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The Best of the Best, Part 2 – Traveling in Our Fabulous Gay World

January 12, 2019 by J. Scott Coatsworth

In our last travel column we listed 5 of our favorite 10 Gay accommodations where we have stayed. Over 18 years years we have traveled coast to coast and have stayed in over 100 Gay owned resorts, hotels, motels and Bed and Breakfasts. We are listing the second 5 here. Most of them have been very fine experiences and some were just ‘so so’ and a few have not been very good. It is like in the old days about Gay bars. All you had to do was open a Gay bar and you automatically had a lot of business. However Gay bars in the country are fading fast and over half of them closed in the past 10 years.

Over 40 of the Gay owned accommodations where we have stayed over the years are no longer in business. Most closed due to lack of business, some owners either retired or gone into another business or have died. 90% of the ones that have closed was due to poor management either by the owners themselves or by their staff. In today’s world Gays demand and are accustomed to a nice clean and safe place to stay. We have stayed in places that never changed water or put new chemicals in their hot tub, had ratty linens and no personalized service. And then they wonder why they did not have any returning customers and had to go out of business. Thankfully, there are those owners who respect their customers and want them to return again and again. Good for them! Below is a list of the other 5 of the best, where we have stayed and have stayed several time with them where we have always had a great experience.

PIKES PEAK INN, IN WOODLAND PARK, COLORADO

To get way from it all, we highly suggest staying the Pikes Peak Inn in Woodland, Colorado. If you ever need to get away from it all, then head to the High Mountains in Colorado. Pikes Peak Paradise Bed and Breakfast is THE place to go. It is located just 18 miles west of Colorado Springs and just to the south of Woodland Park also known as “The City Above The Clouds”. Woodland Park is located at 8,465 feet above sea level on the north slope of Pikes Peak and is surrounded by over a million acres of Pike National Forest. Pikes Peak Paradise B & B is located on 4 acres of private land. The views of the mountains and of Pikes Peak are breath-taking. And they are over 9,000 feet in elevation. All of the rooms/suites face south towards Pikes Peak. You are surrounded by trees mountains and more trees and mountains. You can watch deer everywhere. A full gourmet sit-down breakfast is served each day. In all of our travels, they make the finest gourmet breakfast! Ron Pijut is the owner and is a fabulous host. Check out their website at www.pikespeakparadise.com and their toll free number is 800-728-8282.

BROWN STREET INN IN IOWA CITY, IOWA

It is owned by Mark Ruggeberg and Bob Brooks. They have operated the Inn for more than 12 years. It is located at 430 Brown Street which is just a short walk to downtown. It is located in a lovely two story old home and decorated to perfection. Casual elegance in Iowa City’s historic Brown Street neighborhood. It is a 1913 Dutch Colonial Style Mansion and located on a very quiet street and within walking distance to downtown as well as to the University of Iowa campus. Mark and Bob are fabulous hosts. Their website is www.brownstreetinn.com Their toll free number to make reservations is 319.338.0435. Their email is info@brownstreetinn.com They have 5 rooms and one huge suite. They have a computer for guests as well as WiFi for those who bring their laptops. These gentlemen do EVERYTHING the right way.

GASLIGHT INN BED AND BREAKFAST IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

The Gaslight Inn B and B in Seattle is areal jewel. Their website is www.gaslight-inn.com and you can call them at (206) 325-3654. This Seattle bed and breakfast became a city-designated landmark 2015. Located on Capitol Hill, the city’s most exciting, convenient, walkable neighborhood – in the heart of gay Seattle. The Inn features great Northwest art, fireplaces in the lobby and in some guest rooms, and a heated seasonal pool in the back yard. Just minutes from downtown and Elliot Bay. Their address is 1727 15th Ave., Seattle, WA, 98122. Stephen Bennett is the owner and has owned it for many years. He has a lot of guests who return year after year. City bus stops are just a block away that will take you anywhere in the city that you would want to go. They have 8 furnished rooms in his magnificent Arts and Crafts home. This Seattle Bed and Breakfast became a city-designated landmark 2015.

EUREKA SPRINGS IN ARKANSAS

(Donald and Ray with Mr. Bill, owner of the New Delhi Cafe)

What can be said about this beautiful hidden town in the Arkansas. It is truly the Gay Mecca in the entire Midwest! Travelers come from all over the Midwest and points beyond to visit there. Their are 26 listings on purpleroofs.com find the perfect B and B just for you. Eureka Springs has a population of just over 2,000 with most of the business Gay owned. Mayor Robert “Butch” Berry has done an outstanding job at bringing thousands of tourists throughout the years. This is a very laid back town where everybody gets along with everyone. While dining you might be sitting next to a black leather motorbike guy and on the other side a lady in a fur coat. We have visited Eureka many times over the years and it is always a very unique experience. When visiting BE SURE and go to the New Delhi Cafe located right downtown. Mr.Bill is the owner and a REAL Prince of a guy! https://newdelhieureka.com/styled/index.html. They have fabulous food, drink and a huge patio. Anyone who is somebody goes there!Check out purpleroofs.com for a complete listing on all the Bed and Breakfasts. Also check out https://www.eurekasprings.org/tag/lgbt/

Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone!

TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married).

Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

Estes Park with Kids – 2TravelDads

August 15, 2018 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Colorado is full of all kinds of wonderful small towns, from old mining towns to ski villages, the prairie and the mountains. Our favorite Colorado mountain town is Estes Park. It’s cute, surrounded by epic landscapes and is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. We escaped the bustle of Denver for four days and have come up with our best activities for families planning to do Estes Park with kids.

If you aren’t into lounging by the pool, Estes Park is going to be your new favorite getaway (and I’m sure there are a few pools to lounge by there too). Check out our top things to do in Estes Park with kids.

Locale of Estes Park, Colorado

Let’s just say this now, no matter what day you’re heading to Estes Park with kids (or for a grown up getaway) be sure to leave early in the day before rush hour. You’ll no doubt be coming from Denver, and while traffic isn’t half as bad as LA or Seattle, driving on the 25 during peak traffic hours is a lengthy, irritating experience. If you can do the drive against traffic or in off-hours, it should take less than 1.5 hours to get to Estes Park.

Estes Park is set just up into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The Big Thompson River runs through the town as several small forks, converging just east of the city. This makes getting your bearings in town a little tricky at first, but once you’ve driven through a few times you’re good to go.

By Rob Taylor – Full Story at 2TravelDads

Estes Park Gay Travel Resources

Queer Denver With Kids – 2TravelDads

July 18, 2018 by J. Scott Coatsworth

We love time in the Rocky Mountains, but it’s rare that we get to enjoy it in Colorado. We’re exploring Denver and beyond this week and it’s started with a bang! Planning for the family to visit Colorado was as simple as Googling “Denver + hiking + kids + science”. OMG. Let’s just say that it’s given us the perfect Denver area itinerary for the week.

We’ve partnered up with Visit Colorado, Visit Denver and Visit Estes Park to make sure that we can experience and share our most interesting and totally Colorado sites. If you have some ideas for places for us to visit or any insider tips, please share!

Starting in Denver: Lunch at Steuben’s

We landed in Denver to blue skies and no traffic. Score! After picking up our car and heading into the city, we immediately sought out lunch (even if it was a bit earlier than normal). We headed right to Steuben’s Uptown on the recommendation of a friend and it was ideal for the family. Straight out of the 60s, it was a great taste of Denver with healthy options as a standard for kids and craft beer at the ready for the dads. With roasted chicken, Philly cheese and edamame with cucumbers, we were set. And driving around the neighborhood we saw many more cool foodie spots that we MUST come back to. Just another reason to Visit Colorado more often.

By Rob Taylor – Full Story at 2TravelDads

Denver Gay Travel Resources

Family Skiing in Vail – 2TravelDads

May 19, 2018 by J. Scott Coatsworth

You may or may not know this, but we (Rob and Chris) aren’t big skiers. In fact we avoid it, but there are loads of incredible people and adventurous parents that love to ski with their family. One of our 2TravelDads writing team, Rich, is all about skiing with the fam, especially teaching his young daughter to ski. Family skiing in Vail, Colorado is one of their favorite winter activities and Rich is here to share just how to do family skiing in Vail… with a toddler.

Skiing is both a solitary and social endeavor. Alone, you negotiate down a mountain with planks bound to your feet, gliding on snow, going 50 mph. The winter wonderland scenery, the rush of adrenaline, the fear of a painful wipe-out is also best when shared with the whole family. My husband, Brian and I are very avid and dedicated skiers and we’ve chase pow from the French Alps to Chile to Japan. When we both dreamed of eventually becoming Dads we wondered “can we still ski regularly and be parents?”

While it can be logistical challenge to check skis, snowboards, boot bags, pack ‘n play, suit cases, etc., it can also be a very worthwhile experience your child will remember and cherish. As long as you keep your expectations in line, center the activities around family, and come back in one piece, you can make it work. I can’t think of better place to do this than the beautiful and surprisingly accessible town of Vail, Colorado.

Full Story at 2TravelDads

Northwest Colorado Gay Travel Resources

Frisco Lodge – Gay Friendly Frisco Bed & Breakfast

October 25, 2017 by J. Scott Coatsworth

The Frisco Lodge is a gay friendly Frisco bed & breakfast nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. We first opened our doors in 1885 as a stagecoach stop for the miners on their way to strike in rich in Idaho Springs. Stay in our historic lodge and travel back in time.

As soon as you enter the Frisco Lodge, you will be immersed in yesteryear with Victorian ambiance. We offer much more than a place to sleep. Enjoy our complimentary bicycles, Wi-Fi, HD TV’s equipped with digital channels and a movie library.

After your mountain adventure, relax in our soothing outdoor hot tub and warm up by our adjoining fireplace. During the evening we offer a tantalizing happy hour with hors d’oeuvre and two glasses of wine. Each morning we serve a picture worthy breakfast complete with lattes and cappuccinos. Our homemade Belgian waffles and freshly cut fruit will give you the energy to take on our majestic Colorado landscapes.

Our family-owned bed and breakfast has been delighting guests for 57 years. We believe in, “Your Home Away from Home,” mantra to ensure your stay in the mountains are a memorable one. We have kings, queens, doubles and family suites to accommodate any sized party.

We are located right in the heart of Main Street for convenient shopping and dining. Frisco, Colorado adjacent to five world class ski resorts and offers a free bus to get from town to town. Our lodge has a bus stop a block from our front door.

The area also has a slew of activities to do between snowfalls and especially in the summer. We hope you let us wine and dine you on your next mountain exploration.

See the Frisco Lodge Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Northwestern Colorado Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

Pikes Peak Paradise B&B – Woodland Park Gay Bed & Breakfast

August 16, 2017 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay:

Pikes Peak Paradise offers amazing panoramic views of Pikes Peak and a million acres of Pikes National Forest – the best views in the area on over four wooded acres.

Ron and Michael have renovated this Pikes Peak boutique B&B with imported euro modern furnishings, and a beautiful collection of fine art. Our five updated guest suites offer brand-new 1000-1200 thread-count linens, plush down pillows and comforters, duvet covers, Egyptian cotton towels, and Soybu Robes.

Luxury amenities at Pikes Peak Paradsie include private in-room 2 person Jacuzzi tubs, hot tubs that hold up to 4, baths, fireplaces and decks. We also offer wireless internet access, Flat Screen TVs, Code Free CD/DVD Players, romantic music and over six hundred films on DVD. In addition to our wonderful gourmet breakfasts, we offer snacks and soft drinks throughout the day, dessert in the evening, and a four hour complimentary happy our with beer and wine!

Our Pikes Peak location is just 40 minutes from Colorado Springs Airport, and two hours from Denver International.

Pikes Peak Paradise is also the perfect location to get married, with Oikes Peak and the national forest as your backdrop. We can host up to fifty people for your wedding day, and can also help you customize your day to fit in your budget and your needs. Call or email us for our Guest Guide and more details and photos. Our facility charge includes table and chair set-uo, table linens, and napkins, and dinner settings.

We’re in the mountains, but 10-20 minutes from many attractions:

Local restaurants and shops in Woodland Park.
Garden of the Gods
Pikes Peak National Park
Cave of the Winds
Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center
Florissant Fossil Beds National Park
Mueller State Park
Horse Back Riding
Manitou Springs – Artists’ Town

Within thirty-forty minutes, you’ll find:

Seven Falls
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Olympic Training Center
Air Force Academy
Molly Kathleen Gold Mine
Cripple Creek – Gambling

And we’re just an hour and a half from:

Royal Gorge
Holy Cross Abbey Winery
White Water Rafting
Skiing
Snowmobiling

Pikes Peak Paradise is a beautiful, private, quiet location a romantic getaway, anniversary, honeymoon, and small wedding or commitment ceremony. Come stay with us in beautiful Woodland Park, Colorado.

See the Pikes Peak Paradise B&B Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals in South Central Colorado

Gay Denver Hot Spots

May 13, 2017 by J. Scott Coatsworth

As the largest city in a 600-mile radius, LGBTI men and women from all over the West have flocked to gay Denver.

Take a trip with Eli as he finds out why people love being LGBTI in gay Denver, Colorado and showcases some of the top gay hotspots.

The 30-something local, who works as a creative director in pharmaceuticals, knows the Mile High City’s gay scene inside out, and will also be introducing readers to some of his hot friends. To find out more about the scene, visit the LGBTI portal on the Visit Denver website.

By David Calderon – Full Story at Gay Star News

Denver Gay Travel Resources

TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver

April 22, 2017 by J. Scott Coatsworth

When we were in Denver last month we visited the fabulous Red Rocks Amphitheatre which is just about 10 miles west of Denver and located in the Red Rock Park.. The outdoor venue is remarkable as it is nestled right into the red rocks.

It hosts over 9,500 attendees per concert. The stage is at the bottom and the people look down at them and can also see the skyline of Denver 10 miles away. There is a 100 foot difference between the top row of seats and the stage below. The altitude is 6,400 feet so be careful, An estimated 750,000 non-concertgoers visit Red Rocks every year.

They have been having musical concerts there for over 100 years. In 2016 they had 73 concerts. Artists perform on a stage nestled in the perfect acoustical surroundings of Red Rocks.

They are booked up year round and some of the entertainers who have performed at Red Rocks are the Beatles, opera singer Mary Garden, Jimmy Hendrix, Vanilla Fudge and Soft Machine. Others includes Jethro Tull, John Denver, Sonny and Cher, Seals & Crofts, Carole King, U2, Ray Charles and Peter, Paul & Mary. The Grateful Dead Widespread Panic holds the record for the most sold-out performances and has performed there 51 times! The beloved Dolly Parton performed to a sold out audience and the crowd roared and roared simply because she is such a FABULOUS ENTERTAINER!

The Amphitheatre is located in Red Rocks Park and free to everyone. At the Amphitheatre they have a Visitor’s Center which is also free and features interactive educational displays, a short film on it’s geologic and musical history and a “Performer Hall of Fame”.

In the park they have a Trading Post which has been open since the 1930’s. In front of the Trading Post they have a larger than life-size bronze of singer John Denver. This is a place where you can spend a few hours or all day. Take a picnic lunch with you and dine “al fresco”. Except for the concerts, everything is free at Red Rocks. Check out http://redrocksonline.com/ before you arrive in Denver. This is certainly one of the ‘wonders of the country”.

While in Denver one needs to dine at the MILE HIGH HAMBURGER MARYS. It is a great place to go for casual dining. They have Hamburger Mary restaurants in several cities around the country however this is one of the best ones. Located just a few blocks east of downtown Denver at 1336 East 17th Avenue. Call 303.993.5812 for reservations.

They are open 7 days a week and their Sunday brunches are to die for! This is a FUN place and always plenty of action going on. They have a large selection on their menu. We dined there twice and both times the service was great and so was the meals. They also have a full service bar.

This is always a great place to meet old friends and make new friends. Before going to Denver be sure and check out their website: http://www.hamburgermarys.com/denver/ and you can keep up with all their specials and daily activities that they have at
https://www.facebook.com/MarysDenver/ They have new owners who know how to run a restaurant and we know that they will be around for a long time because they take good care of all of their guests. Service and food is what it is all about in the restaurant business and MILE HIGH HAMBURGR MARYS has them both. We wish them the very best of success. They certainly deserve it!

We want to say a VERY SPECIAL thanks to Tony Smith in Denver for assisting us on finding interesting and fun things to do and see while visiting Denver.

Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone!

Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

Colorado Gay Travel Resources

TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Denver Museum of Nature and Science

April 15, 2017 by J. Scott Coatsworth

When we were recently in Denver we visited the Denver Museum of Nature and Science which is a remarkable museum for everyone to visit. It is one of the finest such museums in the country. The Museum has been there since 1908.

Among the many wonderful things to see at the museum are the world famous wildlife dioramas. They have specimens from six continents. The dioramas have re-created the habitats using paneled backgrounds, special lights and carefully crafted reproductions of plants and flowers . The Museum has 89 wildlife dioramas.

Among the dozens of different things that the museum has are a Planetarium, IMAX Theatre as well as exhibits on everything concerning nature and science including space. Needless to say, this is a VERY LARGE museum full of thousands of things to see. While we were there, they had a very special exhibit, VIKINGS: Beyond the Legend that included a very large collection of items and the visitor’s stood in long lines to get a glimpse of the exhibit.

It was VERY popular for young and old alike. The exhibition takes you back to Scandinavia in 750 to 1100 CE. The exhibits includes examples of the work of highly skilled craftspeople who used textiles, wood, metal, bone, leather, glass and ceramics to create pieces for domestic life, ornamentation as well as what they used in battle. It will take you several hours to visit the museum so be sure and give yourself enough time. They also have a cafe and gift shop.

The Museum is located at 2001 Colorado Boulevard just east of downtown and you can visit their website, http://www.dmns.org.which will give you full details about their exhibits. The museum is open 7 days a week from 9 AM to 5 PM. Their phone number is 303 . 370 . 6000 and a very special THANK YOU to Maura O’Neal in the Press Department at the Museum.

After you spend your day at the Museum you will be ready for a very delightful dining experience and we can not think of anyplace better than RACINES RESTAURANT which is located just southeast of downtown and a few blocks northwest of the Cherry Creek shopping district of Denver. Their address is 650 Sherman Street and call 303 . 595 . 0418 to make reservations. Check out their website at www.racinesrestaurant.com.

This is a fine upscale restaurant and has been welcoming guests since 1983. They are open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night. You can dine at the bar or a booth, however we prefer dining at a table and their dining room has a great warm atmosphere. They also have an outdoor patio which is always packed on nice days. They have free parking in their garage next door with valet parking. They are open Monday thru Thursday from 7 AM to 10 PM, Friday hours are from 7 AM to 11 PM, Saturday hours are 8 AM to 11 PM and Sunday hours are 8 AM to 10 PM.

They offer a complete menu to please any guest. We started off with their French Onion soup which was prepared perfect followed by a salad and then for our entree we had the lamb shank which was prepared perfectly. For dessert we had a banana cream pie and key lime pie. Table service was impeccable! Our server, Sam knew exactly how to take care of patrons and she was an extremely professional server. The restaurant was packed with patrons who were all enjoying their dining experience.

In our travels from coast to coast we dine at a lot of different restaurants.

Just because a building has four walls, some tables and chairs and a freezer/refrigerator full of food, does not make a great restaurant. To have a great restaurant it is all about the people involved in the restaurant… the owners, the manager, the chefs, cooks, servers, host and bartenders. Racines has it all!

The manager, Ms. Baker has been with the restaurant for years and years and she knows the proper way to run a restaurant as does the owners. It is such a joy to have a wonderful dining experience and Racines knows exactly what to do to make their guests happy. They have a huge following that dines with them all the time. Thanks Racines and thanks to the owners and to Ms. Baker and staff for having such a great restaurant! This is certainly a MUST DINE AT restaurant in Denver. This is THE place to be and to be seen and to mingle with other guests.

Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone!

Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

Colorado Gay Travel Resources

TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: The Denver LGBT Center

April 9, 2017 by J. Scott Coatsworth

In our travels from coast to coast we usually contact and visit the LGBT Centers in each city where we stop. Last week we were in Denver, Colorado and toured the Denver LGBT Center. In all of our travels it is one of the finest in the country. “THE CENTER-Advancing LGBT Colorado” offers something for everyone. From teenagers to senior citizens their center has a huge staff of volunteers to help and assist everyone. They have different exhibits during the year and while we were there we got to see ‘Ain’t Nobody’s Business: LGBT Influence on the Harlem Renaissance’ portrait exhibit featuring African Americans who were in the arts and entertainment in the 1920 and 1930’s. The Denver LGBT Center first opened in 1976 and currently operates on an annual budget of $2..2 Million and employs 19 staff members and has over 520 community volunteers to serve more than 46,000 people a year! Among the many services that the Center offers are General Support Groups including Counseling services, HIV/ST1 testing, Alcoholics Anonymous, Wellness screening and free cyber center. They have safe and low-cost activities for LGBT Families. They have free referrals to LGBT-friendly attorneys for help with legal questions as well as free monthly legal clinics. SAGE of the Rockies provides support and information for LGBT people over 50 years of age. They offer free weekly activities including coffee groups, wellness clinics, Yoga classes and more. We got to meet and talk with Reynaldo Mireles, the Program Manager. Other programs includes the Capitol Hill Care Link which helps elders over 60 to continue living independently and with assistance with access to a variety of senior services. They have special support groups for the Transgender community. Actually the Center is a place for ALL of the LGBT community. In the Denver LGBT Center is the Terry Mangan Memorial Library which is the home of over 3,000 volumes of LGBT texts. They also have a wonderful Oral Histories department, photo archive and research center where you can view articles, news clippings and correspondence related to the LGBT history not only in Colorado but in the United States. In June they have the Denver Pridefest where over 380,000 people celebrated and over 120,000 attended the parade last year. This years festivities and parade will be June 17 and 18. It is one of the largest LGBT Pridefests in the country. We want to thank Rex Fuller, Vice President of Communications and Corporate Giving who gave us a complete tour of the Center. Also a very special thanks to Tony Smith of Denver. We first met him and his husband Jim when we visited Denver a few years ago.. Both of these gentlemen are great ambassadors for Denver. Visit their website at: www.glbtcolorado.org. Their phone number is 303 733.7743 and their address is 1301 East Colfax just a few blocks east of downtown. The Center is open Monday thru Friday from 10 AM to 8 PM. The LGBT community in Denver certainly has something to be very proud of. Thank you to all the staff, volunteers and all the people who have made this a crown jewel for the LGBT community. Other cities in the country need to visit the Center and go back home and strive to make their Centers like the one in Denver.

Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone!

Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

Denver Gay Travel Resources]]>