TOP 5 GAY TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

1. SAN FRANCISCO

Make a pilgrimage to liberal San Francisco. This gay travel mecca is home to an unprecedented number of gay bars, events, neighborhoods, and hotels. Come enjoy all this hospitable city has to offer!

Where to Stay

The Castro is central to gay life in San Francisco. SoMa (South of Market) is up-and-coming.

But really, the entire city welcomes everyone with open arms.

Things to Do

• Indulge in dim sum—and lots of window shopping—in exotic Chinatown.
• Trek to Coit Tower for glorious vistas.
• Ogle modern art at the SFMOMA. (Crowds are smaller in the morning.)
• Sneak away for an afternoon of wine tasting in nearby Napa Valley.
• Board a ferry for Alcatraz. The immersive audio tour through the intimidating prison is a family favorite.
• Shop Union Square. Every label imaginable has an outpost in this urban center.

Romance

Get thee to Golden Gate Park and rent a bicycle built for two! At night, book a dinner cruise around the bay.

Nightlife

24/7 entertainment is SF's claim to fame. Choices change nightly, so check local rags for the latest. Castro is a tried-and-true good time. Or, check out the Mission's Latin flair.

Know Before You Go

• Walk, bus, bike, but don't drive! Parking is an impossibility—or prohibitively expensive—in much of San Francisco.
• Consider the CityPass. The card covers Cable Car and MUNI fares as well as admission to top attractions.

2. NEW ORLEANS

The Crescent City celebrates music, food, drink, and uninhibited sexuality. It's one big, swinging 24/7 gay-friendly party—and a hotbed of new boutiques, art galleries, funky restaurants, quaint cafés, and quieter bo-ho gayborhoods. And it's liberally sprinkled with rich multiethnic influences and fascinating history.

Where to Stay

The French Quarter's the most popular spot for round-the-clock, round-the-corner action. Cross the canal for the trendier, shinier Warehouse/Arts District. Or go low-key and laid-back in the bohemian Marigny neighborhood.

Things to Do

• Discover the birthplace of Dixieland jazz with a live impromptu performance at Preservation Hall.
• Take a theatrical 2-1/2 hour walking Gay New Orleans Heritage Tour through the lively and colorful French Quarter and other relevant sites.
• Check out the magical potions and fascinating traditions at the Historic Voodoo Museum.
• Stroll the riverfront and visit the first-rate Aquarium of the Americas.

Romance

Breakfast beignets at Café du Monde, an afternoon at Audubon Zoo, dinner at a quaint café, and nightcaps in the French Quarter. Repeat as needed.

Nightlife

The gay spirit is wild, free, and everywhere in New Orleans, birthplace of the dawn-till-dawn party. There's plenty of live music and action on Bourbon Street, where you can also cruise the leather/Levi scene. Venture to Marigny to kick back with a hookah on a cushy couch. Or roll the dice at Harrah's Casino.

Know Before You Go

• The best time to visit is in spring, when the temperature and humidity are comfortable. Summer months are torrid and humid.
• You can get most everywhere in New Orleans by streetcar or cab so you can definitely save on parking and rental cars.

3. CURACAO

Consider going Dutch in the Caribbean! Curacao's famed "Live and Let Live" philosophy lures sun-starved gay travelers to its beaches and surprisingly sophisticated towns. Find gay hotspots and other travel info at Expedia.

Where to Stay

Curacao boasts the largest IGLTA membership in the Caribbean. You'll find lesbian and gay-friendly hotels all around the island. Choose Willemstad for lively nightlife or venture to the west coast for secluded beaches.

Things to Do

• Savor the Caribbean sun on one of 35+ beaches—from rocky coves to swaths of white sand. Try local favorite Cas Abao or popular Seaquarium beaches.
• Shipwrecks, coral reefs, caves, and lots (and lots) of tropical fish make Curacao a gay traveler's scuba diving or snorkeling Shangri-La.
• Explore the charming, 18th-century town of Willemstad. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, you'll find upscale casinos, on-the-water eateries, and pastel buildings around every corner.
• Tee off on one of the island's many 18-hole championship golf courses.

Romance

SIndulge in Curacao's legendary luxury resorts. Full service spas and long walks on the beach come standard.

Nightlife

While few bars are gay-exclusive—Lyrics Café in Willemstad may be the only one—LGBT travelers will find friendly faces wherever they go. Visit Mambo Beach for on-the-sand excess or stick to Willemstad for the most options.

Know Before You Go

• Curacao is a mere 2.5-hour flight from Miami.
• Sustainable travel is a focus on this naturally beautiful island. Look for green resorts and other ecotourism operators.
• Once outside of Willemstad, beach-hoppers will benefit greatly from renting a car.

4. AMSTERDAM

Sashay down the streets of Europe's gay capital, Amsterdam! This beacon of tolerance is a safe haven for lesbian and gay travelers—whether they're on the party circuit or looking for a little culture.

Where to Stay

Gay culture is a part of mainstream Amsterdam, so there's no distinct gay neighborhood—gay clubs and gay hotels are scattered all over.
Try to stay in or near the Canal Loop to be within walking distance of gay nightlife options.

Things to Do

• Amsterdam is the land of museums. Three favorites: the epic Rijksmuseum, hometown hero's Van Gogh Museum, and the poignant Anne Frank House.
• Take a sobering trip to the Homomonument, a memorial for lesbians and gays prosecuted during WW2.
• Ogle modern Dutch design in sleek shops like Frozen Fountain or Droog.
• Try to find Amsterdam's narrowest house on a rented canal paddleboat or bicycle. (Hint: It's on a canal.)

Romance

Amsterdam's picturesque canals provide a romantic backdrop for strolls, boating, or biking. Pick your passion—and snuggle up to your sweetie.

Nightlife

Seek out the clubs in the largely gay Reguliersdwarsstraat near the Rembrandtplein or (for wilder fare) in the Warmeosstraat near the Red Light District. Check local listings, though, since some of the more popular gay clubs only happen once a month—or even more erratically.

Know Before You Go

• Amsterdam is eminently walkable. Don't bother with a car!
• Find the Gay Tourism Bureau's kiosk near the Homomonument for great, gay-specific information.
• Amsterdam's proximity to London and Paris makes it a great starting point for any European vacation.

5. BARCELONA

Dynamic Barcelona lures lesbian and gay travelers with its spicy Spanish treasures. Gawk at Gaudi's bizarrely beautiful buildings or spend the day at the beach—either way know that nighttime brings an embarrassment of riches.

Where to Stay

The rainbow flags and open attitudes proclaim bustling L'Eixample as THE place to find gay hotels and gay clubs.

Travel 30 minutes to Sitges to find gay beaches!

Things to Do

• Go Gaudi: Tour his unfinished masterpiece, Sagrada Familia. Picnics are popular in the Gaudi-designed Parc Guell.
• Wander down Barcelona's main drag: La Rambla. This tree-lined boulevard boasts street vendors, shops, and people watching!
• Explore the medieval Gothic Quarter, including a tour of the peerless Santa Maria del Mar church.
• Young fashion designers and clever home furnishings make Barcelona a shopper's dream. Expect excellent quality and selection—bargains are rare though.

Romance

Late night dinners, lingering over rich Spanish reds, promote in-depth conversation—and passion.

Nightlife

Seek out the clubs in the largely gay Reguliersdwarsstraat near the Rembrandtplein or (for wilder fare) in the Warmeosstraat near the Red Light District. Check local listings, though, since some of the more popular gay clubs only happen once a month—or even more erratically.

Know Before You Go

• Act like a local—adopt a mid-afternoon siesta. Nothing's open then anyways.
• Expect to eat late. Dinner's usually around 11—and the discos don't open until 3:00 AM. (Another good reason to siesta.)

Source: Collectibles