Go Girlfriend’s Arizona Getaway List – Lesbian Sedona

Lesbian Sedona - Scott

Thinking on the destination of lesbian Sedona, Az, my mind floats to a small-town, new-age artsy community nestled as a cross-roads between the dry flats of the hot desert and the stunning red rock mountainsides that surround it. It is a charming long-weekend getaway destination to get you out of the city and surrounded by an unprecedented natural beauty – think girls getaway relaxing with wine on the patio as the sun sets on the mountainsides that just pop deep shades of reds and greys, or a more adventurous let’s-get-out-and-hike-these-mountains-and-see-the-views kinda weekend. Either way, Sedona has got to be on your getaway list!!

Whether you arrive in from Phoenix in the south (2 hours) and drive through the Sonoran desert into the Tonto National Forest area before encountering the rim of red rocks around Oak Creek, or you arrive to Sedona from Flagstaff (1 hour) in the north via the canyonous Highway 89, the drive will make you “ooo and aaah” at the spectacular sights.

Whether you arrive in from Phoenix in the south (2 hours) and drive through the Sonoran desert into the Tonto National Forest area before encountering the rim of red rocks around Oak Creek, or you arrive to Sedona from Flagstaff (1 hour) in the north via the canyonous Highway 89, the drive will make you “ooo and aaah” at the spectacular sights.

What makes the red rocks of Sedona so unique?

The Sedona area was the bottom of an ocean 300+ million years ago. Natural iron oxide infused the limestone base that was created as the waters receded. The picturesque sandstone formations were created from the layering of ancient dunes in such amazing geology and landscape the area that with continued water and wind erosion over the millennia sculpted the harder formations into some of the most fascinating and locally iconic landmarks we know today – Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, Courthouse Butte.

By Stacy Rosien – Full Story at Go Girlfriend

Arizona Gay Travel Resources

Arizona Road Trip – Go Girlfriend

Arizona Road Trip - pixabay

Who doesn’t love a good Americana road trip? While dropping into Phoenix for a few days, one of my daytrip adventures was a 400 mile, 9-hour road trip from Phoenix through Sedona to Flagstaff, on to Meteor Crater, via Route 66 to Winslow and back cross-country to Phoenix. Just me, a Mustang convertible and a wide open road ahead … Perfect!

Full disclosure: this post is for road trips junkies who and enjoy stopping at sights along the way. Join me as I journey along highway 87 with stops at Tonto’s Land Bridge, the Eagles famous “Standin on the Corner” in Winslow Arizona on Route 66, the Posada hotel and the Meteor Crater impact zone.

Heading north on Highway 87 about an hour out of Phoenix (near Payson) is the Tonto Land Bridge. This breath-taking natural rock formation sits 400 feet across the top and 185 feet high and is one of the largest land bridges in the world. With a natural spring flowing over the edge creating a small waterfall, it’s not just any land bridge. Easy to access and well worth the stopover on your adventure. For strollers or those with special needs, the National Park has lots of parking options close to the bridge or walk the trails to get a good view of the area. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for youths and it’s open 10-4pm. Arrive early and allow yourself ample time to explore before the gates close.

By Stacy Rosien – Full Story at Go Girlfriend

Phoenix Gay Travel Resources

Lesbian Phoenix – Go Girlfriend

Phoenix, Arizona - Pixabay

If you’re chasing your next vacation escape, consider a desert respite in Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix is the 6th largest city in the US and second only to Orlando for number of resorts – 20 in total. Whether you’re traveling solo, with a partner or your family, there’s more here to enjoy than you might realize.

I recently traveled to Phoenix to speak at a trade convention and took some time to explore the some of the restaurants, resorts and activities with my lover. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing my Phoenix finds with you here on GoGirlfriend, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. But I thought you might enjoy a sneak peek…

Eat

Ko’sin – Just upstairs at the Wild Horse Pass is Arizona’s only 5 star restaurant, Kai, but Ko’Sin meaning ‘kitchen’ in the Pima language, delighted us with savory dishes garnished with a stunning view of Sierra Estrella Mountain Range.

By Julia Rosien – Full Story at Go Girlfriend

Phoenix Gay Travel Resources

 

La Casita Del Sol LC – Tucson Gay Owned Guesthouse

La Casita Del Sol LC

Stay with us at La Casita del Sol, an historic 1880’s adobe rowhouse home in the El Presidio Historic Neighborhood in downtown Tucson, Arizona.

La Casita del Sol has five hundred feet of living space, with two rooms and a bath, reflecting the simple lifestyle of the late 19th century workers who lived here – tradesmen, blacksmiths, bartenders, and more.

La Casita del Sol keeps its original simplicity and charm, combined with beautiful, comfortable aesthetics and modern amenities that travelers today expect.

Our guests are close to everything: Tucson’s unique culture, natural beauty, historic sites, and flavors our wonderful Southwestern Cooking. There are many great sights within easy walking/cycling distance from La Casita del Sol, and many more an easy drive away.

Walk through our hundred-year-old doors, hand crafted in Mexico into your own private patio, where you can sip a cup of coffee or tea in the sunshine on a warm winter morning, or relax in the shade in the summertime. The courtyard is decorated with beautiful Southwestern pottery and local plants, and at night, the courtyard becomes a magical place with the twinkling of tiny lights and the flicker of candles – the perfect place for a cocktail or nightcap.

See the La Casita Del Sol LC Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

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

 

Starlight Pines B&B – Flagstaff Gay Bed and Breakfast

Starlight Pines B&B

Imagine stepping back in time to a place in the Arizona west where crackling fires welcome you, spacious guest room accommodations, and luxurious, claw foot bathtubs await you! Imagine staying at Starlight Pines Bed and Breakfast, a Victorian style house nested among the pines at the foot of Mt. Elden, in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Make us your home base while visiting the Grand Canyon (a bit more than 1 hour from our Inn) and Sedona (40 minutes south of our Inn) and many other area attractions within a 2 hour ride of our Bed and Breakfast!

You’ll love the old-fashioned romance of the antique-filled rooms, Tiffany lamps, complimentary beverages, free Wi-Fi, free parking, the full gourmet breakfast and the friendliness of your hosts, Richard & Michael, and their special Shih Tzu friends, Moo Shu and Taz – and our newest addition, Baxter our Puggle!

See the Starlight Pines B&B Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

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

Hiking the Vermilion Cliffs – Free Wheel Drive

Vermilion Cliffs - Free Wheel Drive

This area of Arizona and Utah is a hot spot for Slot Canyons. What is a Slot Canyon? Slot Canyons are narrow passages formed by rivers that are now mostly dried up. Slot canyons are significantly deeper than they are wide. Hikers can follow the dried river beds that pass through the canyons. Sometimes the canyons can be very narrow, filled with debris, or can fill with water in a flash flood. Meaning they can be dangerous and hikers must be prepared and not go solo.

The tragic movie 127 Hours was about a solo hiker exploring slot canyons in this area of the country. The most famous slot canyon right now is Antelope Canyon near Page, AZ. Antelope Canyon is on the Navajo Reservation and access to this slot canyon is run by people who live on the reservation.

Unfortunately, because this canyon has become so popular on Instagram the demand to see it has skyrocketed and the reservation charges a lot of money to see it. We’re not saying we’re mad at the people who run the sight, it’s not public land and they have every right to make money off of tourists. It’s just for the moment seeing Antelope Canyon was out of our price range. So, what are we to do?

Good thing this area of the country is packed full of similar if not equally as beautiful other slot canyons. This is how we became introduced to Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. This National Monument is huge! It’s also very different from any other National Monument we have been to yet.

By Laura and Camrin – Full Story at Free Wheel Drive

Northern Arizona Gay Travel Resources

 

Instagram Almost Ruined Horseshoe Bend – Free Wheel Drove

Horseshoe Bend

Located outside Page, Arizona on the borders of Coconino and Navajo counties is the awesome landscape feature, Horseshoe Bend. Here the mighty Colorado River continues to cut through the land and has created a near perfect horseshoe shaped bend in the river.

From the parking lot it is only a .75 mile walk to the lookout area. Its a steady climb up and the bend isn’t visible until you reach the overlook’s edge. It’s free to visit and easy to access.

After spending most of the day in the Grand Canyon we didn’t arrive to Horseshoe Bend until nightfall. Laura was pumped for a chance at taking a photo with a good sunset. However, upon approaching the overlook we were met with hundreds of people. The whole area above the bend was crawling with people, wedding couples getting engagement photos, and drones. It was a nightmare. An hour before sunset the best spot for viewing the bend was already packed with people and their tripods. We had to tuck into a small spot off to the side to get a decent photo of the bend at sunset.

For those who don’t have Instagram, you may have never seen a photo or even heard of Horseshoe Bend. Well, thanks to a few popular people and social media this landscape has become a tourist hot spot galore. Several tourist buses stop through out the day and the parking lot is packed from sun up to sundown. There are scantily clad “models” posing like ballerinas on the cliff edges. We saw a wedding party complete with a bride in gown getting their photos taken here. One drone noisily buzzed above the crowd. We kind of knew it was going to be busy, we didn’t think it would be this busy. At least, we planned to stay the night and would be better prepared for sunrise.

The Lake Powell Recreation Area manages the “bend” and they are starting to put in better infrastructure to handle the crowds, including a deck with a railing near the overlook. As long as social media stays popular this place seems like it will remain popular.

By Laura – Full Story at free Wheel Drive

Northern Arizona Gay Travel Resources

 

See the Grand Canyon in Two Days! – Free Wheel Drive

Grand Canyon - Free Wheel Drive

The Grand Canyon is in Northern Arizona just north of Flagstaff. This park is massive and beautiful and it houses one of the most amazing wonders of the world. We only had two full days to spend at the park, so we packed in as much as we could. The weather was chilly with patches of rain, but we had a blast exploring the Grand Canyon National Park!

We stuck to the South Rim area, the most popular area. The South Rim has the hotels, large visitor center, and a shuttle system to help one get around. We asked around for hiking recommendations and the two trials that had a lot of feed back were The Bright Angle and South Kaibob Trails.With the weather being a little chilly and potential for rain we figured it was a good idea to have places to hang out inside. For it being our first time at the Grand Canyon the South Rim is a great place to start.

When driving North towards the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, you’ll spot Humphrey’s peak over Flagstaff. Arizona’s tallest peak. As we entered the Flagstaff area the barren landscape of shrubs and badlands turns to pine trees and snow.

We first arrived at the park late in the afternoon. This was a chance for us to find our way around, figure out our to do list, and get our first glimpse of the canyon.

By Laura Dierbeck – Full Story at Free Wheel Drive

Arizona Lesbian Travel Resources

 

Tombstone & the Saguaro National Park – Free Wheel Drive

Tombstone

After our stay at the Mushroom Farm, we made our way to Tucson which also happens to be next door to Saguaro National Park. The short drive North took us through a very dry landscape. The earth is a dull brown, the horizon is unclear in a haze of dust, and the sky is a bright blue with no clouds in sight. The rolling hills and mountains in the distance break up the monotony of the desert. The highlight of this drive is stopping and seeing the tourist trap, Tombstone.

Tombstone was one of the last frontier towns of the West that boomed when silver was discovered nearby. At the height of the town’s popularity in the late 1800’s about 14,000 people lived here. The Gunfight at the O.K Corral was a shootout between outlaw cowboys and the town’s lawmen. It was a time when the West was a place of lawlessness and wildness. Today the town has a kept up the historic buildings, performs several reenactments, and is overall a trap for tourists.

We only stayed for about an hour. We ate some ice cream. Sadly, we didn’t stay for the reenactments.

By Camrin LaFond – Full Story at Free Wheel Drive

Southwest New Mexico Gay Travel Resources

 

Petrified Forest National Park – Free Wheel Drive

Petrified Forest National Park - Free Wheel Drive

After a brief stop in Pheonix where we were able to meet up with our friend, Kirsten, and celebrate St. Patricks day we were off to the lesser known Petrified Forest National Park. The drive to get there was lovely. Through the mountains of the Tonto National Forest, and the high plains of Arizona.

Tucked in the Eastern side of Arizona, between the Navajo and Apache reservations, is the “smallish” park, Petrified Forest NP. At an elevation of 5,000 feet, it is a dramatically different landscape compared to the tall cactus filled Southern portion of Arizona. The landscape here is short sage bushes, prairie grasses, and colorful badland like hill formations.

The two days we visited the weather was chilly and windy, but still, this park is beautiful, colorful, and we learned a ton about geology and what a petrified forest is. Also, we found the park very easy to explore. With two entrances on opposite sides of the park and a 26mile long road connecting the two sides, it is a very easy park to navigate.

Along the drive are several established hiking trails and scenic viewpoints to break up the drive. One to two days is all you really need to see everything. We saw most of everything in less than two days.

By Camrin LaFond – Full Story at Free Wheel Drive

Arizona Gay Travel Resources