Southern Oregon Road Trip – 2TravelDads

Southern Oregon - 2TravelDads

We love our road trips, you know that, and living in the Pacific Northwest, we’re at the gateway to some of the best road trips in the United States. Oregon is our neighbor and we visit it a lot, but it’s rare that we really explore the south part of the state. This is our (future) award winning southern Oregon road trip that takes the best of the Cascades and pairs it with the Oregon Coast. This road trip itinerary is ideal in Spring and Summer and is great with kids!

When we found out we were heading to Southern Oregon we knew two things: the Umpqua National Forest and the southern coast are going to be fun and drastically different. The Cascade Mountains run from British Columbia to Northern California. They’re dotted with snowy peaks and dense forests, which when put together make for an epic collection of waterfalls. Doing a road trip with kids, we knew that we needed to pack in some big wow items, and waterfalls always do the trick.

For fun along the coast, we make it a habit to fly kites when possible, but when the weather doesn’t permit we do the next best thing: beach combing. Even in rainy weather the kids love searching for beach glass and interesting shells, so getting some time on the coast is perfect for us. In addition to the beach, there are lots of unique coastal experiences that are great for families. We made time to do fun activities we can’t do at home, including experiencing some of the natural phenomena of the Oregon Coast (see below).

If you’ve done a road trip with small to medium age kids, you know that being in the car is a bummer. We try to break up longer drive times with fun. Here are our top tips for ensuring every part of the road trip experience is awesome.

By Rob Taylor – Full Story at 2TravelDads

Southern Oregon Coast Gay Travel Resources

 

Another Beautiful Day in Puerto Vallarta – Dolly Travels

Puerto Vallarta - Dolly

Hola!

I know. I did not put the upside-down exclamation point at the beginning, as I should have done. Nevertheless, I want to write another post, and tell you more about this lovely city.

On Saturday, I went downtown to the weekly open market. There were many things to see and do. The market was busy, crowded, for apparently, many of the ex-pat locals get together at the market; I heard English spoken more than Spanish, and I just knew those people were not ordinary tourists, like me.

As so often happens at markets, some of the merchants do not have their own stall… Some have to wear their merchandise on their head.

I did not investigate the vegan taco/hamburger stand. It just did not sound right to me. It must seem right to others, though, for the stand was quite busy.

Later, I walked along the Malecon, starting at the southern end and walked back toward the Centro, near the Cathedral.

It certainly was a day to be in or close to the water.

Back in my own neighborhood, which is at the far northern end of Puerto Vallarta, by the Marina, I found some interesting sights that I probably would not see back home.

First, I saw two different versions of food trucks. I have made a habit of going for an early morning walk every day. This enterprising man was doing a booming business, every day. His customers were locals, I believe.

Yesterday, I left the marina and walked into an older neighborhood just a couple of blocks away. Another food truck was there. The man was a genius. He was standing at the tail gate of his truck. He had a griddle to his left, a pot of beans to his right, and a work station right in front of him. He was cutting up a piece of meat that just came off of some unseen pot, and he was chopping it up for tacos or burritos. He was doing a booming business, with customers coming out of the nearby shops, waiting for their breakfast. I stayed away, but the aroma from that truck certainly was enticing.

Many of the workers on the construction sites and other businesses nearby do not have their own transportation. Hotel workers receive bus fare from the employer, or some, like the Westin, run their own employee vans. Others, as these men below, just get into the back of a pick up truck.

Today, I am going to go back to town, and hopefully, walk the entire length of the Malecon, up and back, for there is just something about that two mile stretch of walkway along the seashore that keeps calling me back.

Then, this afternoon, I will relax under a palapa, sip a refreshing tropical drink, and end another happy day.

My goal for the afternoon…relaxing on the beach.

I will say, “Adios” for now. I will be back soon.

Dolly

Gay Sweden – The Globetrotter Guys

gay Sweden - The Globetrotter Guys

If you are looking for a beautiful and gay friendly destination in Europe, we highly recommend Sweden. We first visited Stockholm, the capital of gay Sweden, in 2018 on a gay press trip hosted by Stockholm LGBT. We learnt so much about being gay in Sweden – it was an incredibly positive experience!

We wrote all about gay Sweden (specifically Stockholm) in our Gay Guide to Stockholm, make sure you take a look!

But don’t just take our word for it. We are not so naive as to think that as tourists we always gain the full picture. This is why we connected with Swedish gay couple Alex and Marcus to learn what it is like for a gay local in Sweden.

Hi guys, please introduce yourselves!

Hi! My name is Marcus, I am 32 and I come from the small town of Eskilstuna, Sweden. I work in project management and communications.

Hi, my name is Alexander, I am 36 and from Gothenburg, Sweden and I am a huge film critic. We met online 8 years ago and have been married since 2017. We love traveling, cooking, fitness, and throwing theme parties at our place in Stockholm.

By Sion and ben – Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys

Sweden Gay Travel Resources

How Queer Families Choose a Travel Destination 0 Travel Pulse

gay family - pixabay

Choosing a family vacation destination is tough enough, with sometimes vastly different ideas of what would be cool to kids of different ages—not to mention what the parents want. But for queer families, there are added issues to consider. Is the destination welcoming? Does the family want to be with other queer families, or does that not matter to them?

There’s obviously no one-size-fits-all answer, but many LGBTQ families do consider whether the place they’re traveling is safe. Such is the case with New York-based Justin Huff, who travels with his husband and three-year-old child.

“I think safety is most important,” he said. “Being gay is one part of who I am and being safe and keeping my family safe is more important than beating someone over the head with sexual preference.”
And David Molino Dunn said that his family does tend to stay away from countries that have known anti-gay laws in place.

“We would rather avoid having a negative situation altogether. There are plenty of wonderful places we have yet to visit that would be much more welcoming to our family,” Dunn said. “I remember specifically driving a few extra hours to avoid having to stay the night in Mississippi one time. Better safe than sorry.”

Connecticut-based Dawn Ennis said that if it’s a place she feels safe, she doesn’t out herself or her queer children. But she’s generally not afraid to wear a transgender symbol or attire that speaks to LGBTQ rights.

By Paul Heney – Full Story at SOURCE

 

Five Gay Fort Lauderdale Guesthouses – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Fort Lauderdale Guesthouses - The Nomadic Boys

Not only is Florida one of the best spots for an awesome summer vacation, but Fort Lauderdale also happens to be one of the gay capitals of the southeast coast.

A local and affordable guesthouse is one of the best ways to spend your time in Fort Lauderdale, and where better than a gay-owned or clothing optional one?

There are a number of great places to stay in and around the famous Wilton Manors, the heart of the city’s gay scene. You’re spoilt for choice in terms of guesthouses in gay Fort Lauderdale and it can be hard to decide which one suits you best. Especially when you want to be as close as possible to Wilton Manors, but also to the popular gay beaches in the area.

So, we’ve put together a list of our favourite gay guest houses in Fort Lauderdale to help you pick the perfect spot for your next beach holiday in Florida.

1) The Grand Resort

Five minutes walk from the beach, with a wonderful host of staff and a spa that’s to die for, the Grand Resort and Spa is our favourite gay guest house in Fort Lauderdale.

While it’s a little bit on the pricey side, the privacy, level of service and amenities make it an excellent place to stay for a weekend getaway or a full holiday.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at The Nomadic Boys

gay Fort Lauderdale Gay Travel Resources

 

Spring in Provincetown

Spring has arrived in Provincetown.  The town is bustling, especially on the weekends.  Restaurant opening nights are happening every week and the calendar is filling up, highlighted by the Memorial Day Weekend May 24th through May 27th and Ptown Pride Weekend May 31st through June 3rd.  Check out the calendar below and head over to Provincetown for Spring fun.

APRIL

MAY

Ptown Dan and his partner Bob own the Somerset House Inn, an award winning Provincetown Bed and Breakfast.  Named the Best Bed and Breakfast on Cape Cod for 2018 by Cape Cod Magazine the Somerset House Inn is in the perfect Commercial Street location across the street from the water and walking distance to everything.  Check our visit our web site to make your reservations.  We look forward to welcoming you to Provincetown this Spring.

Zion National Park for Families – 2TravelDads

Zion National Park - 2TravelDads

One of the most popular National Parks in the United States is Zion National Park. Even though Yellowstone and Glacier hold our hearts, we may have just left another piece of them at Zion. Planning for and visiting Zion National Park with kids is really wonderful. There are boundless options for hiking and relaxing, and getting around the park is an adventure in itself. Here’s how you can make visiting Zion National Park easy and stress free… cuz that’s most important when there’s nature to be a part of.This is our guide to planning a Zion National Park visit. Below you’ll find tips for navigating the park experience, great ways to help kids (and adults) learn with National Park programs, and tips for transportation all around. If you have questions we don’t answer, leave us a comment or send us a note!

As adults, when we visit National Parks we stop into the ranger station or Visitor Center and pick our hikes and go. When you visit with kids there is more to consider, including educational opportunities and things you had no idea would be fascinating to them. Even though Zion might not be on a kid’s bucket list, they will want to enjoy themselves just as much as the adults do.

Visitors Centers and Ranger Programs

The first stop you need to make what you visit Zion National Park with kids is the Visitor Center. Located just inside the main entrance from Springdale, UT, it’s the one stop shop for trail information, ranger-led programs, and Zion NPS gear. This is always where you can register for more intense trails and canyoning and get your back country permits. The main Visitors Center is mostly a stop for info and swag.

For the traditional Visitor Center history and science information, you actually need to swing into the Zion Human History Museum. Here you’ll learn about early inhabitants of the park, how people have interacted with the land and nature, and there are more rangers available for conversation and to answer many of the non-technical questions. It’s a great place to visit if you’re doing Zion with kids so they can gain some understanding and connection with the area.

By Rob Taylor – Full Story at 2TravelDads

Utah Gay Travel Resources

 

Gay Friendly Seychelles – The Gay UK

Gay Friendly Seychelles - pixabay

When you think of dream beach getaways and idyllic honeymoon destinations there are a few locations that spring to mind. You might consider the Caribbean, plan to bounce over to Bermuda, or maybe even the Maldives. Unfortunately, the sad truth is all those countries still class being gay as a criminal act. So there’s one clear winner when it comes to the best place to go for a gay beach vacation, the Seychelles aka the GAYchelles!

In May 2016, the Seychelles Parliament voted to amend Section 151 of their Penal Code that named sodomy a felony that was punishable with up to 14 years in prison. While the news wasn’t especially well-received by religious leaders, it was a landmark decision that gives gay travel enthusiasts added confidence in visiting the stunning 115-island country off the East African coast, making it one of the few African countries to decriminalize the gays.

With male-male intercourse now legal (lesbian sex was always fine apparently), the gay friendly Seychelles have even legalised same-sex marriage, and gay residents are able to legally adopt children as a couple. That being said, the predominantly Catholic country is still fairly conservative, operating a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy to all visitors, but with any hostility directed more towards locals than tourists.

By Nick Baker – Full Story at The Gay UK

 

Gay Urban Scotland – Towleroad.com

Kilts - Deposit Photos

When you think of Scotland, you may think of a rustic, romantic countryside with rolling hills and majestic Lochs. But in addition to the country’s picturesque pastoral views, there’s tons to discover in Scotland’s urban centers.

LGBTQ travelers in particular should put gay urban Scotland at the top of their travel to-dos. Scotland has been considered one of the best countries in all of Europe for LGBTQ equality, legalizing same-sex marriage in 2014 and banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity since 2010.

Scotland’s urban centers boast outstanding culinary options, vibrant nightlife, world-class arts and thriving LGBTQ communities.

Check out some highlights of Scotland’s urban metropolises below, and visit VisitScotland to plan your trip today.

Home to the world’s largest arts festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Scotland’s capital is the perfect place to see the most exciting artists of today and tomorrow alongside a city so rich with history its Old Town and New Town have been designated World Heritage sites by UNESCO.

By Andy – Full Story at Towleroad.com

Southern Scotland Gay Travel Resources

 

Ten Gay Friendly Tokyo Hotels – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Friendly Tokyo Hotels - The Nomadic Boys

Tokyo is a lot of fun! Each time we’ve visited, we’ve always had a hilarious time partying in the gay bars of Shinjuku. The city is notorious for having over 300 tiny bars crammed together into a small space centred around Shinjuku’s Ni-chōme (Area 2).

In terms of finding a place to stay, Tokyo has an array of gay friendly hotels to choose from. But be warned, whilst Tokyo is not as expensive as it used to be, hotels are not the cheapest here. Despite this, we’ve also managed to find a few gay friendly budget options to include in this list.

Please note that while many of these hotels have lovely swimming pools and on-site spa and sauna areas, all travellers to Japan should be aware that if you have tattoos you may not be permitted in public bathing areas. While it’s not likely that pools in hotels are being ‘policed’, it’s something to be mindful of and if you are really looking forward to swimming, maybe check the specific policy of the hotel before your trip.

These are the 10 best gay friendly Tokyo hotels that we loved, where we had no problems getting a double bed, and where we felt welcomed as a gay couple.

Tokyo is a massive city so it can be daunting to try and figure out the best areas to stay, especially if it’s your first time. These are our thoughts on the best neighbourhoods to stay in Tokyo for gay travellers.

Shinjuku: Shinjuku is our favourite part of Tokyo because it is the gay hub of the city! It’s also a good area for tourists as there are lots of options for accommodation, shopping and entertainment. Being near the Shinjuku train station is especially handy since this is one of the busiest stations in the world, which means you will easily be able to get to other parts of the city from here. Our favourite gay friendly hotel to stay in Shinjuku is Keio Plaza.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys