When planning your next vacation, make sure you can relax and explore hassle-free. As a member of the LGBT community, there’s no need to feel limited — there’s plenty of amazing, cultural, and activity-filled travel spots, that take pride in their tolerance.
Consider these five spots for your next trip:
1. New York, NY
New York City: It’s the city that never sleeps and never judges. It’s arguably the gay capital of the world, with the Stonewall bar riots sparking the gay rights movement and gay pride parades and events across the world. As a whole, New York thrives on variety, with Ellis Island heralding cultural diversity, and both the business world and the arts represented enthusiastically. As such, the community embraces any sexual orientation, but rightly never defines anyone by it; it’s just part of the norm.
In Manhattan, the sites and activities are endless, but venturing into Brooklyn only extends the possibilities. In particular, Greenwich Village, Chelsea with Christopher St., and East Village with 8th Avenue showcase a thriving gay community full of lively bars, shops, and clubs. So once you hit tourist necessities like the Empire State building and Times Square, strolled museums, venture further and hit growing gay areas like Hell’s Kitchen and the Meatpacking District.
For travel ideas with gay venues in mind, The Center, New York City’s LGBT community center, offers not only support, but multitudes of ideas to make a trip to New York as sleepless as you want.
2. San Francisco, CA
A focal point in gay rights advocacy, San Francisco, standing out in one of the most gay-friendly states, houses one of the densest gay populations, and a vibrant culture of gay-rights. Where New York competes in diversity, San Francisco’s Harvey Milk Square and Castro Theatre make the Castro District feel like the true epicenter of gay pride.
San Francisco falls only behind Palms Springs in percentage of same-sex households. The gay festivities and parades don’t get stuffed into one month; expect year-round events, such as the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in June or the Castro Street Fair in October.
U City’s Guide to Gay San Francisco promotes San Francisco’s gay-friendly atmosphere beyond the Castro, with mixed and gay-oriented city
3. Barcelona, Spain
No longer a gay-haven just for the nearby beaches (about a thirty minute train ride away), Barcelona’s mixed gay and straight communities blossomed into a trendy, cosmopolitan travel destination. Despite the Franco-era oppression of gay rights, Barcelona proved a safe-haven from then to present, and Spain now proudly maintains equal rights in marriage.
Specifically, The Independent cites Eixample, which plays host to most of the gay bars, but also features some of the most elite mixed bars in Barcelona, and the alleys of El Raval as prime examples of a robust gay culture.
But one caution for Barcelona: It’s known for heavy pick-pocketing. If you’re carrying a wallet or purse, make sure yours fits in a front or concealed pocket, and opt for a crossover bag. Of course, you’ll want to take equal measures that your possessions are safe at home while you’re away in Spain. Following that line of thought, consider visiting http://www.securitychoice.net to ensure all your belongings stay one-hundred percent secure while away on your trip.
4. Berlin, Germany
Although Berlin’s dark history of intolerance is well-known, the city has since come to embrace and exhibit an atmosphere of open acceptance, making it possibly the most gay-friendly city in Europe. Restaurants offer monthly gay publications to browse, and some gay guides to Berlin prove as useful as general guides.
The Schwules Museum features standard and circulating exhibits to chronicle the struggles and gains for homosexuals in Berlin. In comparison to New York, Berlin’s LGBT community integrates into every corner of the city, concentrating in specific areas like Schoneberg, Friedrichshain, and Prenzlauer Berg, but every area truly epitomizes acceptance. Stop at the famous Kit-Kat for a wild night after a day’s stroll viewing restored buildings and sprawling parks.
5. Paris, France
Renown for free-thinking and romance, Paris proved a natural fit for some of the brightest minds in art and literature to escape persecution and live without any fuss over their sexual preferences. As such, the famous cemetery, Père Lachaise, marks the resting place of Gertrude Stein and Oscar Wilde. Paris also took the initiative in Europe when they became the first city to elect a gay mayor.
The Marais District increasingly becomes more mixed and trendy, with expensive and chic bars, restaurants, and cafes, and a nightlife that never starts earlier than midnight. For a more, say, shocking side of the nightlife, venture into the Pigalle and Bois de Boulogne districts.
Paris breathes extravagance and indulgence. Tolerance aside, the places to visit amaze in their beauty, and the food equally makes leaving a struggle.
Start planning your city travels worry-free! You don’t have to hide away on an island anymore (though if beaches suit your style, Mykonos and the Greek isles prove worthy). Whether close-to-home or jet-setting, you’re sure to delight in a comfortable and fun vacation in any of these destinations.