Sun and Surf: The perfect romantic ingredients
Let Equality Ring!
We hear wedding bells in California and Massachusetts and countries around the globe!
Love might be blind but it clearly isn't averse to sneaking a peek at awe-inspiring landscapes, bold cityscapes, or blissful beach isolation.
From the whimsical charms of Barcelona to Hawaii's exotic and perfect shores, from Cape Town's picture-postcard vistas to California's endless entertainment, let the destination be your reason and your hearts will figure out the rest.
San Diego welcomes gay and lesbian travelers with a vast array of activities, including six popular annual Pride festivities, and a vibrant gay and lesbian community. Visit once and get hooked on the sunshine and spirit of a city where people from all walks of life come together to meet, shop, dine and enjoy the area's arts, culture and nightlife.
If stunning sunsets are the key ingredient for love, San Francisco will get you cooking. Snuggle atop the Golden Gate Bridge, the Coit Tower, or on one of the Twin Peaks. Or move your party of two down the road, perhaps through the Marin Headlands or Muir Woods. And a taste of the grape never hurts—especially when coupled with the Napa Valley's spas and restaurants. For a change of pace in Napa, call ahead to one of the smaller family-owned wineries and arrange a tour by appointment.
From upscale to low-key, anyone fits in when you're experiencing the West Hollywood gay scene. WeHo's wide and tasteful Santa Monica Boulevard is the focal point of most of the area's LGBT action -- with probably the best lesbian-specific nightlife on the West Coast. No trip to LA would be complete without a trip to the beach and Santa Monica, Venice, and Long Beach are all great options for you and your sweetheart to apply that SPF30 on yet another glorious, sunny California day.
Wedding bells have been ringing for over four years now for gays and lesbians in Massachusetts, the first state in the U.S. to recognize same-sex marriage. Often described as the most European city in America, Boston offers up a smorgasbord for the history buff and plenty to stimulate all your senses. Celebrate your love with a picnic in Boston Common, the country's first park. Or take the ferry from Boston to Provincetown, long a gay vacation mecca, and the ideal place to say your vows or spend your honeymoon.
Laid-back beaches, gracious residents, year-round Speedo weather, men with flowers in their hair -- what could be more appealing to the gay traveler than the mythical isles of the 50th state? Although gay marriage ultimately didn't pass in the Aloha State, Hawaii remains a top destination for honeymooning couples -- gay or straight -- worldwide.
A mirthful jumble of colorful culture, whimsical architecture, diverse cuisine and sizzling nightlife, Barcelona has endeared herself to visitors with a personality unique from any other European city. Take a romantic walk along the Passeo de Gracia or a short train ride to nearby Sitges where you can soak up the sun or admire one of the many internationally renowned art galleries.
You'd have to work pretty hard not have a romantic time in Paris—the city is one big stage for that Perfect Kiss. Of course, everyone else in the world knows this as well—needless to say, if you're looking for a little quiet time with your beloved, avoid the Eiffel Tower. Your best bet for a little privacy is to find an out-of-the-way garden walk such as le Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, the Promenade Plantée or the Allee de Cygnes. Or explore the Latin Quarter's foot-bridges or the Canal St. Martin.
Cape Town's historic architecture, gorgeous natural setting and summertime beach culture -- not to mention its mesmerizing African vibe -- make it one of the most unique and popular gay travel destinations on earth and one of the few places south of the Equator where same-sex marriage is legal. This far-flung city at the edge of the world's most intriguing continent will make you and lover wish you had months instead of weeks for that perfect honeymoon!
Shake Your Bustle
