Toronto Island – Go Girlfriend

Toronto Island - Go Girlfriend

The multi-cultural megacity of Toronto, Ontario, Canada can boast a wooded, rural, non-hectic getaway gem just a short ferry ride into Lake Ontario – think New York City with it’s Central Park, but in Toronto, with beaches. While only 300 ft into Lake Ontario with no bridge link, the island’s charm and non-commercialism is a relaxing respite from Toronto’s high rises and city center just a short distance away.

Take a picnic, put on your bathing suit (or take it off at the one of a few of Canada’s official Clothing Optional beaches), rent a tandem bike or family quadracycle or stroll the miles of walking trails in the wooded greenery bird-watching, swimming in Lake Ontario, or exploring Centreville Theme Park. On a summer’s afternoon, there’s a full day of activities to keep yourself and your family busy!

Getting to the Toronto Islands by Ferry is the easy part (it’s a relaxing 15-minute ferry ride), getting into the downtown core to park may be the challenge. Public transit is best if you live in or near Toronto, but for those outside the city, there is ample parking available at the numerous lots (especially on weekends) near the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. Expect about $20 for the day’s parking.

By Stacy Rosien – Full Story at Go Girlfriend

Toronto Gay Travel Resources

 

Romantic, Gay Toronto – The Nomadic Boys

Romantic, Gay Toronto - The Nomadic Boys

Toronto is an exciting city in Canada to visit. It has over 40 million visitors each year, and is home to 8,100 restaurants and bars. This is one of the most diverse places on our planet, with over 180 languages and dialects spoken.

Toronto is also a very fun place to come as a couple. We loved discovering the many touristic sites here, especially the CN Tower and the massive aquarium. Following our visit, we’ve put together our 5 favourite romantic things to do in Toronto to inspire your trip.

Romantic Dinner at the CN Tower

The CN Tower is one of the most iconic buildings in the city. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, and when adding in the height of its antenna on top, it’s the tallest freestanding structure in the western hemisphere, standing proud at 553m/1,815ft. It was built in the 1960s by the Canadian National Railway (CN) because they wanted a communications tower tall enough so that any radio or TV communications from it would not be obstructed by the many other high-rise buildings in the city.

As well as being able to visit the tower for the best views across the city, it also has a revolving restaurant to dine at. We had one of our favourite romantic meals here at the tower’s 360 The Restaurant. The food is delicious, with a mix of fresh sea food, steaks and other local classics. Definitely one for a special occasion.

Queer Toronto: Five Must-See Events – The Nomadic Boys

Queer Toronto - The Nomadic Boys

Toronto is one of the most exciting gay destinations in Canada. It has an awesome gay scene, and like the gay events in Montreal, it also has its fair share of gay events taking place each year.

These are our 5 best gay events in Toronto you should consider checking out and planning your trip around.

FEBRUARY IN QUEER TORONTO: Rhubarb Festival

The Rhubarb Festival is Canada’s longest-running new works festival, taking place at the awesome Buddies in Bad Times theatre in the gay village of Toronto. It is a 10 days festival every February, which started in 1979. It has since grown from strength to strength each year, and is today funded partly by the government, partly by private sponsors.Rhubarb is a festival where artists explore new possibilities in theatre, dance, music, and performance art. This is the place to come and see the most adventurous ideas in performance. During the festival there are around 3/4 shows taking place, and no two nights of Rhubarb are ever alike.  For more information, check out the Rhubarb archive on the Buddies in Bad Times website.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at The Nomadic Boys

Queer Toronto – 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 Toronto – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Toronto - The Nomadic Boys

Watch our weekend in Toronto as we set out to discover the gay scene and the nightlife. We went to gay bars like Woody’s, which have the best drag shows, and we danced at awesome gay clubs like Fly. We also had a yummy brunch at Lola’s Kitchen. All of these places are located in Toronto’s gay village.

We also did some sightseeing in Toronto, such as the CN Tower and the huge Aquarium.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at The Nomadic Boys

Toronto Gay Travel Resources

Lesbian Ottawa – Curve Magazine

Lesbian Ottawa

This year, tourism to Canada hit a 14-year high, with international arrivals increasing by 16%. This renewed romance is due in part to the splendor of the 150th anniversary of Canada and its multitudinous celebrations, but also perhaps because our Northern neighbor demonstrates a commitment to openness, inclusion, diversity, and welcomes foreign nations in a way that seems sorely lacking in the U.S. these days. As the world’s second-largest country, stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific and Arctic oceans, there is a lot to explore in Canada, and the best place to begin is in the nation’s capital of Ottawa, which is, of course, the home of LGBTQ ally, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

So where should you make your home base when visiting Ottawa? If you wish to stay somewhere that treats you like an official dignitary, choose Fairmont Château Laurier, a sprawling and splendid fairytale castle that embodies the history, tradition, and grandeur of this inspiring city. Over 100 years, this iconic hotel has hosted the international elite—including Princess Diana, Marlene Dietrich, and the Dalai Lama! It’s the best luxury 5-star hotel in Downtown Ottawa, and an elegant centerpiece of the city, prestigiously located between Parliament Hill, the picturesque Rideau Canal, the Congress Center and all the major arts and cultural attractions.

With 426 charming guest rooms decorated with old-world style, many with views of Parliament, it’s not hard to feel like a VIP, especially when sipping a cocktail on La Terrasse and watching the sunset over the canal. If you’re interested in walls that talk, take a narrated self-guided tour of the castle and discover its rich history. Just sign in for an iPad at the front desk.

By Merryn Johns – Full Story at Curve Magazine

Ottawa Gay Travel Resources

Toronto's West Queen West

Gladstone Hotel - West Queen West West Queen West, as locals have dubbed it, is the lesser-explored stretch of Toronto’s main shopping thoroughfare. It remains relatively spared from mega-chain stores while catering to a gayer, art-savvier population. Start your day at the Gladstone Hotel), a historic landmark and cultural center where you can enjoy a spot of tea — with a scone — while browsing cutting-edge installations on the upper floors. More eye candy awaits as you head east toward Ossington Avenue. Check out the nearby Twist Gallery — a 5,000-square-foot converted loft space with arched windows and exposed wooden beams — showcasing noteworthy local photographers and art events. Down a few blocks, the Stephen Bulger Gallery (BulgerGallery.com) is one of the most respected photography showrooms in the country. Recent exhibits have included works by Joel Meyerowitz and Vivian Maier, and Bulger also hosts free film screenings every Saturday in their 50-seat projection room and bar, Camera.

By Julien Sauvalle – Full Story at Out Magazine

Toronto Gay Travel Resources

Other Gay Travel Events

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Tempting Toronto

Toronto My friend Ming and I had been housemates in London and I was a bit gutted when he decided to move to Toronto. He seemed to settle in quickly to his adopted city, so it didn’t take much persuading from him before I was cashing in my air-miles and making my first visit to Canada. I’d subconsciously decided not to like Toronto – I was here to remind Ming what he was missing out on in London and, in my own subtle way, encourage him to move back. I took a taxi from the airport to Ming’s house in the Trinity-Bellwoods neighborhood. After dropping off my luggage, it was straight out to dinner with Ming, his boyfriend Terry, and his friend Moine. It was a short wait for a table at izakaya-style Japanese restaurant Guu but we were soon tucking into tasty sharing plates of chicken, pork, and beef, all washed down with beer. ‘Irasshaimase!’ shouted the happy restaurant staff every time someone arrived – this is a busy, noisy, vibrant place. Undeniably great food.

By Gareth Johnson – Full Story at Gay Star News

Toronto Gay Travel Resources

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Trinity House Inn – Gay 100 Islands Bed & Breakfast

Trinity House Inn Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay: It is with great pride and enthusiasm that we welcome you to the Trinity House Inn. Our completely restored Inn offers individually appointed guest accommodations, fine dining, sofa lounge, open air rocking chair porch and sun verandah and award winning Victorian Waterfall gardens. Trinity House Inn is for those who appreciate old-world charm and hospitality, together with the genuine beauty of surroundings and the quality of comfort it brings. From the beautiful profusion of summertime flowers gracing the front steps to the distinctive lines of the bronze blue herons poised just inside the vestibule entrance to the exquisitely restored 1859 dwelling, the intrinsic beauty and old-world charm of Gananoque’s Trinity House Inn is readily apparent for all to see. Today’s look encompasses one of exceptional attention to detail, from the proliferation of wonderful antiques throughout to the silky elegance of the rose on the pillow. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through our Victorian perennial gardens with ponds, statues and a small waterfall where the chefs harvest herbs and flowers for your dinner. The Innkeeper gave the suites names like ‘Camelot’, ‘Beau Rivage’, ‘Prince Regent’ and ‘Aubrey’ to commemorate favourites among the Thousand Islands. Each of the eight guest rooms are individually appointed and offer modern amenities for the sophisticated traveller.

See the Trinity House Inn Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals in Ontario

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Gull River PostCard – Lesbian Vacation Rental in Norland, ON, Canada

Gull River PostCard Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay: Welcome to the Gull River PostCard, a 3 bedroom waterfront rental with over 1700 square feet of living space and 500 square feet of deck overlooking the scenic Gull River. With one entire wall of windows overlooking the river and the forest beyond, the PostCard is perfect for any season. Bring your boat! Launch either upstream at the Lutterworth Township Public launch or downstream at the Elliot Falls Public launch. Either way, your boat can dock @ the PostCard, waiting to carry you up river to Moore Lake and East Moore Lake, popular destinations for fishing, swimming, and pleasure boating. Bring your water toys! The Gull River, with its soft current and beautiful water, welcomes you! Swim, kayak, canoe, paddleboard … all are common uses of this lovely waterway. Kids love the beach area and parents appreciate the shallow “wade in/play in” swim space between the docks. Guest WIFI extends to the waterfront area so you can stream tunes and stay connected while enjoying the sun, water, forest and sky. Bring your fishing gear! There are terrific bass fishing spots downstream, upstream and in Moore and East Moore Lakes. Moore Lake is regularly stocked with lake trout. A seemingly endless supply of rock bass and other sunfish are easily caught right off the dock. If you are in a boat, check carefully along the east shore of the Gull River for pockets of hard-fighting perch – delightful fun to catch! Bring your hiking boots, camera, and binoculars! In addition to the lovely woodland surrounding the Gull River PostCard, you are 10 minutes from the Altberg Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Reserve, Ontario’s largest nature reserve. Just to the north, Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park is a highly rated “backcountry” hiker’s dream, offering some of the most unspoiled wilderness you will ever see in Ontario. Bring your friends and family! The Gull River PostCard can sleep 6-8 people without using the great room. With the great room, groups of 12 are possible. With three comfortable bedrooms, as well as a pullout couch in the living area, a full kitchen, and a living room that is approximately 35 feet x 17 feet, you will not be wanting for space. Bring the gang that never has time to just hang out together. In the cooler weather, enjoy the cozy fireplace. In the summer, swim, boat, roast some marshmallows, and tell some stories at the outdoor fire pit. Relax and enjoy some “together” time.

See the the Gull River Postcard Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals in Central Ontario

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