Gay Travel California

One of the most gay friendly states in the nation, California couldn't be more welcoming for homosexual, bisexual and transsexual travelers.

For the most accommodating gay travel California cities, start with Palm Springs, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, West Hollywood, Sacramento (Lavender Heights), San Diego (Hillcrest) and San Francisco (Castro), which offer a wealth of gay friendly hotels, bars and restaurants.

If you're looking to get away for a quiet weekend, consider Lake Tahoe (home to several gay ski weeks), the peaceful Russian River Valley (where you'll find great gay nightlife in Guerneville), or gorgeous Big Sur, home to gay friendly B&Bs, such as Eagle's Nest.

In the gay mecca of Palm Springs, popular LGBTQ and gay hotels include the Triangle Inn and East Canyon Hotel & Spa. Casitas Laquita is a favorite lesbian resort. In the Russian River, gay resorts include Highlands Resort  and Fern Grove Cottages. The Sonoma Orchid Inn is a gay B&B that's also pet friendly.

Though it's difficult to mention all of the gay hotels in California, here is a link to some of Google's top-rated choices.You'll also find a comprehensive listing at PurpleRoofs.com

You'll also find some nice California gay beaches in towns like Big Sur, Santa Barbara, San Diego (Black's Beach), San Onofre (San Onofre Beach) and San Luis Obispo.

For California gay travel tours, one of the top full-service agencies is Pride Travel. The gay travel agency can book a variety of packages, from gay cruises and gay vacation packages to condo and villa rentals at gay resorts.

California is also home to many gay events. If you're traveling to Orange County, Disneyland is home to an annual (and unofficial) celebration called Gay Days Anaheim, where you can enjoy the parks of Disneyland and California Adventure. Participants are encouraged to wear red shirts to show their numbers. The celebration began in 1998 and continues to grow strong.

Another fun celebration is the Palm Springs White Party, held annually since 1999. Wyndham Palm Springs is the host of this wild and crazy event, usually held on Easter weekend. The West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval is among the biggest celebrations in the state.

Other choices for gay travel packages include Bon Voyage Travel in Cerritos; Cruisin' Away Travel and Tours and Now Voyager in San Francisco; GayTravelOne.com in Palm Springs; Rainbow Travel in Santa Clara; and Travel Express in West Hollywood.

Finally, for more assistance, the LA Gay and Lesbian Center is a great resource. It offers a guide to several programs and events of interest to the LGBT community.

The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association is the world's leading authority for gay and lesbian travel, offering accommodations, airlines, tour operators, travel agents, tourism offices and other tour-related information.
For more information about IGLTA, call 1-954-630-1637.