Arizona - Page 3 of 4 - Purple Roofs

Catalina Park Inn Bed & Breakfast – Tucson Gay Bed & Breakfast

March 19, 2018 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Catalina Park Inn Bed & Breakfast opened in 1994 by Mark Hall and Paul Richard who continue to welcome guests visiting Tucson in their 21st season. The home was built in 1927 and retains many of the original details including all the beautiful Mexican mahogany woodwork. There is original artwork throughout the inn and surrounding desert gardens.

Leave your car at the inn and walk or take Tucson’s new Sunlink Streetcar light rail to the many restaurants, bars, and shops of Fourth Avenue, Congress Street and University Boulevard. When you are ready to tackle the many other sights to see in Tucson and the surrounding area access is a cinch as the inn just a mile from the highway.

If you are searching for an inn that offers a quiet and relaxed atmosphere and not a “scene”, Catalina Park Inn may just be the ticket. The vibe is quiet and low key. Each of our five guest rooms has a private bath and many amenities including free Wi-Fi, Flat panel TV, DVD players, CD/AM/FM/iPod dock stereo, plush robes and super comfortable beds with high quality linens. On the main floor there is large living room for guests, and a Butlers Pantry with a guest fridge, glassware, ice, and a DVD library.

The inn’s clientele is varied and at the full breakfast served each morning in the dining room you might meet the parents of a UofA student, a guest lecturer or straight and gay tourists from anywhere in the world. It all adds up for lively and fun breakfast conversation.

Plan to stay in Tucson for a few days if you are able. There is much to see and the area offers magnificent natural beauty. Just a few of the sights you will want to check out are: The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Sabino Canyon, The Saguaro National Monuments East and West, Mission San Xavier, Kartchner Cavers, Tombstone, Bisbee, The Pima Air and Space Museum, The Center for Creative Photography, Tohono Chul Park, Kitt Peak National Observatory, Mount Lemmon and so much more!

See the Catalina Park Inn Bed & Breakfast Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

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

Best Western Plus Inn of Sedona – Sedona Gay Friendly Hotel

February 23, 2018 by J. Scott Coatsworth

The Best Western Inn Plus Inn of Sedona is a beautiful home base for your Sedona adventure.

The hotel’s award-winning, terraced design takes full advantage of its ridge top location. With broad promenade decks along both sides of the property, guests can enjoy 360 degree red rock views without leaving the hotel.

Take in the views on the sunrise side as you enjoy a hot breakfast each morning.

In the evening stroll along the west side and take in an amazing red rock sunset right from the deck.

One of the first class amenities included in your stay, the “About Town” shuttle takes all the guesswork out of getting around Sedona. Climb in and relax – our friendly and knowledgeable staff will get you where you want to go in Sedona.

Go ahead, enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. Your ride back to our Sedona hotel is only a phone call away. We are the only hotel in Sedona that offers this service, and at the Best Western PLUS Inn of Sedona, we’re proud to be the leader in red rock hospitality. Many guests park their cars when they arrive and don’t get back into them until after check-out. Now that’s a relaxing vacation!

The energy of Sedona’s famous vortices and the spectacular natural beauty of Sedona’s red rocks combine to make Sedona, Arizona one the “Top 100 Places to Visit in the World” according to Trip Advisor. But red rocks aren’t the only attraction!

From Jeep tours to swimming tigers, hiking to train rides and of course amazing local art and shopping, there’s something for everyone in Sedona and the Verde Valley. But more than anything, you just have to experience the magical feel of this wonderful place. To show respect for the surroundings, and to help protect their natural beauty, the Best Western PLUS Inn of Sedona is a certified “Green Hotel”.

Are you interested in the famous Vortices? Well, the Airport Mesa Vortex is just across the street.

Want to know more about the history of the area or maybe just find out about the local flora and fauna? The complimentary Concierge Service can assist you in making the most of your time in Sedona, your way.

Whether you’re looking for dinner reservations or want to book a tour in a Pink Jeep, they can help take the hassle out of planning your itinerary. For a customized experience call our Concierge Desk 7 days a week to get personalized service to help you create your dream Sedona vacation.

If you plan on traveling with your best friend, and they happen to have 4 legs, don’t worry, this hotel gives new meaning to the term “pet friendly”. With a welcome gift at check-in and a list of local pet friendly restaurants for your reference, your furry best friend will be sitting pretty.

Sedona’s famous red rocks are waiting! A visit to Sedona can be anything you want to make it. We hope you make it memorable.

See the Best Western Plus Inn of Sedona Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

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

Red Rock Road Trip – Go Girlfriend

November 26, 2017 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Got a bucket list? One of my bucket-list items was to drive across the desert and see the epic flatness, red rock passes and endless desertscapes of the wild west. Conjuring images of old westerns watched with my dad, I imagined the good guys and the bad guys hiding in the canyons and bluffs for the ambush. While visiting Phoenix, Arizona, I took a 400 mile, 9 hour road trip from Phoenix through Sedona to Flagstaff, on to Meteor Crater, via Route 66 to “Standin-on-the-corner” in Winslow, Arizona and back cross-country to Phoenix … in a Ford Mustang Convertible!

Doesn’t the top-down freedom of wind in your hair, the endless sun of Arizona at 70 miles per hour in a convertible sound like a perfect daytrip? If historical landmarks are your thing, Montezuma’s Castle’s for you. If it’s the grandiosity of the red rock wonders, Sedona’s yours. Prefer upscale shops and boutique getaways? Sedona’s got what your chasing. Camping or kid-friendly desires? Slide Rock or Red Rock State Park is the thing.

First Stop … Montezuma’s Castle

Taking Highway 17 north from Phoenix towards Flagstaff first takes you to Montezuma’s Castle (in the Cape Verde area). Over a thousand years ago, the Sinagua people lived here in an ingenious 45-room dwelling high up on the cliff face – Montezuma’s Castle

100′ off the valley floor. Etched under the overhang of the cliff face is a 6-storey architectural wonder (remember this was all created 1000+ years ago) housing hundreds in this community. As I explored the valley area below, seeing the remnants of their agricultural and hunter/gatherer lifestyle on the banks of the Verde River, I thought how peaceful and idyllic a location to have as an ancient homestead.

By Stacy Rosien – Full Story at SOURCE

Nortern Arizona Gay Travel Resources

Queer Phoenix – New Now Next

August 10, 2017 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Phoenix gets more than 330 days of sunshine per year. I live in Pittsburgh, which is officially one of the most overcast cities in America. So when I was presented with an opportunity to spend six days in Phoenix at the start of spring, I jumped at the chance.

The Phoenix area also sees highs of well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer — but it’s that delicious, famously “dry heat” that evaporates the sweat right off your skin. Coming off the end of a long, snowy winter, the desert heat was nothing short of transformative for me — it offered the perfect excuse to wear as little clothing as possible, find my way to a pool during the day, and keep an ice cold drink in my hand after dark.

This queer, sunshine-loving traveler’s guide covers when to go, where to stay, where to eat and drink, and what to do to make the most of your adventure in greater Phoenix.

Go to Queer Phoenix

The Sonoran Desert offers sun and heat most of the year, but November through April generally offer the most temperate weather — clear skies and average temperatures in the high 60s, 70s, and low 80s. That said, you may want to avoid going in March — there’s a huge spring training baseball event, so airfare and hotel prices skyrocket and everything is more crowded than usual. April is LGBT Pride month in Phoenix, and the city’s Pride organization goes all out with events, including a festival, parade, and pageant.

Stay in Queer Phoenix

Both Scottsdale and Phoenix (including downtown Phoenix, for those who prefer to be amid the hustle and bustle) have no shortage of LGBT-friendly accommodations in every price range. Scottsdale, Phoenix’s immediate neighbor, reportedly has more spas per capita than any other US city—and many of them are among the most scenic in the world, thanks in large part to the stunning desert views available from their picture windows and soaking tubs.

By Kristina Marusic – Full Story at New Now Next

Phoenix Gay Travel Resources

Sedona’s Tlaquepaque

July 13, 2017 by J. Scott Coatsworth

We just spent a few days in Sedona – my first time there since I was about fourteen – and I gotta say, I love this little town. There’s so much art here, both in galleries and shops and out in the public sphere.

Sedona has two main shopping districts – there’s downtown, which has a few gems but is kinda filled with tourist traps selling t-shirts and cheap pottery.

But there is a great place to find an amazing array of quality souvenirs, from affordable kitchenware up to high-end sculpture and on-canvas art. It’s called Tlaquepaque – say it with me: Tah-Laa-Kwe-Packeee” – and it’s a gorgeous outdoor shopping center on the southern end of town.

Tlaquepaque is built in a Spanish Mission style, and it’s a pleasure to just wander the grounds, taking in the art and spending time sitting at the many fountains on a hot day and trailing your hand in the cool water.

There are so many great places here.

If you get here at lunchtime, start out at the Oak Creek Brewery – the food is good, and the second-floor location offers some gorgeous red rock views through the picture windows.

A short list of our favorite stores here: Cucina Sedona (really cool kitchen stuff); Esteban’s Pottery (OMG – we so almost came home with some of their gorgeous work); and The Inner Eye Gallery (just really cool art).

Tlaquepaque - The Inner Eye Gallery — The Inner Eye Gallery

We spent about an hour at Tlaquepaque, but I could have wandered around all afternoon.

A must-see while you are in Sedona. Here are some more examples of the public art that litters the place, and some of the nice views – enjoy!

Coffee Pot Restaurant – An Iconic Sedona Experience

July 10, 2017 by J. Scott Coatsworth

On our last morning in Sedona, we stopped by the Coffee Pot Restaurant – an iconic breakfast cafe along one of the main highways in town. Opened in the 1950’s, this little cafe still does a brisk business, in part because of its famous menu of 101 omelettes.

There really are a hundred and fifty different choices. My favorite? Jelly, Peanut Butter and Banana. You can see the whole list here.

The restaurant is named for one of the city’s famous red rock formations, of which there are many. You can see part of it here, over the top of the building – it looks like one of those old-fashioned coffee percolators:

The Coffee Pot Restaurant is cute, and it’s filled with lots of great Southwestern art wherever you look. The food is hearty and affordable – I had their Huevos Rancheros (ranch eggs) and they were fantastic.

Want to take something home with you to remember Sedona by? You can check out any of Sedona’s many great galleries – we’ll cover the Tlaquepaque shopping center in our next post. But if you just want a quick souvenir, stop by the Coffee Pot Restaurant’s gift store for something a little more affordable and kitschy. I found a cyte metal gecko hook that’s now hanging over my desk in our office.

The Coffee Pot Restaurant is a great little place to eat, hang out, and shop in Sedona. if you have the time, we recommend having breakfast here at least once while you’re in town!

Beautiful Sedona – Our Favorite Red Rock Photos

July 5, 2017 by J. Scott Coatsworth

We just visited Sedona, and took some great photos of the local red rock formations. Sedona is a truly beautiful place that’s surrounded by natural red rock formations, the remnants of sea sediment that was raised up and then slowly eroded over time.

So here are our favorite pics from the trip.

Sedona Arts Center – Sedona, Arizona

July 3, 2017 by J. Scott Coatsworth

We just got back from a two day visit to Sedona, Arizona. It’s the first time for me since I was about 15, when I went there to visit my then girlfriend Becky. Yeha, you read that right.

Things have changed, both in Sedona and in my own life.

One thing that hasn’t changed – Sedona is full of art galleries. We wandered through many of them, but one of our favorites is the Sedona Arts Center.

Located on the northern side of Sedona’s old town area, the Sedona Arts Center has been a part of the Sedona community for almost 60 years. It started in what’s now called The Barn:

…which is now used for classes and rotating exhibits. The day we were there, a local artist was working with a group of kids for an art summer camp. The Sedona Arts Center offers more than 200 classes and workshops annually, including development classes for artists. They also have a couple on-site studios.

They were kind enough to let us take some photos for the blog. One of the artists was there on sales duty – Miro Fitzgerald – I quite like her geometric paintings. That’s hers on the right.

The group is a collective of artists, and the main gallery up front offers a great selection of their wares, something for just about every budget. There’s sculpture, paintings, stained glass, fabric art, and much more.

We initially arrived at the gallery too late to see the inside, but there are also a number of beautiful public works outside for your viewing pleasure:

We liked them so much that we came back the next day to see more. You can find them here:

Sedona Arts Center Website

Sedona Gay Travel Resources

SaveSave

Downtown Flagstaff

July 2, 2017 by J. Scott Coatsworth

We just got back from a trip to Flagstaff and Sedona. I had a family reunion in Flag, and the day after, we checked out downtown Flagstaff.

Flagstaff is home to Northern Arizona University (NAU). It’s a beautiful campus, and it sits right on the edge of downtown, so Flagstaff boasts a lot of youthful energy, especially at night. We saw this in action when we went to the pride after party drag show – there was music on the streets and in venues up and down the downtown streets, and even a big outdoor movie screening in the heart of town.

While we were only in town for a couple hours, we did find a few cool things.

For lunch or dinner, we recommend the Lumberyard Brewing Company. It’s just across the railroad tracks from downtown, and has a comfortable industrial ambiance.

The food was really good too, and the service friendly. We recommend the hummus – it comes in two flavors, a black bean version and an edamame one, and the presentation is Southwest Awesome:

For shopping, check out the Old Town Shops, a collection of ten locally owned shops and restaurants, including the Flagstaff Chocolate Company to satisfy your sweet tooth.

My favorite store there? The Black Hound Gallerie – a super queer friendly store with tons of cool stuff.

The staff is friendly (and queer) and they offer some of the following merchandise:

Also, be sure to check out the old-timey phone booth, where you can hear poems recorded by a local artist.

We had a great time during our brief visit to Flagstaff, and plan to return in the future for more exploration.

Flagstaff Gay Travel Resources

FLAGSTAFF: It’s So Raven

June 30, 2017 by J. Scott Coatsworth

Hey all… we just got back from a short trip to Flagstaff and Sedona, Arizona. My Family Reunion was over the weekend, but we snuck out to see Flagstaff’s Pride in the Pine’s After Party.

The venue – the Orpheum Theater – is a little odd. The stage and the seats are separated by a standing/dancing area. We got there early and got good seats in the third row with a good view of the stage.

Then the show started, and everyone in front of us got up to watch the show standing, and I kid you nbot, five or six guys that were at least 6′ 2″ tall stood in front of our seats.

So we got up too.

The show featured one of RuPaul’s girls – Raven – and she and some of the others cane out into the crowd to see all of us. That’s when I snapped the shot above.

While it was amazing to see Raven – and so close! – the standout of the show was China Collins. She should be on the Drag Race – she killed it with her lip synch.

We had a great time, and will be reporting on more parts of Flagstaff and Sedona over the next several weeks.

–Scott & Mark