Florida

Go luxe. Go fab. Go all OUT in Greater Fort Lauderdale.
Greater Fort Lauderdale is a kinder, gentler and less intimidating gay destination, with many comfortable gay spots to mix and mingle or just relax. With more than 150 gay-owned establishments including hotels, bars, clubs and restaurants, as well as five gay and lesbian publications and the largest Metropolitan Community Church congregation in the United States it is not wonder it is one of America's top choices among the gay community for vacations as well as a place to call home. A multitude of gay-owned and operated establishments are located in Wilton Manors, a bustling hotspot for residents and visitors, often referred to as the "gayborhood."

Greater Fort Lauderdale is currently undergoing a major tourism-related makeover, and why not after more than 80 years as a vacation destination - it needed more than a facelift and some routine maintenance. No longer the "spring break" mecca of the 60s, 70s and 80s, students have been replaced with hip and trendy visitors, especially gay and lesbian travelers. The destination is sophisticated yet relaxed with a beach chic atmosphere that provides a sense of ease. It is an accepting destination for the young and "young at heart." Visitors find it classy in an understated, authentic way that is laid back and contemporary.

Among the destination's strongest appeals to discerning gay travelers - aside from seemingly endless blue wave beaches - more than 300 miles of inland waterways, outstanding water sports, incomparable shopping and a cultural calendar ranging from ballet to Broadway shows.

Gay-owned and gay-friendly guesthouses are another unique attribute to this open and easy gay beach resort town. Many are beautifully restored 1950's low-slung pastel-colored Art Deco buildings, discreet, unpretentious and located across the street or a short walk from the beach. Often limited to a handful of rooms, these guesthouses can be identified by small plaques and rainbow flags. High walls protect privacy around clothing-optional pools and accommodations are equipped with the latest technologies. Most have handsome Jacuzzis and spas, often in a tropical garden setting. For those seeking to cash in points or earn them while traveling, there are hip and trendy hotels such as the new W Fort Lauderdale, The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale, Westin Beach Resort, Fort Lauderdale, Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and the Atlantic Hotel & Spa, all located beachfront.

Greater Fort Lauderdale's diverse restaurant scene features a broad selection of cuisines from around the world from the tried-and-true to trendy innovations. Visitors can see and be seen while al fresco dining on Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale's unofficial downtown main street, or dine at some of South Florida's Floribbean hotspots, and celebrity chef concepts. Gay-owned restaurants like Hi-Life Café with Chef Carlos of "Top Chef," Rosie's Bar & Grill, and Galanga Thai Kitchen & Sushi Bar are among the thousands of culinary destinations in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Fun and flavor is the common denominator of this dining scene. Foodies can't go wrong with this eclectic dining scene.

Fort Lauderdale has several locations where one can dance the night away or party like its 1999, any day of the week. From the bars and clubs of Wilton Manors including Georgie's Alibi, a South Florida legend, Bill's Filling Station, New Moon Bar and Sidelines Sports Bar, to the nightlife hotspots in downtown Fort Lauderdale, or the glitz and glamorous LIPS drag show, there is always a festivity in Fort Lauderdale.

With the mecca of designer discount outlets, Sawgrass Mills, to leather shops, funky vintage stores and sophisticated boutiques, Greater Fort Lauderdale elevates shopping to an Olympic sport. Even the most fanatical shopaholic will wish they had more time and a higher spending limit. More importantly, gay visitors will enjoy retail shops throughout the destination that cater specifically to their tastes. Gay-owned and operated stores abound including Gay Mart and Bottoms and Tops.

Visit www.sunny.org/GLBT to plan a getaway and learn why Greater Fort Lauderdale is out and proud.

Click here to learn more about Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

While Greater Miami has been famously rolling out the welcome mat for gay men and lesbians from around the world for more than two decades, the destination is now experiencing a "gay renaissance" with new bars, events and gay-welcoming accommodations. It is these new enhancements, paired with a friendly vibe thanks to the destination's vibrant and diverse LGBT community, that keeps Miami and The Beaches top of mind for gay and lesbian travelers.

Of note, in January 2010, The City of Miami Beach passed Florida's most progressive human rights law, which included the creation of a city Human Rights Commission. As a result, Miami Beach now has one of the strongest human rights measures in the United States; meaning locals and visitors alike are welcome throughout the area, from South Beach to Sunny Isles, Coconut Grove to Coral Gables. Also, in April 2010 the new LGBT Miami Beach Visitors Center opened what is tipped as the first permanent operation of its kind in the United States. Centrally located in the offices of the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce at the corner of 11th Street and Washington Street on South Beach, LGBT visitors now have a new resource to enhance their stay in Greater Miami and The Beaches.

South Beach still Sizzles
Sophisticated and seductive South Beach rocks with a sizzling array of very gay-welcoming and specifically gay-oriented restaurants and nightspots. In 2009, Miami Beach Pride (www.miamibeachgaypride.com ) debuted. Over 40 floats lined the length of Ocean Drive through the Art Deco district for proud Miami lesbian, gay, bi, and transgender families. It returned again in 2010, Saturday, April 17, with an even larger parade, as well as associated events that united the LGBT community - not only of Miami Beach, but across the entire destination.

Miami also hosts three of the planet's foremost LGBT events:

• White Party Week (www.whiteparty.net) - Held each November, this week of fund-raising parties and events culminates with the legendary White Party as Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. More than 15,000 party-goers enjoy six days and nights of non-stop entertainment in the fight against HIV/AIDS and for the benefit of local charities.
• Winter Party (www.winterparty.com) - Featuring an extraordinary lineup of celebrity DJs, this week in late February/early March each year is jammed with parties and events that lead up to the world-renowned beach dance party. All proceeds benefit the National Gay & Lesbian Task Fore and local Miami-Dade LGBT organizations.
• Aqua Girl (www.aquagirl.org) - Billed as the largest women's charity weekend in the country, this event is held each May in various locations on Miami Beach. This year's lineup includes four unique evenings of dance parties, a night of comedy, a women's art exhibit, a dining event, a wet-and-wild pool party, a jazz brunch, the first annual mega beach party, a girl's rock concert and more.

Beyond all the glitz, glamour and partying till dawn, Greater Miami and The Beaches boasts a sophisticated and diverse experience for visitors in South Beach and beyond. Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Little Havana and Bal Harbour vie with South Beach and downtown Miami to offer up a head-spinning mix of world-class lodging, dining, culture, shopping and eco-tourism.

While South Beach has long been known as the "Gay Riviera", attracting the LGBT crowd with its stunning collection of welcoming Art Deco gems and boutique hotels, the luxury lodging scene has been heating up across the entire destination. In addition to the three established Ritz-Carlton Hotels, a Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental and The Setai, the legendary Morris Lapidus-designed Fountainebleau and Eden Roc resorts, (made famous by the 1950's Rat Pack) received multimillion-dollar makeovers in late 2008. The hottest newcomers include Canyon Ranch Miami Beach, Gansevoort South, The Mondrian, The Standard, The Viceroy and W Hotel - to name just a few.

Those who can't imagine leaving home without their feline or canine companions will find Miami extraordinarily pet-friendly. Hotels welcome guests traveling with their faithful four-legged friends with an extraordinary array of offerings, ranging from the basic necessities of comfortable beds and water bowls to spa treatments, doggie yoga, yappy hours, jewel-studded collars, special menus, pet turndown service, puppy pagers, play dates, grooming services and much more.

A Vibrant, Multicultural Dining Scene
No class of offerings is more diverse and exotic than Miami's dining scene. The birthplace of Nuevo Latino cuisine, Miami is home to some of America's hottest chefs, who dish up award-winning fare. Though heavily Latin-flavored, the destination's multi-ethnic gumbo lets galloping-gourmet visitors make their way around the world on any budget. Especially enticing is August-September's Miami Spice Restaurant Month, which offers special prix fixe prices at dozens of the city's top restaurants. The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival (www.sobewineandfoodfest.com), to be held on February 24 - 27, 2011, is also not to be missed.

Miami Spa Month
The annual Miami Spa Month each July (www.miamispamonth.com) provides the opportunity to enjoy the best in health and wellness experiences Miami has to offer with special $99 treatments at 25+ premier spas.

Nightlife
When it comes to nightlife, Miami is red hot. Among favorite gay hangouts are:

• Club Azucar (www.clubazucar.com)
• The Palace (www.palacesouthbeach.com)
• Score (www.scorebar.net)
• Twist (www.twistsobe.com)
• Mova Lounge (formally Halo Lounge www.movalounge.com)

Many other mixed or mostly gay nightspots are peppered throughout downtown and in the heavily Latin areas to the west and south. Here, visitors will experience a taste of a bigger cross-section of gay Latinoamérica than any place else in the hemisphere.

In recent years, party promoters have also elevated gay nightlife to a new level. Edison Farrow's SoBe Social Club (www.sobesocialclub.com) is a prime example. Now in its eight year, his Martini Tuesday is a weekly cocktail party that meets at 9:00 p.m. every Tuesday at a different venue to bring together gay locals and visitors for cocktails and conversation. Farrow has also been promoting "Simple Life Thursdays" for the past three years at the Buck15 Lounge. Gay men strut their stuff with the fashionistas to the sounds of hot hip-hop, dance and pop tracks by DJ Daisy D. Mango Miami (www.mangomiami.com) covers similar ground for gay men.

Women's promoters include Pandora Events (www.pandoraevents.com) and Icandee Events (www.icandeeevents.com). Both offer theme nights, weekly parties and special events at various club spaces throughout Greater Miami. Pink Fridays, a Pandora event held at the Soho Lounge every Friday, for instance, is known for its hot bartenders, wild go-go girls and the foxiest of Miami's lesbian population getting down to reggae, hip-hop and salsa.

The Miami Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce also sponsors monthly social and professional gatherings, and its Web site (www.gogaymiami.com) is a great resource for up-to-the-minute information about gay happenings. Coral GAYbles (www.coralgaybles.com) also sponsors monthly socials at various hotels, restaurants and clubs.

Arts + Culture
Turning to sustenance for the soul, drama aficionados will love Greater Miami's plethora of performing arts venues and theaters for every conceivable taste and pocketbook - from salsa to symphonies and blues to ballet. Debuted in October 2006, the Cesar Pelli-designed Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami Dade County (www.arshtcenter.org) was modeled after "purpose-built" performance halls like New York's Lincoln Center. The magnificent venue includes the 2,200-seat Carnival Symphony Hall, the 2,400-seat Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House, and a 200-seat black box Studio Theatre. Four nationally esteemed companies are now in residence: Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet and the New World Symphony. In late 2010, the New World Symphony will also take residence in its new Frank Gehry-designed campus on South Beach's Lincoln Road, providing another world-class cultural venue for Greater Miami and The Beaches.

Miami's many art galleries and museums hold their own against those of most major American cities. Visitors could spend the better part of a week just prowling through the likes of Miami Beach's Wolfsonian and Bass Museums, or the Lowe Museum of Art in Coral Gables, or downtown's Miami Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art off Biscayne Boulevard on Miami's increasingly hip (and gay) "upper East Side."

Underscoring Miami's growing stature as one of the world's preeminent centers for art culture is Art Basel Miami Beach (www.artbaselmiamibeach.com), which has became the most talked about art event in the United States. As a sister-fair to Art Basel Switzerland, it has become more celebrity-packed, exhilarating and successful each year since its auspicious debut in America in December 2002. For five days in early December, exhibits, A-list parties, lectures, alternative and crossover events and ancillary exhibits rage nonstop for the crème de la crème of the international art world.

A significant chunk of Miami's culture is specifically oriented to gay and lesbian audiences, such as the annual Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (www.mglff.com) held each April. The festival showcases groundbreaking world cinema, and also holds special screenings throughout the year. Venues like the Shores Performing Arts Theatre in Miami Shores regularly feature gay-themed works by lavender footlights.

Shopping and the Great Outdoors
Also regarded as an art form in Miami - America's true national sport - shopping! From the funky, sometimes outré shops of SoBe to the chic boutiques of the Grove and the Gables, there's something for every taste and wallet. And don't pass up a visit to the classic Bal Harbour Shops, America's top-grossing shopping center. It boasts nearly 100 upscale retailers, along with special events and fine dining. Meanwhile, interior design enthusiasts will get a charge out of the Miami Design District, just above downtown, with 18 blocks of showrooms, boutiques and art galleries that span just about every taste and time period.

Then, of course, the great outdoors comes in all shapes, sizes and speeds in America's top sun-worshipping big city. The gay scene at SoBe's 12th Street Beach has been celebrated far and wide, but 20 minutes north, the gay section of Haulover Beach Park is just as popular with locals, if not more so (maybe something to do with the clothing-optional stretch?). Meanwhile, 20 minutes south on Key Biscayne, the beach at Bill Baggs State Park is more low-key and romantically picturesque, complete with a lighthouse. Or, to avoid sand getting sand in the suit, visit the Gables' lush, romantic Venetian Pool, where a strong gay contingent frolics amid the waterfalls and grottoes along with everyone else.

Don't forget, too, that you can combine the outdoors with culture by taking a number of cool biking and walking tours of South Beach's Deco District and other colorful parts of Miami. Or, time your visit to participate in the annual 3.1-mile (5K) AIDS Walk Miami, which is coupled with Miami Beach Gay Pride each year.

For the more active, there's volleyball on SoBe's gay beach, as well as windsurfing and snorkeling off Key Biscayne, zooming along the Intracoastal Waterway on wave runners, canoeing near Vizcaya (the elegant mansion that is the site of the White Party), plenty of golf and tennis and, of course, skimming across the Everglades in an airboat. Take it to the next level with a new series of expert-guided eco-adventure tours, which let you hike, bike, kayak, and snorkel through the area's top nature sites.

To provide helpful information about accommodations, tours, attractions, nightlife and other facets of Miami, visit Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau's (GMCVB) own dedicated LGBT travel website www.lgbtmiami.com. Also,the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce has published a comprehensive new gay and lesbian travel guide, "Miami: Diversity Celebrated Daily." For a copy, visit call 305-573-4000 or visit Also visit Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau's (GMCVB) own dedicated LGBT travel website www.lgbtmiami.com.

GMCVB is an independent not-for-profit sales and marketing organization whose mission is to attract visitors to Greater Miami and the Beaches for leisure, business and conventions. For a vacation guide, visit our website at www.MiamiAndBeaches.com or call 1-888-76-Miami (US/Canada only) or 305-447-7777. To reach the GMCVB offices dial 305-539-3000. Meeting planners may call 1-800-933-8448 (US/Canada only) or 305-539-3071 or visit www.MiamiMeetings.com.

Click here for a comprehensive LGBT guide to Miami and the Beaches!

Click here to learn more about Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.

	Whether it's called the Conch Republic, Cayo Hueso, Bone Island, or the Southernmost City, Key West is known as paradise to over 500,000 gay and lesbian tourists who visit the island each year. Imagine a subtropical island glowing with the rainbow colors of bougainvillea, royal Poinciana, and hibiscus blooms, where the year around temperature is in the high 70's. Here two turquoise bodies of water - the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico - lap the shore. From its gay and lesbian nightlife, accommodations and events- to its welcoming community, live-and-let-live, "come as you are" attitude- Key West is internationally acclaimed as a top gay and lesbian destination. Key West's award winning gay and lesbian accommodations have long set the industry standard. While the phrase "gay guesthouse" was invented in Key West, its meaning has evolved. Today's gay and lesbian traveler to Key West has more options than ever, featuring different levels of amenities, sexual temperature, location and much more. Key West features several men-only, clothing-optional resorts. It has the world's largest all-women resort. It has clothing-optional resorts that welcome both gay men and lesbians. The island also features over 100 gay-friendly inns, many more private homes for rent, and hotel choices ranging from budget chains to two recently-acquired Waldorf - Astoria Collection ocean front resorts. Key West's nightlife has long been notorious. Many of its bars and clubs, like its characters, have become legend. From the earlier days of the Monster and the Copa to unforgettable tea dances, Key West's daily parties are intertwined with its gay and lesbian history. Today's Key West has continued that tradition. During the day, many visitors enjoy the island's clothing optional men and women only pool bars. Each night, a different crowd of gay and lesbian visitors fills hot spots both on and off Duval Street. Today's Key West features more gay and lesbian nightlife options than ever: cabarets, dance clubs, drag shows, piano bars, a leather/levi bar, a gay-friendly country bar, and neighborhood bars. Sunday's themed Tea Dance continues to grow after decades. Every weekend, lounges featuring the latest trends in dance and electronic music attract gay and straight tourists and residents alike. All of Key West's nightspots and restaurants are within walking distance of one another and the island's guesthouses and other accommodations. While it is no secret that Key West knows how to throw a party, the island often plays host to gay and lesbian tourists during recently developed and retooled events, attracting thousands. While other destinations actively discourage spring breakers, Key West's Gay Spring Break attracts a large crowd of younger gay men and lesbians who want to enjoy the annual ritual in an environment in which they can be themselves. Pridefest (June) is a celebration of Key West's open community. Tropical Heat (August) is a steamy four day event for gay men. Womenfest (September) attracts up to 5,000 women each year and features over a week of events. Bone Island Bare It All Weekends have become South Florida's largest naturist gatherings for gay men. Every October, between 50,000 and 80,000 visitors party in the streets and nightspots of Key West during Fantasyfest. The island also features different pageants for every month, numerous charity events, and several themed weekend events. Gay men and women can choose from exclusively gay and lesbian water activities such as snorkeling, fishing, sunset sailing, and dolphin watching; or join other island visitors above, on, or below the sea. Nearly a third of Key West's 28,000 year-round residents are gay or lesbian. A large percentage of businesses proudly fly the rainbow flag. Many gay men and women feel more at ease on this congenial subtropical island than anywhere else in the world. In a recent Harris Poll, Key West was selected as the second-most gay friendly city in the United States, ahead of every other resort destination. The Key West Business Guild, founded in 1978, operates a gay and lesbian visitor center seven days a week and provides information at www.gaykeywestfl.com and www.returntokeywest.com. Liberal, civilized, and sophisticated, Key West has a gay police chief and openly gay law enforcement officials who protect the rights of residents and visitors regardless of race, age, gender or sexual orientation. Even the political arena reflects this easygoing attitude. Key West was the first city in the United States to elect an openly gay mayor; a variety of other high-profile elected and appointed civic positions - from city and county commissioner to chamber of commerce president - have been and are held by gays and lesbians. The rainbow flag stands alongside the American flag in the city commission chambers, and the city's official motto is One Human Family, proclaiming equality and acceptance for all people. For gay and lesbian visitors, Key West is a place to be open and relaxed. It's a venue to make new friends, to dress up or dress down, or just wear a dress. It's a place to play from dawn to dusk or luxuriate in laziness. Above all, it's a prime destination to enjoy carefree days and nights on an irresistible, accepting tropical island unlike any other.
Current IGLTA Members in Key West (as of 01 Jan 2010): All images and text provided by IGLTA Member Florida Keys & Key West. Name Type Phone Alexander's Guesthouse Accommodation (305) 294-9919 Alyson Adventures Inc. Tour Operator (305) 296-9935 Big Ruby's Guesthouse Accommodation (305) 296-2323 Blue Planet Offices Inc. dba Gay Conch Republic Other (305) 849-5020 Casa Marina Resort The Waldorf Astoria Collection® Accommodation (305) 296-3535 Cypress House Accommodation (305) 294-6969 Florida Keys & Key West Destination (305) 296-9799 Hanns Ebensten Travel Inc. Tour Operator (305) 294-8174 Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa Accommodation (305) 809-1234 Island House For Men Accommodation (305) 294-6284 Key West Business Guild Destination (305) 294-4603 Oasis - A Guest House Accommodation (305) 296-2131 Pearl's Properties of Key West Accommodation Pearl's Rainbow Accommodation (305) 292-1450 Santa Maria Suites Resort Accommodation (305) 296-5678 The Reach ResortThe Waldorf Astoria Collection® Accommodation (305) 296-5000