Travel section: Metro Weekly magazine, Washington, DC newspaper

Divine Desert

What Santa Fe lacks in revelry, it more than makes up for with art, history, culture and calm

Published on March 10, 2010, 11:57pm

Like a fine cheese or wine, some things simply get better with age. This certainly seems to be the case for Santa Fe, as the capital of New Mexico celebrates its 400th anniversary. Throughout its history, Santa Fe has been a destination for those on a quest -- from Spanish conquistadores seeking new land to artists seeking inspiration to gays seeking acceptance. Today, Santa Fe trails only San Francisco among U.S. metro areas in the percentage of households headed by ...[more]

Dutch Treat

When weather turns wintery, Amsterdam offers gay travelers culture and hedonism at a discount

Published on December 3, 2009, 12:09am

When you close your eyes at work for a wee respite of daydreaming this season, chances are you're more likely to envision yourself soaking up rays on a tropical beach than in some noisy metropolis. But if the metropolis is Amsterdam, the palm trees have met their match. Amsterdam Though possibly the most gay-friendly destination in the world, the fact that the Dutch employ the euro to pay the bills makes the city a pricier adventure than most non-European destinations. ...[more]

Powder Power

Gay ski weeks are a winter wonderland of speed and fun

Published on November 12, 2009, 12:00am

Chadwick Cipiti is an addict, trapped by the relentless grip of that wicked white powder... snow. ''I started skiing at the same time I started to walk,'' said Cipiti, 36, a website developer in D.C. and self-described very advanced snow junkie. (Photo by Courtesy of Chad Cipiti) In 2001, Cipiti attended his first gay ski event in Aspen and was hooked. He now makes a point of doing at least one big gay trip each year, rotating between Aspen's and ...[more]

Doing the Desert

Palm Springs offers a gay oasis, particularly in the milder months

Published on October 1, 2009, 12:00am

From the moment I first stepped off the plane in 2004, Palm Springs had me hooked. I return each year, discovering new reasons to go back each trip. One of my first memories is of being in awe of the San Jacinto Mountains rising abruptly from the desert. The mountains, often topped with snow well into the warmer months of the year, are visible from nearly every part of the city. Palm Springs Once an escape for Hollywood's old guard ...[more]

Westward Ho

The ''Gateway City'' offers an abundantly gay and cosmopolitan culture

Published on August 20, 2009, 12:00am

In his book, 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live, Gregory Kompes included St. Louis among the cities that made the cut. If you think that might mean the city is also a good place for gays to visit, you'd be right. Commonly known as the ''Gateway City,'' St. Louis has a rich history as the launching point for the westward expansion of the United States. Today it is a vibrant, urban metropolis that celebrates diversity and offers visitors a wealth ...[more]

Big Apple Buses

Many locals choose wheels over wings or rails to hit New York

Published on August 6, 2009, 12:00am

As locals continue to make the trek to New York in droves, bus lines appear to be grabbing an ever-larger portion of the pilgrimage. In the years since the Chinatown bus company Eastern Travel began offering a cheaper alternative to Amtrak and Greyhound, multiple bus companies have popped up to shuttle a diverse crowd from one metropolis to another. The competing lines, such as DC2NY, Megabus and Bolt Bus, offer various amenities like free drinks and wireless Internet in addition ...[more]

North and South Neighbors

Nearby Baltimore and Richmond are winners in cost and convenience

Published on June 4, 2009, 12:00am

We all know the type: the person who will travel the world to experience new things, but fails to take advantage of what is available in his or her own backyard. Heck, we are all probably guilty of it to some degree. That said, I have two words for you: Baltimore and Richmond. Baltimore is just about an hour drive from the Washington area, and Richmond is just about two. For less than a tank of gas, or for the ...[more]

Phoenix Rising

Arizona's metropolis offers gay visitors many ways to keep busy or simply relax and enjoy the desert scenery

Published on February 26, 2009, 12:00am

Tell someone you will be visiting Phoenix and the likely response will be ''which part?'' Phoenix has grown rapidly in the last decade to become the fifth largest city in the United States. The surrounding metropolitan area encompasses more than 20 incorporated cities including Fountain Hills, Scottsdale, Tempe and Mesa. Together they provide an impressive playground of urban, suburban and rural environments to explore. (Photo by Cay Uwe Kulzer) For gays and lesbians, the Phoenix area has also matured. Despite ...[more]

Warm Welcome

Cancun boasts a gay-friendly vibe to beat the winter wind

Published on January 15, 2009, 12:00am

While Cancun is Mexico's most popular tourist destination, the resort city has undergone many Sybil-esque changes in its nearly 40-year history. Until 1970, the area that is now Cancun was just a small fishing village surrounded by jungle, with more mosquitoes and snakes than people. A study by the Mexican government determined it would be an ideal location for a resort city: easy access from the United States, excellent weather most of the year and 14 miles of beach. During ...[more]

Railing for a Retreat

Make tracks by train to nearby destinations

Published on November 6, 2008, 12:00am

To and from all nearby points, we Washingtonians commute. Some make their daily roundtrips on rails, some on tires, some on foot. In the midst of all that frantic transportation, it may be easy to forget that many of these nearby spots are worth a visit entirely apart from our toil. Richmond might be on a D.C. lobbyist's radar ahead of some particular legislative vote in the commonwealth. Baltimore used to be the place catch a baseball game; it's still ...[more]

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