The Cologne Cathedral Facade – Keep Calm and Wander

Cologne Cathedral Facade - Keep Calm and Wander

I am going to show you the 360 views of the Cologne Cathedral facade in Germany – before I’ll take you inside. This imposing Gothic Cathedral is Cologne’s most famous landmark and the pride of its people – regardless of their religious affiliation. And true enough, from a glance outside, the cathedral is nothing short of stupendous and magnificent!

If you look at its sky-scraping spires, you feel nothing but like a tiny human in front of a towering giant.

Cologne Cathedral (aka Cathedral Church of St. Peter) stands right on Rhine River. You can’t miss its colossal structure which can be seen anywhere on almost everyone’s rooftop.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Germany Gay Travel Resources

 

Mendoza Gay Hotels – The Nomadic Boys

Mendoza Gay Hotels - The Nomadic Boys

Mendoza is the wine capital of Argentina. All those different Malbecs you tried at your favourite parilla in Buenos Aires (ours was Nicasia) were produced right here.

The region around Mendoza is the largest wine-producing area in Latin America and recognised as one of the wine capitals of the world. Most visitors head here for a wine pilgrimage, visiting the many bodegas and do lots of wine tasting. The city also has a small gay scene worth checking out but for us the real highlight was cycling around the beautiful countryside of Mendoza going from one bodega to another.

If you’re heading to Mendoza in February/March, be sure to check out the “Vendimia” grape harvesting festival. The city also has a gay festival alongside the Vendimia, which is one of the largest LGBTQ events in Argentina after Buenos Aires Pride. Check out Mendoza Tourism’s Facebook page for the latest information about it.

There are a variety of different accommodation options in and around Mendoza, with most places being friendly and relaxed towards gay travellers. Atfer spending 2 weeks in the wine region of Argentina, we’ve put together in this post our favourite Mendoza gay hotels, which we found to be welcoming towards us as a gay couple and were clearly used to hosting LGBTQ travellers.

Best Area to Stay in Mendoza

Mendoza isn’t huge, which makes it pretty easy to choose the area you’d most like to stay. For us it came down to deciding whether we’d base ourselves in downtown or in the surrounding countryside:

Downtown Mendoza: if you want to be in the heart of the action, close to restaurants and the nightlife then you’ll want to stay in the downtown area of Mendoza city. It’s easy to get around the city by foot and you can take a tour to the wineries in the surrounding countryside.

Countryside of Mendoza: if you’re looking for a more romantic stay and really want to experience the wine country of Mendoza, then you should choose one of the gorgeous wine hotels located outside the city, in Lujan de Cuyo or further in the Uco Valley. Here you’ll really be able to relax and enjoy plenty of wine tasting.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Argentina Gay Hotels and Travel Resources

 

Seattle’s Chihuly Glass Museum – Keep Calm and Wander

Chihuly Glass Museum

There’s an amazing world waiting for you inside the Chihuly Glass Museum (properly known as Chihuly Garden and Glass). This is a very unique museum that you’ve never ever seen anywhere in your travels. Who knew that glass can be such a wonderful medium to express human emotions and visions?

WHO IS CHIHULY? Honestly, I’ve never heard the name, Dale Chihuly, before – until I read a travel guide while I was on the train to Seattle from Vancouver. Dale Chihuly is a sculptor who makes life-size figures of everything made out of glass. Apparently, he’s the best in his field that his works are worth thousands of dollars, if not millions. Make sure to find the video room and watch the short clips about Dale and his art before you exit the museum.

TICKETS: First of all, your student card is useless in this museum. They won’t honor it. So, to save money in Seattle, I’d advise you to buy Seattle CityPass that includes Chihuly Garden and Glass. Click here for the price.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Seattle Gay Travel Resources

 

Hiking With Kids at Zion National Park – 2TravelDads

Hiking With Kids at Zion National Park - 2TravelDads

Zion National Park is known for its epic hikes and canyoning routes, but it’s also full of fun hiking trails that are great with kids too! By now you’ve seen that we really love Zion; we found that the scenery paired with the activities make for a perfect family vacation destination. And that’s what we’re talking about here: best kid friendly hiking in Zion National Park.

If you are looking for epic views or easy strolls, there are plenty of kid friendly hiking options in Zion. You truly don’t have to over-exert yourself (or your kids) to experience and appreciate the best of what Zion has to offer. These are our top picks for families and safety tips for some kid friendly hiking in Zion National Park.

HIKING SAFETY IN ZION

We always start here because it’s easy to get right into the hike info. Here’s what you need to know to be prepared for hiking in Zion National Park:

  • Know the details of your hike – distance, elevation gain, estimated time
  • Bring more water than you think you’ll need – we do 1.5 refillable bottles per person
  • Bring enough snacks to equate to a meal
  • Don’t rush kids on rocky trails

By Rob Taylor – Full Story at 2TravelDads

Utah Gay Travel Resources

 

Lesbian Phoenix – Go Girlfriend

Phoenix, Arizona - Pixabay

If you’re chasing your next vacation escape, consider a desert respite in Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix is the 6th largest city in the US and second only to Orlando for number of resorts – 20 in total. Whether you’re traveling solo, with a partner or your family, there’s more here to enjoy than you might realize.

I recently traveled to Phoenix to speak at a trade convention and took some time to explore the some of the restaurants, resorts and activities with my lover. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing my Phoenix finds with you here on GoGirlfriend, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. But I thought you might enjoy a sneak peek…

Eat

Ko’sin – Just upstairs at the Wild Horse Pass is Arizona’s only 5 star restaurant, Kai, but Ko’Sin meaning ‘kitchen’ in the Pima language, delighted us with savory dishes garnished with a stunning view of Sierra Estrella Mountain Range.

By Julia Rosien – Full Story at Go Girlfriend

Phoenix Gay Travel Resources

 

Stuttgart Walking Tour – Keep Calm and Wander

Stuttgart Walking Tour

I decided to have my own walking tour in Stuttgart on my second morning in the city. Yes, I did spend two full days here but on my first day, my friend and her husband whisked me away to Hohenzollern Castle, an hour drive from Stuttgart. We had a short stop at Tubingen for late lunch to meet another friend I’ve never seen for ages. Then, we drove back to the city before the Porsche Museum closed that day.

This walking tour was realized with the help of two of the staff from Novum Hotel Rieke Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof where I stayed. I started at 10:30 in the morning and done by 1:00 in the afternoon – just in time to meet another friend for lunch. That’s right, I have had three reunions on this trip in Stuttgart. 😉 What can I say – the Germans are inclined to my personality!

When you follow this walking tour route, I would advise having these places in your google map ready.

1. Stuttgart Main Train Station

It is good and wise to start from here – assuming you’ll be taking the train from other parts of Germany. If you fancy of seeing the city’s panoramic view, climb the tower attached to the end of this station.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Germany Gay Travel Resources

 

Germany’s Hohenzollern Castle – Keep Calm and Wander

Hoholzollen Castle - Keep Calm and Wander

Hohenzollern Castle is just one of the 20,000 fairy-tale-like castles in Germany. Indeed, you can’t be in Germany without visiting an old castle, be it small, medium or large. They’ve got castles in the city to the outskirts; to the plains and hilltops. These castles, of course, were once occupied by the royals and aristocrats whose influence ruled the land.

Where is Hohenzollern Castle?

The address is: 72379, Hechingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. But where exactly is this, you might ask. It’s actually an hour from Stuttgart by car. I was lucky that a friend that I’ve never seen for more than 30 years lives there and she was kind to drive me up there with her husband. In other words, I didn’t have to worry about public transport. We only depended on Google map for directions because both of them had never been there before. If I didn’t visit them, they would never have gone there.

How to get there?

The nearest train station here is Hechingen Station (Bahnhof/ZOB, Hechingen). There’s a train at 10:16 AM from Stuttgart and it arrives at Hechingen 11:19 AM. From here, you can take a bus that will take you to Hohenzollern Castle. Don’t forget to ask for the bus schedule so you won’t miss your train going back to Stuttgart or onwards to your next destination. If time is not your issue, then you can stay for a night either in Tubingen or Hechingen.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Germany Gay Travel Resources

 

Bryce Canyon National Park in the Off Season – 2TravelDads

Bryce Canyon National Park in the Off Season - 2TravelDads

Bryce Canyon National Park is exceptional when it comes to unique geology and sights. It’s a place for hiking and appreciating nature’s fascinating processes and diversity. It also gets tons of snow in the winter and spring, so visiting Bryce Canyon in the off season is tricky but totally doable and beautiful. We paired it with a trip to Zion National Park and loved the combo and its varied experiences.

This is our guide for sights, hiking and accommodations at Bryce Canyon National Park, good for any time if year, but especially the off season. That’s actually the best time to go! Visiting Bryce Canyon National Park in the off season ensures smaller crowds and lower costs, so it’s a great budget friendly option.

The most popular time for visiting Bryce Canyon is for sure the summer, and why not? It’s gorgeous and sunny; thunderstorms show up out of nowhere; hiking trails are sure to be open; it’s great! Here’s a huge tip though: visitors taper off in early fall and the weather is still awesome. In winter and early spring you’re guaranteed minimal crowds and perfectly snow-capped hoodoos. Spring brings the snow melt and prairie dogs. You’ll love it, no doubt.

By Rob Taylor – Full Story at 2traveldads

Utah Gay Travel Resources

 

Five Gay Friendly Cordoba Hotels – The Nomadic Boys

Cordoba Gay Friendly Hotels - The Nomadic Boys

Are you wondering where the best place in Argentina is to find young, gay Argentinian boys? Well, the answer is Córdoba! The city is famous for having Argentina’s oldest university and as a result, there is a large student population which means a vibrant nightlife including a small but exciting gay scene.

As well as the nightlife, Córdoba offers plenty of beautiful architecture, particularly the many religious buildings such as the popular Cathedral of Córdoba. Another popular sight is the Jesuit Block, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which contains the old headquarters of the university, the National School of Monserrat and the Domestic Chapel.

Cordoba has a decent offering of gay friendly accommodations. Having spent a few months travelling across the country, we had ample time sampling the best places to stay in Cordoba. Here’s our roundup of our 5 favourite gay friendly Cordoba hotels, for all budgets.

Where to stay in Córdoba

Córdoba is the second most populous city in Argentina after Buenos Aires and is located on the banks of the Suquía River. There’s no metro system as of yet, but you will be able to get around the city easily using buses or trolleybuses. Here’s a quick summary to the best gay friendly neighbourhoods to stay in.

Güemes: Güemes is our favourite gay friendly neighbourhood, it’s bohemian and lively with a more alternative nightlife scene than the city centre. This is where you will find the majority of Córdoba’s gay bars, discos and clubs as well as a craft fair (The Paseo de las Artes) during the daytime. If you want to be right in the heart of the gay area in Córdoba, stay at the lovely Windsor Hotel & Tower.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at The Nomadic Boys

Argentina Gay Travel Resources

 

Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Park – Keep Calm and Wander

Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Park - Keep Calm and Wander

Springtime at Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver is what I needed on a sunny day yesterday. The last time I checked my weather forecast app was Tuesday and it showed a rainy on Friday so I didn’t really bother to check it again. But when I woke up at almost noon, I was surprised at the azure sky outside my window. I hastily took a shower and off I went to the park which is around 45 minutes ride from where I am.

It’s my first time to be here and I’m not disappointed. It’s a huge park – so there’s always a space for everyone. You can sit and lay down wherever you want, except on flower beds.

The topmost part of the Queen Elizabeth Park is the highest point in Vancouver. That’s why the panoramic view of the city from here is something that would charm your naked eyes.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Vancouver Gay Travel Resources