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Exploring the Mammoth Lakes for Gay Families – 2TravelDads

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Mammoth Lakes for Gay Families - 2TravelDads

Things to Do in Mammoth Lakes for Gay Families

If you didn’t grow up in California, you may not have heard of Mammoth Lakes before. Known to San Francisco Bay Area residents as the place to go for winter skiing, in the summertime it’s a quiet mountain getaway. There are so many things to do at Mammoth Lakes for gay families in the summer, and it’s the perfect addition to a Yosemite National Park Vacation.

Most people think of it as a skiing destination like Vail, CO or Big Ski, MT, as it is one of the closest ski areas to Los Angeles, so we wanted to find the best things to do in Mammoth Lakes for a summer visit. There are fewer people visiting in summer and the destination takes on a very different feel. Outdoor activities and sightseeing are plentiful and you get an ideal combination of beautiful views and bizarre science. I love it!

Since we travel as a family of four our time in Mammoth Lakes and Yosemite is a combination of really active mornings and relaxing afternoons. We like to mix hiking and sightseeing with more chill tours and enjoying the actual townsite or resort space we’re staying at

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Sierra Nevadas Gay Travel Resources

Exploring Gay San Juan, Puerto Rico – 2TravelDads

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Exploring Gay San Juan, Puerto Rico - 2TravelDads

After spending a few days diggin’ on the incredible nature of Puerto Rico’s east coast, we relocated to San Juan, the capital. Wow! What a city! From the historic forts and Old City to the vibrant district of Condado, visiting gay San Juan was a blast! It’s hard to pick what we enjoyed the most about exploring San Juan, so I’ll just share how we did it and what the highlights were.

On top of this city being warm and beautifully set on the Atlantic Ocean, it’s also home to one of the coolest National Park sites I’ve ever visited. I really kicked myself for not bringing the whole family with me, especially since we’ve all enjoyed St Augustine and the Castillo de San Marcos, but it’s just one of the reasons I know we’ll be returning together soon. Just see what I mean…

Visiting Gay San Juan, Puerto Rico

Whether you want to be active or just relax as you experience the city, there are LOTS of things to do and see ihere. Between the old city and forts and the nightlife on the Condado, it’s a diverse collection of sights and activities. We love to be active, so our plan for exploring the town includes a lot of outdoorsy things to do.

Visiting Yosemite Country – 2TravelDads

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Yosemite Country - 2TravelDads

Five Truly Unique Yosemite Country Activities

As you plan your visit to Yosemite National Park, consider these suggestions for ways to see Yosemite Country from a different perspective. Whether it’s the history of the area or getting into nature with nobody else around, I think you’ll find these picks great additions to a totally unique getaway. Yosemite Country is more than what’s within the National Park, and it’s a lot of fun to explore. From great restaurants in Oakhurst to unique fishing and kayaking opportunities.

EBiking and Hiking Adventure

We love getting out into the forest, and especially in California’s Sierras. Renting E-bikes with off-road tires, we were able to cover a lot of ground really quickly as we headed out from the Tenaya Lodge. E-Bikes are unique in that you can pedal yourself just like a normal bike, but then you also have a small electric motor to boost you on your way.

Full Story at 2TravelDads

Central Valley & Sierra Nevadas Gay Travel Resources

Exploring Puerto Rico for Gay Families – 2TravelDads

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Puerto Rico for Gay Families - 2TravelDads

Exploring the Islands of Puerto Rico for Gay Families

Puerto Rico is a fantastic destination in the Caribbean that is easy for Americans to visit. Historic streets, beautiful tropical jungles and perfect beaches make San Juan and the surrounding area perfect for a short (or long) trip. The 5 day itinerary includes top picks for things to do and see, most of which you won’t even need a car for!

Whether your goal with visiting San Juan and the surrounding area is to be immersed in history or to explore the only tropical rainforest in the United States, this easy 5 day Puerto Rico for gay families itinerary is perfect for the best of both worlds, and you can easily add to it if you’d like to explore the south and western shores too.

Our itinerary includes both historic San Juan as well as the beautiful eastern shore of the island. For the best experience, we recommend splitting your time between the two areas. Two or three nights in each place should be plenty of time to explore and relax. Puerto Rico is a great warm, winter destination for families, so if that’s your travel time, book as far in advance as you can!

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Puerto Rico Gay Travel Resources

Cancun’s Mayan Ruins – El-Rey, Tulum and More – 2TravelDads

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Cancun's Mayan Ruins - 2TravelDads

Some of the best of Cancun’s Mayan ruins are also the easiest to access. We’ve picked the best Mayan ruins to visit on the Eastern Yucatan Peninsula, basically most near Cancun, to add to a fun, interesting Caribbean Mexico vacation. These spots can either be visited as day trips or shore excursions from cruise ships.

One of the most cool and unique aspects of touring the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico is the abundance of Mayan ruins. The Mayans were spread all across the Yucatan and down into Belize, Guatemala and beyond. They left behind thousands of small and large structures on the beaches and in the jungles. Having spent many days exploring the Yucatan Peninsula, these archaeological sites are some of the most fascinating things to do near Cancun.

Best of Cancun’s Mayan Ruins

Starting directly in Cancun and heading south and west, these are the best Mayan sites near Cancun to visit on your beach vacation. This list is NOT inclusive of every single ruin or archaeological site, but these are the ruins that are closest to Cancun and Tulum. These sites you can visit on your own or do a tour to Mayan sites with a local guide.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Quintana Roo Gay Travel Resources

Epic Utah National Parks Road Trip – 2TravelDads

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Utah National Parks Road Trip - 2TravelDads

Utah National Parks Road Trip: Epic & Unforgettable Sights

You’ll see lots of vultures in Utah, circling like they have a plan. Well, here’s a plan for you. Utah is a fascinating area with both desolate landscapes and… barbeque? This Utah National Parks road trip plan will take you through some of the most popular parks in the USA as well as through territory that you might otherwise try to drive through quickly and completely miss. And be sure to eat local as you explore, because the state has some great barbeque and local cuisines.

After this road trip through Utah, if somebody asks you why you like the Southwest, you’ll have an easy, un-arguable answer: it’s astoundingly beautiful and super dramatic. This road trip is a loop, so you’ll be able to hit all five National Parks, you’ll see how each is extremely different, and you’ll be tired by the end.

Since so much of this road trip is EXTREMELY remote, be sure that you are well stocked with back up water (you can never have too much) and lots of snacks. Sometimes it’s more than an hour between services, and they may not always be open. Be well prepared for any situation. Also, for some of the more remotes areas, take time to download the offline maps through your preferred navigation program. You’ll be glad that you did.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Utah Gay Travel Resources

Ten Great Utah Road Trips – 2TravelDads

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Ten Great Utah Road Trips - 2TravelDads

Eastern Utah is famous for Moab and Arches National Park, but there is so much more! From hot springs to petroglyphs, we’ve got a great list of unique sights and hikes to add to your road trip. You’ll love the combo of amazing geology and ancient history. Stops like these make road trips in this amazing state special adventures to remember.

Some of these recommendations have notoriety or are a part of a more famous site, but they are also wonderful for avoiding crowds or getting a little off the beaten path. Add a few of them (or all of them) to your Utah road trip plan for an awesome experience.

Where to Stay on for Your Utah Road Trips

I’m sure as you’re planning your Utah road trips you’re looking at all sorts of places to stay along your route. Because the state is so spread out, we recommend picking three or four towns and staying 2 nights in each. This will both give you enough time to explore the area AND not be completely worn out from constantly driving. Below you’ll find some maps for pricing out hotels as well as info about places we’ve stayed on our road trips and really liked.

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Utah Gay Travel Resources

Visiting Florida’s Paradise Coast – 2TravelDads

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Visiting Florida's Paradise Coast - 2TravelDads

Visiting Florida’s Paradise Coast With the 2TravelDads

Having been all over Florida and spent a lot of time in the Everglades and South Florida, I can say that there are so many things to do in Naples / Marco Island that it’s one of the best areas to have a family vacation. We’ve done several Florida Gulf Coast road trips and the Paradise Coast (that’s what they call Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades) is consistently fun and gorgeous.

As we share our favorite activities in Naples and Marco Island, remember that we’re traveling with kids that have a variety of interests. They give us real-time feedback when we’re playing tourist and help us decide what to share and not. They’re just as much involved in having a fun trip as us parents are, so know that what we’ve picked for fun on the Paradise Coast has both kid and adult approval.

Note: Hurricane Ian was HARD on Naples and Marco Island. Both locations suffered a lot of damage and many businesses were either destroyed or hit hard. While recovery efforts for some have been swift, others didn’t fare as well and it will take time to get back to normal, or to their new normal.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

West-Central Florida Gay Travel Resources

Visiting Silver Springs State Park – 2TravelDads

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Silver Springs State Park - 2TravelDads

Silver Springs State Park is our favorite place to take visitors when they come to Florida. Between having the most gorgeously clear water and the most remarkable wildlife encounters, It will become your new favorite Florida State Park too. Even if you’re not normally into outdoorsy things, that atmosphere and all the things to do here will make it a place you want to return to every year.

We’ve picked our favorite things to do and have put together everything you need to know for visiting, from trails to kayaking, including how to paddle here from the Ocala National Forest.

History of Silver Springs State Park, Florida

Back in the golden age of Hollywood, Florida had a big role in shooting adventure films and underwater scenes. Silver Springs was at the heart of major motion picture production due to its extremely clear water and very deep head springs. The jungle setting also was the perfect backdrop for any number of exotic locations, but conveniently located in Florida.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Florida Gay Travel Resources

Visiting Hells Canyon National Recreation Area – 2TravelDads

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Hells Canyon - 2TravelDads

Visiting Hells Canyon National Recreation area is a remarkable experience. Being the deepest river gorge in the USA, Hells Canyon is jaw-dropping and such a unique place to explore. We’ve got all the info for planning a trip to this outdoor wonderland, including jet boats, rafting, hiking and more.

If you’re looking specifically for information about doing a jet boat here, we’ve got you covered, but don’t limit yourself to this one activity. From Lewiston or Clarkston there are plenty of ways to explore the Snake River and Idaho wine country. If you have more questions than what we cover, please leave a comment or send us a note!

Things to do at Hells Canyon

What I love about Hells Canyon National Recreation Area is how many things there are to do there AND the whole area around it. With Lewiston, ID and Clarkston, WA at the northern end of the canyon, and Oxbow, OR at the southern end, you’ll never be lacking activities. 

The most common way people visit the gorge is via jet boat, and it’s certainly one of the best things to do in the area. A jet boat is a metal boat that runs on water jet propulsion instead of propeller motors. This allows the jet boats to both go really fast and cover a ton of mileage, and to be able to navigate very shallow areas and through rapids. They’re an awesome fete of engineering.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads