Story and video by Michael Anthony; Photos in order: Michael Anthony (3); Getty (1)
If the ship is a-rockin'…get those anti-nausea pills ready!
Yes, on the 5th official day of RSVP's Alaskan cruise (from which I've been reporting) we awoke to hurricane force winds. Standing on our balcony, holding on for near-dear life, we watched as the captain tried to tender in (or pull into harbor, in landlubber-language). Literally 4 attempts ensued before the commander made an announcement: "I regret to inform you that we will not be docking in Sitka. Instead, you will be enjoying another day at sea."
On one hand, this was disappointing. Sitka is a cultural city that my world traveler friends have told me is definitely worth seeing; it's a rural yet refined collective with heavy native and Russian influences. But, at 60-knots, docking was out of the question. So enjoy the boat, we did!
Even five days in, it's shocking how many things were yet to be discovered on this 12-story ship. Aunt Ros spent the entire day in the "Crow's Nest" library, grilling the on-staff Alaskan expert about everything and anything wilderness-related. Helen and the Uncles took to the ship's culinary school -- culinary school! David, as he usually does, ran off to the gym and spa for some mind, body and soul respite. I jumped in on my first-ever slots tournament. (Second place ain’t bad for an amateur, now is it?)
At night, the cruise ship party scene commenced. Unlike other gay cruise lines, RSVP has those gay good-time vibes rather than that "party atmosphere" that many LGBTQ travelers would prefer to avoid when relaxing. There are parties nightly (like Day Five’s "leather-themed bonanza"), but this Alaskan Adventure boasted all of the fun with none of the attitude; even the great-aunts took to the dance floor and had a blast.
Day Six brought us to Ketchikan, a small Alaskan port town. While the uncles took an historic nature walk and Helen went off to perform in a Native tribe dancing ritual, David and I sated our inner-adventure
seekers and spent the afternoon zip-lining through the city’s rainforest (the second biggest in the world, only second to the Amazon). What can I say about taking a 400 foot nosedive through the misty woodland with nothing more than a mere rope harness as your savior? Priceless!
The evening of Day Seven dropped us off in the heart of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. We arrived by bus to the world-famous Butchart Gardens just in time for a fireworks spectacular for which clearly no expense was spared.
We also got a quick tour of the Gardens themselves before being bustled back to the Westerdam. Now I’m not a big "flower and fountain guy," but something about outdoor floral design done right really makes a man appreciate the world around him; it was absolutely stunning, whether you’re a "stop and smell the roses" kind of traveler or not.
Of course, David and I rocked out the night as hard as we could; refusing to admit that our vaca-y had come to an end. The verdict? From 28-to-70-some-years-old, each and every one of us enjoyed a five-star time. It's hard not to enjoy any openly-gay cruise, but when it’s done in a setting as beautiful as the picturesque Alaskan coastline, it's truly memorable. An expensive memory, yes, but worth every pretty penny.
Story and video by Michael Anthony. Images in order: Getty; Michael Anthony; Getty
Although Day Three of RSVP's Alaskan Adventure cruise was technically a "day at sea," we sailed through the indescribably beautiful Glacier Bay and tendered for a bit.
Here, we saw our first glacier of the trip (and of my entire life!), a family of passing whales (who followed alongside our ship and surfaced no less than a dozen times) and miles of gorgeous, untouched-by-man shoreline.
Aunt Ros and Uncle Bill had a field day, snapping picture after picture. Seeing sights like this in movies, on nature flip calendars and in National Geographic specials can be desensitizing, but actually beholding beauty like this in real life is in its own category entirely.
On this cruise, which I’ve never experienced on any other cruise before, they tugboat in resident experts and naturalists to discuss the culture and lay of the land as we pass it. Today’s speaker was Alaska’s one and only gay park ranger; Aunt Helen twisted my arm into attending the lecture, and I’m so glad that I tagged along.
Not only did he give the standard "that’s a glacier, over there is a mountain goat" speech, but he discussed the trials and tribulations of finding success and happiness in such a (stereotypically) hetero-centric environment. It was pretty moving and definitely inspiring.
Day Four took us to Juneau, Alaska's capital (interesting fact: the city is only accessible via passenger plane and boat; not a single road is paved in or out). We spent the first half of the day shopping at the local port: trinkets, furs, Russian cultural items (surprisingly frequent here) and jewelry native to the area.
But the best part of our capital visit (and of the trip to date!) was the one-hour helicopter flight that the 'family' and I took through the local wilderness. (See the clip above for a taste of the majestic beauty that we encountered.) Bears, flora and fauna abounded, as well as glaciers (one which is near the size of Rhode Island at times of the year).
Our pilot, a rough and tumble yet strikingly beautiful local woman, even maneuvered a touch-down on a remote glacier; for nearly 20 minutes, we got to hike and trek around the area, harsh and uninhabitable yet entrancing. The tour cost us well over $500 for four, but was well, well worth it.
Tomorrow, onto the city of Sitka, with a slew of other RSVP-promised surprises in store.
Writer Michael Anthony, contributing from aboard RSVP's Alaskan cruise
Planning the perfect 'family' getaway is tricky. Everyone wants to escape, but no two can agree on how to do it: beaching in Tahiti? Bar-hopping in San Francisco? Hiking the Appalachian Trail?
Perhaps it’s just my ever-growing “bear-ness” -- the desire to literally let the hair on my chest grow and actually keep my shirt on for an entire vaca-y -- or the need for a respite that’s a little less party enthused and a lot more R&R. L.A. (my home) isn’t great for R&R, but there are few more relaxing and spectacularly beautiful places than Alaska.
RSVP's Alaskan Adventure is also surprisingly all-too fitting for my 28-through-79-year-old ragtag collective -- my boyfriend and I, together for 6 years and gay as the day is long; my Uncle Bill and his partner of 24 years, Steve; and "Aunt Ros" and the love of her life, Helen, happily partnered for 40 “wonderful, just wonderful” years. With a 2,000-ish person capacity, the cruise offers something for everyone and it's decidedly lions, tigers, bears, oh-my guests was a welcome change from the West Hollywood twink set.
Days One and Two at sea gave the fam and I time to explore; and explore, we did! While my partner and I sauntered about with the "been-there, cruised-this, enjoyed-that" ease of cruise veterans, our accompanying gaggle of first-timers stumbled about with awe in their eyes. The Westerdam (part of the Holland America fleet) may not be the largest ship on the sea -- a 2,000 capacity is still plenty -- but it has everything a traveler needs.
There’s a full gym with free weights, cardio machines, spin classes and even free lectures. The award-winning spa is on hand -- which I tried within a few hours of boarding -- has a hot stone massage to rival any treatments I’ve experienced in LA.
There are also two pools (indoor and out), a casino, art gallery, live-stage theatre (shows every night) and (of course, my favorite haunt) a buffet! Every amenity is well-staffed and top-notch.
On this afternoon’s agenda? Culinary school begins in 20-minutes, my acupuncture awaits afterward, and the pool deck BBQ starts at five. It's only been two days, but we’ve all already taken to the Westerdam, eager for each new event and excited for our first soon-to-see visual tomorrow afternoon: the Glacier Bay shoreline.
Story by Nif Leder; Photos courtesy Camden Harbour Inn
Things are heating up in Maine now that same-sex marriage is legal, so keep it in mind on your list of places to stay and play.
About two hours up the road from Portland, Maine's largest city, you’ll find Camden, a quaint port city that the state calls, "The Jewel of the Maine Coast." The area's peaks and valleys create a unique, beautiful landscape perfect for getting outdoors and doing some hiking and kayaking. Of course, there's nothing wrong with taking it slow, steady and relaxing by simply cruising around town by bike.
Composed of only about 5,000 residents, Camden has the cross-over appeal of being both an artist and farmer community. This also means that camping is decidedly not the only accommodations option. One place to shack up in style is the Camden Harbour Inn, which is owned, designed and maintained by a gay couple originally from the Netherlands who haved earned their inn a Four Diamond rating from AAA and inclusion in National Geographic’s "129 Hotels We Love" and The New York Post’s "100 Best Summer Destinations."
The Inn's restaurant, Natalie's, dishes up French cuisine with a free side of sweeping views, so take in the sunset while indulging on oysters, herb encrusted lamb, or a classic local lobster dish with brown butter. Yum!
Here are 7 random things I loved about my visit to Boston and Provincetown this weekend.
1. The ICA. Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art relocated to its stunning new location in 2006. This multi-level art museum, library, theater and more has always been at the avant garde of Boston's art scene. This visit there were thought provoking videos exploring human emotions. That's me reflected in the mirrors installed in the ICA's entry way below. It's located next to the Provincetown ferry operated by Bay State Cruise Company, so just plan to arrive at the ferry an hour or so before the scheduled departure and enjoy a tour of the museum.
2. The ferry to Boston. There are two companies operating ferries from Boston to Provincetown, including Bay State Cruise Company located on Seaport Blvd next to the World Trade Center and Boston Harbor Cruises from Long Wharf. Both normally take 90 minutes. The minute you step foot on those ferries, you are officially on holiday. The presence of other gay and lesbian travelers drinking (yes, there's a bar on board!) and socializing guarantees a relaxed environment.
3. The arrival into Provincetown harbor. It's beautiful especially at sunset.
4. The breakwater, a manmade stretch of cut bolders from the far west end of Commercial Street (Ptown's main commercial strip) to close to the tip of Ptown's curlicue end. That's Phil on the breakwater above.
5. People watching along Commercial Street. Best place is Spiritus Pizza. You can check out their web cam before going down there to see what the scene is like.
7. Working out at Mussel Beach Health Club. Great equipment and always a sexy crowd of guys who actually work out on vacation that you haven't seen 100 times at your own gym!
Bonus round: another picture from Ptown's harbor. Cool portraits of local Portuguese women on a building on a pier in the harbor.
Photos in order: Courtesy Tony; courtesy Sausalito Floating Homes Tour
For city dwellers, August and September spell escape and, for those that eschew a big, beachy retreat, the cooler climes of a wooded Northern area or Cape Cod breezes can be particularly appealing. Check out a few convenient excuses to skip town that have come across our desk recently.
Out in the Adirondacks August 21st - 23rd Steve Hayes, who starred in Trick, will be hosting this first gay get-a-way by Blue Mountain Lake in upstate New York at what promises to be a intimate and intelligent weekend summer camp for adults. At an inclusive $249, Out in the Adirondacks is also a comparatively affordable -- and easily-accessible, particularly for Bostonites and New Yorkers -- way to bow out of another sweaty, urban weekend.
Carnival August 16 - 22 One of Provincetown's many summertime events, Carnival is a festive annual treat in the grand Rio tradition. Well, maybe a scootch gayer. This year's theme riffs on Woodstock's 30th Anniversary with "Summer of Love: Peace, Love and Go-Go Boots." Expect the usual hilarity and casual fun of live DJs, drag competitions and a parade.
Lily Tomlin Fundraiser for Pilgrim Bark Park August 29th Just a week later, P-Town will go to the dogs. Lil Tomlin, a long-time Provincetown lover will perform as part of a late summer fund-raiser for a much-needed new dog park!
Sausalito Floating Homes Tour September 26 Over in breezy side Sausalito, a waterfront community just North of San Francisco, the Annual Floating Homes tour is an oddball, but fun one-day escape. Wander around these colorful and unique floating houses from 11am to 4pm while just enjoying being out of the city and actually on the water.
One intriguing home, for example, is known as the "Train Wreck" and was built from a half of a 1889 North pacific Railway Pullman car. Registration for the self-guided tour is $35 and organizers recommend advance purchase, as registration tends to fill up quickly. For more, check out the news clip below -- the style isn't great, but the info is good!
Photos in order (2, 5, 6) Courtesy of Montréal Pride, (3,4) courtesy Divers/Cité by Aydin Matlabi Story by Joseph Alexiou
There's no denying it: we here at Out Traveler love Montréal. Quebec's premier gay destinations is holding two super LGBT events in the upcoming months: Diver/Cité in July 26 to August 1, and the main Pride, also known as Celebrations de la Fierté, from August 13 to 16. Originally one big Pride festival, the arts and music festival was so popular that it was split became its own unique event.
Divers/Cité, translatable French wordplay for "Diverse/City," bills itself as an modern, avant-garde arts festival. 55 hours of live shows, concerts and cinema screenings will run alongside photo exhibitions. Talented drag performers Joey Arias and Justin Bond (featuring Our Lady J) will perform in the Cabaret de Minuit's "New York Series." If that's not enough drag, Mascara, La Nuit des Drags features 80 performers, outdoors on the night of Saturday, August 1.
Spinning at various parties that night are world-class DJs David Morales (playing the Sunset Party and opening the D/C Party)and Peter Rauhofer, who will play the late night set at D/C from 4 to 10 a.m. For the ladies, Lesbomonde features all night partying, from the 7 p.m. Cocktail hour at Suco Lounge featuring DJ and vocalist Sandy Duperval, to the club night at Musée Juste pour rire. This features DJs Betti Forde, circuit fave Alyson Calagna, and JD Samson from Le Tigre (yet another New York visitor).
The numerous pride events begin officially on August 13, but the parties begin Friday with the loungy Bring Your Own Lesbian POP Fiesta. Saturday is all about the BBCM party in Altitude 737, a restaurant-club on top of Place Ville-Marie—these experts de la fête have brougth the kickoff to one of the city's biggest skyscrapers. Beginning at 1 p.m., the all-day event includes beautiful panoramic views and DJ Alain Jackinsky, Stéfane Lippé, and Patrick Guay. Those looking for free events can easily hit up Place Émilie-Gamelin, including the Café des Arts presentation of Per7eption and the work of Yvon Goulet and Kat Coric, who will perform live painting.
The parade itself begins on Sunday at 1 p.m., at Lorimier Avenue and René-Lévesque Boulevard East. The westward procession of leather and feathers will finish at Saint-Hubert Street, and celebrations continue at Parc
Émilie-Gamelin (for a T-dance featuring, DJ Mark Anthony, Mexican sensation Oscar Belazquez and more Stéfane Lippé) and also Sainte-Catherine St. between
Saint-Hubert and Papineau.
We could all use a few relaxing days in Montréal's very agréable summer climate and laid back culture—alors, allez-y directement, especially now that the U.S. dollar is worth $1.15 Canadian again—enfin! (finally!)
Story and photos by Nif Leder; bench overlooking 10th Ave and 17th St facing north.
Pay a visit to the newest park in town. Along the lines that freight trains once traced above 10th Avenue now lie blooms, benches and a place better known as The High Line, Manhattan's newest urban oasis. This unique park allows for unobstructed views of the city at three stories above street level, customizable seating arrangements, and even a spot to wade barefoot on your break.
Part one of this planned three-part construction project is now open for your viewing pleasure. Locals are flocking here, but hurry before it finds itself on all the tourist maps. The first section runs along the gay-friendliest neighborhoods of the borough. From The West Village at Washington and Gansevoort St (where it is suggested to enter to get the full south to north experience), to Chelsea at 20th and Tenth Ave. All this in time for New York Gay Pride on June 28. (Left: two of he many colorful flowers and plants along the High Line's path. Ecological tours starting soon. Check their website.)
(Enjoy amphitheater seating above 10th Ave and watch cars zoom out from beneath your feet.) Open from 7AM to 10PM, you can have your morning cup of coffee here, enjoy an elevated lunch, or unwind here in the evening to catch a great view of the sunset over the Hudson. Don’t try to hop the fence and come in after dark, because cameras have been installed all over to ensure the protection of the West Side’s newest addition. There's an elevator entrance at 16th and 10th Avenue. (Right: this sign serves to protect the fledgling flora.)
On July 12 look out for a free street fair to mark the 75th anniversary of the High Line. This shindig will feature everything from swing and salsa bands to inflatable sculptures. Enjoy our pictorial presentation but by all means plan a visit soon.
(A man walks under the passage through the Chelsea Market. The first of many public art displays serves as the background, “The River That Flows Both Ways” by Spencer Finch. Go see it up close to check out his 700 stained glass tiles that color map the Hudson River.)
I have heard rumors of Grand Canyon
visitors who dismiss it as nothing more than a big hole in the ground.
This, quite frankly, horrifies me. After more than two decades of road
trips, I'm still gleefully working my way through the natural beauties
of my continent of residence. Last month, at long last, I made it to
Niagara Falls, where 50,000 annual honeymoons come with a whopping side
of cheese, nutty adrenaline junkies occasionally take the plunge in
a barrel, and tacky souvenir shops are as prevalent as the mist over
the roaring waters. And I loved every minute of it.
It's worth it to pay respects from
both the U.S. side, a protected stretch of state parkland enveloping
the American Falls (180 feet tall and 1,100 feet long), and the
Canadian side, where hotels and casinos crowd the bank and the more
impressive Horseshoe Falls arch along 2,500 feet of the Niagara River.
(The Canadian side provides easily accessible viewing of the top of
Horseshoe Falls, precariously close to where the water races over a
170-foot drop.) Admittedly, it's hard to imagine spending days there,
so make Niagara a day trip during a Toronto vacation (it's less than
two hours from the city) or part of a tour through upstate New York.
Time a visit between mid-May and late
October in order to don a blue plastic parka and climb aboard North
America's oldest tourist attraction: the Maid of the Mist boat ride,
which launched in 1846. Departing from both the U.S. and Canadian sides,
the 30-minute tour makes the soggy trek right up to the base of Horseshoe
Falls. You will get wet; Splash Mountain has nothing on this!
Cynics need not try to tell me otherwise.
To me, Niagara could never be just a lot of water.
LoAnn Halden is a contributing editor
to OutTraveler.com who has spent time in 46 of the 50 states so far.
Twin Farms, a country estate spanning over 300 acres of green meadows in Barnard, Vermont, is celebrating the changing seasons with a Spring into Summer promotion. When you book two nights, the third night is free. Only have time for a one or two-night getaway? Then opt for a complimentary one-hour in-room massage or spa service each day instead. The promotion runs through September 12 and includes weekends.
The property's late 18th-century farmhouse and lodge is converted into six elegant guest suites ($1,300-1,500 based on double occupancy) plus a living room and dining room, and ten guest cottages ($2,000-3,000 based on double occupancy) dot the grounds. Rates include four meals a day and complimentary wine -- the Twin Farms cellar is stocked with 26,000 bottles of French and California vintages. Guests also have access to a pub, fitness center, spa treatment facility, lakeside cabana, and a Japanese-style sunken tub.
During the summer, activities range from hiking, biking, fly-fishing, and picnicking to canoeing, tennis, swimming, and croquet. In the winter, skiing, snowshoe hikes, sleigh rides, and ice skating keep guests active. The property is also available to rent for weddings, civil unions, and vow-renewal ceremonies.
Travel tip: If you're traveling with a tour, be sure to get the guide's cell phone number in case you get separated from the group and need to contact him or her.
Out Traveler G.P.S offers dispatches from the ever-expanding field of gay and lesbian travel -- as soon as we know, you know. Check back frequently for updates, insider information, advice, and offers brought to you by our ever-roving band of gay travel experts and by readers just like you.
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