Eco Travel

Banff Ecotours for Gay Families – 2TravelDads

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Banff Ecotours - 2TravelDads

With more and more families choosing outdoors vacations with trips into nature, it’s become increasingly important to be thoughtful and have low-impact travel be at the forefront of planning. We discovered some incredible ecotours in Banff and Canmore, which is becoming an even more popular destination than ever before. Ecotours in Banff are a way to enjoy the unique Canadian Rockies while leaving no trace on the land.

One of the most frequent questions we get about traveling as a family is how do we find activities that are good for all of us to enjoy together. A close second is how do you find a good ecotour company. Well, we lucked out with our recent trip to Banff, Alberta. We discovered AdventureHub while looking for guided hikes and ecotours in Banff. Wow. Every destination needs a resource or tour booking site like this.

Finding Banff Ecotours through Adventure Hub

Adventure Hub is a collective tour site for ecotours in Banff and Canmore, Alberta. This means that you can go to the webpage and see what tour operators are vetted and a part of the Adventure Hub group, and then from there you can choose the activities in Banff that sound the most fun for your family.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Alberta Gay Travel Resources

Gay Langkawi, Malaysia – The Nomadic Boys

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Lankawi, Malaysia - Deposit Photos

Langkawi is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, located in the state of Kedah, 30km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia near the Thai border. For years, Langkawi has developed a reputation of being more liberal and relaxed than mainland Malaysia, thanks largely to its status as a duty-free haven…a win for tourism in Malaysia!

We visited Malaysia for 2 weeks, trying out the different hotels and bars on the island, which we summarise in this detailed gay guide to the island. Whilst the island maintains a more relaxed approach compared to mainlanders, this is still very much part of an extremely conservative country, with all the anti-gay sentiments that compliment it. We explore this in more detail below, but our big takeaway tip for LGBTQ travellers to gay Langkawi is that you will have an awesome time here, but we recommend avoiding any PDAs to be on the safe side.

Is Gay Langkawi Safe?

Yes, but…!

On the one side, it’s easy to dismiss Langkawi as a dangerous place you shouldn’t set foot on – it is after all part of a country that criminalises homosexuality and had a local newspaper publishing a ridiculous article about how to “spot” gay people! (In case you’re wondering, if you’ve got a beard, abs and wear branded clothes, then you’re bound for gay jail!)

Yet on the other side, Langkawi is well known for not only being more relaxed than mainland Malaysia, but thanks to tourism, the island is very international. There are many people from all around the world living/working in Langkawi, a large proportion of who are members of the LGBTQ community. Islanders are therefore used to seeing people from all walks of life.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Malaysia Gay Travel Resources

Singapore’s SuperTrees – Keep Calm and Wander

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Singapore's SuperTrees - Keep Calm and Wander

The SuperTree Grove at Gardens by the Bay is one of a kind tourist attraction in Singapore. Such a concept is, perhaps, a pioneer in the world on how we see trees. It’s not just a man-made tree but there’s more to that.

Singapore’s SuperTrees

There are 18 super trees in the garden. Standing at 25-20 meters, they look like strange trees when they’re lit up at night.

Yes, they look strange for a first-time visitor, but they’re spectacular to look at!

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Get Out! – Gay Owned Travel Agent & Tour Operator in Silver Spring, Massachusetts

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Get Out! - Gay Owned Travel Agent & Tour Operator in Silver Spring, Massachusetts

COMBINING LUXURY AND PASSION

At GET OUT! Excursions, we focus on creating custom group and individual tours. Whether you want to explore new places and see new things on your own, or want to escape your daily lives as a couple for some quiet R&R, we can help. We also put together tours for groups of friends or family who want to see the world together.

Get Out! Excursions has an extensive network of local, on-the-ground tour operators, which allows us to take your ideas and desires and run with them, creating something unique and special for you and your vacation companion(s).

What’s on your bucket list? We can help you check off your list, anticipating your travel needs and desires.

We also put together our own unique tours to places and events that we feel are “must sees” for today’s travelers.

See the Get Out! Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Nature’s Edge Boutique Hotel – Gay Owned Hotel in Uvita, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

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Nature's Edge Boutique Hotel - Gay Owned Hotel in Uvita, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

JUNGLE CANOPY BOUTIQUE HOTEL

Pura Vida! Welcome to Paradise!

Nature’s Edge Boutique Hotel sits on a the gorgeous ridgeline of Uvita Mountain in Costa Rica’s well-known Southern Pacific Region. Our Costa Rica retreat’s jungle oasis paradise offers an escape from your everyday life, and offers amazing vistas and chic accommodations in an intimate boutique resort.

Our adults-only Costa Rican retreat was created with tranquility and relaxation in mind. We’re just minutes from Uvita and the famous Whales Tail National Park, surrounded natural beauty – rivers and waterfalls, beaches and jungles.

There are so many things to see and do here:

* Ocean water sports: surfing, kayaking and paddle boarding
* Nature hikes
* Horse-back and ATV rides
* Ziplining
* Mangrove river tours

You can also spend the day at the resort relaxing poolside, practicing yoga, or enjoying an in-room massage. We can even arrange a private chef to give you a cooking demonstration.

See the Nature’s Edge Boutique Hotel Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

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

Mexico’s Coba Ruins – 2TravelDads

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Mexico's Coba Ruins - 2TravelDads

We love all things history and nature. And Mexico. Although we spend the most time in Baja California Sur there’s something truly unique and wonderful about the Yucatan Peninsula and the state of Quintana Roo. In addition to the pristine waters, wildlife and cenotes, the magical attraction of the Yucatan is the concentration of Mayan ruins, and visiting the Coba Ruins is really a special experience, but you need to know how to visit.

The Coba Ruins are by no means the most famous or most popular ruins on the Yucatan, but they are the most awesome to explore, especially the site called Nohoch Mul, the great pyramid. A visit to the Coba Ruins is a lesson in history, an incredible demonstration in nature, and an intense workout. Of the several sites I’ve visited for Mayan Ruins on the Yucatan, the Coba Ruins was, hands down, the best.

Which is Better, the Tulum or Coba Ruins?

More people visit Tulum which is much more famous than are found visiting the Coba Ruins, but it is not better. In terms of the quality of the site and access to the many ruins, both sites are very similar.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Yucatan Gay Travel Resources

Victoria for Gay Families – 2TravelDads

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Victoria for Gay Families - 2TravelDads

Victoria 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 to Victoria 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 – Locale

Victoria BC 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.

We have written about Victoria before and have a lot of details around transportation to the city here, in our article highlighting a great 3 Day Victoria itinerary. Here’s a recap though and top tips for getting to Victoria with kids. By ferry, you can depart for Vancouver Island from either Vancouver (Tsawwassen terminal) or Port Angeles. Both sailings are approximately 1.5 hours so which you choose depends on your starting point, travel schedule and budget. Check out the map to see which makes sense for you. You can also take the passenger-only Victoria Clipper from Seattle, which is a great option for those adding Victoria with kids to their family trip to Washington.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Victoria Gay Travel Resources

Gay Galapagos Cruises – The Nomadic Boys

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Sea lions, iguanas and tortoises – oh my! 

Visiting the Galapagos Islands is very high up on the bucket list for most travellers. If you love island hopping and spotting wildlife, you’ve probably dreamt of one day visiting these incredible volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean.

The ideal way to explore the Galapagos Islands is aboard one of the many excellent gay cruises on offer. Not only is exploring these unique islands with a like-minded fabulous bunch of gays heaps of fun, but it also allows you to visit the more remote islands, thereby getting a deeper experience.

We’ve led our own branded Nomadic Boys cruise to the Galapagos with Ishpingo Tours – a local gay-owned/operated tour company based in Quito. In addition, there are several other gay cruises to the Galapagos to choose from, whether it’s a large group leaving on a fixed date, or aboard a private gay charter. In this article, we’ve rounded them all up so you can choose the best one for you.

OUT ADVENTURES GALAPAGOS GAY CRUISE

Out Adventures is one of the best gay tour companies out there that organises exclusive trips for LGBTQ travellers. They provide a luxury cruise around the Galapagos Islands aboard their private yacht, The Grand Queen Beatriz, and oh boy she sure is absolutely grand!  Amenities include sundecks, a hot tub, bar and very spacious bedrooms, some with private balconies.

Full Story at The Nomadic Boys

Ecuador Gay Travel Resources

Arts, Culture and Nature for the LGBTQ Traveler Puerto Vallarta

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puerto vallarta arts culture

Puerto Vallarta is well known for its vibrant gay bar and club scene. It is Mexico’s #1 gay bar and club scene. So what about the LGBTQ traveler looking for Arts, Culture and Nature? Puerto Vallarta does not disappoint. From November until April, the every other week Southside Shuffle on the cobblestone streets of Basilio Badillo in the Romantic Zone feature street music, food and drinks, and artists showing their work in the local art galleries. Also the Centro Historic Artwalk draws a large crowd to the center of town every Wednesday to galleries open until 10 pm.

For the rest of the art, culture and nature found in Puerto Vallarta visit this story.