{"id":69538,"date":"2018-04-17T16:38:42","date_gmt":"2018-04-17T21:38:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=69538"},"modified":"2020-12-18T12:17:07","modified_gmt":"2020-12-18T18:17:07","slug":"this-is-the-ultimate-gay-road-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/this-is-the-ultimate-gay-road-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"This is the ultimate gay road trip"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>From &#8220;The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert&#8221; to &#8220;Carol,&#8221; hitting the open road has always had plenty of gay appeal. And within the U.S., you can take your pick of homo-enticing itineraries like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/Miami-Hotels.d178286.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Miami<\/a> to Key West or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/Fire-Island-Hotels.d183671.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fire Island<\/a> to P-Town. But the queerest of them all has to be driving the Pacific Coast Highway from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/San-Diego-Hotels.d6323725.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">San Diego<\/a> to San Francisco. Think gay beaches, gay cities and a single, twisty highway hugging the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/10-hottest-gay-destinations-for-2018\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>RELATED<\/strong>: 10 hottest gay destinations for 2018<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_69721\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-69721\" class=\"wp-image-69721\" src=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pacific_Beach_Crystal_Pier_Surfers_-Courtesy_SanDiego.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"521\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pacific_Beach_Crystal_Pier_Surfers_-Courtesy_SanDiego.jpg 1265w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pacific_Beach_Crystal_Pier_Surfers_-Courtesy_SanDiego-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pacific_Beach_Crystal_Pier_Surfers_-Courtesy_SanDiego-768x500.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pacific_Beach_Crystal_Pier_Surfers_-Courtesy_SanDiego-600x391.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Pacific_Beach_Crystal_Pier_Surfers_-Courtesy_SanDiego-522x340.jpg 522w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-69721\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Diego | Photo courtesy of Visit San Diego<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><strong>Day 1: San Diego<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Rise, shine and caffeinate. The best brekkies in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/San-Diego-Hotels.d6323725.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">San Diego<\/a> are at <strong>Hash House A Go Go<\/strong> and <strong>Breakfast Republic<\/strong>, but if you&#8217;re on the move, swing by <strong>Nomad Donuts<\/strong> and grab a to-go doughnut topped with bacon (to balance out the carbs, of course).<\/p>\n<p>Next, head to <strong>Balboa Park<\/strong> to the gayley named Museum of Man. Skip the museum, but work off breakfast by <strong>climbing the California Tower<\/strong> (which only recently opened to the public) via guided tour. The climb offers incredible 360-degree views of the city. Afterward, snap a selfie at the photogenic <strong>Botanical Building and Lily Pond<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>You came to California for the beach, right? San Diego&#8217;s 70 miles of coastline are yours for the taking. <strong>Ocean Beach<\/strong> is funky and chill; the party crowd loves <strong>Pacific Beach<\/strong> (aka PB), but clothing optional <strong>Black&#8217;s Beach<\/strong> is hands down (or should we say pants down?) San Diego&#8217;s gay beach. Queers congregate at the north end.<\/p>\n<p>The epicenter of gay life in San Diego is <strong>Hillcrest<\/strong> and there&#8217;s much to see and do. Satisfy your margarita and &#8216;mo craving in one swoop at gay hot spot <strong>Baja Betty&#8217;s<\/strong>. Order from the &#8220;liq-her&#8221; cabinet at Sapphic hangout and eatery <strong>Gossip Grill<\/strong> or chill at video bar <strong>Flick&#8217;s.<\/strong> Club crowds join the queue at <strong>Rich&#8217;s<\/strong> around 11pm.<\/p>\n<p><strong>STAY<br \/>\n<\/strong>LGBTQ &#8216;hood Hillcrest is woefully lacking in good accommodations, but bumping North Park is only a stone&#8217;s throw away by car. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/San-Diego-County-Hotels-Berkshire-Motor-Hotel.h10049404.Hotel-Information\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Berkshire Motor Hotel<\/strong><\/a> is one of the city&#8217;s best budget options and close(ish) to gay dive bars <strong>Pecs\u00a0<\/strong>and <strong>the Eagle<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_56740\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-56740\" class=\"wp-image-56740\" src=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/laguna-beach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/laguna-beach.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/laguna-beach-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/laguna-beach-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/laguna-beach-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/laguna-beach-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-56740\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Laguna Beach<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><strong>Day 2: Orange County and Long Beach<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Before waving goodbye to America&#8217;s finest city, fuel up first at <strong>Wow Wow Waffle<\/strong> in North Park with a savory liege waffle topped with avocado, candied bacon and goat cheese (heaven!).<\/p>\n<p>It might be too early to hit the beach, but depending on how late a start you get (we know you, girl), there&#8217;s a gay (and nude) section at surf mecca <strong>San Onofre State Beach<\/strong> which is a literal stone&#8217;s throw from the Orange County line and close to Camp Pendleton. Yes, you&#8217;ll see military women and men in (make that &#8220;out of&#8221;) uniform.<\/p>\n<p>About 30 minutes up the road is Riviera-like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/Laguna-Beach-Hotels.d8384.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Laguna Beach<\/strong><\/a>. Once a legit gay getaway, its queer cred has waned in recent years but pretty <strong>West Street Beach <\/strong>still draws an LGBTQ crowd, and one gay bar\u2014<strong>Main Street<\/strong>\u2014remains. Regardless, Laguna&#8217;s beachfront downtown is immaculate and a full day can happily be wasted here.<\/p>\n<p>Heading north on PCH, dart inland onto I-5 for a quickie dinner at the <strong>Anaheim Packing District<\/strong>, a multi-level food hall housed in a former citrus-packing warehouse dating back to 1919.<\/p>\n<p>Swerve back to the coastal highway and end the day with a night out in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/Long-Beach-Los-Angeles-Hotels.0-n800061-0.Travel-Guide-Filter-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Long Beach<\/a>, home of the gayest sounding retired ship\u2014the <strong>Queen Mary<\/strong>. A big(ish) city in its own right, Long Beach has a surprisingly large queer scene centered around gay nabe <strong>Alamitos Beach<\/strong> and the bars lining Broadway including <strong>The Brit<\/strong>, <strong>Mineshaft<\/strong> and <strong>Falcon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>STAY<br \/>\n<\/strong>A Long Beach legend, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/Los-Angeles-Hotels-The-Varden-A-Boutique-Hotel.h2201787.Hotel-Information\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Varden Hotel<\/strong><\/a> has been around since the &#8217;20s (it was originally the Dolly Varden!), but has been spiffed up and is now a simple and affordable downtown gem sharing a city block with homo burger hangout <strong>Hamburger Mary&#8217;s<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/rewards\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>ALSO:<\/strong> Extend your gay stay an extra day when you earn rewards good toward hotels, only with Orbitz Rewards!<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_59607\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-59607\" class=\"wp-image-59607 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Abbey_WeHo.jpg\" alt=\"Abbey, WeHo, Los Angeles, LGBTQ\" width=\"800\" height=\"544\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Abbey_WeHo.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Abbey_WeHo-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Abbey_WeHo-768x522.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Abbey_WeHo-600x408.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Abbey_WeHo-500x340.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Abbey_WeHo-400x272.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-59607\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Abbey | Flickr photo by Ed and Eddie<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><strong>Day 3: Los Angeles<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Power lesbians, WeHo gym bunnies, Silver Lake scenesters, DTLA daddies and maybe even a RuPaul sighting (hey, it&#8217;s happened to us!) await, so get yourself to the nearest freeway (LA is full of them) and make a morning beeline for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/Los-Angeles-Hotels.d178280.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">City of Angels<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Start your morning in line with other East Side cuties at either <strong>HomeState<\/strong> (best breakfast tacos in town) or <strong>Sqirl <\/strong>(unreal breakfast bites). Afterward, head to Sunset Junction in gayish Silver Lake for a cup of java at <strong>Intelligentsia<\/strong>, then stroll LA&#8217;s most hipster street.<\/p>\n<p>Next up: It&#8217;s a short drive to downtown (aka DTLA) where a ton of cool attractions await. Ride <strong>Angel&#8217;s Flight<\/strong>, the world&#8217;s shortest funicular; peruse sprawling food bazaar <strong>Grand Central Market<\/strong>; duck into <strong>The Last Bookstore<\/strong> for new and used books ; and walk the Instagrammable <strong>Arts District<\/strong> for selfies galore.<\/p>\n<p>Late afternoon is the perfect time to hit up a bathhouse (not that kind). K-town is full of traditional Korean-style bathhouses frequented by celebs and regular folks alike. Both men and women should check out popular <strong>WiSpa<\/strong>, an elegant K-Town icon; <strong>Century Spa<\/strong>, meanwhile, teems with gay men at night.<\/p>\n<p>Time to head to famous West Hollywood. <strong>Laurel Hardware<\/strong> (yes, it was an old hardware store) is mixed, sceney, fun for dinner and won&#8217;t break any banks, especially if you stick to pizzas. Afterward, hit up the gay bar strip centered around Santa Monica and San Vicente Boulevards. Yes, it&#8217;s a queer LA rite of passage to have a drink at the legendary <strong>Abbey<\/strong> (plus, you&#8217;re most likely to spot girls here), but the &#8216;hood offers plenty of bars like NYC import <strong>Flaming Saddles<\/strong>, dive bar <strong>Mother Lode<\/strong>, video bar <strong>Revolver<\/strong> and dance club <strong>Mickey&#8217;s<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>STAY<br \/>\n<\/strong>If you&#8217;re pinching pennies, rest up at the Instagrammable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/Los-Angeles-Hotels-Mama-Shelter-Los-Angeles.h11027375.Hotel-Information\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Mama Shelter<\/strong><\/a> in Hollywood (check out that rooftop!). If you&#8217;ve got a few more bucks to blow, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/Los-Angeles-Hotels-Andaz-West-Hollywood-A-Concept-By-Hyatt.h15607.Hotel-Information\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Andaz West Hollywood<\/strong><\/a> boasts killer views and is stumbling distance from the bars (granted it&#8217;s uphill).<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_48350\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-48350\" class=\"wp-image-48350\" src=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/beach-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/beach-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/beach-1024x768-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/beach-1024x768-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/beach-1024x768-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/beach-1024x768-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-48350\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Butterfly Beach |Photo by Compass + Twine<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><strong>DAY 4: Santa Barbara<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Time to burn rubber. Make a beeline for Pacific Coast Highway and put LA firmly in your rear view mirror. Swing by boho chic <strong>Trancas County Market<\/strong> in Malibu and fuel up on coffee and sundries, then head to a <strong>El Matador State Beach<\/strong> and watch the morning waves swirl and crash around the stunning rock formations.<\/p>\n<p>Follow PCH until it kicks you onto 101 and follow the coast past ritzy Montecito (wave to Oprah and Ellen!) and onward to palm tree-studded and Spanish-tinged <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/Santa-Barbara-Hotels.d602277.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Santa Barbara<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For lunch, join the long lines at taco haven <strong>La Super-Rica Tacqueria<\/strong> which made a cameo in the Katy Perry video &#8220;This is How We Do.&#8221; Next, spend a few hours idling on <strong>State Street<\/strong>, a long and rambling road full of shops, restaurants and eateries. <strong>Butterfly Beach<\/strong> is as good a place as any to catch a few rays; stay for its famous sunsets.<\/p>\n<p>Grab dinner in the <strong>Funk Zone<\/strong>, a warehouse area full of chic tasting rooms and galleries. <strong>Lucky Penny<\/strong> serves up cheap and tasty pizzas, but the neighborhood is most famous for its wine bars so save room for some vino sourced from nearby wine country. The <strong>Wildcat Lounge<\/strong> is the closest thing Santa Barbara has to a gay bar. It&#8217;s okay.<\/p>\n<p><strong>STAY<br \/>\n<\/strong>Save a few bucks by booking a shared room with your friends at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/Santa-Barbara-Hotels-The-Wayfarer.h8375865.Hotel-Information\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Wayfarer<\/strong><\/a>, a favorite among penny-pinching hipsters and perfectly located both in the Funk Zone and near the freeway.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_36700\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36700\" class=\"wp-image-36700\" src=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/BigSur.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/BigSur.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/BigSur-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/BigSur-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/BigSur-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-36700\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pacific Coast Highway, aka Hwy 1<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><strong>DAY 5: Big Sur<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Rejoin Hwy 101 and follow it up the coast until it bends inland. Exit the highway in <strong>Solvang<\/strong>, a windmill-laden town that wears its Danish heritage with pride. It&#8217;s a bit of a tourist trap, but also a good pastry pit stop. On the way back to the highway, stop at <strong>Ostrichland USA<\/strong> for a hilarious feeding encounter with several dozen giant birds.<\/p>\n<p>In Avila Beach, stop by lovely <strong>Pirate&#8217;s Cove<\/strong> to catch a few guaranteed rays of sun (in the buff if you like) before heading into the foggy north. Fuel up on gas in charming <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/San-Luis-Obispo-Hotels.d6046822.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>San Luis Obispo<\/strong><\/a> and wave goodbye to civilization; things are about to get a little wild.<\/p>\n<p>A stone&#8217;s throw from SLO is where PCH meets the coast with one applause-worthy vista after another. In teensy <strong>Cayucos<\/strong>, grab a pair of fish tacos at excellent <strong>Ruddell&#8217;s Smokehouse<\/strong>. If you plan your trip accordingly, you absolutely should prepare to spend a half day touring <strong>Hearst Castle<\/strong>, former residence of newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst. But if a day&#8217;s detour isn&#8217;t in the cards, at least swing by the free <strong>Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery<\/strong> and hang for a few minutes with these large and playful mammals.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s about 100 miles of twisty roads, hairpin turns and spectacular vistas as you make the uninterrupted ascent into Highway 1&#8217;s main prize\u2014woodsy Big Sur. Barely anybody really lives here, but city slickers love it. Make the short and easy hike to <strong>McWay Waterfall<\/strong>, swing by the kooky <strong>Henry Miller Library<\/strong> and grab dinner at rustic and affordable <strong>Big Sur Bakery<\/strong>. For a sublime experience, reserve (well in advance) a moonlight dip at the <strong>Esalen Hot Springs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>STAY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Unless you&#8217;re willing to pitch a tent, cheap lodging options are few and far between but the charming and perfectly located <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/Monterey-Hotels-Big-Sur-River-Inn.h10488736.Hotel-Information?chkin=07%2F17%2F2018&amp;chkout=07%2F18%2F2018&amp;rooms-selector=1&amp;adults=1&amp;children=0&amp;daysInFuture=&amp;stayLength=&amp;ts=1523468234272\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Big Sur River Inn<\/strong><\/a> is unlikely to ruin your credit rating.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_65000\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-65000\" class=\"wp-image-65000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dolores-Park.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"529\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dolores-Park.jpg 1259w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dolores-Park-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dolores-Park-768x508.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dolores-Park-600x397.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Dolores-Park-514x340.jpg 514w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-65000\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dolores Park<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><strong>DAY 6: San Francisco<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>It&#8217;s only a few hour&#8217;s drive between Big Sur and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/San-Francisco-Hotels.d178305.Travel-Guide-Hotels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">San Francisco<\/a>, but there&#8217;s still plenty to see and do. The fairytale homes and cottages lining otherwise stuffy <strong>Carmel<\/strong> are a sight to see, but even more enjoyable is the peninsula&#8217;s famed <strong>17-mile Drive<\/strong> and the swarms of monarch butterflies that migrate annually to <strong>Pacific Grove<\/strong>. Save room for a giant bowl of clam chowder at <strong>Vivolo&#8217;s Chowder House<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Stretch your gams in Santa Cruz, home to a large student population and a famed boardwalk. Ride the <strong>Giant Dipper<\/strong>, a national historic landmark and the largest wooden roller coaster on the West Coast. Both busy <strong>Bonny Doon<\/strong> and <strong>Laguna Creek Beach<\/strong> attract their fair share of gay sunbathers, but the weather can sure be fickle.<\/p>\n<p>Even a full day on the road shouldn&#8217;t stop you from reaching fabled queer mecca San Francisco by late afternoon. Once you arrive, the only question is, Where to begin? For sure grab a few sweet treats at <strong>Tartine<\/strong> and make a beeline for the so-called <strong>Fruit Shelf Gay Beach<\/strong> at Dolores Park; read the plaque honoring slain gay civil rights leader <strong>Harvey Milk<\/strong> outside his former camera shop at 575 Castro Street; see a revival film at the legendary <strong>Castro Theatre<\/strong>; get fitted for a kinky night on the town at <strong>Mr. S. Leather<\/strong>; and dance the night away with a mixed crowd of girls and boys at the legendary <strong>Stud<\/strong> bar.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>STAY<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/San-Francisco-Hotels-Becks-Motor-Lodge.h2519386.Hotel-Information\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Beck&#8217;s Motor Lodge<\/a><\/strong> in the Castro is a real gem. True, it once enjoyed a cruisy reputation, but this retro motel recently underwent a spiffy renovation and remains the neighborhood&#8217;s most convenient choice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/g\/lc\/traveldeals-free-flight-friday\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-68010 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/FFF-blog-banner.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2400\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/FFF-blog-banner.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/FFF-blog-banner-300x50.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/FFF-blog-banner-768x128.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/FFF-blog-banner-600x100.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/FFF-blog-banner-720x120.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This journey along the coast is a must for any LGBTQ traveler.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":70111,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[4,2677,2678],"tags":[304,2943,898],"class_list":["post-69538","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-california","category-los-angeles","category-san-francisco","tag-beach","tag-lgbtqia","tag-road-trip"],"acf":{"api_active":null,"api_title":null,"api_excerpt":null,"api_featured_image":null,"api_lob":null},"posts_api_cpm_point":"","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - 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