For those of us who can’t afford the long distance travel of trans-continental vacations, we have many lovely possibilities close at hand.
Mexico is a hop, skip and a jump away—how lucky are we!? Cruise down
the Mexican Riviera if you like, or take a short (and I mean short) flight to Puerto Vallarta with your love and rekindle your romance. This town has it all for the gay traveler. One of the most hospitable in Mexico, it is a wonderful alternative to the standard gayborhood or club. It’s not that Puerto Vallarta’s nightlife is lacking—it definitely rocks. It’s that almost all bars in Puerto Vallarta are gay- friendly. And it’s all just a half-mile away from the beach! If you prefer clearly designated gay bars, the top of your list should include El Morbo, Paco Paco, Los Balcones, The Ranch, Apaches, Los Amigos and The Palm. Puerto Vallarta’s gay beach is a hot spot directly on the main shoreline, at the south end of Playa los Muertos (Beach of the Dead). The Mexico gay beach was dubbed “Blue Chairs,” because of the endless line of blue deck chairs for lounging and sightseeing the local fauna. Other Blue-Chairs-Beach features include palm-thatched umbrellas and a beach bar and restaurant (don’t forget to eat, boys)! Just across the street is the Blue Chairs Hotel (don’t forget to sleep in those bed, either)—one of Puerto Vallarta’s best gay places to stay. Here are a couple great websites for just about anything you could want—accommoda- tions, day life, nightlife, gyms and spas, shopping,
etc...the list goes on and on: -
gayguidevallarta.com -
discoveryvallarta.com
Northern California offers many, many options for romantic get-
aways. A simple drive up the coastline on the Pacific Coast Highway will provide you with some amazing destinations. Admittedly, it is a hike from Southern California so I suggest you fly to my favorite destination: San Francisco. Spend a couple of uber-queer days there, and then drive up to one of the most popular areas, the Russian River in Sonoma County. It’s rich with nature, the climate is generally ideal and it’s smack-dab in the middle of some of the top wineries in California. Head to Guernville, which is the largest community in the area, and you will find several gay resorts and bars. Check out this website for a complete listing:
russianrivertravel.com/gay/lodging. The Applewood Inn is a lovely B&B with a fantastic wine-country themed restaurant that has won many awards, and talk about romantic. . .you will never want to get out of bed! During the sunny months (who says romance has to be only during V-Day) Johnson’s beach is the place to be. Or tour the Armstrong redwoods, and the many wineries (Korbel Vineyards is a favorite—I love bubbles). A hint on the winetasting tours. . . don’t forget to spit, or lordy you’re in for one heck of a headache! And please, dear ones, designate a driver or rent a limo!
absolutegaytravel.com
For those of you on a budget, look no further than our neighbor over the moun-
tains—Palm Springs. Two hours away and such a little jewel. Lovely and laid-back, this is a place to get your romance on! An ideal locale to relax, take in some sun and blithely ignore the day-to-day grind—perfect weather, fantastic terrain; you can bike, hike, golf, swim, eat, dance, drink and romance your way through the city. There are more then 30 exclusively gay places to stay, some with clothes on and some
without...choose accordingly! I love the Desert Eclipse resort—the owners were incredibly hospitable, it was just far enough from the fray of downtown, but close enough to walk. Hotel Zoso is gorgeous and two steps off Palm Canyon—very posh, and their concert series is to die for. The food at Spencer’s restaurant will make your honey-bun melt. Try their brunch on Sundays, and oh my, the desserts and their wine list! Do your research. There is a lot to Palm Springs, so spend a little time planning. I suggest
palmspringsgayinfo.com or
palmsprings.gaycities.com for general information.
FEBRUARY 2011 | RAGE monthly 59
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