Visiting Lake Geneva for Gay Families – 2TravelDads

Visiting Lake Geneva for Gay Families - 2TravelDads

Visiting Lake Geneva for Gay Families

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin is a popular destination for people who grew up or live in the Midwest, but if you’re not from the area, it may be totally unfamiliar. We really enjoyed our visit and found some of the best things to do with kids at Lake Geneva and Wisconsin farm country. Near Madison, WI and Milwaukee, it’s a great destination for getting away from city life, and is the perfect stop on a Wisconsin road trip. It’s even an easy weekend getaway from Chicago.

Being a historic summer town, a lot of the fun things to do in Lake Geneva are available primarily from May to October. As fall sets in, the lake goes quiet and those who visit shift into ski-season mode. For summer visitors though, it’s a Midwest paradise that’s perfect for families. June is the best time to visit, before it’s too hot. You can pair a trip to Lake Geneva with visiting Madison, WI for Pride. Perfect plan!

Here are some great activities to show you the best of southern Wisconsin while visiting Lake Geneva for gay families. If you have anything to add or have any questions, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re happy to share more.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Wisconsin Gay Travel Resources

Exploring Gay Williamsburg With Kids – 2TravelDads

Gay Williamsburg With Kids - 2TravelDads

Exploring Gay Williamsburg, Virginia With Kids

Living history is something we LOVE experiencing together and Colonial Williamsburg is THE spot for it. A part of what’s called the Historic Triangle, This historic village is basically a snapshot in time, just before the start of the Revolutionary War. Visiting gay Williamsburg with kids is wonderful because it gives them a real life understanding of America 300 years ago, and visiting as adults is both educational and just a beautiful, relaxing time.

While it might not seem like it initially, Williamsburg is actually a big vacation destination / resort area. From glamping in a yurt at the KOA to staying at the Historic Williamsburg Lodge, you’ll find the full gamut of hotels and accommodations.

If you plan it properly, you can even arrange to stay within the historic preservation area. At the Brick House Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg, you can rent rooms, just like in its tavern days of the 18th century!

Full Story at 2TravelDads

Williamsburg Gay Travel Resources

Gay Disneyland for LGBTQ+ Families – 2TravelDads

Gay Disneyland for LGBTQ+ Families - 2TravelDads

Disneyland. We’ve been so many times through the years. I used to work at the park and have friends that still do. It’s one of the most special places we go back to.

In this podcast episode we go land by land through gay Disneyland discussing our favorite attractions, details of the park, and what we feel are the ride most worth waiting for. We hope you enjoy our discussion, and be sure to come back for our episode all about Disney’s California Adventure!

Gay Disneyland: Everything Worth Waiting For (And More)

In this episode we go attraction by attraction picking and choosing our favorites. We know that some Disneyland attractions are worth waiting 45 minutes or an hour, but not all… even if the wait time shows a long line. Between the best rides and shows to mix up the magic, this podcast episode should give you a good idea of planning and what to use your valuable time on when you visit the Happiest Place on Earth!

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Greater L.A. Area Gay Travel Resources

Olympic National Park’s Ruby Beach – 2TravelDads

Olympic National Park's Ruby Beach - 2TravelDads

Does anybody think of Washington State as a beach destination? Not hardly, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have the most beautiful ones around. True, Olympic National Park is missing the palm trees, but we make up for it in other ways. Of all of the sandy shorelines in the Pacific Northwest, the most beautiful one in Washington is without a doubt Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park.

What makes Ruby Beach so beautiful and dramatic? It’s the sea stacks, the weathered wood, the wildlife, the perfection of it all. We’ve got the scoop for how and when to visit to have an unforgettable time at the most beautiful beach in Washington. And if you’re lucky, maybe you’ll find some of the red rocks and garnets that give Ruby Beach its name.

How to Get to Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park

One of the things that makes the most beautiful in Washington is its remote location. Located just over three hours from Seattle and a little more than 2 hours from Olympia, it’s not exactly an impromptu day trip, which keeps the crowds down. If you’re making the trek that far you should plan on spending a few days both on the sand and in the Hoh Rainforest nearby.

Full Story at 2TravelDads

Olympic Peninsula Gay Travel Resources

St. Augustine for Gay Families – 2TravelDads

St. Augustine for Gay Families - 2TravelDads

We have visited St Augustine quite a few times and each time we’ve stayed someplace different. There are many hotels in Saint Augustine for gay families as well as other options, such as camping, and we’re covering them all! After you read this article you should be able to make a solid choice in choosing a hotel in St Augustine and the surrounding area.

We work with Best Western Hotels & Resorts and have lots of experience with the brand, so we do recommend them for sure, and they sponsored our most recent trip to Saint Augustine. We encourage you to check them out for booking a hotel in the St Augustine area, particularly because they have so many options! We’ve got additional recommendations for St Augustine and all the way up to Jax Beach for hotels and other accommodations, so let us know if you have any questions.

St. Augustine for Gay Families

A city like St Augustine is great for any type of traveler because there is such a diversity of accommodations. Whether you want to find a budget hotel or want to book a beautiful, historic suite, there are lots of options!

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

St. Augustine Gay Travel Resources

Winter in Paris – Washington Blade

Winter in Paris - Bill Malcolm

Winter in Paris is the perfect time to visit.. The crowds are gone. The weather is not as cold as many U.S. cities. Since you’ll be spending a lot of time in museums, it doesn’t matter anyway. Plus, Paris has a great gay scene and a gayborhood — The Marais.

Getting There

I snagged a great low fare on Delta Airlines. The service was exceptional and everything was free. Free hot dinner and breakfast, free headsets, free blankets and pillows, free eyeshades and more. Once in Paris, hop on the commuter rail to town, the RER-B then take the Metro to get to your hotel from the Gare du Nord Station.

Where to Stay

I stayed at The Moxy, a new Marriott brand geared for millennials. The rate was very reasonable (it varied by day with one day at just 93 Euros or around $110). It’s located near the Marais in the Bastille District and near no less than three Metro stations. You can walk to many of the major attractions or hop on the subway. Two nearby stores (Franprix) have everything you need including salad bars, hot sandwiches and great selections of wine.

Full Story at the Washington Blade

Paris Gay Travel Resources

LGBT Travel in Asia – Our Taste for Life

LGBT Travel in Asia

Oh, Asia. A vibrant, diverse, and energetic place to travel. But is Asia a gay-friendly travel destination? It’s one of the most commonly asked questions we receive, and one we are super happy to finally be addressing. In this LGBT Travel Guide, we will delve into the LGBT rights in Asia, as well as how to prepare as an LGBT traveller.

After spending 18 months travelling throughout this colourful continent, we can tell you that it hasn’t always been fun and rainbows. Coming from the UK where, for the most part, we can be completely open about our sexuality; it was peculiar to suddenly visit countries where homosexuality was a taboo; or worse, against the law.

Many ask us how we deal with this. Why would we want to travel to these countries if we can’t be ourselves? We look at it this way. ALL cultures have beliefs and traditions. Do we agree with all of them? Of course not. That doesn’t mean that we boycott those countries completely. At the end of the day, we travel to open our minds, and appreciating that there are other ways of life is the first step.

With this in mind, we have now spent almost two consecutive years in Asia. In that time, we have visited gay-friendly cities; travelled off the beaten path; and spent time in countries where homosexuality is criminalised. Guess what? We had a great time in all of them.

Full Story at Our Taste for Life

Asia Gay Travel Resources

 

Lesbian Amsterdam – Once Upon a Journey

Lesbian Amsterdam - Once Upon a Journey

The gay capital of Europe, Amsterdam, is the perfect city to go to as a lesbian traveller. Or well, Amsterdam doesn’t carry that title anymore officially, but the city is still very liberal, tolerant, welcoming and diverse. The city is perfect for your lesbian vacation or short city trip! You can truly be yourselves and enjoy all the beauty it has to offer. It’s a city where our love story began, so Amsterdam has a special place in our hearts. Continue reading for the ultimate travel guide to lesbian Amsterdam. Including our best insider tips and spots!

Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands and it’s most famous for its beautiful canals, gingerbread houses, coffee shops (not for coffee!), the infamous red light district and lots of bicycles. Amsterdam has a lot more to offer; there is something for everyone.

LGBT rights in the Netherlands

First, we will tell you a bit about LGBT rights in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is seen as one of the most LGBT friendly destinations in the world. Therefore it isn’t weird that LGBT rights in the Netherlands have been some of the most progressive in the world. Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1811, and in 2001 the Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. Yes, we are very proud of that! The first gay bar opened in Amsterdam in 1911.

By Maartje and Roxanne – Full Story at Once Upon a Journey

Lesbian Amsterdam Travel Resources

The Most LGBTQ Friendly Cities?

Most LGBTQ friendly cities - pixabay

Amid a mass of colour and pounding Latin rhythms, revellers at this year’s Bogotá Pride march waved banners stating “not one step back”. They were among tens of thousands who took to the streets to celebrate and support Colombia’s LGBT community. Many annual Pride marches that were once solemn protests against repression have become celebrations of now-existing rights or progress, reflecting the strength of LGBT communities.

In Bogotá, for example, the capital of a macho and socially conservative country, there has been surprising progress in LGBT rights.

In March, Angélica Lozano Correa, a former member of the Bogotá city council, became the first openly LGBT person to be elected to the country’s Senate. In 2016 the country’s government passed laws allowing same-sex couples to adopt and marry, and the previous year it granted transgender people the right to change their identity on official government documents – policies which have allowed more equality and openness.

But while these laws and political representation might suggest Bogotá is “friendly” and tolerant of the LGBT community, the issue is not clear-cut. This year’s Bogotá Pride march was marked by an undertone of resistance to and fear of the right-wing government of the new president, Ivan Duque. Duque openly opposes the LGBT-inclusive peace agreement his predecessor, Juan Manuel Santos, signed with leftist rebels Farc in 2016. Activists claim he is also against same-sex marriage and adoption rights.

By Steven Grattan – Full Story at The Guardian

 

Queer History Along Route 66 – SDGLN

Route 66 - pixabay

The subject of gay bars from the past really interests me.

Route 66, a National Treasure of the National Trust, winds its way some 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. It weaves past small towns, big cities, National Parks, roadside attractions, and also: gay bars.

As one of the first cross-country highways, Route 66 connected refugees from the Dust Bowl to safety in the 1930s, troops to military bases during World War II, and post-war Americans to California and the western states in the 1950s and onwards. While I traveled Route 66 with the National Trust from Chicago to Springfield, Missouri, I documented places in communities along the iconic highway that historically welcomed gay travelers.

The subject of gay bars from the past really interests me.

Where I live in New York City I lead a walking tour about “gay bars that are gone” and people who attend share histories and sometimes memories from LGBT spaces, dating as far back as the 1870s. These are spaces where gay Americans found joy, love, community, and solidarity in the face of great social and political adversity. To document the “gay bars that are gone” of Route 66, I came with a few important things in my suitcase: two LGBT USA travel guides from the year (coincidentally) 1966 and a rainbow flag.

The travel guides were incredible. Both are rare finds and I had to convince folks from far away to scan archival copies and send to me. One was titled: The Lavender Baedeker ‘66: A Guidebook to Gay, Interesting, Hysterical, and Historic Places in the U.S., and it was published by a company listing LGBT-friendly establishments since 1961. The other guide was a Damron Guide from 1966, which is an LGBT travel company that still exists and has been publishing gay travel guides since 1964. This third edition Damron Guide chronicled more than 900 places across the United States and Canada recommended for gay travelers.

By Michael Ryan – Full Story at SDGLN