TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD – Melvyn's Restaurant, Palm Springs

melvyn's to use outside When we travel from coast to coast we usually do not know where to dine to have a memorable dining experience. Once we find a fabulous place, we go back again and again and again. We have been traveling to Palm Springs, California for 15 years and from the first time we went there we found one of our favorite restaurants in the entire country. Melvyn’s Restaurant which is located in the Ingleside Inn in downtown Palm Springs. We first heard about the restaurant on the television program, “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”. melvyns to use interiorWe knew that we had to try it out which we did 15 years ago and since then we have been back dozens of times. Mel Haber, the owner is a tremendously good looking gentleman and has owned the restaurant for 41 years. The decor and menu has not changed in all those years. If something is perfect, then why change it? It is like stepping back in 1950 and 1960’s Hollywood ! Large photos of Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor and all of the glorious Movie stars from the past are on the walls. Usually while we are dining there, we always see a celebrity or two. Brian Ellis, the Maitre d’ has been there since day one. He has won numerous awards as being one of the finest Maitre d’s in the country. He knows how to do things right and to make every guest have a most memorable dining experience. He has made friends with many of his thousands of diners including us. Travelers to Palm Springs always return again and again to Melvyn’s. Owner Mel Haber is one of the nicest gentleman that we have ever met. He has contributed back to the community in so many ways. He has written two books on his personal experiences in operating his Inn and restaurant. He is a celebrity in his own right and has a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. mel haberMelvyn’s Restaurant is located in the Ingleside Inn which Mel has also owned for 41 years. Over the years, the Inn has become a magnet for Hollywood’s elite, U.S. Presidents, royalty, aristocrats, captains of industry and celebrities visiting Palm Springs. According to Wikipedia, his guests have included Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Marlon Brando, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Marie Shriver, Sylvester Stallone, Liza Minnelli, Liberace, Jerry Lewis, Barry Manilow, Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, Rita Hayworth, Pat Boone, Debbie Reynolds, Larry King, John Travolta, Sidney Sheldon, David Hasselhoff, President Gerald Ford, George Hamilton and celebrity travel columnists, Donald Pile and Ray Williams and dozens and dozens of other celebrities. Check out Melvyn’s Restaurant at www.inglesideinn.com. They are located at 200 West Ramon Road. Their phone number is 800-772-6655 and the direct number to the restaurant is 760-325.2323. For those readers who have never been to Palm Springs or are not going to be there in the immediate future, Mel Haber has given us one of his favorite recipes to share with our readers that he has on the menu. VEAL INGLESIDE – for Two people- 3 ounces of veal cutlet pounded until thin. Put in pan 2 ounces of peanut oil until hot. Flip both sides of veal into flour until lightly dusted. Whip one egg in a bowl, dip veal into egg batter, saute veal on each side 20 seconds until light brown. Remove veal from pan and throw oil out. Put veal back into the same pan. Use 2 ounces of sherry wine. Reduce for 1 minute. Add 2 ounces of demi-glaze. Cut 1/4 of an avocado fanned and put on top of veal. Cover with 2 ounces of mousseline sauce. Mousseline sauce is made with 8 ounces of heavy whipped cream combined with 4 ounces of hollandaise sauce (all whipped together). Preparation time: 6 minutes. ENJOY ! Don and RayAlways remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married). Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

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TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Graceland

Graceland Mansion graceland airplaneWe recently went to Memphis and toured Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley. We were there about 15 years ago and wanted to see the changes that were made. Well, not many changes have been made. It is like Niagara Falls and other U.S. Monuments, it just stays more or less the same. Graceland is the second most visited home in the country as only the White House draws more visitors. The main difference is that the White House tour is free and Graceland cost money. More than 600,000 people visit Graceland every year! When you first arrive in the area, you have to find a place to park which can be a bit tricky and expensive. Park a few blocks away on the street and park free otherwise parking lots charge $10 and up. Graceland dining roomThere is a main lobby building where you purchase your tickets or redeem them and then you go to a ‘waiting area’ where they take your photo (of course and then try to sell them to you afterwards. A shuttle bus then takes you directly across the street to Graceland and drops you off and then you are on your own and can go thru the mansion at your own speed. Most of the interior looks like early Kmart but that is the way he lived so deal with it. At least Liberace did it with class! graceland living roomThe upstairs of the mansion is off limits so you cannot see the bedroom where he died. Everything about Graceland is devoted to ‘early Elvis’. There are no photos of him in his later years when he got much heavier. After you finish viewing all you want to in the Mansion then you walk out the back door to the building in the back which houses the many gold records and hundreds of photos and souvenirs from his past. graceland graveWhen you have toured that then you follow the path to the side of the mansion where his grave is. He is buried next to his Mother and Father and his brother who died in childhood. There are always tons of flowers there from fans all over the world. Be ready to see people crying and sobbing and throwing themselves on the ground! Luckily it is fenced or else am sure that some of his fans would trample the grave. Then a shuttle bus comes along and takes you back across the street and drops you off right in front of the gift shop. Needless to say you can buy almost anything you want concerning Elvis…… refrigerator magnets, socks, shirts, caps, dolls, cards and about anything you can think of. While you are in Memphis, be sure and check out Beale Street in downtown where they have some of the greatest music bars around. There are four different tours and prices for Graceland. The Graceland Elvis VIP Tour plus the Airplanes tour runs $80.00 per person. The regular VIP Tour runs $75.00 per person. The Platinum plus airplanes tour runs $47.00. The regular Platinum tour runs $42.50 or just the Mansion Tour runs $38.50. There is a 10% discount for senior citizens. The different tours allows you to just tour the Mansion itself or to view his autos and his two airplanes which you actually get to walk thru. Before you go, be sure and check out their website, www.graceland.com You can purchase tickets online so you do not have to stand IN LINE to get your tickets. Graceland is one of those places where you really should go to once just to say you have been there. We highly suggest that you do NOT visit Graceland during Elvis’s ‘Birth Week’ or ‘Death Week’ since his hard shell fans go back year after year for those weeks. Don and RayAlways remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married). Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

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TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Iowa City, Iowa Part 2

iowa city capitol Iowa City is a real gem to find. Being a University town, it has everything that most towns do not have.  We experienced  things that one would only expect to find in Chicago or New York or any other major city in the country.  Coralville, Iowa is their sister city and abuts the city limits so be sure and visit both cities when you are there. iowa  univsityTheir downtown area is where it is happening and you can walk everywhere which is great!   You can walk to the University and take advantage of everything that the University of Iowa has to offer. iowa city downtownBe sure and visit all of their museums and galleries as well.  There is a wonderful bookstore downtown that is located in a very old stone building that has thousands of books, The Haunted Bookshop, www.thehauntedbookshop.com/shop/haunted/index.html There are dozens of places to visit in and around Iowa City. Some of our favorites were:

iowa herbert hooverBe sure and visit the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and  Museum as well as  his boyhood home in West Branch, Iowa which is only about 12 miles east of Iowa City.  It is extremely interesting to visit and has a lot of memorabilia about the President and is really a great history lesson. Their website is:www.hoover.archives.gov/ The University of Iowa is one of the finest in the nation.  The Master of Fine Arts-a graduate degree based on creative work rather than an academic thesis-was born at there as the nation’s most celebrated creative writing program.  Also is the home to renowned visual arts programs and boundary-crossing work in music and theatre. iowacity brick streetsThere are a lot of great restaurants in Iowa City serving all types of food and of course we love food. Our favorites were
  • Devotay, a tapas restaurant and artisan cocktail bar.  It is the finest tapas restaurant in the Midwest. Check them out at www.devotay.net/
  • The Atlas Restaurant and Bar, www.atlasiowacity.com/ is another great restaurant and next door to them is:
  • Basta, www.bastaiowacity.com/ an Italian restaurant which is a very interesting place to dine.
  • About a half a block away is the Pullman Diner and Bar, http://pullmandiner.com/ that is a very fun place.
All of these restaurants are located right downtown and each is packed all the time.    We highly suggest that you dine at each of these restaurants when you are staying in Iowa City. iowa city signBut as they say about Iowa City, “Nothing can take the place of walking their streets, experiencing their scenic landscapes, meeting their people, engaging in their culture of their community and visiting their downtown shops and restaurants and bars.” Before going, sure and visit  www.iowacitycoralville.org  and be sure to stay at the Brown Street Inn B and B when you go there.  It truly is the BEST place in town to stay.   Their website is:  http://brownstreetinn.com/ Don and RayAlways remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married). Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/
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TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Iowa City, Iowa, Part One

Iowa City Town Hall - Donald and Ray Iowa City has often been referred to as the “Athens of the Midwest” because of it’s rich cultural and educational offerings. Two of Iowa’s certified cultural and entertainment districts are positioned in the heart of Iowa City. The University of Iowa campus, intertwined with Downtown, showcases the Old Capitol Museum, the Pentacrest Museums and other cultural attractions throughout their community. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized Iowa City as the world’s third City of Literature joining Edinburgh, Scotland and Melbourne, Australia. It is THE only city of Literature in North America! That designation provides additional international luster to the community and serves to validate the area’s long history of nurturing the literary arts and those who appreciate them. Pound for pound, this area constitutes the most literate community in the world! Iowa City - Donald and RayNaturally we were very interested in visiting Iowa City and it really is a tremendous place! We were welcomed to the city by Joshua Schamberger, the President of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. In our travels from coast to coast, this gentleman was the most professional director of any Convention and Visitor’s Bureau that we have ever encountered. His assistant, Clarissa McPheron, Director of Creative Services at the CVB assisted in our scheduling and was extremely professional. Brown Street Inn Bed and Breakfast - Donald and RayOur first stop was to check into The Brown Street Inn Bed and Breakfast. It is owned by Mark Ruggeberg and Bob Brooks. They have operated the Inn for more than 10 years. It is located at 430 Brown Street which is just a short walk to downtown. It is located in a lovely two story old home and decorated to perfection. Casual elegance in Iowa City’s historic Brown Street neighborhood. It is a 1913 Dutch Colonial Style Mansion and located on a very quiet street and within walking distance to downtown as well as to the University of Iowa campus. Mark and Bob are fabulous hosts. Their website is www.brownstreetinn.com Their toll free number to make reservations is 319.338.0435. Their email is info@brownstreetinn.com They have 5 rooms and one huge suite. Brown Street Inn Bed and Breakfast - Donald and RayThey have a computer for guests as well as WiFi for those who bring their laptops. This is one of the finest B and B’s where we have ever stayed. These gentlemen do EVERYTHING the right way. While we were there we met other guests who had stayed there several times in the past. We can certainly understand that once you stay at their Inn that you would want to stay there again and again and again. The first morning when we were there we met two delightful guests from eastern Iowa who were celebrating their anniversary…. Linda and Henry Neuman, both attorneys from a city in Eastern Iowa. She was the first woman to serve as a member of the Iowa Supreme Court in it’s 150 year history. She and her attorney husband were extremely interesting to talk with over breakfast and both are full of stories of their past. We need more people like that! Congratulations on your Anniversary! Another couple staying at the B and B were Kirsten and Ross Smith from greater Indianapolis. Since we had just been to Indianapolis the month before we had a lot to talk about. That is just one of the many reasons why we love staying at a B and B is that you get to meet such wonderful, exciting and interesting people and many times we run in to them again in our travels. We have stayed in over 100 B and B’s and The Brown Street Inn is one of our very favorite ones. In Part Two of our travel columns on Iowa City we will tell you about the many things to do and see and the wonderful dining opportunities that the town has to offer. For a city this size it is really remarkable how much they have to offer. No wonder so many people from coast to coast love to visit Iowa City! Before going, be sure and visit www.iowacitycoralville.org Don and RayAlways remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married). Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

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TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Amazing Indianapolis, Part Three

Indianapolis Most cities have several things going for them and we have been to more than 50 of the largest cities in the country. Some have beautiful mountains or beaches or lakes and rivers and historical sights. Some have fabulous shopping, Broadway shows, museums and galleries and Gay meccas within the city. For over 15 years since we have been writing our national travel columns we were more impressed with Indianapolis than anyplace. Sure, we LOVE San Francisco and Palm Springs and Ft. Lauderdale and NYC and Chicago and smaller towns such as Ogunquit, Maine and Boothbay Harbor and Flagstaff, Arizona and the dozens and dozens of cities and towns where we have visited. We thought Indianapolis was just very special! indy gregsNaturally it all starts off with ‘people’ and Indianapolis has plenty of VERY interesting people to meet. Our very favorite Gay bar in the city was GREGS, 231 East 16th St., http://www.gregsindiana.com/. It is a huge bar however it is divided into about 4 bar areas which makes it perfect as you can walk from one section to another and each has a different theme. This is what a GAY bar should be all about. Too bad more Gay bars cannot figure this out. Guess that is why the have been in business since 1980 and they are packed all the time. Their bartenders and staff are extremely friendly. This is THE bar to go to in Indianapolis! Patrons are extremely friendly at this bar and people will just come up and start talking with you. Owner Phil has done a wonderful job with this bar. No trip to Indianapolis would be complete without going to this bar and meeting people and they have all ages of people there. Actually it is the friendliest bar that we have been to in years! A couple of others bars where we had some fun were Talbott Street Bar at 2145 North Talbott Street and TIni Bar, 717 Massachusetts and for those who are into Leather and Bears, there is the 501 Eagle at 501 North College. Several other bars were not so hot and seemed to have bad ownership and or management PRIDE INDY is one of the finest organizations in the country www.indypride.org and has been going for many years. Their Indy Pride Bag Ladies are now in their 34th year and they do an amazing fund raising for many local organizations. We were very fortunate to be able to attend one of their fund raising shows at the Talbott St. Bar when we were there and they are fabulously wonderful!The Gay community in Indianapolis is alive and well and doing tremendous work for the entire LGBT community. We have visited cites from coast to coast and have never found any city where the LGBT community works so well with each other. The young, middle age and mature Gay community works GREAT together. freddy threeWe were extremely fortunate to be able to meet one of the finest auto drag racers in the country, Freddy Niblack who has raced all over the world. He is the first OUT national auto drag racer and hopefully we will be seeing him in the INDY 500 soon. He has a wonderful personality and we know that he has a big future ahead of him. He races coast to coast so if there is a drag race near you, be sure and go to support him. His car number is 22! We really are missing Indianapolis and the wonderful time that we had there. Indianapolis is just a MUST for any gay person to visit. Go! Indy race car driver gayWe want to thank Kevin and Neil at the “Pence Must Go” Estate who just happen to be the “LGBT Power couple” of Indianapolis, Mark Lee, editor of THE WORD which is the LGBT publication for the entire Midwest, Candi Cain, Alex VanGorp, Ben Solomon and John Herbst. Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone. TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-Winning, Celebrity Travel Columnists. Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com Don and RayAlways remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married). Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

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TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Amazing Indianapolis Part Two

Indianapolis, Indiana The historical aspects of the city go way back to the early 1800’s. It is the largest city in Indiana, second largest city in the American Midwest and the 14th largest in the country The downtown’s main attraction is Monument Circle with shops and restaurants located on the streets around it and the famous Soldiers and Sailors Monument in the center which was built in the late 1890’s. We saw a live production of SKYLIGHT at the Theatre On The Square, www.tots.org starring Sarah McGee, Tyler Ostrander and Bill Simmons. We saw it on Broadway in New York City and this production was performed as perfect as on Broadway. Don and RayThe Cabaret, http://www.thecabaret.org/ at the Columbus Club, http://columbia-club.org/ is the premiere private city club in the city and is conveniently located in the heart of downtown on Monument Circle and was established in 1889. Broadway star, Joshua Henry had a one night sold out performance that we were thrilled to be a part of. His range of songs went from A to Z and the entire audience really appreciated him. The Indiana Historical Society is one of the country’s oldest and largest historical societies and describes itself as “Indiana’s Storyteller”. John A. Herbst is the President and C.E. O. and has done such a fantastic job. There is something here for everyone. They also have a Cole Porter Room with memorabilia plus a live performer who sings the music of Cole Porter. Donald and RayThey have many ‘hands on’ exhibits. This is one place that you do not want to miss! In addition they have a great Cafe located on the lower level that has the 2nd best Monte Cristo sandwiche that we have ever had coast to coast. They also have a wonderful Indiana LGBT Collective Initiative. Check out their website at: http://www.indianahistory.org/ This is a place where one could spend hours and hours and still not see everything. Thanks to John A. Herbst, this has become the ‘Crown Jewel’ in Indianapolis. For those who into sports, the city has the Indianapolis Colts national football team, the Indianapolis Pacers basketball team, They also have baseball, hockey, soccer and rugby. And of course the granddaddy of them all, NASCAR, http://www.nascar.com This year BE SURE to see one of our own be the FIRST OUT RACER!!!!! The city has numerous art galleries and museums including the Indianapolis Museum of Art, www.imamuseum.org/ and the Indianapolis of Contemporary Art, http://www.indymoca.org were two of our favorites, They have a wonderful zoo, www.indianapoliszoo.com You could spend a couple of weeks in beautiful, exciting and interesting Indianapolis and never see it all. Before going to Indianapolis visit http://www.visitindy.com/ and read their Gay publication online, http://thegayword.com/ which is the Midwest’s largest LGBT publication. THANKS for Kevin and Neil for being such fabulous hosts and now friends and THANKS to their wonderful new Mayor who is one of the nicest Mayor’s we have ever met. He is taking his city to a higher level than ever before! He truly is a Mayor that is beloved by all of the citizens of Indianapolis. This is the first time that we have written a 3 part travel column on any city in our 15 years of writing national travel columns however Indianapolis is indeed AMAZING! Remember: Indianapolis is SPECIAL, but their Governor must GO! indy pence must go Don and RayAlways remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married). Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

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TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Amazing Indianapolis

indy welcomes sign ind welcomes all indy mayorThe newly elected Mayor of Indianapolis, Joe Hogsett who by the way, won with over 63% of the vote last December is extremely intelligent and pro LGBT. He is loved by the entire city! He had us to the Mayor’s Office so that he could officially welcome the “Gay Travelers” to his city. We always tell our readers to have fun when traveling and talk to everyone and that is what we did on this trip. EVERYONE in Indianapolis is so fun, funny, interesting and fabulous. In Part One of our travel column on Indianapolis we are going to talk about them. indy penceFirst and foremost were the Dynamic Duo of Kevin Warren and his husband Neil. Kevin is the founder of the “PENCE MUST GO!” project. Kevin and Neil are the heart and soul of the Gay community in Indianapolis. In addition they are two of the nicest gentlemen we have ever met. Here are some of the signs that you will see around the city. IMG_6414Among many of the other wonderful people that we met were Mark Lee, editor of THE WORD, the LGBT publication in the city and Chas Navarra who has a smile that makes everyone who meets him smile. Why can’t more people smile more? John at Chef Joseph’s Restaurant knows how to be an owner. He enjoys what he does and it shows. The restaurant is packed every night only because he does it right! The two entertainers of the evening when we were there, Sean and Scott were having a ball and the audience really appreciated them. John Herbst at the Indiana Historical Society is a real GEM! He is very professional and the work that he is doing is tremendous. John is a man of many talents and lives life to the fullest. indy candi donald alexTwo young gentlemen that we met are up and coming guys who are making a big difference in Indianapolis. Candy Cain and Alex VanGorp are really great guys who are helping the Gay community in so many ways. Why can’t more young guys do the same? Another fabulous gentleman that we met was Ben Solomon who has THE Antique Shop and Interior Design shop in the area. He has exquisite tastes and an old English charm. Tom Main at the Tinker Street Restaurant is another person who knows how to make his customers return again and again and again. While dining there we met a delightful and very intelligent young couple who we really enjoyed chatting with. Who says that str8 people can’t be fun and wonderful? We hope to see Kellina and Ary the next time we are in Indianapolis. indy d and r and k and nWe want to give a BIG thanks to Kevin and Neil for such a fabulous time while we were in Indianapolis. In Part Two of our travel column we will be telling you about what the city has to offer travelers. Before traveling to Indianapolis be sure to go www.thegayword.com to read the local LGBT publication which is the large publication in the entire Midwest! Don and RayAlways remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married). Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

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TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Traveling With Pets

pet cat When making travel decisions, choose what is safest and most comfortable to you pet. For instance, unless you’ll be able to spend a lot of time with your dog, he’ll probably be happier at home than tagging along on your trip. As a rule, cats are almost always better off in their own home. But if you have decided it’s best to bring your pet along, follow our tips for a safe and low-stress trip. pet in cageThe safest way for your dog to travel in the car is in a crate that has been anchored to the vehicle using a seatbelt or other secure means. Dog restraints or seat belts are useful for preventing your dog from roaming around the car and being a distraction to the driver, but they haven’t been reliably shown to protect dogs during a crash. Most cats aren’t comfortable traveling in cars, so for their safety as well as yours, keep them in a carrier. It’s important to restrain these carriers in the car so that they don’t bounce around and hurt your cat. Do this by securing a seat belt around the front of the carrier. Keep your pet in the back seat of the car. If an airbag deploys while your pet is in the passenger seat (even in a crate), it might injure your pet. Dogs and cats should always be kept safely inside the car. Pets who are allowed to stick their heads out the window can be injured by particles of debris or made sick by having cold air forced into their lungs. pet travel oneNever transport a pet in the back of an open pickup truck. A quick pit stop may feel like no time at all to you, but it’s too long to leave your pet in a car by himself. One hazard is heat: When it’s 72 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the temperature inside your car can heat up to 116 degrees within an hour. On an 85-degree day, even with the windows slightly open, the temperature inside your car can reach 102 degrees in just 10 minutes. If you’re held up for 30 minutes, you may return to a car that’s 120 degrees inside and a pet who is suffering irreversible organ damage or death. Taking your pet on a plane is very difficult. Be aware of the dangers of flying your pet in a cargo hold. Animals flown in the cargo area of airplanes are killed, injured or lost on commercial flights each year. Excessively hot or old temperatures, poor ventilation and rough handling are often to blame. Many hotels, motels and resorts either do not allow pets on their properties or if they do, they charge a hefty charge for having your pet stay in your room. Everyone loves their pets however when traveling, think about leaving them at home and let them have a ‘vacation’ from us as well. Consider all the alternatives to flying. If you plan to bring your pet on vacation, driving is usually a better option. If you can’t travel by car, your pet will probably be healthier and happier if you leave her behind under the care of a pet sitter or boarding kennel. Don and RayAlways remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married). Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

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TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Planes, Trains, Automobiles and Buses

travel auto In the United States, there are basically only four ways to travel and that is by plane, train, automobile and buses. They all have their advantages as well as disadvantages. We prefer traveling by automobile since we have the luxury of time. Living in the center of the country, it only takes a couple of days or at the most 3 days to travel to either coast. Plus we enjoy seeing the sights and sounds and meeting new and interesting people along the way. If you fly, you usually need to rent an automobile anyway. Plus when driving you can take more clothing with you and purchase more items to bring back home with you. Our theory is ‘getting to a destination can be half the fun’. However we fully understand if you do live on either coast or do not have a lot of time, you have no choice than to fly. travel planeFor those who live in the upper Midwest or Northeast, they are forced to fly if they only have a week if they want to go to South Florida. Thousands of Gay men fly into Ft. Lauderdale during the winter months to get away from the frigid cold and snow. Fortunately in that town, the Gay resorts are close to the bars and shopping so an automobile is not always necessary. Otherwise one does need to rent an automobile. With all of the hassles in flying, we just prefer not to fly. travel trainAmtrak is another alternative however they scheduling is very ‘iffy’ to say the best. We took an Amtrak trip to California and back two years ago and although we were very lucky in not having any scheduling problems, Amtrak does present a lot of problems for travelers. Check out this website, http://www.consumeraffairs.com/travel/amtrak.html to read some of the hundreds of complaints about what passengers have written about their experiences riding on Amtrak and then decide for yourself if you want to try Amtrak. We now only would take Amtrak for a short trip less than 300 miles. travel busBuses are still around and although we have never taken one on a trip, there are those who really enjoy it. We have taken tour bus trips which is not to be confused with traveling across the country. With a tour bus trip you get on at one location and go directly to your destination and your luggage and accommodations are all taken care for you, whereas on a regular bus travel you have to book everything yourself. The bus terminals are usually downtown and sometimes right at the Amtrak station. On Amtrak they do have full restaurant services whereas on buses they do not. Some websites to check out are, for buses, www.greyhound.com and for trains, www.amtrak.com There are several automobile rental companies and many have great specials from time to time so check those out. Don and Ray Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married). Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

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