California - Page 3 of 4

Santa Maria Wine Country for Gay Families – 2TravelDads

March 17, 2022 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Over the years we’ve had several trips and shared lots about the Santa Maria Valley in California. This is one of our favorite places on the Central Coast, and not just as a road trip stop, but we love visiting for the outdoor experiences and agriculture, the California agritourism, in the area. The Santa Maria Wine Country also is its own AVA, meaning that it’s a special wine producing region. This podcast and article is all about how YOU can enjoy the Santa Maria Valley vineyard culture, both in person and from wherever you are.

I interviewed two seasoned SMV winemakers, Norman Beko (Cottonwood Canyon Winery) and Wes Hagen (J. Wilkes Wines), and we discussed everything from what makes the SMV a special region for growing grapes, to how visitors can tour Santa Barbara County Wine Country during the Coronavirus pandemic. These winemakers and their teams are working hard to keep the wine culture alive and available.

What Makes the Santa Maria Wine Country Unique?

Being located near the coast and between both east/west and north/south mountains, the climate stays remarkably cool for being a central/southern California area. When it’s blazing hot in Los Angeles, it’s nice and cool in the SMV. When it’s cold and foggy up in San Francisco, it’s warm and pleasant down here. This is the ideal climate for growing chardonnay and pinot noir grapes. Nearly 80% of the wine grown in Santa Barbara County is chardonnay or pinot.

Full Story at 2TravelDads

Gay Disneyland for LGBTQ+ Families – 2TravelDads

January 14, 2022 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Disneyland. We’ve been so many times through the years. I used to work at the park and have friends that still do. It’s one of the most special places we go back to.

In this podcast episode we go land by land through gay Disneyland discussing our favorite attractions, details of the park, and what we feel are the ride most worth waiting for. We hope you enjoy our discussion, and be sure to come back for our episode all about Disney’s California Adventure!

Gay Disneyland: Everything Worth Waiting For (And More)

In this episode we go attraction by attraction picking and choosing our favorites. We know that some Disneyland attractions are worth waiting 45 minutes or an hour, but not all… even if the wait time shows a long line. Between the best rides and shows to mix up the magic, this podcast episode should give you a good idea of planning and what to use your valuable time on when you visit the Happiest Place on Earth!

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Greater L.A. Area Gay Travel Resources

Visiting Kings Canyon In Any Season – 2TravelDads

January 10, 2022 by J. Scott Coatsworth

And then we got into Kings Canyon National Park and it was freezing. As we wound up the mountain on our way to Sequoia National Park we went through fog, hail, rain and dead still air. It was eerie.

We expected this to all be cleared up by the time we returned to Kings Canyon National Park but it wasn’t, hence our plans were a bit foiled. We still had fun though! We’ve got some great tips for what’s fun, fascinating and different than what we encountered in Sequoia National Park. So, here’s what you can bet on for a great experience when visiting Kings Canyon National Park in any season.

Visiting Kings Canyon National Park Visitors Center

We got our National Parks Passport stamps here in Grant Village and had the best talk with the Park Ranger about all of the things we could do… if we stuck around for a few days and allowed the 80 degree weather to roll back in. Since that wasn’t going to happen, we explored more of the exhibits. The Grant Grove Visitors Center had some of the best wildlife informational displays we’ve seen in any National Park, including really beautiful bronze casts of some of the creatures you’ll see in the park.

Full Story at sTravelDads

Visiting Disney’s California Adventure for Gay Families – 2TravelDads

December 26, 2021 by J. Scott Coatsworth

In this podcast episode, Disney’s California Adventure for gay families is our hot topic. Truth be told, we tend to spend more time in DCA than in Disneyland. Maybe it’s the smaller crowds; maybe we like the big attractions more… maybe it’s the food… Either way, this is our complete run-down of all the rides in this fiun theme park and what YOU just can’t miss!

Tips for Disney’s California Adventure for Gay Families

Everyone asks us if California Adventure (DCA) is worth adding to their Disneyland trip. The answer is YES! OMG, yes! Over the years it’s actually become our favorite theme park, and not just favorite of the Disney Parks. To follow along or just get familiar with DCA, download the park map first.

These are our top tips for beating the lines, what’s really worth waiting for, and even some insider info about what’s coming to this amusement park (hint: it’s MARVELous).

Full Story at 2TravelDads

Greater L.A. Gay Travel Resources

El Mirasol Villas – Palm Springs Gay Resort

January 3, 2023November 19, 2021 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Clothing Optional Palm Springs Gay Resort

Looking for a Palm Springs gay resort? Stay with us at the El Mirasol Villas – the original resort catering to gay men since 1975.

Our sunny getaway was originally built by Howard Hughes in 1947. We have worked hard to preserve the hotel’s charm and privacy while providing the style and comfort desired by today’s traveler.

Walled and gated, our private PS escape is in the Warm Sands area, just blocks away from downtown Palm Springs, nightlife, hiking, shopping, casino gambling and gourmet dining.

Meandering garden paths lead to bungalows, one or two bedroom suites and studios on the property. You’ll also find two beautiful clothing optional pools and a ten man Jacuzzi/Spa with an outdoor shower.

The hotel even features a eucalyptus steam room.

See the El Mirasol Resort Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Palm Springs Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

Hiking Palm Springs, California – 2TravelDads

September 5, 2021 by J. Scott Coatsworth

We love to find places that everybody talks about but nobody knows the cool stuff you can do there. One such place is Palm Springs, California. I mean, everybody goes there for a nice weekend or a relaxing vacation, but besides golf, gay bars and swimming pools, what is there? The ACTUAL Palm Springs!! Agua Caliente Indian Canyons is the reason for the name, and hiking here is awesome!

Have you been to Palm Springs and done the oasis hikes at Indian Canyons or out at the Coachella Preserve and know what we’re talking about? Been thinking about a visit maybe but didn’t know what to do beyond golf and shopping? Well, let us give you some motivation to make a weekend trip out of it or at least get you away from the pool for a few hours – try hiking Palm Springs!

Visiting Palm Springs and the Indian Canyons

A two hour drive from Los Angeles, Orange County or San Diego, PS lies to the east of the coastal cities. You’ll have to pass through Riverside or Ontario, so plan for city traffic on your drive… or you can just take a short flight from any of the Southern California airports. Actually, most West Coast airports have direct flights into town.

Once you’re in town, drive right through to the end and follow the signs for Agua Caliente Indian Canyons. After about ten minutes you’ll be at the park entrance. Pay your fee and pick where you’d like to begin, then enjoy hiking Palm Springs and all its glory.

Full Story at 2TravelDads

Palm Springs Gay Travel Resources

Visiting Carson City for Gay Families – 2TravelDads

August 13, 2021 by J. Scott Coatsworth

By now you know that visiting Carson City, Nevada is a must-do and it is a pretty cool town. After three visits I can say that it’s one of my favorite places in the Southwestern USA. This is the complete scoop from a local, Lydia Bruegge from the tourism board, on what she loves about living in Carson City and what to expect throughout the seasons in the Reno-Tahoe area. Lydia shared with us where to play and what to expect for weather year-round (it’s not a desert!). And why to visit Carson City for Gay families.

Located in western Nevada, very close to the California border, Carson City is the state capital. It’s a small city / big town with about 55,000 residents.

Even though its elevation isn’t as high as Denver, if you live at sea level, you’ll feel the higher altitude when you set out on a hike. It’s wonderful and you can smell the freshness of the air being so high, but it’ll surprise you if you’re not expecting to be able to feel 4800′ of elevation.

Carson City is laid out in a very easy-to-get-around way, with the downtown being on a grid and the surrounding areas easily accessible via boulevard or freeway. At about 157 square miles, it’s a good sized place. Highways 395 and 50 make it easy to get to the more rural or mountainous areas, such as the shores of Lake Tahoe, while I-580 connects Carson City to Reno.

Full Story at 2TravelDads

Nevada Gay Travel Resources

Unforgettable Days in Gay Tahoe – 2TravelDads

August 6, 2021August 4, 2021 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Reno and Lake Tahoe have so many more things to do than casinos and skiing. I’ve created an ideal itinerary for enjoying all kinds of outdoor adventures, history, and great food all around Carson City and the Lake. Many people consider Lake Tahoe for vacations, but there is a whole world just a few miles from the lake that is perfect for families or solo adventurers alike. Use this itinerary as a gay Tahoe / Reno travel / trip planner to build the sort of vacation YOU want.

This four day itinerary will give you a nice mix of culture, nature and Nevada’s historic mining past. With time in Nevada’s State Capitol, Carson City, and in the mountains surrounding the Eagle Valley, all the way to Lake Tahoe’s shores, this travel plan will keep you busy and allow for plenty of down time to relax and enjoy the area. You’ll find many things to do between Reno and Tahoe!

4 Days in Gay Tahoe /Reno Itinerary

As you arrive in the Reno-Tahoe airport or general area, you’ll most likely fly into Reno (RNO) or be driving from the San Francisco Bay Area. Either way, you’ll do some quick sightseeing in downtown Reno, driving under the Reno Arch and checking out the facades of some of the famous vintage casinos. But then you head south and start your awesome vacation.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Tahoe Gay Travel Resources

Arroyo Vista Inn – Gay Friendly Pasadena B&B

June 8, 2021 by J. Scott Coatsworth

GAY FRIENDLY PASADENA B&B NEAR DTLA

Welcome to the Arroyo Vista Inn, in South Pasadena under five miles from Old Town Pasadena just seven miles to everything that Downtown Los Angeles has to offer. We’re also just fifteen minutes by foot from the South Pasadena Gold Line Station.

Our gay friendly Pasadena B&B is in a historic Craftsman home originally built in 1910 and later converted to a bed and breakfast in 2006. The original home was designed by the famous architect Lester Moore, and features ten rooms.

Each of our guestrooms at the Arroyo Vista Inn has a queen- or king-sized bed and private bath, with wifi internet access and cable television.

Our South Pasadena Inn is perched on a hillside overlooking the Arroyo Seco with fantastic views of the San Gabriel mountains in the distance.

You’ll have your choice of rooms, from one of our mountain view guest rooms to a quieter hill-facing room, nestled under the shade of our beautiful old Oak Trees.

Guests enjoy our large sixteen-person dining table and beautiful outdoor patio for breakfast. We serve both vacationers and business travelers, with a continental breakfast weekdays with hot dishes also served at the table. On the weekend, we provide a full sit-down breakfast, with at least two specialty items from our kitchen. If you prefer to have breakfast in bed, there’s an additional charge to have breakfast for two delivered to your room.

We try to accommodate our guests’ special dietary needs with advance notice. Please tell us about any special food requests in your reservation note and we will do our best to meet them.

See the Arroyo Vista Inn Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Gay Friendly Pasadena Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

Cabrillo National Monument – 2 Travel Dads

February 8, 2021 by J. Scott Coatsworth

San Diego, California is such a popular west coast destination. We all love to head to SoCal for the nearly guaranteed sunshine and beaches where you can actually swim. And the coastal vibe is so different, with bare feet everywhere and flowers blooming on the bluffs year round. Cabrillo National Monument is a great place to experience that great SoCal feeling.

Cabrillo National Monument is part of the National Parks system (#FindYourPark) and it’s perfectly located for an awesome afternoon during a San Diego visit. Planning a day out at Cabrillo includes everything from lighthouses to tide pools, picnics to National Park Passport stamps. Yep, our family has favorite activities and Southern California is the perfect spot to do all of them!

Finding the Cabrillo National Monument

A lot of people visiting San Diego are going to be playing tourist in the Gaslamp District or being fancy and lounging on Coronado Island, but there’s so much more to San Diego. The beach neighborhoods are awesome! Starting at the north is La Jolla (it’s own city) with its cove full of seals, then working the way down is Hermosa and the bluffs, and then it’s the beaches!

Full Story at 2Travel Dads

San Diego Gay Travel Resources