Destinations

Labuan Bajo’s Rangko Cave – Keep Calm and Wander

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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

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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

Visiting Georgia’s Jekyll Island – 2TravelDads

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Visiting Georgia's Jekyll Island - 2TravelDads

Jekyll Island is a great destination for beach goers or travelers that want to mix a little history with relaxation. An excellent stop along a Georgia Coast road trip, It’s just across the Florida-Georgia border and very easy to get to from Savannah or Jacksonville.

It’s been several years since we first fell in love with the Golden Isles of Georgia. Our first experience was on St Simons Island when we visited the King and Prince Resort. From the food to the Spanish moss, we were hooked. And now we’ve gotten to explore another of the Golden Isles: Jekyll Island. Again, wow.

Jekyll Island is actually one big state park but then it’s also a town and a collection of beaches and hotels and golfing and… It’s funny to compare this palce with St Simons because they’re so different with such different attractions and a totally different feeling. Take a look at our weekend there and you’ll see why we’re always ready to head back there for another getaway!

Visiting Jekyll Island

The Island is a part of the Golden Isles of Georgia. It is in the very southeastern most tip of Georgia almost at the Florida border. The Golden Isles aren’t far off of Interstate 95 which means that you can add them onto a trip to the Jacksonville or St. Augustine area or make them a stop off on your road trip North to Savannah or Atlanta.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Georgia Gay Travel Resources

Gay Croatia Road Trip – 2TravelDads

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Gay Croatia Road Trip - 2TravelDads

Doing a road trip around Croatia is pretty incredible. Where else can you walk across waterfall boardwalks one day and then wind through dark medieval alleyways the next? This gay Croatia road trip is perfect to do with kids or without. From Plitvice National Park to the quiet coves of the Dalmatian Isles, you’ll love this epic European road trip.

Gay Croatia Road Trip Plan

If you can add this to a bigger European road trip, that would be amazing, but you also can plan just to do this road trip. The nation has quite a storied history, from being a part of the Kingdom of Ragusa to being under Venetian rule and being held by the Roman Empire. So much of this history is visible in the small towns and historic areas of this beautiful country.

Day 1: Zagreb, the Capital City

Croatia is a fascinating country with both gorgeous nature and beautiful historic towns. Begin your road trip by flying into Zagreb (ZAG). Explore the capital city on foot, enjoying local wines and burek (meat pastries). Zagreb is old and wonderful. Very different from Dubrovnik, it’s a beautiful city to explore with wonderful art and museums.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Croatia Gay Travel Resources

Lesbian Phoenix – Go Girlfriend

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Lesbian Phoenix - Go Girlfriend

If you’re chasing your next vacation escape, consider a desert respite in lesbian Phoenix, Arizona. It’s 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…

Where to Eat in Lesbian Phoenix

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.

Full Story From Go Girlfriend

Phoenix Lesbian Bed & Breakfasts, Hotels, Vacation Rentals and Tour Operators

Gay Mobile, Alabama for Queer Families – 2TravelDads

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Gay Mobile, Alabama for Queer Families - 2TravelDads

Mobile, Alabama is a magical city. A lot of people don’t think of this city when they picture the beautiful, wrought iron balconies towns of the South, but gay Mobile AL is gorgeous and a must-visit place. There are so many things to do here, from walking the historic streets and eating amazing Southern cooking, so getting out into nature on the swamp or on Dauphin Island. Mobile is a hidden gem and will surprise you with every turn.

Being the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the USA and founded by one of the brothers who also founded New Orleans, it’s already in position to be cool. You don’t hear a lot about this southern city as a destination or a party city, but it is. It’s not a party city like Las Vegas or the Daytona Beach of the 90s, but it’s a place full of fun and pride.

And it’s wonderfully LGBTQ friendly, which added to how welcome I felt and how much I loved Mobile, Alabama. Anyways, here’s the scoop on Mobile and why I can’t wait to return and find even more things to do.

Full Story at 2TravelDads

Alabama Gay Travel Resources

Bali Waterfalls – Keep Calm and Wander

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Bali Waterfalls - Keep Calm and Wander

These 11 Bali waterfalls will add to the excitement when visiting the famed Island of the Gods. Whether they’re big or small, these waterfalls can surely delight your adventurous spirit. All of these waterfalls involve a bit of hiking, some are a bit exhausting and others are easy peasy. But once you see/hear the raging or calming sound of these waterfalls in a middle of a lush jungle, all worries are gone. Not to mention the sounds of birds, insects, and other living creatures that harmonize with the cascading water.

Bali Waterfalls – Sekumpul

I have no doubt this is Bali’s most beautiful waterfall. Sekumpul Waterfall is way up north of the island right in the middle of a jungle. I was speechless the first time I saw it. It was just beautiful from afar and much more stunning when I was at its base.

The hike down was easy but you’ve got to be wearing shoes to make it easy to wade in the water and to protect your feet from sharp objects/rocks. Going back up can be challenging as it would test your physical limits.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Bali Gay Travel Resources

Nasi Goreng, Indonesia’s Signature Dish – Everything to Sea

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Nasi Goreng - Pixabay

In 2018, the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism declared fried rice – better known as nasi goreng – as one of the five national dishes alongside the likes of gado-gado (assorted vegetables coated in peanut sauce) and soto (traditional soup composed of an assortment of meat and vegetables).

What’s interesting about these choices is that they share a similar trait, which is their malleability. Although there’s a universal definition or understanding of each dish, their serving or presentation may differ from each Indonesian region to the next; gado-gado, for instance, may transform into lotek, karedok or pecel in other regions, all of which essentially employ the similar principle in composition but perhaps contain slightly different ingredients.

What Is Nasi Goreng?

The same also applies to nasi goreng. Although not native to Indonesia – the origin of nasi goreng is often said to hearken back to China and the world-famous Chinese fried rice – the dish has become so iconic and singularly Indonesian thanks to its distinctly aromatic, earthy and smoky taste profile and most importantly, its versatility.

At present, there are roughly around 60 variations of the dish known across the archipelago, ranging from all-veggies to meat-heavy. Furthermore, there is no single defined recipe for it, as every fried rice dish with certain mixtures, additions, ingredients, and toppings could lead to another version. 

Full Story at Everything to Sea

Indonesia Gay Travel Resources

Mansion Farm Inn – Rehoboth Area Gay B&B

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Mansion Farm Inn - Rehoboth Area Gay B&B

REHOBOTH AREA GAY B&B –
YOUR COASTAL COUNTRY ESCAPE

Welcome to the Mansion Farm Inn in Milton, DE, “Your Coastal Countryside Escape.” Our Rehoboth area gay B&B is just five miles from Broadkill Beach and just a few miles north of Delaware’s eastern shore beaches. We’re also just eight miles away from Lewes and twelve miles from Rehoboth Beach and its famous boardwalk.

For many years, Rehoboth Beach has been known for being LGBTQ+ friendly. It has gay owned bars, businesses and fabulous restaurants, and even LGBTQ+ beaches.

Our gay owned bed and breakfast was put on the Historic Registry in 2013 and was originally built in 1810. We have fully renovated the entire house and property to make it welcoming and comfortable for all of our guests.

We have three rooms in the main house and two one bedroom apartmentw in the renovated barn that are dog friendly, so feel free to bring your pet.

See the Mansion Farm Inn Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Milton Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

Hiking the Valley of Fire in Vegas – 2TravelDads

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Hiking the Valley of Fire in Vegas - 2TravelDads

Before we went hiking at Valley of Fire with kids it just looked like an Instagram heaven. That’s all that we knew about it, all from photos that people had taken and posted to Instagram. And then we visited and hiked and had up close wildlife encounters and fell in love. Valley of Fire State Park is the best Las Vegas day trip you didn’t know you need to do.

We’re going to help you plan and have the best visit possible, seeing some of the most amazing geology Nevada has to offer, and so close to Las Vegas. And you can do it all on a trip to Las Vegas or as part of a southwest road trip.

Where is Valley of Fire State Park?

Located less than an hour northeast of Las Vegas, Valley of Fire State Park is an easy drive to take you into another world off the Vegas Strip. In the Moapa Valley (park area), you will find all kinds of unique sites. You might not find pyramids or waterfalls flowing off the tops of hotels, but there are windswept hoodoos, carved out caves and passages, and petroglyphs that predate any sort of pirate display in Las Vegas.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Las Vegas Gay Travel Resources