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Gay Life in Turkey – The Nomadic Boys

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Gay Life in Turkey - The Nomadic Boys

Gay Life in Turkey From a Local

“There was a time when Turkey was way more progressive and Western-facing. It had a high level of freedom of speech and Istanbul even had one of the biggest Pride Marches in the world”.

So said our buddy Saf, an openly gay born-and-bred local from Ankara. In fact, there was a time when this beautiful country was a queer haven – at least it still is for LGBTQ people in the Middle East and in the Arab world which are home to some of the most dangerous places in the world for LGBTQ people.

We fell in love with Turkey when Sertab Erener won Eurovision in 2003 with the banger of a track “Everyway That I Am”, which became a staple in every gay club around the world. Sadly, Turkey withdrew from the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013, and hasn’t participated since! The country we know today went the other way – Pride events are banned each year and LGBTQ laws are almost non-existent.

We got the lowdown on what gay life in Turkey is like now from Saf, who also told us about the scene across the country, and what life was like growing up there.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Turkey Gay Travel Resources

Exploring Gay Rome – The Nomadic Boys

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Exploring Gay Rome - The Nomadic Boys

Come Visit and Explore Gay Rome In All Its Glory

Everywhere you step you stumble over an ancient artifact that dates back millennia… We’ve never been so spellbound and intrigued by a city before. It completely captivated us.

We had such a romantic time together in gay Rome. The rich history is just made for that – I arrived in the city one day earlier than Seby (due to family commitments) so went to meet him at the airport – he arrived on a late flight over. I brought him to our Airbnb in downtown Rome, dropped our bags, and went for our first stroll in the city at around midnight to the famous Trevi Fountain. Even at that time, this world-famous fountain is busy, but the atmosphere around it is truly magical.

When we say Rome is romantic, we really mean it. It’s a great place to explore with a loved one. However, if you’re looking for gay parties and nightlife, this city is rather limited. There are a few places to go out which we highlight below.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Rome 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.

Camping in Buttermere in the Lake District – Our Taste for Life

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Camping in Buttermere in the Lake District - Our Taste for Life

Lesbian Camping in Buttermere in the Lake District

If you plan on camping in Buttermere in the Lake District, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about camping in Buttermere, including local campsites, wild camping, and park-ups for campervans.

Located in the north-western region of the Lake District, Buttermere is known for its beautiful lake and picturesque setting amongst the surrounding fells.

We recently had 3-days in the Lake District and spent most of our time in and around this amazing region. It’s remote compared to other areas like Windermere but still offers plenty of things to see and do.

If you’re a keen hiker, you’ll find some cracking fell walks in the area, such as Haystacks and Fleetwith Pike. Or, if you prefer to take it easy, round the lake is an ideal spot to chill out for the day.

By Charlotte & Natalie – Full Story at Our Taste for Life

Cumbria Lesbian Travel Resources

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

Take a Lima Walking Tour – Keep Calm and Wander

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Take a Lima Walking Tour - Keep Calm and Wander

Take a Lima Walking Tour on Your Own

This Lima walking tour will last 2-3 hours, depending on your pace. That’s what we did. Though there are a few “free” walking tours in the historical district, we opted to do it ourselves because we had the whole day to explore the area and we didn’t want to rush. We wanted to take it slowly, on our own terms.

Lima is a bustling city and the world’s second driest capital, next to Cairo. Most often, Lima is where most tourists/visitors land on their way to fulfill a bucket list – Machu Picchu! Staying for three days here is ideal – enough to explore the historic district, Barranco, and Miraflores neighborhoods. And maybe, a day tour to Huacachina and Paracas.

On our first day in town, we started at 9 o’clock in the morning. On our way to Plaza San Martin, we encountered locals in their costumes. We didn’t really know what was going on but I think they shot a promotional video for the upcoming Independence Day or something.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Lima 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

Visiting Gay Reykjavik – The Globetrotter Guys

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rainbow road in gay Reykjavik - The Globetrotter Guys

Visiting Gay Reykjavik in Any Season

Being gay in Reykjavik (and Iceland as a whole) is not something that is simply tolerated, it is celebrated and you can expect to have a very warm welcome in this somewhat chilly destination!

Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland so it is no surprise this is where a lot of gay travellers head to and use as a base. The city is known for its vibrant nightlife, great restaurants and a very welcoming population – over a third of the residents here join in the Pride celebrations each year!

When it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, same sex marriage was legalised in Iceland in June 2010 and more work is being done to protect everyone under the LGBTQ spectrum. It is encouraging to know that their Prime Minister, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, is a legally married lesbian!

With all that in mind, plus the fact that the the country is stunning with so many incredible and unique experiences on offer, it is easy to see why gay Reykjavik is attracting queer travellers from all over the world.

By Sion & Ben – Full Story at the Globetrotter Guys

Reykjavik 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

Hiking the Finger Lakes – Our Taste for Life

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Hiking the Finger Lakes - Our Taste for Life

Hiking the Finger Lakes region of New York is a magical experience. In this guide, guest blogger Polly Clover shares 15 of the best local hikes to help you plan your trip.

Bursting with natural beauty, this region in central New York is one of the most enchanting destinations I’ve ever visited. In fact, no New York itinerary is complete without visiting.

Why I love Hiking the Finger Lakes

I discovered the Finger Lakes during one of my east coast road trip adventures, and I was instantly blown away. With its expansive vineyards, incredibly kind locals, stunning vistas, and breathtaking waterfalls, what more could you ask for?

There are 11 Finger Lakes, with five main ones. They expand over 9,000 miles, so a car is necessary to explore the entire area! That said, my favourite way to explore this natural slice of heaven is on foot and hitting the trails.

From leisurely, short strolls to long, challenging hikes, there’s something for all kinds of nature lovers! Many are pet-friendly, some are great for children, and a few are adequate for pro hikers.

By Charlotte & Natalie – Our Taste for Life

Finger Lakes Lesbian Travel Resources