Oregon’s Hood River has Something to Arouse all Types of Lovers this February

Shot by: Pickles Photography

When it comes to matters of the heart, Hood River has plenty of room for all kinds of lovers, including partners or couples in love with each other, individuals prioritizing self-care and self-love, and even those looking to pursue their love of the outdoors. In legends as old as time told by the native Klickitat people, affairs of the heart are the foundation from which the surrounding peaks of Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, and neighboring Mt. Saint Helens were formed. Whether it’s nature, romance, or self-love, Hood River’s endless well of possibilities is sure to satisfy any desire this February and beyond.

“From snow-capped mountains to the mighty Columbia River and everything in between, visitors can not escape Hood River’s beauty,” said Katie Kadlub, executive director of Visit Hood River. “While love abounds in Hood River year-round, February and March offer unique options for anyone seeking a mid-winter escape. Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day weekend, or mid-week workcations are all within reach.”

Cloaked in snowy splendor, nearby Mt. Hood shows off for nature lovers far and wide. Just 20 minutes from Hood River, the rustic Cooper Spur Mountain Resort offers midweek guests discounted lift tickets to Mt. Hood Meadows and complimentary snowshoe rentals for use on Nordic trails accessed right from the resort. At the end of a snow-packed day, the resort’s Crooked Tree Tavern & Grill provides libations and a full menu. Hood River’s many lodging partners offer an array of Stay and Ski options as well. While exploring Mt. Hood National Forest, winter adventures will find options for two planks, snowshoes, sno-machines, and sleds alike.

Atmosphere is everything in downtown Hood River. The glow of twinkle-lit trees accompanies romantics as they stroll Oak Street to discover cozy nooks and delicious crannies. The quaint-yet-hip downtown core is lined with tasting rooms, artisan jewelry boutiques, and acclaimed culinary delights. Downtown’s Hood River Hotel offers the option to stay two nights and receive a third night free, and partners with local businesses to offer exclusive guest-only deals. Just a short scenic stroll from downtown, the Best Western Plus Hood River Inn offers sweeping riverside views and their popular Winter Fun Package. When paired with the outdoor heated pool and hot tub, those looking for a romance-inducing escape will not be disappointed. 

Those seeking a recess from the grind will find the perfect retreat to catch up on some self-love. Scenic drives, stunning strolls, and Nordic adventures provide an ample amount of time for contemplation, manifesting, and play. Opportunities to move and connect are found at Flow Yoga and Brimstone Boulders. A silks class at Empowered Movement Aerial will not only energize the body but is sure to induce a little joy. And if it's solitude that's calling, be sure to check out Waucoma Bookstore, Skylight Theater, or one of the many art galleries that offer a quiet respite.

Also not to be missed in Hood River this February and March, Columbia Center for the Arts celebrates the exhibit Contemporary Native Voices seeking to honor and acknowledge the original inhabitants of the Columbia River Gorge.

From snow play to a romantic retreat to self-love getaways, whatever the desire, Hood River is adventure-ready with an open heart and open arms. 

For more information on Hood River, or to book a stay at one of Hood River’s lodging options visit https://visithoodriver.com/stay.

Pride Journey: Palm Springs, California

By Joey Amato

Palm Springs is my happy place. The city and the surrounding area provide me with the perfect mix of relaxation and entertainment. Having been to Palm Springs numerous times prior to this visit, I wanted to partake in things that I have never tried before, most notably a full body massage at El Morocco Inn & Spa, but we will get to that later.

After checking in to Triangle Inn (pictured above), a lovely mid-century modern gay guesthouse located just one mile from the Arenas Road district, I decided to unwind from my flight and take it easy by the pool. I struck up a wonderful conversation with another guest from Los Angeles who was in town for the weekend. Apparently, Palm Springs is his happy place as well. Everyone I encountered at the clothing-optional resort was very friendly and eager to give advice on the hottest spots to visit during my stay.

I decided to head to Cathedral City for happy hour. Before Palm Springs became the gay mecca of today, Cathedral City was the epicenter of LGBTQ culture in the desert. The area is home to an array of nightlife establishments including The Barracks, AMP Sports Lounge and One Eleven Bar, a beautifully decorated space which on the evening of my visit was celebrating female voices of the 80s. I sipped a delicious Espresso Rum-tini while grooving to music from Whitney, Madonna and Tina.

The time change was hitting me hard, so I decided to retire early to my room at Triangle Inn and when I say room, I mean something closer to a 1-bedroom apartment. The suite contained a full living room, dining room and kitchen, in addition to a king size bed and large walk-in shower.

Triangle Inn usually offers a continental breakfast to guests but current COVID restrictions didn’t allow them to provide that during my stay, so I grabbed breakfast the next morning at a cute LGBTQ-owned restaurant called Sunshine Café. I don’t normally eat a heavy breakfast but when I saw the Banana Nut Pancakes on the menu, I knew I had to at least give them a try. The extra calories were definitely worth it.

Today was my Zen day in the desert and I heard about this wonderful shop creating organic skin care products called The Body Deli. The business uses raw and organic superfoods to create their products which range from facial moisturizers and scrubs to hair shampoo and conditioner. I sampled a few products while there and you can actually smell the freshness of the foods they use to create the products. The store offers a variety of travel-size skincare kits that are perfect for those out-of-towners looking to bring home some product.

My next destination was El Morocco Inn & Spa, located in the town of Desert Hot Springs, known for the mineral properties in its water. I decided to indulge myself with a two-hour Moroccan Mystical Ritual, which begins with dry brushing to stimulate the lymphatic and circulatory system and provide exfoliation. My body was then covered in organic Rhassoul clay from the Atlas Mountains. As I lay on the massage table, the clay began to harden, and I felt like I was wrapped in a cocoon. At times it was a bit uncomfortable, but I knew the end result would be wonderful. I was then asked to jump in the shower to rinse the clay off my body before the Moroccan Rain massage began. This is a process of using a raindrop technique to apply seven different essential oils along the spine, which all aid in detoxification.

Feeling refreshed, I was ready to enjoy a night on the town. I met up with my friend Brad Fuhr who publishes the Gay Desert Guide, a one-stop-spot for everything you need to know about LGBTQ culture and nightlife in the Palm Springs area. We

enjoyed dinner at Trio, one of my favorite restaurants in the city. I began my meal with the Roasted Beat Salad and then ordered the fish special, while Brad went for the Pesto Crusted King Salmon served over squash and angel hair pasta. Consistency is key and you can never go wrong with a meal at Trio.

No visit to Palm Springs would be complete without partying on Arenas Road, the LGBTQ cultural and nightlife hub of the city. Coincidentally, the owner of Hunter’s was in town (there is also a Hunter’s in Wilton Manors, Florida). Mark Hunter and I had met briefly in Florida many years ago and spent the evening reconnecting. We had such a good time chatting that before I knew it, midnight had rolled around, and it was time for bed. I know what you’re thinking, midnight is early, but I was still suffering from jet lag and had a full schedule of activities to get to the following day.

I woke up early to visit multiple public art exhibitions around the downtown area. The days were really starting to heat up and it topped 100 degrees the day prior, so I wanted to get to the art before the heat became unbearable. There are many art displays and murals around the Palm Springs Art Museum that are worth checking out.

If you happen to be in town on a Sunday evening, there is no better place to be than Oscar’s for their world-famous T-Dance. The iconic party takes place every Sunday from 4-8pm and recently began again after almost a year-long hiatus. I was told people from around the world visit Palm Springs specifically to attend T-Dance at Oscar’s.

Of course, dancing will make you hungry, so for your final meal in the desert, head to Roly China Fusion, a multi-level space which also hosts a weekly Drag Brunch on Sunday. While there, you must try the Lobster Dumplings, which are served in a delicious truffle butter broth with shitake mushrooms and napa cabbage. It was one of the best dishes I’ve had in Palm Springs.

Palm Springs Pride Festival is scheduled to take place this year on November 6-7. After a year off, I’m sure it will be a very festive occasion. Start making plans early as reservations at Palm Springs’ numerous guest houses tend to sell out during this time. If you have never been to Palm Springs, I’m sure you’ll find it to be your happy place too. To learn more, visit www.visitgreaterpalmsprings.com and to book your Palm Springs gaycation, visit www.Orbitz.com/pride.

Enjoy the Journey!

Make a Recommendation for the 2019 Gay Travel Awards

It's almost time for Gay Travel Awards season. And as the 2019 awards are fast approaching, GayTravel.com wanted to give us all a chance to recommend our favorites for consideration, as well as suggest any new categories.

Travel: Discover Florida's Paradise Coast

If you ever wanted to make a splash in Florida’s Paradise Coast, now’s the time to do it. With beautiful beaches, world-class hotels, award-winning restaurants and exceptional seasonal values, summertime isn'’t just the right time to give Paradise a try, it’s the best time.

GayTravel’s 2019 International Travel Bucket List

Take a gander at GayTravel's 2019 travel bucket list and discover the hottest destinations and hotels to visit this year!

Travel: Cuba VIP Travel Announces New Havana LGBTQ Pride Celebration Tour to Mark Historic Changes to the Cuban Constitution

Cuba VIP Travel, the Miami-based travel agency specializing in customized experiences of Cuba, is launching an exciting new tour for 2019: the Havana LGBTQ Pride Celebration tour. The five-day trip will coincide with Havana’s Pride Parade and will include numerous opportunities to socialize and work with renowned activists in the local LGBTQ rights movement.

“It was important to us to craft an itinerary that not only captured the joy of the Havana Pride Parade but offered insights into the incredible work being done here to advance the cause of LGBTQ rights,” says Yaima Sanchez, Co-Founder, and COO of Cuba VIP Travel. “That’s why it’s such a great honor that we’ll be collaborating with some of the most prominent names in Cuba’s LGBTQ community, including individual activists as well as organizations, all of them playing key roles in the vital push for rights. These are the people changing the LGBTQ landscape across Cuba, and we’re so proud to be able to invite our customers to be part of that.”

The new tour has been designed as a celebratory response to the landmark announcement earlier this year that the Cuban National Assembly was backing a constitutional change that will, for the first time, allow same-sex marriage in the country. Through a carefully curated series of experiences, the tour will offer customers a snapshot of Havana’s LGBTQ scene at this crucial moment in history.

Travel: A Gay Neighborhood Guide to Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires takes some energy to explore, but Passport.com shows you plenty of places to relax and take it easy and meet the locals.

Travel: OutFest, Elton John & more reasons to visit Philly this fall

In fall, Philly’s LGBTQ arts and culture scene activates in a big way. The season welcomes back Opera Philadelphia’s epic festival, O18, where original performances include Queens of the Night, starring beloved local drag queen Martha Graham Cracker, local cabaret impresario John Jarboe and Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe. As always, September’s Fringe Festival keeps things diverse, especially in a musical number that explores cabaret history (Do You Want a Cookie?) and the multidisciplinary dance piece Variations on Themes from Lost and Found, comprised of multiple works by late choreographer John Bernd that imagine a world where AIDS never happened. Other highlights include an Elton John concert and an onstage sit-down with two of TV’s most prominent gay icons, AC2: An Intimate Evening With Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.

Here’s a closer look at these events and others slated for Philly this fall after the jump:

Travel: Loving Philly's LGBT Nightlife

LGBT revelers of every stripe meet their nightlife matches among the buzz-worthy bars, restaurants and nightclubs in and beyond Philadelphia’s Gayborhood. After dark, partying patrons enjoy laid-back vibes and delicious cocktails at recent additions Toasted Walnut and Writers’ Block Rehab, atthewell-rounded club scenes of Woody’s and Voyeur and at bar-nightclub hybrids—venues with bars on the first floors and dancing on the second—Franky Bradley’s and Tavern on Camac. Then, there’s the late-night food scene, featuring stylish go-tos like Bud & Marilyn’s and Zavino along the restaurant row that is 13th Street, plus quick noshes in the wee hours.

Travel: Savannah Pride is Coming Up October 28

Grammy Award-winning singer, producer, songwriter and actress ESTELLE will headline the entertainment at Pride in Savannah: Downtown Takeover on Saturday, October 28 in Ellis Square, downtown Savannah, running from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  The event is free and open to the public.

 

“I am so excited to be sharing my music with my darlings in Savannah,” said Estelle.

 

Estelle has come a long way from local West London MC to being a successful Grammy Award-winning artist. Her international recognition came with the debut of her second album Shine, released under John Legend’s Homeschool label, in partnership with Atlantic Records. Her hit single “American Boy,” in collaboration with rapper Kanye West, won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Song Collaboration, in addition to being nominated for Song of the Year and many other awards worldwide.

 

Taking full creative control of all her music endeavors Estelle launched her independent label, Established 1980 Records. The first project released under the label was her fourth album True Romance. The album features the inspirational anthem “Conqueror,” which skyrocketed even further after a special duet version aired during an episode of FOX’s hit show Empire. Performed by Estelle and Jussie Smollett, “Conqueror” became a Gold single and was one of the highest-charting songs from Empire to date, helping to spur The Original Soundtrack from Season One of Empire to the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 as well as a Grammy nomination.

 

With the release of Estelle’s fifth album, her musical career journeys back to some of its original influences. Partnered with VP Records, her latest album is set for an early 2018 release.

 

“We are overjoyed that Estelle will be headlining here in Savannah,” says festival director Dusty Church. “Her music is passionate, seductive, bold and, most of all, fun. She’ll have all of Savannah on its feet.  We can’t wait.”

 

In addition to the appearance by Estelle, Pride In Savannah: Downtown Takeover will include a street fair, a self-guided pub crawl and educational workshops.   A special Pride wristband, providing discounts on drinks and more at participating businesses, is currently on sale.

 

Pride in Savannah: Downtown Takeover is a highlight of the three-day Savannah Pride event, which begins Thursday, October 26 with the Masqueerade Ball at The Mansion at Forsyth Park and ends Saturday night with Bootleg Spirits: The Official Pride After Party at Ghost Coast Distillery.

Travel: Savannah Pride

Savannah Pride has announced that, for the first time, Savannah’s Pride Festival will be held in downtown Savannah and will be free to the public. The four-day event, which has been organized by a newly-selected Board of Directors, will be highlighted by a street fair and musical performances in Savannah’s Ellis Square, an urban public square adjacent to the city’s major tourist and shopping district.

The festival will also include a series of parties, community get-togethers and films as well as educational workshops and presentations. As is only appropriate for “America’s Most Haunted City,” the festival will take place over Halloween weekend, October 26 – 29.

“This year, it is particularly important to bring the Savannah Pride Festival front-and-center,” says Dusty Church, new Festival Director. “Historically, the festival has taken place in a beautiful but not central part of town, isolated by a fence and an admission fee. As the government chips away at LGBT rights, from the move to ban transgender Americans for serving in the armed forces to the recent news of the Department of Justice throwing its support behind a wedding vendor who refused to bake a cake for a same-sex couple, we felt it was time to come out of the shadows. By bringing it downtown and making it free, we encourage the community to join in this celebration of diversity.”

Having begun in 1999, Savannah Pride is one of Georgia’s largest and longest-running pride events. Throughout its 18-year history, it has celebrated a region known for its unique Southern charm as well as its unmatched natural, historic and architectural beauty.

Last year Savannah celebrated its designation by Travel + Leisure Magazine as one of the top three travel destinations in the U.S. and one of the top ten in the world.

“Savannah is an enchanting town where eccentrics, artists, new transplants, students and a vibrant LGBT community mingle with ease with traditional Southerners and people whose roots run deep in the Georgia soil,” says Church. “More than anything else, Savannah Pride gives us a chance to share our beautiful, accepting, fun and quirky home with visitors from all over the world.”

Travel: Key West Fantasy Fest

Attendees at Key West's renowned annual Fantasy Fest can anticipate creative costuming, offbeat artistry and a blend of colorful new events and longtime favorites for masked and costumed revelers.

Themed "Time Travel Unravels" and scheduled Friday, Oct. 20, through Sunday, Oct. 29, the 2017 festival features several dozen masquerade balls, costume contests, exotic parties and showcases for quirky creativity, all climaxing in a lavish grand parade.

Event organizers encourage participants to "time-travel" to any past or future era to find inspiration for their costume finery and float designs. The most imaginative are to be rewarded with prizes and enthusiastic acclaim from Fantasy Fest crowds.

The extravaganza begins with the family-friendly Goombay street party in historic Bahama Village, a celebration of Key West's Caribbean roots set for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 20 and 21. Friday night brings the Royal Coronation Ball, where a king and queen are crowned to preside over the festivities.

New to the festival schedule is Sunday evening's Zombie Bike Ride, a procession of oddly lively "undead" in tattered zombie garb, pedaling past Key West's Atlantic Ocean beaches to prowl historic Duval Street.

Subsequent events include Tuesday's tutu party, a culture crawl, themed soirees for costumed characters and Wednesday's wacky Pet Masquerade. The "animal antics" feature dressed-up dogs, cats and other domestic species competing for costume prizes alongside their human companions.

Thursday brings another festival newcomer, the Smallest Parade in the Universe, providing a "tiny" foretaste of the glittering Duval Street parade that highlights Fantasy Fest. A miniature procession of artist-made 18-inch floats is to traverse a make-believe Duval, while audiences view the creative constructions both live and via large-screen video.

Thursday's enticing events also include two traditional favorites: the "over the top" Headdress Ball, to be held at the new Key West Amphitheater at Truman Waterfront Park, and the tantalizing Toga Party at Sloppy Joe's Bar on Duval Street.

The following day, Duval becomes a carnival of creativity as vendors offer colorful costumes, arts and crafts, food and libations in the mile-long Fantasy Fest Street Fair.

Friday's festivities also include the Masquerade March, a zany walking parade that begins at the local cemetery. It typically features thousands of revelers dressed in masks and costumes that range from brilliant to bizarre.

The madcap merriment is to culminate Saturday night, Oct. 28, during the Bud Light Fantasy Fest Parade through Key West's historic downtown. Tens of thousands of spectators converge to cheer the parade's elaborately costumed marching groups, dancers in bright feathered costumes and dazzling motorized floats.

Travel: OutRVA Celebrates Pride

OutRVA, Richmond’s LGBTQ tourism campaign, is pleased to announce a lively lineup of events and offerings to celebrate LGBTQ Pride this fall. Below is a sampling of what is on tap in Richmond, Virginia next month.

VA Pridefest on Brown’s Island - September 23, 2017 12-8pm

The city of Richmond is host to VA Pridefest, the largest annual celebration of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBTQ+) community in the Commonwealth. Planned and implemented by Virginia Pride, this family-friendly day of festivities is free to the public and will feature a variety of vendors, local eats, activities, and entertainment. Over 30,000 people are expected to attend Pridefest.

LGBTQ Pride Package at Quirk Hotel - Through September 30, 2017Visitors traveling to Richmond now through September can stay at Quirk hotel and book the special LGBTQ Pride Package. In celebration of PRIDE, Quirk is offering guests 10% off the best available rate for two, a complimentary bar snack or beverage at the barista bar and an RVA Pride in-room welcome amenity. Guests will also receive VIP Access to RVA Pride (if booked during the festival on September 23^rd), two tickets to The Valentine Museum and guaranteed entrance into the hotel’s popular Q Rooftop Bar.

Tropic Like It's Hot - Through September 30, 2017

Known for its thriving craft beer scene, Richmond is inviting travelers to experience a craft beer collaboration created in celebration of Pride. Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Ardent Craft Ales, and Center of the Universe Brewing have teamed up to create a special beer celebrating the LGBTQ community, Tropic Like It’s Hot. Tropic Like It's Hot is a hefeweizen, brewed with passion fruit, pineapple, and lime. The specially crafted beer will be sold at VA Pridefest on September 23^rd and will also be featured at local Richmond restaurants and the other partner breweries now through September.

Richmond Triangle Players 25^th Anniversary season - Through 2018

Richmond Triangle Players, a local theatre group that delivers adventurous and entertaining theater as the leading voice in the community’s explorations of equality, identity, affection and family, across sexual orientation and gender spectrums, will be celebrating LGBTQ Pride with a special programming arc. The scheduled programming will celebrate some of the most influential works in LGBTQ theater and shine a light on the positive impact of the diversity and inclusion that Richmond Triangle Players embodies in all its productions as one of the area's most acclaimed theater companies. The fall lineup includes, Cloud 9, The View Upstairs and The Santaland Diaries and Season’s Greetings.

Travel: Intrepid Journeys Into Colorado's Ghost Towns

Colorado’s history runs as deep as the silver and gold veins that once lured a surge of fortune seekers here during the late-1800’s mining boom. 

 

But when those rich resources went bust, dozens of towns were abandoned—leaving behind saloons, mercantiles and other hallmarks of Wild West life. Catch glimpses of this bygone era in the remains of ghost towns tucked amid high peaks and remote wilderness. Though you’ll have to drive a portion of the way to these deserted destinations, take an intrepid approach for the final leg.

 

1.  ATV/OFF-ROAD VEHICLE

 

Ghost towns in Colorado range from mere ruins to surprisingly intact hamlets—for the latter, venture St. Elmo, where a few lingering residents run a general store and a guesthouse. Seek the help of Buena Vista’s ATV Mountain Adventure Rentals, which will drop you and your rented ride off trailside (and pick you up later), leaving you to explore the dusty, straight-out-of-a-movie set streets on your own. An ATV also comes in handy for a bonus trip to nearby Tin Cup.

 

Set your sights on Animas Forks, located high in the San Juan Mountains. Just 12 miles away in Silverton, Rock Pirates Backcountry Adventures can hook you up with one of its rugged Tomcar OHVs for a bumpy-yet-scenic excursion up the Alpine Loop Scenic & Historic Byway. Check out nine remaining structures, including the two-story Duncan House with its impressive bay window.

 

2.  HIKE

 

The North Park area is home to Teller City, a former silver-mining camp that at one time boasted 27 saloons, hundreds of log cabins and more than 1,500 residents—not too shabby given its dense-forest location. Head southeast of Walden to the Teller City Interpretive Site, then hit the .75-mil loop trail that winds arounds scattered remains of cabins and other artifacts.

 

The high-altitude setting of Carson (almost 12,000 feet) makes it all the more rewarding for its views of massive peaks. Lake City, situated near the Continental Divide, is your base for this adventure. Hop on the Alpine Loop Scenic & Historic Byway to Wager Gulch Trailhead. The moderate-to-difficult hike is a steady, 3.4-mile climb leading through open meadows and aspen stands to the Carson site.

 

3.  BIKE

 

Eleven miles south of Aspen, Ashcroft is one of a few ghost towns that can be visited year-round. But it would be a shame to miss the vivid colors of wildflower season in late summer or fall’s brilliant foliage—both ideal times for a two-wheeled ride along Castle Creek Road. Named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, Ashcroft is currently maintained by the Aspen Historical Society, and highlights include the still-standing post office, Blue Mirror Saloon and town jail.

 

Central City escaped a boom-to-bust fate, but hidden just up the hill is Nevadaville, which bustled with some 4,000 people in its heyday. Several original buildings and a few gravesites are left, in addition to the Nevada Lodge No.4, still used by Freemasons for monthly meetings. The route up gravelly County Road 1-S is just over a mile and makes for a nice mountain-bike jaunt.

 

4.  SNOWSHOE/CROSS-COUNTRY SKI

 

Wintertime doesn’t always mean you can’t visit—in fact the scene might have a more ethereal vibe blanketed in snow. South of Ouray lies Ironton Park, home to the slumbering remnants of the Ironton townsite. A local group maintains and grooms Nordic trails after fresh snows, including the roughly 2-mile Townsite Loop, which passes by a two-story Victorian house and the Larson Brother’s Mine.

 

Close to Summit County’s popular ski resorts is Mayflower Gulch Trail. Go six miles south of Copper Mountain to the trailhead, then strap on your showshoes for a four-mile round trip to Boston Mine. Your path follows a gently sloped wagon road through forest before opening up to a bowl peppered with old mining cabins and an ore chute at the base of Fletcher Mountain.

 

5.  JEEP TOUR

 

Sometimes it’s easier—but no less thrilling—to let the pros take the wheel. Telluride Outside guide service is happy to oblige with its 4WD tours in beefed-up Chevy trucks. The Imogene Pass itinerary departs from Telluride toward Tomboy on an intermediate road, meaning the tour is suited to all ages, but you’ll still get your kicks. Amenities like tennis courts and a bowling alley once graced the area where a collection of collapsed remains and foundations now exist.

 

Strike out from Marble on an expedition to Crystal City, courtesy of Crystal River Jeep Tours. Your guide will navigate the terrain while you enjoy dramatic landscapes. Just before the town entrance is the exceptionally picturesque Crystal Mill, perched above the river. Two shops and a dozen cabins are reminders of the once-thriving community, but a few friendly summer residents also carry on.

  

 

PIT STOP: HISTORIC COLORADO WATERING HOLES

 

Detour from the ghost-town quest and relive the Old West at some of Colorado’s oldest places to quench your thirst

• The Centennial State’s longest-surviving gold-rush-era business, Buffalo Rose Saloon in Golden, got its start as the international Bowling Saloon in 1859.

• Though established in 1862, the original building of The Mint in Silverthorne has been taken apart and moved three times.

• Inside Aspen’s historic Hotel Jerome, J-Bar has been slinging boozy concoctions to the likes of John Wayne and Hunter S Thompson since 1889.

• Not much has changed at the New Sheridan Bar in Telluride since its 1895 construction within a hotel of the same name, from the mahogany wood paneling to stiff pours.

• Dining and drinking venues have been operating in The Minturn Saloon’s Vail Valley location since 1901.

 

*Exercise caution around all sites and be mindful of rapidly changing weather conditions, especially at high altitude. Taking souvenirs is strictly prohibited, but snap all the photos you like.

Travel: Palm Springs Does Pride Right

Palm Springs Pride will host a diverse group of artists including, dancers, singers, musicians, activists, and DJs gathering under the theme of Solidarity through Pride to celebrate diversity, equality, and solidarity. The November 4-6 Pride Celebration will take place in downtown Palm Springs, CA. The lineup was announced today by the organizers of the annual celebration Greater Palm Springs Pride.

This year’s all-inclusive Palm Springs Pride Festival lineup will be headlined by ska legends and iconic '80s band The English Beat, Book of Love who is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a USA reunion tour. Chicago-based rock ‘n’ roll band, Jinx Titanic and the Ladykillers, queer rock band Pansy Division, and the high energy The Gand Band. The free two-day Pride Festival features all-girl Americana style rock ‘n’ roll band Ashleigh Flynn and the Riveters, East Nashville's Amelia White and the musical, and romantic duo Branden & James.

GayC/DC the world’s only all-gay tribute to AC/DC and the four-piece all female rock band from Los Angeles No Girlfriends, along with electropop band Devin Tait and the Traitors will help highlight the unique musical styles that celebrate diversity in our community. The Trans Rally on Sunday, November 6 at 1:00 p.m. will feature performances by Allison Annalora, Lindsey Deaton, and Paulina Angel.

An assortment of electronic, pop, hip hop, and rock ‘n’ roll artists will perform, including singer and guitarist Shea Freedom, Young Jibwe, an Ojibwa hip-hop artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ciscofoya, and a hot new artist on the rise Yaysh. Popular southern California singer and Rock ‘n’ roll band Tomasina round out the list of stellar performers.
DJ KinkyLoop, DJ Aaron C, and DJ Waide will join over 100 artists scheduled to perform throughout the festival weekend including the DJ Baz “Cuban Nights” show. Festival Emcees include the desert’s hostess, social ambassador and Walk of Stars recipient Bella da Ball?, Pauly and Monks, Ruba Wilson, and KJ as Joan Rivers.

With 100 performances, the diverse lineup of artists will offer something for everyone including special appearances by the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus, Modern Men and Harmonic Voices. All performances take place outdoors on the US Bank stage, Tahquitz stage, Pride Palm Canyon Stage sponsored by Desert AIDS Project, and the Hyatt Palm Springs stage. ASL will be provided for the deaf community at the Arenas, Tahquitz, and Palm Canyon stages.