Tropical Heat

The subtropic island of Key West might be hot, but temperatures are only rising in anticipation of Tropical Heat, a four day all-male, all-adult festival running from August 15-19, 2018 that’s filled with clothing-optional pool parties, not-to-miss drag shows, and the late-night happenings that have made Key West a go-to gay getaway in recent years. Hit the sizzling kick-off party at Big Ruby’s Resort, dance the night away at Aqua Nightclub, or lounge poolside at the Bourbon Street Pub. Complete with the beloved, long-standing tradition of gay bingo, and even a saloon Dungeon party, this Key West event is one-of-a-kind!

Visiting the Tower of London

Tower of London - Keep Calm and Wander

Approximately 952 years ago, the Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror to keep any hostile intruder at bay. Now, as we see it, it still stands tall and proud. As a matter of fact, there are hordes of reasons why you need to visit it as soon as you have spare time. It’s just a few steps from that very photogenic bridge you see in London postcards – the Tower Bridge!

I explored every inch of the building and without splitting my hair much (because I’m bald :D), I gathered the following 11 reasons to make you pay a visit, too.

1. Have a look at the dazzling trinkets

Have you ever heard about the Cullinan I also called the Great Star of Africa, Cullinan II, and the Koh-I-Noor? If you have, it could be your once-in-a-lifetime chance to lay eyes on these magnificent Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. Not only these, in fact, you’d get to see all the 140 ceremonial objects that are on the display. Believe me, when I say this: I was literally drooling over when I saw them.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

London Gay Travel Resources

Cinque Terre – Dolly Travels

Cinque Terre - Dolly

Today I want to continue writing about places in Italy that I will visit on my next trip, which is coming up pretty soon. Cinque Terre is one area that we will visit, and we will stay there for a few days.

Cinque Terre is unique, in that the area is comprised of 5 villages that hug the Ligurian Coast. These villages are isolated from the main body of Italy by rugged mountains at their back and the sea in front of them. For centuries, the primary commerce of this area has been fishing and that continues. Now there are also vineyards planted on the steep terraces. Lemon trees grow wherever they can gain a foothold.

Cinque Terre - Dolly

That little red line on the western edge of Italy denotes the location of Le Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre - Dolly

The villages, as viewed from the sea, look like colorful toy buildings that have been super-glued to the mountainsides. Corniglia, the middle village of the five, sits on a steep mountain. It is the only one of the villages that does not have direct access to the sea.

To get to the Cinque Terre, one takes a train to La Spezia, then change trains to a regional one that will stop at each of the small stations. The trip from La Spezia to Riomaggiore, the first of the little towns, takes about 4 minutes. The next stop, Manarola, is another 2 to 3 minutes, then Corniglia station is another few minutes; likewise, Vernazza then the last of the villages, Monterosso, takes 3 minutes from Vernazza. So, you can see, if you travel by train, the villages are very close to each other. However, many tourists come to the area to hike the trails that connect these towns.

There are two main trail systems here: the “Short Trail”, the one most familiar to hikers, follows the coastline for most of the hike; although the trail is usually high above the sea, the hiker has a scenic view from start to finish.

The second trail, the “High Trail”, runs above the towns, but the view from that high up is fantastic. That trail is longer, but as of this moment, that trail is open, while the Short Trail is only open from Vernazza to Monterosso, and possibly Vernazza to Corniglia. That depends on the weather and landslide conditions. The Short Trail has had sections closed since 2012, due to landslides, with no time frame in sight for getting them open again. That is sad, for those trails were such a remarkable adventure, and could be done from start to finish in a few hours.

In the past, for centuries, the only way to go from one village to another was by the trails, which were steep and not well-maintained. Therefore, when a tunnel was carved through the mountain that connected Riomaggiore and Manarola, the villagers could then visit with each other. More importantly, to some, the young people could form friendships and romances with young people from the other village. The path through the tunnel became known as the Via dell’ Amore, the “Road of Love”.

Cinque Terre - Dolly

This is the famous metal sculpture within the tunnel of the Via dell’ Amore. Note the padlocks on the railings. Supposedly, lovers would put the lock on the railing, then throw the key into the sea. That meant their love would last as long as the padlocks stayed on the railing. However, I noted that some of the locks were combination-type locks. What does that mean?

This part of the trail is now in a section that is closed, due to landslides. I hope it will soon be repaired and open again.

Cinque Terre - Dolly

Monterosso has the best beach area of all the villages. I love to come here, rent a chair and an umbrella for the day, and just hang out at the beach. The water is clear, and warm enough to enjoy a swim.

This area, Le Cinque Terre, is one of the most popular areas of Italy for tourists to visit. It has become quite crowded during the summer season, but I still like to be there. As I usually stay a few days, I find places to go that are quiet, when the main piazze are filled.

The older area of Monterosso is one place that I have found that is more peaceful.

I hope you have enjoyed my little travelogue about Cinque Terre. Put this area on you Bucket List to visit when you go to Italy.

Ciao for now,
Dolly

By Dolly – Full Story at Dolly Travels

Liguria Gay Travel Resources

Five Great London Museums – Keep Calm and Wander

London Museums - Keep Calm and Wander

Paying nothing to enter almost all galleries / museums in London is one of the best things about living in the city. They’re yours to see, admire and love. After visiting these 5 museums / galleries, I must say that nothing can be better than treading the floors of these destinations in a pursuit to have a rendezvous with some of the world-famous collections. Perhaps, if you’re living in this amazing city, going into these galleries (remember, it’s free!) is the best way to kill time.

1. Tate Modern

Situated along the South Bank, and opened in 2000, the Tate Modern houses some of the most spectacular ancient exhibits like that of the Pablo Picasso’s “Figure dans un Fauteuil”. I know it’s hard to pronounce, but let me tell you, it is a one-of-its-kind spectacle. All of the shapes forming the perfectly distressed image is more than worthy of everyone’s eyes. This is not all, however. The art gallery also has art relics from the time of Piet Mondrian, and particularly, his “Composition C” is a big eye-catcher. These are the permanent instalments of the gallery among other absorbing art pieces dotted along the walls of the gallery.

And most of all, when you’re done exploring the collections, go upstairs and enjoy a glass of wine and the view.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Keep Calm and Wander Gay Travel Resources

Washington State Kid Friendly Hikes – 2TravelDads

Washington State Kid Friendly Hikes

As the snow stops falling up in the mountains we start to get excited about hiking. There are so many easy, kid friendly hikes in Washington, so actually picking where to go first is the biggest struggle. We’ve checked in with some of our favorite Pacific Northwest families and bloggers for their favorite springtime hikes and I love our collective plan!

Kid friendly hikes in Washington State are plentiful. From hiking in the mountains to combing beaches, ancient forests to lush waterfalls, hiking in Washington is an adventure any time of year.

And don’t forget, most kid friendly hikes in Washington are also great for adults of varying hiking skill level. I mean, who doesn’t appreciate an incredible waterfall? Who doesn’t love feeling tiny walking among giants?

Tips for hiking with kids

Whether kids are hiking on their own or if you’ve got them in a hiking pack of some sort, the same rules apply. Prepare yourself mentally and with supplies and you’ll be good to go.

Full Story at 2TravelDads

Washington State Gay Travel Resources

Gay Toronto Clubs and Bars – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Toronto Clubs and Bars - The Nomadic Boys

We love the scene in gay Toronto. It is home to Canada’s largest gay community and welcomes visitors from all walks of life.

Just like the gay scene of Montreal, the gay village of Toronto is huge. It is located at the intersection of Church and Wellesley Streets, and therefore nicknamed the “Church and Wellesley Village”. This is where the majority of the best gay bars, clubs, restaurants, cafes and clothing stores can be found. It is also ground zero for the annual Pride week in the summer, which is one of the largest pride festivals in the world.

These are our 5 favourite gay Toronto bars and clubs, which you can also check out in our vlog about gay Toronto at the end of this article.

Woody’s

Woody’s is an institution in Toronto. From the outside it looks like 2 separate bars: Woody’s and Sailor’s. Inside, they connect and merge as one. This iss the staple go-to bar to start the night, with some of the funniest drag shows in town. It’s been around since 1989 making it the first bar in the village.

We love their “best” competitions on the weekends like best chest and best ass, where contestants are judged and winners based on who gets the loudest applause from the audience.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at The Nomadic Boys

Toronto Gay Travel Resources

Gay Nicaragua – The Globetrotter Guys

Gay Nicaragua

Gay Nicaragua? Again, like most countries we have visited in Central America, we knew very little about gay Nicaragua. During March we took a 9 day tour through Central America with STFLY. It was incredible, made our lives a lot easier and during the tour we were taken to some beautiful places including Laguna Beach Club which sat by the side of a volcanic crater lake.

Outside of the beach club we noticed the rainbow flag! We had to investigate further and managed to track down the owner for an interview to learn about gay Nicaragua.

Please introduce yourself to our readers:

My name is Stefan, I run a LGBTQ friendly hostel near a beautiful crystal clear freshwater lake in Nicaragua, my home country. I’ve lived in my workplace for around 2 years now and have greeted hundreds of visitors each day. The place is called “Laguna Beach Club”.

Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys

Nicaragua Gay Travel Resources

Sennen House – New Zealand Gay Friendly Guesthouse

Sennen House - New Zealand Gay Friendly Guesthouse

Indulge in the timeless elegance, luurious comforts & Victorian charm of this unique heritage-registered gem.

Set in 5 acres, yet only a stroll to Picton’s amenities, Sennen House offers unique and private accommodation.

Relax on sunny verandahs with views to grounds, hills or sea beyond.

See the Sennen House Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Picton Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

Lesbian Travel: Kentucky Houseboating – Go Girlfriend

Kentucky Houseboating - Go Girlfriend

Kentucky may not be the first destination that springs to mind when considering a getaway for you and your gal pals, and we wouldn’t blame you. Kentucky isn’t exactly a shopping mecca … But trust us when we tell you that Kentucky has a sweet something you and girlfriends will happily trade for the shopping, fine dining and shows. Your own private boat (the size of a yacht) complete with bar, hot tubs and ample room for partying.

Vegas, New York and Chicago, while sinfully delish, can’t always hold a candle to truly getting away – which is what you’ll do on the Cumberland River. Imagine a houseboat with 6 private bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and dining room, rooftop hot tub, central heat and air…Sounds sweet, right?

Safe Harbor Rentals operates from Burnside Marina and offers a variety of houseboats ranging from 64 to 80 feet long. Yes, you get to drive the boat and yes, you get to take it as far up the river as you like.

Before you panic, these boats are amazingly easy to operate – if I can do it, anyone can.

By Julia Rosien – Full Story at Go Girlfriend

Kentucky Gay Travel Resources