England's Lake District

Lake District - pixabay Hang on in there – Spring officially reaches the Northern Hemisphere on 20 March. Summer will soon follow on 21 June. And as the temperatures warm up, it’s the perfect time to plan outdoor pursuits for the year ahead. Of course, Brits and Anglophiles alike should consider the Lake District in Northwest England. It covers a staggering 2362 square kilometres, and is home to 10 mountains over 2900 feet tall. What’s more, the tallest, Scafell Pike, stands tall at 3210 feet. This year, Manchester Pride is launching an initiative to trek across these peaks while raising funds for the Manchester Pride Community Fund. Also, the project also seeks to raise awareness for International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia (IDAHOT), which falls on 17 May. The trek takes place Saturday 13 May – for more information, click here.

By Jamie Tabberer – Full Story at Gay Star News

Northwestern England Gay Travel Resources

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Beach Sunset In Montañita, Ecuador – Globetrotter Girls

Montañita, Ecuador After my week in hot and sticky Guayaquil I couldn’t wait to get to the beach for a fresh ocean breeze. I had heard great things about Montañita, a small village on the Santa Elena Peninsula on Ecuador’s Pacific Coast. Montañita is the country’s number one surf spot, and, as I learned when I arrived there, a prime party destination for people from all over South America. Think South America’s answer to Ibiza, only with less mega clubs, but with loud music right on the beach instead, blasting from several discos right along the shore. The problem with that? I was just not in the mood for a mega party, and I had also been warned about walking around town at night by myself. A couple of backpacking girls from Argentina were brutally murdered in Montañita less than a year ago, and I didn’t get a good vibe from the village. The beach was okay, but nothing special, and the waves were so insanely high that there was a red flag on the beach every day, warning people that the surf was intense and the current was strong.

By Dani – Full Story at Globetrotter Girls

Ecuador Gay Travel Resources

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La Casita Del Sol LC – Tucson, Arizona

La Casita Del Sol LCPeriodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay: Stay with us at La Casita del Sol, an historic 1880’s adobe rowhouse home in the El Presidio Historic Neighborhood in downtown Tucson, Arizona. La Casita del Sol has five hundred feet of living space, with two rooms and a bath, reflecting the simple lifestyle of the late 19th century workers who lived here – tradesmen, blacksmiths, bartenders, and more. La Casita del Sol keeps its original simplicity and charm, combined with beautiful, comfortable aesthetics and modern amenities that travelers today expect. Our guests are close to everything: Tucson’s unique culture, natural beauty, historic sites, and flavors our wonderful Southwestern Cooking. There are many great sights within easy walking/cycling distance from La Casita del Sol, and many more an easy drive away. Walk through our hundred-year-old doors, hand crafted in Mexico into your own private patio, where you can sip a cup of coffee or tea in the sunshine on a warm winter morning, or relax in the shade in the summertime. The courtyard is decorated with beautiful Southwestern pottery and local plants, and at night, the courtyard becomes a magical place with the twinkling of tiny lights and the flicker of candles – the perfect place for a cocktail or nightcap. When you enter the bedroom/sitting area from the patio, you’ll see beautiful wood floors, a historic beam and saguaro rib ceiling, and our charming beehive wood-burning fireplace – a warm and cozy Tucson adobe home. Unpack and relax in our soft guest robes. For entertainment, La Casita del Sol comes with satellite TV (with movie channels, music, and 24 hour news). We also have WiFi internet access, so you can stay connected to work or friends and family back home. At night, you’ll relax in our queen-sized bed, with plenty of plump pillows – it’s also a great place to watch TV or to snuggle up with that book you’ve been meaning to read. Our bright, Mexican-tiled bathroom offers more relaxation – soak for an hour in our antique claw-foot tub, or shower away the day’s cares. There’s also an antique table and glass shelves for your toiletries. La Casita del Sol also has a fully equipped kitchen and dining area, with artisan furniture and beautiful wooden cabinets. The kitchen has a complete set of dishes, silverware, linens and cups and glasses – make yourself coffee or tea, or a full meal at home, or enjoy one of the great downtown restaurants within easy walking distance. We supply our guests with a welcome basket filled with fresh fruits and local pastries, bottled juice and water, coffee and tea to get you started, local soaps and bath products, and paper towels, cleaning supplies and dish soap for the kitchen. There’s also an iron and ironing board for guest use. Come stay with us in the heart of Tucson, the Old Pueblo, and enjoy the great sights and flavors of Southwestern culture!

See the La Casita Del Sol LC Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals in Tucson, Arizona

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Trekking the in California Trail – Nomadic Boys

Inca Trail - Nomadic Boys We made it! A magical memory from our Nomadic Boys journey we will share forever. This was what was going through our minds, whilst sat atop Wayna Picchu mountain, peering down at the Inca world wonder beneath us. After an intense 4 days trek along the acclaimed Inca Trail through the Sacred Valley in the Peruvian Andes, we finally reached the climax point. This is our Inca Trail review of our 4 days trek to Machu Picchu with Journeyou. Machu Picchu is the highlight of most people’s itineraries to not only Peru, but also to the entire continent. It receives over 1.2 million visitors annually, most of who come by train as part of a day trip from Cusco. The famous Inca site is 2,430 metres (7,970 feet) above sea level. The name Machu Picchu means old mountain in the Quechua language and was initially built in around 1450 at the climax of the Inca Empire. It was then abandoned in 1572 when the Spanish invaded, until 1911 when it was discovered by the American explorer Hiram Bingham.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Peru Gay Travel Resources

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A Date With Ayahuasca – Globetrotter Girls

Ayahuasca - Dani I held the little bamboo cup with both hands and quickly gulped down the thick, dark liquid – Ayahuasca. The bitter taste in my mouth was repellent, and I tried to wash it down with some water as soon as I sat back down on the wooden floor of the ceremonial hut in the Colombian Amazon. “You should be feeling the effect of the ayahuasca in about twenty minutes,” the shaman named William told us in Spanish. “If you don’t feel anything then, I’ll give you some more.” He then pointed to my left, where on one side of the hut, the wooden wall was only chest high, above that it was open until the ceiling, like a window, but without glass. “You’re very likely to throw up when the ‘medicine’ begins to work. If you feel it coming, throw up out the window.” He then turned his headlamp off, the only source of light in the hut, and the four of us were suddenly sitting in the pitch black dark, cross-legged, waiting for Ayahuasca, the ‘medicine’, as William called it, to work.

By Dani – Full Story at Globetrotter Girls

Colombia Gay Travel Resources

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Jaipur City Palace – Keep Calm and Wander

Jaipur City Palace - Alain Jaipur City Palace is your window to royal extravagance of ancient India. The complex is a maze of courtyards, palaces and architectural beauty, ready to blow your mind away. And oh, it’s super pink, too, like the rest of the city. This Palace was used as a royal residence of the Singh family who ruled the city for a long time. This isn’t just huge but it’s also a marvellous place to learn history and admire its architectural designs. It’s right in the heart of the old city surrounded by pink buildings. Thus, it got its monicker, “The Pink City.” The City Palace in Jaipur is a mix of Mughal, Rajput and European architectural influences. As soon as you enter the courtyard, Mubarak Mahal greets you in all its splendour. In Urdu, Mubarak can be translated into auspicious. Today, it’s a textile museum with great collections of royal clothes.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

India Gay Travel Resources

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Santa Rosa and Sonoma Wine Country – Globetrotter Girls

Sonoma - Dani Sonoma Wine Country is a popular couples’ weekend getaway, but what about LGBT couples? The LGBT hot spot of the West Coast, San Francisco, is only 55 miles (just over an hour) away, which makes Sonoma, and its largest city, Santa Rosa, perfect for a romantic weekend break. In fact, Sonoma County was named as one of the top 20 tourist destinations for LGBT travelers in the entire U.S., and Huffington Post included it in its Top 10 LGBT Honeymoon Destinations. I went to Santa Rosa and Guerneville to find out what Sonoma Wine Country has in store for queer travelers, from LGBT-friendly places to stay, things to do and which events are worth a trip. This region of Northern California is primarily known for its many vineyards and wine tastings, but there’s a lot more to Sonoma County than just that: the Pacific Coast Highway, Redwood forests, river adventures, quaint little towns and beautiful beaches.

By Dani – Full Story at Globetrotter Girls

Sonoma Gay Travel Resources

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Sonoma Orchid Inn – Guerneville, California

Sonoma Orchid Inn Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay: Come to the Russian River where redwoods tower over the forest, where you can relax in the warm afternoon sunlight and where the nights are clear and cool. Sonoma Orchid Inn Bed & Breakfast sits on over 2 acres of meadow on a hill-top, below more stars than you’ve ever seen. We’re close to local vineyards, where you’ll find premier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. Or take a short drive to the Pacific Coast. The Russian River flows nearby, and Korbel’s vineyards surround us on the west and north. You’ll find it all here in Sonoma County – the Russian River Valley is a vacation playground for wine lovers, outdoorsmen, and anyone who enjoys the beauty of the Pacific Coast. The Sonoma Orchid Inn is a historic 1906 farmhouse that has been completely renovated with wifi internet access, private bathrooms, hot tub, fireplaces and a guest kitchen open all day and night. Step into our gorgeous living room and you’ll feel like you’re standing in the middle of the redwoods – floor to ceiling windows open onto coastal oaks and towering redwood trees on our grounds. Both the living room and guest kitchen are for our guests’ use – play a game on the oak table, curl up and read a book on one of our overstuffed chairs, and snack on fresh-baked cookies from the kitchen. Chill a bottle of wine in the refrigerator for a romantic evening, or use the glasses, plates, silver and trays to put together a picnic to enjoy at our outdoor picnic-table in the shade of the coastal oaks. Our Russian River inn offers ten guestrooms – each one has private bathrooms, pleasant colors and textures, and views of the redwood forest outside. Red chairs are sprinkled throughout our property – sit down and enjoy the mountain air Stay with us at Sonoma Orchid Inn B&B and do it all, or do nothing at all!

See the Sonoma Orchid Inn Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals in Sonoma County

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Gay Houston in 48 Hours

Houston - Pixabay Beyonce was born here. And with 2.3 million inhabitants, it’s the US’s fourth largest city, after NYC, LA and Chicago. But despite knowing the basics, gay Houston, Texas always remained a bit of a mystery to me. I guess I harbored a very ‘red’ perception of the city. I assumed that, like the rest of the Lone Star State – Austin aside – it was not for me. But visiting H-Town last year, I got an education. Epitomized by its jagged, futuristic skyline (one of my favorites ever), the city was far more progressive and cosmopolitan than I expected. Keeping politics out of it (although I will say Trump was in town, and there were protests), I was impressed by the locals’ openminded and welcoming nature.

By Jamie Tabberer – Full Story at Gay Star News

Houston Gay Travel Resources

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Jantar Mantar in Jaipur – Keep Calm and Wander

Jantar Mantar At Jantar Mantar in Jaipur, you’ll find the world’s largest sundial stone. This place a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has an ancient collection of 19 astronomical structures built in the open field. Including in these 19 objects are the zodiac signs – better find yours. At first, you might not be impressed as they look like boring concrete in different shapes. But it makes a difference when you have a handy guidebook and the descriptions in each structure are well-written. So, read every written descriptions to appreciate each objects in front of you. The World’s Largest Stone Sundial ]]>