Columnists

Northern Florida for Gay Families – 2TravelDads

by
Northern Florida for Gay Families - 2TravelDads

There are so many great things to do on a Northern Florida vacation, from Jacksonville to Daytona Beach and inland! We love to explore this state, not just because of its sunshine, but because of its beautiful nature, fascinating history, and cool cultural finds. Living here means that we get lots of visitors, so this is the road trip plan we give them when they visit us and want to have fun in North Florida.

From tip to tip, the state has some wonderful places for family travel just perfect for exploring seeing a different side of the state, but the coast is really a gem. This vacation plan is ideal for a balance of seeing the sights and getting plenty of time to relax on the beach.

How to Get to Northern Florida

To begin this awesome vacation, fly into Daytona Beach or Jacksonville airports, pick up your rental car and use either of these cities as a starting point for your North Florida trip. When you book your rental car remember that you can always return it to a different location, but you’ll usually save money by returned your rental vehicle to the original location.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Florida Gay Travel Resources

Mandalay Pagodas – Keep Calm and Wander

by
Mandalay Pagodas - Keep Calm and Wander

These 6 Mandalay pagodas are must-see tourist attractions when you are in this ancient capital of Myanmar. They are all Buddhist temples/pagodas but each one is distinct from the other. You will be surprised how the locals devote their time when they are in the temple. Myanmar, I think, has the most number of Buddhist temples/pagodas in the world. Not sure about that but many of their tourists attractions are temples – and Mandalay is no exemption.

Let me introduce first these three Buddhist pagodas within the city of Mandalay.

Remember to take your shoes off when entering temples. Dress appropriately or cover you exposed skin with a sarong that you can borrow/rent at the entrance of some temples. You can also bring your own sarong if you’ve got one. Don’t worry about losing your shoes. No one will snatch them away. Be respectful when taking pictures inside the temple. There are places where “No Photography” sign is displayed. Don’t be THAT tourist! Always bring wet tissues to clean your feet after visiting.

Myanmar Pagodas – Kyauk Taw Gyi

The most prized possession here is the presence of the largest marble Buddha in Myanmar. As soon as you enter, you’ll see its imposing size and brilliant whiteness surrounded by a not-so-well-lit temple. Remember to check out the backyard where some interesting things to do and see await you.

Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Best Things to Do in Lake Chelan – 2TravelDads

by
Best Things to Do in Lake Chelan - 2TravelDads

Lake Chelan is decidedly the most family friendly wine destination in Washington. I’ve decided this after visiting Woodinville, Yakima, the Olympic Peninsula and the Tri-Cities. There are lots of things to do here that aren’t wine related, and plenty to keep you having fun or relaxing in any season.

Very near Leavenworth, Washington, this recreation area is a great weekend trip or you can spend a whole week exploring the lake, hills and canyons around the area. It’s also great for hiking and seeing a completely different side of Washington State. This is the place where playing in the outdoors meets enjoying agritourism in the sunshine.

Best Things To Do at Lake Chelan

Okay, you ready for a great collection of things to do in any season? Having visited in summer, fall, and winter, I’m confident you’ll be able to create a really fun, interesting trip the whole family can enjoy. We’re breaking this down by activity type, whether it be out in nature, family friendly wine tasting or getting onto the water, you’ll be able to pick and choose great activities all around the Lake Chelan area.

Full Story at 2TravelDads

Northwest Washington Gay Travel Resources

The Nomadic Boys Do Maspalomas Pride

by
Maspalomas Pride - Nomadic Boys

What’s big, wet, and sparkly? Nope, not us after a glitter fight. We’re talking about Maspalomas Pride in Gran Canaria. A cacophony of sound, color, lights, and queer joy! And perhaps an iconic LGBTQ celebrity or two… Conchita Wurst has been known to attend in the past.

Maspalomas Pride is one of the biggest and best gay events in Europe, with over 100,000 attendees flocking to the super gay bars of Gran Canaria each year.

Known as a gay hotspot, Gran Canaria is a Spanish island off the coast of West Africa, full of lavish hotels, epic beaches, dozens of gay clubs and bars, and year-round sunshine. Most of the gay events happen around the water, be it by the pool or on a boat, meaning Maspalomas Pride has more sea men than a bathhouse in gay Berlin!

Venues around the island host drag shows, run cheap drink deals, and themed nights, which only add to the fun. And who can forget the giant parade through the streets, which culminates at the lively Yumbo Centre, full of shops, boutiques, bars, and restaurants? Maspalomas Pride is one of our favorite gay Pride events. It’s always a lot of fun – plenty of sun…and, if you’re lucky, the vitamins mightn’t be the only D you’ll catch…!

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Canary Islands Gay Travel Resources

Victoria for Gay Families in BC – 2TravelDads

by
Victoria for Gay Families in BC - 2TravelDads

There are so many great things to do in Victoria for gay families or just as adults. It’s one of our favorite Canadian cities and I know you’ll love it too!

The capital city of BC is our go-to destination for fun and easy weekend trips around the holidays and in spring when the weather is getting nice. Yes, we go there often, but it’s because we love it so much! We’ve figured out our top favorite activities and tips for visiting Victoria with kids and get ready, because we’ve got 18+ things for you to do to have an unforgettable trip.

Victoria for Gay Families – Getting There

This charming Canadian city is on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, just north of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula and just west of Vancouver, BC. It’s a fairly large city and is situated on a harbor, the Inner Harbour, and then stretches out to its suburbs of Saanich, Sidney, and Sooke. Getting there is fairly easy and doable on nearly any budget.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Victoria Gay Travel Resources

Hiking Pinnacles National Park in California – 2TravelDads

by
Hiking Pinnacles National Park - 2TravelDads

Most of the Parks we go to are fairly well-known. I mean, there are only 63 of them, so most are familiar to the masses, but Pinnacles is fairly new so isn’t wildly popular yet. We love to return to Glacier and Olympic and such because we’re so familiar and there is so much to do and see. Hiking Pinnacles National Park exceeded our expectations, so we’re sharing everything you need to know to plan a visit and see what we mean!

If you haven’t heard of Pinnacles, it’s because it’s one of the newest additions to the National Parks. Formerly a National Monument and jointly managed by the NPS and Forest Service, the area was converted to a Park in 2013 giving it more, different funding and programs, and also bringing it to the forefront of many hikers’ and travelers’ minds. Huzzah for the upgrade!

Hiking Pinnacles National Park – Where Is It?

Pinnacles is located between San Francisco and Los Angeles off Highway 101. It’s not exactly sitting on the side of the road so you do need to actually plan for some time in the Park and make sure that you have ample supplies for your jaunt (see below). You can easily add it to a California Coast road trip or make it the start or end of a Central Coast road trip.

Located in the mountains between Soledad and San Benito, California, it borders farm country and the high desert. While it may look out of the way on a map, it’s is only about 1.5 hours from San Jose, or 2 hours from San Francisco.

Read the Full Story at 2TravelDads

Lesbian Athens – Go Girlfriend

by
Lesbian Athens - pixabay

Picture this…you wake up to an Athenian sunrise at a hip downtown hotel with an amazing view of Central Athens and soak in over 4,000 years of history. You head over to Koukaki to meet your Acropolis Premium Tour group, enjoy some authentic Greek yoghurt and begin the climb up to the ancient Acropolis. The Parthenon, the ancient temples, sanctuary’s and surrounding theaters walk you back in time with stories of Greek mythology brought alive. With the restorations constantly in progress, multiple visits to the Acropolis are a must. It’s a destination steeped in both history and mythical mystery!

But once you’ve seen the Acropolis, what are you going to do next?

Lesbian Athens – Limitless Activities

When planning a trip to lesbian Athens, the Acropolis is a definite must-see, but did you ever consider the city’s water activities, mountain hikes, and natural wildlife waiting for you just outside the city? With beautiful weather all year round, Athens is perfect for every occasion – family trips, active getaways, romantic honeymoons – and it’s pretty much a direct flight from all major international airports!

Full Story at Go Girlfriend

Lesbian Athens Gay Travel Resources

Fort Frederica National Monument on on St. Simons Island – 2TravelDads

by
Fort Frederica National Monument on on St. Simons Island - 2TravelDads

The Golden Isles are a wonderful destination along a Georgia Coast road trip. They are beautiful and full of history. Fort Frederica National Monument is located on St Simons Island in the Golden Isles, and is a gorgeous spot to explore, especially on a sunny afternoon.

. Fort Frederica National Monument for Kids

Historical sites rock for traveling new places with kids. Here’s why: they’re a snapshot of a moment in time that we’ll never experience again. Sometimes those sites are really well preserved and you can step back in time with little use of the imagination. Heck, sometimes there are even folks in costumes to help you imagine. And then sometimes you visit an historical site that is all but gone, like Horton House on Jekyll Island or Fort Frederica on St Simons Island, Georgia.

Where did it go? If it’s gone, should you still visit it? We’ll help with some answers and tips for visiting Fort Frederica in the Golden Isles of Georgia, but let’s just say first that it is totally worth the stop and even something you should carve out time for…as long as you’ve already had a beach day. Anyways, keep reading because yeah.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Georgia Gay Travel Resources

Labuan Bajo’s Rangko Cave – Keep Calm and Wander

by
Labuan Bajo's Rangko Cave - Keep Calm and Wander

Rangko Cave in Labuan Bajo was the first place I went to as soon as I settled myself in a hostel. I arrived at Labuan Bajo a day before the 3-day tour and I had the whole afternoon free with no agenda. A fellow hosteller told me to explore Rangko Cave and she was raving about it. She showed me photos of the cave and I was wowed! So, without thinking twice, I hopped on a gojek (Indonesia’s Uber) motorbike.

Directions to Rangko Cave

Going there is pretty easy – that is – if you drive a motorbike. If you don’t, like me, here’s what you are going to do: Take a gojek that brings you to Rangko village. The trip should be around 45 minutes. Remember that this is a very small village and it’s very rare to get a gojek so it is wise to ask your driver to wait for you. Negotiate for a reasonable price.

From Rangko Village, there are outrigger boats that you can rent. As a solo traveler, I rented it for 250k rupiah ($20) for the whole trip. The “captain” also became my photographer. From the shore to the cave, the boat ride took us 15 minutes. When we arrived, we were the only people there + the ticket master. The water was very clear but the shore where we disembarked was full of plastics. Tourists pay 50k rupiah to enter but no one really cares about cleaning the site. It’s heartbreaking to see those floating plastic bottles and boxes.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Indonesia Gay Travel Resources

Hiking Mount Rainier for Gay Families- 2TravelDads

by
Hiking Mount Rainier for Gay Families- 2TravelDads

Hiking Mount Rainier National Park is a great summer activity. These are the best hikes with kids or for a reasonable challenge. From Paradise to Sunrise, Ohanapecosh to Lake Mowich, great hiking trails for any skill level can be found at Mt Rainier.

Even though we love going to Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park is one of our favorite spots in the state of Washington. One of the things we love about Mount Rainier is that you can enjoy hiking the North or the South Side and have very different experiences. On the north side there are far fewer people to deal with than on the south side, but on the south side the views all around the mountain are unlike any you’ll see anywhere else in Washington State. When you go hiking in Mount Rainier National Park prepare to find a wide variety of hiking trails for any sort of traveler.

Kid Friendly Tips for Hiking Mount Rainier

We have great tips for hiking in Mt Rainier National Park that are the most kid friendly, easiest, or what you can tackle in a day without being worried that you’re going to die somewhere on the mountain. Whether you want waterfalls, lush forests, or just to go and sit in a beautiful Lodge Mount Rainier National Park has you covered.

Once you’ve gone through our list of recommendations if you have any more please do share in the comments section below. We are always looking for new hikes to go on with the kids, or even just ourselves when we want to do something more challenging.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Washington State Gay Travel Resources