The Tomb of King Ramesses IV – Keep Calm and Wander

King Rameses IV Tomb In Luxor, the ancient Egyptian capital, archaeologists discovered 63 royal tombs at the Valley of the Kings. These pharaohs ruled the country in the 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties. But, perhaps, the most famous discovery from here is the tomb of a Tutankhamen who ruled in the 18th dynasty. Unlike Cairo, pyramids weren’t used here as a tomb for the Kings or Pharaohs. Instead, these royalties were buried in an elaborate, long, tunnel-like passage that goes deep down under at the valley. Nowadays, only three royal tombs are open to the public for viewing for a ticket price of one. Yes, we went down to all three but only one has left me in awe – the tomb of Rameses IV.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Egypt Gay Travel Resources

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Gay Philadelphia: Public Art

gay Philadelphia One of the things we absolutely loved about our visit to gay Philadelphia in October was the amazing amount of public art – murals and statues and the like. Of course, we had to get a photo of the famous “Love” sculpture – and did you know there’s one in Spanish too? But there is so much more to see scattered throughout the downtown core. One plaza is covered in giant pieces from various board games we loved as children. And walls all over the city are plastered with gorgeous murals, including the LGBT one on the side of the Center. Here are some of our favorites! <

Philadelphia Gay Travel Resources

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Laconia Bike Week 2016

Laconia Bike Week 2016! http://glynnhouse.com/events/  Celebrate 93 years of riding legacy in Glynn House Evening-c2016! Join other enthusiasts at the world’s oldest motorcycle rally in Laconia, New Hampshire. Laconia Bike Week 2016 is unmatched for scenic riding along New Hampshire’s tranquil country roads. Laconia Bike Week 2016 has a schedule packed with terrific events too. Scheduled events include gypsy rides, live music, bike air jumps, stunt shows and lots more. Residents and business alike, welcome motorcyclists during Laconia Bike Week each year. If riding is your pleasure, join us for Laconia Motorcycle Week 2016 – June 11 – 19. Are you looking for Laconia Bike Week accommodation? The historic ‘circa 1895’ Glynn House Inn is the perfect Laconia Bike Week 2016 location. The Inn is situated 20 minutes from Weirs Beach. It’s perfectly positioned for cruising dozens of easily accessible country roads too. Laconia Bike Week 2016 guests experience elegant surroundings delicious food, modern amenities, unrivaled service and genuine hospitality. Rates include gourmet breakfast – served at separate tables in the Victorian dining room. A full gluten free breakfast menu is always available. Afternoon refreshments and early evening wine and cheese are offered daily. Bike trailers readily be accommodated. Hoses and rags are available for bike cleaning. Let your four-footed canine pal join your Laconia Bike Week 2016 getaway. Reserve one of five pet friendly rooms. Therapeutic in-room massage is available in most guest rooms. Experience additional delights during your two-wheel visit to New Hampshire’s amazing White Mountains and Lakes Regions. Art galleries, antiques and ‘tax free’ shopping options will entice the most discerning shopper. Cultural activities include concerts reflecting every genre and four professional theaters. Vineyards and micro breweries offer complimentary tastings and exceptional products. Outdoor enthusiasts can experience lakes and mountains, outdoor adventure, plus endless hiking trails. Guests are eligible for some terrific local activity discounts too. Great local dining options will satisfy your palette. View the Glynn House website http://www.glynnhouse.com for additional information about the Inn and local activities. Book Your ‘Laconia Bike Week 2016’ Accommodation Now! http://ao4.availabilityonline.com/availability_search.php?un=glynnhse or call (603) 968 3775.]]>

Gay Philadelphia: Elfreth's Alley

Elfreth's Alley Elfreth's AlleyLate last year, we visited gay Philadelphia. It was our first time in this amazing, diverse city, and we’re just finally getting around to sharing it with y’all. One of our favorite things in the city was Elfreth’s Alley. It’s a tiny, one-block section of the city, tucked away om the east side close to the Delaware River. The whole city sits between the Delaware and the Schuylkill Rivers, one to the East and the other to the West. Elfreth’s Alley is fascinating. It’s called the “nation’s oldest residential street.” The street was created in 1702, and the houses there date from 1728 to 1806. The houses on the south side of the street were built under British occupation, and are shorter than the others and fly British flags. The ones on the north side were built after the Revolution, and are taller, with American flags. Elfreth's Alley panorama If you look closely, you can see little metal emblems on many of the houses. At the time, you had to pay for fire protection, and the company you chose would put their emblem on your house. Just so they didn’t accidentally save a house that hadn’t been paid for. Elfreth's Alley panorama We took our tour of historic Philadelphia with an outfit called Urban Tours. The guide there was friendly and very knowledgeable, and actually lived in the neighborhood. Elfreth’s Alley is a really cool place to see and take pictures the next time you’re in Philly.]]>

Gay Miami Where to Relax

Gay Miami Photo via Flickr by T. Tseng[/caption] When life becomes monotonous, head down to Florida, America’s favorite year-round destination, to break free from everything dull. Some go for the hedonism it offers, and others go to relax. But when you’re thinking of your ultimate escape, look no farther — Miami, the Magic City, will never fail to make you feel refreshed, relaxed, and energized by the time you get back to work. Here are five places offering rest for the weary in gay Miami. Stroll Around Wynwood Art District With over 70 museums and art galleries, Wynwood Art District screams life, hopes, and dreams in vibrant colors. The open-air street art installations you’ll see here won’t just awaken your drained body but will feed your mind as well. If you want to explore together with other art lovers and learn more details about the visual feasts you’ll be seeing, join the Wynwood Art Walk Tour. When you’re done, sit at one of the cafes in the neighborhood and enjoy the artistic vibe. If you like contemporary art, be sure to check out the internationally acclaimed Art Basel, an annual art show held in December.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Miami Gay Travel Resources

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Guide to Philadelphia Neighborhoods

Philadelphia As someone who’s lived in Philadelphia for over a decade now, there’s one thing I can tell you with no hesitation: it’s a city of neighborhoods. While of course this applies to just about any city, it’s particularly marked in Philadelphia, where a few minutes’ stroll can bring you to a totally different atmosphere. Of course, there are things that united the city into a cohesive whole, including its combination of history and modernity, the gay-friendly quality that consistently lands it at the top of rankings by LGBT groups, and the immensely walkable nature of the “Center City” area, which is where we’ll spend most of our time. Set between two rivers, and only thirty blocks wide and about ten blocks long, with numbered streets going north/south and (mostly) tree-named streets east/west, the Philadelphia’s center city is a paradise for walkers. So let’s go on a tour of the City of Brotherly and Sisterly love, neighborhood by neighborhood. I think you’ll like the things we discover. I’m just sayin’.

The Gayborhood: At the Heart of Things

PhiladelphiaWe’ll start, of course, in the Gayborhood (aka Midtown Village), which is geographically as well as thematically a great place to begin, as it’s pretty much in the heart of Center City. For our purposes, we’ll call the Gayborhood the district from 10th to Broad Streets (Broad is the equivalent of 14th), and Market down to Pine. It’s here that you’ll find almost all the LGBT nightlife, and one of the most pleasant neighborhoods in the city. Good news: you can stay right in the Gayborhood. For convenience and appeal, I love Alexander Inn, a boutique hotel at Spruce and 12th that couldn’t be more perfectly located. Add to that Alexander’s nice rooms, super-helpful staff, and great breakfast buffet in their cozy living room, and what we have here is a winner. On the edge of the neighborhood, Loews Hotel, built in America’s first skyscraper, offers the style and friendliness we’ve come to associate with Loews.

By Rich Rubin – Full Story at Passport

Philadelphia Gay Travel Resources

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Hamilton Heights Showcases Manhattan's Other Side

Hamilton Heights Bordered by the Hudson River on the west and St Nicholas Park in the east, New York City’s Hamilton Heights is said to experience a boost in popularity with buyers and renters. It’s quiet Uptown – so quiet, in fact, you’re sometimes able to forget Hamilton Heights is indeed part of Manhattan. Far away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown, buildings made from concrete, glass and steel are far and few in between, despite a continuous influx of new renters and buyers. Old Brownstones and a fair number of landmark buildings – counting them all seems near impossible – line the streets instead, standing reminiscent of the area’s rich history. Founding father Alexander Hamilton made the leafy-green hills of Uptown Manhattan his family’s home in 1802, moving into a mansion he called the Grange, after a family estate in Scotland.

By Stefanie Gerdes – Full Story at Gay Star News

New York City Gay Travel Resources

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Gazebo Inn Ogunquit – Gay Ogunquit Bed & Breakfast

Gazebo Inn Ogunquit Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay: The Gazebo Inn Ogunquit is an Ogunquit Maine Bed and Breakfast Inn in a restored 1847 farmhouse. The B&B offers 10 newly renovated, air conditioned rooms, with king beds, suites, private baths, and Jacuzzi tubs. We also offer a full breakfast daily in dining room. Each room has Cable TV/ LCD TV/VCR/DVD, and we offer an on-site movie library. The Bed and Breakfast is in a convenient location, just a short walk from the famous Footbridge Beach. the “Best Southern Maine Beach for Avoiding Crowds” (Yankee Magazine August 2005). The bed and breakfast has many other great features, including:

  • A private and sunny heated pool
  • A year-round hot tubWireless Internet Access
  • Pet-Friendly rooms
  • Economical Weekly and 2-Room Package
  • Rooms with fireplaces
  • Rooms with balconies/ distant ocean views
  • Gathering room with fire place
  • Dining room with fire place
  • Walking to many fine restaurants and shops
  • Individual attention and personal detail
  • Several designated pet friendly rooms

    About Ogunquit:

    First settled as a small fishing village and artist colony on the southern coast of Maine, Ogunquit still retains that charm while offering visitors some of the best from a New England vacation. In the Algonquin translation, “Ogunquit” means “beautiful place by the sea” and with its 3 1/2 miles of sandy white beach and breathtaking views from the Marginal Way, it is no wonder that Ogunquit is listed as one of the top 10 US vacation destinations. Along with its scenic beauty, Ogunquit also offers an endless variety of shops, galleries and restaurants. Fishing trips, sailing adventures and tour boats depart several times daily from Perkins Cove, in season. Gazebo Inn Ogunquit is located directly on the Trolley Line providing fun, reliable transportation to any of these destinations.Gazebo Inn Ogunquit is a 165 year old farmhouse, one mile north of Ogunquit village in southern Maine. A single family home originally and stayed that way for many years, the Gazebo Inn became an apartment building in the 70’s, and then turned into the beautiful B&B that it is today in the early 80’s.Come visit us in historic, beautiful, and very gay friendly Ogunquit, Maine!

    See the Gazebo Inn Ogunquit Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

    Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals in Ogunquit

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Sonoma Wine Country's Gay Wine Weekend

Gay Wine Weekend If you have a passion for food and wine, we have found the event that will have you drinking straight from the source. Enjoy three days of exploration in the majestic Sonoma Wine Country, located just 45 minutes north of San Francisco. Out In The Vineyard, a Sonoma-based LGBT Tour & Event Company, produces the annual Gay Wine Weekend. Immerse yourself in the culture and lifestyle of Wine Country living and make friends for a lifetime. Think Gay Ski Week, but for wine! This year marks the fifth year that Gay Wine Weekend will take place; attracting people from all around the country to partake in VIP Wine Receptions, Winemaker Dinners, Winery Tours, a brunch and Wine Auction, along with a pool soiree and some very fun after parties! The signature event of the weekend is the hugely successfully Twilight T-Dance, where guests dance through the magic hour of the summer sunset and into the evening, literally Out In The Vineyards of Sonoma Valley Wine Country! This year at Sonoma’s iconic Chateau St. Jean Winery, located in the heart of the bucolic and historic Valley of The Moon.

Full Story at Passport

Sonoma Gay Travel Resources

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Habu Temple in Luxor is an Architectural Wonder

Madinet Habu Temple The Madinet Habu Temple in Luxor is an architectural wonder of ancient Egypt. Its classic and timeless style remains intact until today as evidenced in the relics and antiquities that are found here. Most of all, this temple doesn’t draw much attention from tourists, thus, it is less crowded than the rest of the attractions in Luxor. In fact, on the day we went there, only 9 of us were the ones roaming around. This ancient fortified temple was built as a Mortuary Temple of Rameses III.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Egypt Gay Travel Resources

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