Outdoors

Outdoors in Phoenix for Gay Families – 2TravelDads

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Phoenix for Gay Families - 2TravelDads

Are you looking for fun outdoor things to do around Phoenix for gay families? Don’t worry! This wonderful city, also commonly known as the Valley of the Sun, will never make your to-do lists dry with its exciting outdoor activities and distinctive destinations. We’ve been several times and love the combination of hot sun and fun things to do.

This Arizona desert mecca draws visitors from around the USA with its collection of scenic landscapes and world-class tourist activities. With lots of nature parks, restaurants, and even lakes around Phoenix, Arizona, you won’t run out of things to do to enjoy your sunny escape.

Outdoors in Phoenix for Gay Families – Boating

Although the area is known for its sunny climate and deserts, it also has its share of sparkling lakes that are great for a change of scenery and a boating experience. Some of the best tourist destinations for this outdoor activity are Lake Pleasant, Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, Apache Lake, Roosevelt Lake, and Bartlett Lake.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Phoenix Gay Travel Resources

Hiking the Chikanishing Trail in Killarney, Ontario – Keep Calm and Wander

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Hiking the Chikanishing Trail in Killarney, Ontario - Keep Calm and Wander

The Chikanishing Trail in Killarney (Ontario) is a beautiful hiking trail along the coast which runs along the waters of the Georgian Bay. Although the bay was teasing us for a dip, we decided to just sit down and chill on the comfy red rocks. We watched the sunset here while the calming crashing of the waves was music to our ears! So serene and magical!

The Chikanishing Trail

The trail was pretty easy to moderate. However, it requires agility as there are terrains where you have to hop from one rock to another. It could be a bit challenging for those with agility problems, but it won’t be uncomfortable, I guess While in most parks,, the blue markers are attached to trees, the ones you’ll find here are drawn into the rocks A few are faded, so you have to find them to not get lost, or else you might find yourself scrambling on all fours.

This is a 3.5-kilometer trail that you can finish in under 40 minutes one way. It is lovely to watch the sunset from here, but as soon as the sun goes down, you have to g back. This is a loop trail so watch out for the blue markers to guide you back to the parking lot. 

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Ontario Gay Travel Resources

The Best of Hiking Palm Springs – 2TravelDads

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The Best of Hiking Palm Springs - 2TravelDads

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 Palm Springs is awesome!

Have you been to the area 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.

Hiking Palm Springs – Getting There

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 Palm Springs (search for flight tickets with Omio).

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

PS Gay Travel Resources

Gay Denver Weekends: Museums, Hikes and Parks – 2TravelDads

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Gay Denver Weekends: Museums, Hikes and Parks - 2TravelDads

We have ended up in Denver for work many times, and we’re always sure to have great weekend plans for Denver or going up to the Rocky Mountains. It’s easy to add a few days to a work trip or plan a quick getaway to the Denver area, as there are lots of ways to explore the city or the unique nature and small towns on a weekend trip. These weekend plans for Denver and the nearby mountain towns are just what you need for a fun, easy trip!

With some really interesting museums, plenty of kid-friendly activities and unmatched outdoor experiences, extra days around Denver are a must, so grab our weekend plans and enjoy! Take a look at our top picks to make the most of staying through the weekend or going beyond the Mile High City to the mountains.

Gay Denver Weekends – Hikes With Kids

Because so many of our trips to Denver are for work, we look for the simple to get to outdoor spots that will pack the most fun without a long drive, and because weekend plans are usually what we need we’re very careful to use our time wisely. We’ve got two must-do hikes that are great for kids or adults… and they’re just outside of downtown! For more hiking, check out the options for Rocky Mountain National Park and Breckenridge.

Full Story at 2TravelDass

Denver Gay Travel Resources

Best Things to Do in Lake Chelan – 2TravelDads

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Best Things to Do in Lake Chelan - 2TravelDads

Lake Chelan is decidedly the most family friendly wine destination in Washington. I’ve decided this after visiting Woodinville, Yakima, the Olympic Peninsula and the Tri-Cities. There are lots of things to do here that aren’t wine related, and plenty to keep you having fun or relaxing in any season.

Very near Leavenworth, Washington, this recreation area is a great weekend trip or you can spend a whole week exploring the lake, hills and canyons around the area. It’s also great for hiking and seeing a completely different side of Washington State. This is the place where playing in the outdoors meets enjoying agritourism in the sunshine.

Best Things To Do at Lake Chelan

Okay, you ready for a great collection of things to do in any season? Having visited in summer, fall, and winter, I’m confident you’ll be able to create a really fun, interesting trip the whole family can enjoy. We’re breaking this down by activity type, whether it be out in nature, family friendly wine tasting or getting onto the water, you’ll be able to pick and choose great activities all around the Lake Chelan area.

Full Story at 2TravelDads

Northwest Washington Gay Travel Resources

Victoria’s Butchart Gardens – Keep Calm and Wander

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Butchart Gardens - Keep Calm and Wander

At Butchart Gardens in Victoria (British Columbia), the flowers will happily welcome you. This is one of Canada’s largest gardens with a designation as a National Historic Site. As you can guess from its name, there are gardens within this huge garden that was made possible by Jennie Butchart, wife of a Canadian businessman who manufactured Portland Cement. Today, the garden receives one million visitors every year and these pictures below will tell you why.

Taking a bus to Butchart Gardens

On a beautiful Spring day, I spent my whole morning strolling from one garden to another. From downtown Victoria, I took a bus early to avoid the heat that was predicted that day. It took me around 45 minutes to arrive there. Though the bus won’t stop at the gate of Butchart Gardens, the bus driver was kind to drop me off at the exact stop/location and walked from there.

Before coming here, it is better to check out the gardens’ virtual tour on their website. If you want to be surprised, then avoid doing it. However, once you arrive and pay your entrance fee, remember to get a map so you will be guided on where to start and go. The dominant flowers here were tulips of different colours.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Southern Vancouver Island Gay Travel Resources

Hiking Pinnacles National Park in California – 2TravelDads

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Hiking Pinnacles National Park - 2TravelDads

Most of the Parks we go to are fairly well-known. I mean, there are only 63 of them, so most are familiar to the masses, but Pinnacles is fairly new so isn’t wildly popular yet. We love to return to Glacier and Olympic and such because we’re so familiar and there is so much to do and see. Hiking Pinnacles National Park exceeded our expectations, so we’re sharing everything you need to know to plan a visit and see what we mean!

If you haven’t heard of Pinnacles, it’s because it’s one of the newest additions to the National Parks. Formerly a National Monument and jointly managed by the NPS and Forest Service, the area was converted to a Park in 2013 giving it more, different funding and programs, and also bringing it to the forefront of many hikers’ and travelers’ minds. Huzzah for the upgrade!

Hiking Pinnacles National Park – Where Is It?

Pinnacles is located between San Francisco and Los Angeles off Highway 101. It’s not exactly sitting on the side of the road so you do need to actually plan for some time in the Park and make sure that you have ample supplies for your jaunt (see below). You can easily add it to a California Coast road trip or make it the start or end of a Central Coast road trip.

Located in the mountains between Soledad and San Benito, California, it borders farm country and the high desert. While it may look out of the way on a map, it’s is only about 1.5 hours from San Jose, or 2 hours from San Francisco.

Read the Full Story at 2TravelDads

Bedruthan Steps Camping in Cornwall – Our Taste for Life

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Bedruthan Steps Camping - Our Taste for Life

If you’re thinking about Bedruthan Steps Camping in Cornwall, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about camping at Bedruthan Steps, whether you have a tent, a campervan, or a caravan.

Bedruthan Steps Camping is Gorgeous

Carnewas at Bedruthan Steps is one of the most picturesque coastlines in all of Cornwall.

Cinematic cliffs tower over jagged sea stacks, while the magnificent Atlantic ocean stretches as far as the eye can see.

We only planned a brief stop-off here during our Cornwall road trip. But the views were so incredible that we decided to stay close by to enjoy them some more.

We found that the choices for camping near Bedruthan Steps are pretty limited. However, we did find a couple of campsites in the nearby area, as well as a few options for wild campers.

I’ll be covering it all in the blog post, alongside all the best things to see and do in the area.

By Charlotte & Natalie – Full Story at Our Taste for Life

Cornwall Lesbian Travel Resources

Fort Frederica National Monument on on St. Simons Island – 2TravelDads

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Fort Frederica National Monument on on St. Simons Island - 2TravelDads

The Golden Isles are a wonderful destination along a Georgia Coast road trip. They are beautiful and full of history. Fort Frederica National Monument is located on St Simons Island in the Golden Isles, and is a gorgeous spot to explore, especially on a sunny afternoon.

. Fort Frederica National Monument for Kids

Historical sites rock for traveling new places with kids. Here’s why: they’re a snapshot of a moment in time that we’ll never experience again. Sometimes those sites are really well preserved and you can step back in time with little use of the imagination. Heck, sometimes there are even folks in costumes to help you imagine. And then sometimes you visit an historical site that is all but gone, like Horton House on Jekyll Island or Fort Frederica on St Simons Island, Georgia.

Where did it go? If it’s gone, should you still visit it? We’ll help with some answers and tips for visiting Fort Frederica in the Golden Isles of Georgia, but let’s just say first that it is totally worth the stop and even something you should carve out time for…as long as you’ve already had a beach day. Anyways, keep reading because yeah.

By Chris and Rob – Full Story at the 2TravelDads

Georgia 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