Canada Archives - Best Gay Travel

Barb Snelgrove is a true Vancouverite
(second generation, to be specific) and she loves her hometown! Barb is a
reporter with OutlookTV/OUTtv, writes for various on-line publications
and hosts QueerFM RELOADED Radio on 101.9FM. She has won numerous awards
for her work as a LGBTQ community advocate and will be inducted into
the Canadian Q Hall of Fame later this year.

Q: What are the best tips for travellers to get up-to-the-minute info about LGBT events and happenings during their trip here?
A: The Trifecta of local LGBTQ Vancouver info can easily be found online. In addition to Tourism Vancouver’s site [www.tourismvancouver.com], there are two great sites called GayVancouver.net and GayVan.com. Also be sure to plan a trip to gay Vancouver institution Little Sister’s Bookstore [in Davie Village] – they will be happy to offer ideas!

Q:
Vancouver has many gay men’s bars and Davie Village seems to have
plenty of men, but is there a favourite club or neighbourhood haunt
where it’s relatively easy to meet women?
A: Vancouver’s
LGBTQ landscape is always evolving, and many of our bars are happily
mixed (Fountainhead Pub, Junction, Oasis). But for hot girl-on-girl
action, check out FlygirlProductions.com or monthly events such as Lipstick Jungle (at Ginger62) or LaLa Salon. There is a thriving scene on Commercial Drive and many “pop up” events are centered there.

Q: What are a couple of Vancouver’s “hidden gems”?
A: La Bodega Restaurant
(operating at the same location for over 30 years – they must be doing
something right). Main Street, for great window shopping. Granville Island
always offers lots to see; and while you’re there, rent a small boat by
the hour and view the city from a water perspective. A picnic dinner on
one of the West Side beaches (our fave is Spanish Banks) is a great
idea for watching one of our amazing Vancouver sunsets.

November 21, 2012 Canada, Gay Cities, Gay Ski, Gay Vacations, Links and Resources, News and Happenings, Places outside US

Gay Travel to Vancouver Canada

The largest gay population in Western Canada lives in this ocean-wrapped and snow-capped city.

VANCOUVER!

Its gay community is centred around two distinctly different neighbourhoods – the West End and Commercial Drive, both of which enjoy a wide variety of restaurants, coffee shops, pubs and boutiques catering to gays and lesbians.

Writer LAWRENCE FERBER just did an awesome article in the Oct. 2012 PASSPORT MAGAZINE discussing all the amazing places to dine in Vancouver!

February 2013 Gay Whistler will take place! One of the most highly anticipated gay ski weeks in North America.

GayWhistler.com is
a year-round promoter of Whistler to the gay and lesbian community and
produces and promotes GayWhistler ski week, WinterPRIDE every year.
Alpenglow Productions Corporation (APC) is a gay and lesbian travel and
event company creating gay-welcoming destinations and events at partner
resorts. The GayWhistler/Alpenglow Team, in partnership, is dedicated to
bringing alternative vacation options to the gay and lesbian community
worldwide.

We have visited most of the gay resort destinations in the world and
nothing can compare to all Whistler has to offer. Though Whistler is
not a gay resort, it is gay friendly and your sexual orientation is not
an issue so we invite you to come and enjoy Whistler for one or multiple
seasons. GayWhistler officially invites you to come to Whistler, B.C
365 days a year.

Find out More about Whistler 2013

September 4, 2011 Canada, Recommended Reads

Gay Travel Guide ad Gets Yanked from LinkedIn

Canada’s XTRA reports, “The professional networking site LinkedIn has pulled an ad for a gay travel guide, claiming it contains “inappropriate content or language.”

“It’s baffling,” says Robert Christofle at Open Mic Press/Icon Empire Press.

Google Ad and Facebook haven’t objected to the ad, Christofle notes. “Out of the three different advertising sites, only LinkedIn has a target gay networking site, and they are the only ones to pull the ad.”

Christofle says he’s been promoting The Gay Travel Guide For Tops and Bottoms on a variety of sites, many of them straight, without incident. But LinkedIn, which has networks ostensibly catering to gay professionals, censored the ad.

Though the book cover contains no overt sexual imagery, the letter A in its title could subtly suggest two people having sex doggy style. “It’s very tongue in cheek,” says Christofle.

LinkedIn says it pulled the ad due to its sexual content.

Read the full article on XTRA

BUY THE BOOK! The Gay Travel Guide For Tops And Bottoms

August 25, 2010 Canada, Lesbian Travel, Places outside US

Lesbian Travel – Vancouver for Girls!

Recognized by Community Marketing, Inc. for being the top international travel destination among lesbians, Vancouver boasts one of the most welcoming and accepting communities in the Americas. World-class dining, entertainment and quality service unfold upon your arrival to the sassy city by the Pacific.

Vancouver has become the most famous place as one of the gay tourist destination in Canada. In LGBT surveys, the city of Vancouver is placing fourth in the rankings in the category most popular vacation spot outside the United States, after London, Puerto Vallarta and Paris. City of Montreal and Toronto itself is ranked eighth and sixth.

The West End is a cute little jewel in the heart of Vancouver. Marvel at the floral arrangements elegantly presented along the edges of the Edwardian-style homes between Davie and Denman streets as you mosey on over to your favorite brunch spot for mimosas and great company.

Granville Island is home to the Granville Island Public Market – a favorite lesbian hotspot. This indoor and outdoor fresh-as-the-fields marketplace can be equated to Vancouver’s version of Seattle’s Pike Place Market – with a tad bit more flair and room to breathe. Delectable morsels are on display for the tasting and there is no shortage of crisp fruits, vegetables, seafood, meats and alternatives for every discerning palate. Purchase a picnic lunch, sit on the deck and make a day of people-watching and counting colorful water taxis as they glide along the translucent water.

Commercial Drive is one of the most flavorful parts of the city and should not be missed. Portuguese and Italian immigrants once settled in this adorable community and cooked up feasts with recipes that are still being utilized (in one form or another) to locals, visitors and passerby. Whether you feel the need to sit in the sun with a slice of pizza or take a walk along the East side of Vancouver with a fresh cappuccino in hand, Commercial Drive has a little bit of everything to suit your needs. Lesbians and friends – you must check out the Sapphic-infused Womyns’Ware sex toy shop for a truly unforgettable experience.

Wreck Beach is Vancouver’s exclusive clothing-optional gay beach and it is definitely worth visiting – even for a few minutes. There are hundreds of steps to hike as you make your way down to the beach and back up to the main road so be prepared for a sweat. Consisting of mainly gay males, Wreck Beach may either be the perfect spot for you or the most uncomfortable, but, either way, it will be truly unforgettable. Watch out for the geoduck (gooey duck) clams shooting water up at you from below the sand!

Stanley Park is comprised of roughly 1,000 acres centrally located less than one mile away from downtown Vancouver. Cedar, hemlock and fir trees envelope your heart and soul as you walk along the trails and paths all the while getting lost in the nature of things and loving every spare moment. Driving, walking, skating, rollerblading and biking are all methods of transportation in Stanley Park and are encouraged.

Regardless of what you choose to accomplish while in Vancouver, there is something for every taste and lifestyle.
Read more about this great city at SHE WIRED , from writer Sarah Toce.

New Gay Travel Guide

April 29, 2010 Art, Canada, Events and Premieres, Gay Vacations

Gay Pop Art – Pop Life Exhibit Brings Warhol and Haring to Ottawa Canada this Summer!

National Gallery of Canada
in Ottawa welcomes Pop Life!

From June 11 to September 19, 2010, the
National Gallery of Canada will be home
to the controversial exhibit Pop Life: Art in
a Material World featuring works by Andy
Warhol, Jeff Koons, Keith Haring and many
more.

It has been shown at the Tate Modern
in London, and Ottawa will be the ONLY North
American stop on the tour.

Pop Life: Art in a Material World explores the complex relationship between contemporary art, marketing, and the mass media that has evolved since the 1980s when Andy Warhol’s uttered his provocative maxim that “being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art.”

The National Gallery of Canada (NGC) is the sole North American venue for this unprecedented exhibition, which features more than 250 paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, videos, installations, multiples and other ephemera produced over the past three decades.

The exhibition begins with Warhol’s notorious provocation that “good business is the best art.” Marketing and publicity provided a means for Warhol to engage in modern life beyond the confines of the studio, the gallery and the museum.

Rather than simply representing or commenting on mass-media culture, Warhol deliberately infiltrated the publicity machine to cultivate an artistic persona. By performing as a partygoer, model, television personality, paparazzo and publisher, he harnessed the power of the celebrity system and expanded his reach beyond the art world and into the wider world of commerce.

Pop Life then looks ahead to the work of a number of artists who, like Warhol, have openly engaged with the cult of celebrity and unashamedly championed the idea of turning public attention into aesthetic notoriety and financial reward.

Ottawa is an open, friendly and welcoming destination for gay and lesbian travelers. And August 20-29, is their Capital Pride/Gay Pride celebration week which attracts about 50,000 people!

Plan to visit then and enjoy Gay Pride and the Pop Art showing!

POP LIFE is Organized by Tate Modern, London,
in association with the National Gallery of Canada.

Please note that some rooms contain explicit
and graphic material not suitable for children.

More about POP LIFE

(Grace Jones by DOUGLAS KIRKLAND PHOTOGRAPHY)

Gay Travel Guys @ New Gay Travel Guide

April 1, 2010 Canada, Events and Premieres, Gay Vacations

LGBT Travel to Gay Friendly Ottawa Canada – Tulip Festival

AHHHHH SPRINGTIME! For those of us who endure cold dreary winters, the first blossoms that start to pop up from the grounds renews our excitement in our cites!

OTTAWA CANADA draws a very large crowd for their Captial Pride / Gay Pride every August (20-29, 2010). But year round, this gay-friendly cultural city has amazing things to see and do!

Ottawa is blessed with a natural setting offering boundless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Paved recreational paths welcome cyclists, inline skaters and joggers across the region and on Sunday mornings from May through September, several streets are closed to cars for Sunday Bikedays. The region’s many waterways are ideal for kayaking, canoeing and boating, and the upper Ottawa River offers some of the best whitewater rafting anywhere. And nearby Gatineau Park offers hiking, rock climbing, camping, exciting zip line aerial experiences and more.

THIS YEAR marks the 65th Anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands, in which Canadian soldiers played such a large role. The Dutch Royal Family spent the years of World War II in Ottawa, and the current queen’s sister, Princess Margriet, was born here. So when the war ended and the family went home, they sent a gift of 100,000 tulip bulbs to the people of Canada, via Ottawa, in a gesture of respect and friendship.

Those tulips form the basis of what evolved into the Canadian Tulip Festival and in fact, a tulip gift continues to be made each year!

This year, the iconic festival will run May 7 – 24 , and will honour veterans by hosting many special events, including an opening day afternoon tribute at the National War Memorial. The tribute will be followed by the Liberation Street Party that recreates the spontaneous street party that took on VE Day—party like it’s 1945!

300,000 tulips at Commissioners Park near Dows Lake are always the focus, and, as of May 14, activities begin in Major’s Hill Park as well. Tour the world at the International Pavilion, grab a brew at the Liberation Beer Garden, and catch an event at Celebridée (the “festival of ideas”).

Celebridée events are held in the

“Cabaret Libre” Mirror Tent, a weatherproof setting with hardwood floors, dramatic brocade and festive cheer. You can also check out the Liberation Swing Band and a late-night concert series of Ottawa performers.

Admission to both festival sites is free, though some events at the Mirror Tent will require tickets.

Ottawa Tourism’s Tulip Celebration Package provides accommodation, a Tulip Passport with savings at restaurants and spas, and a selection of museum admission, city tour, or concert at the National Arts Centre.

CANADIAN TULIP FESTIVAL

GAY TRAVEL GUYS at New Gay Travel Guide

Today’s Top Travel Deals

November 7, 2009 Canada, Lesbian Travel

Ottawa Canada – Special Deals for Lesbian Travel and Women Right Now!

So much of Gay Travel seems geared towards men. Well, this one’s for the girls!

Calling all girlfriends to retreat to Canada’s Capital – a city bursting with vibrant culture and surrounded by an oasis of natural beauty. This special package caters to all types and budgets by providing the ability to pick and choose.

Spend a couple days shopping, visiting museums and galleries, dining, indulge in a spa treatment or take in a show! Don’t forget to check out the funky ByWard Market district, where there’s always something happening. It’s the perfect scene for a night out on the town with your friends.

Ottawa is an open, friendly and welcoming destination for gay and lesbian travelers. Canada’s Capital has an LGBT pedigree that extends back to the first-ever gay and lesbian public demonstration in Canada (1971), and that in recent years included perhaps the most public gay marriage of all time between two gay stars of the TV program The Amazing Race.

The centre of gay and lesbian life is the area around Bank Street and Somerset in the downtown core. The growing gaybourhood has shops and bars and is the home base for local institutions serving the LGBT community.

Explore it by day—or by night. But don’t feel you have to limit yourself to one neighbourhood. There are things happening all over. On Sunday evenings, for example, there’s a lesbian coffee club in suburban Barrhaven. You’ll find gays and lesbians all over the city, doing the active things Ottawans do. Check publications such as Capital Xtra for listings and up-to-date information.

And best of all ladies – right now, with the GIRLFRIENDS GETAWAY, you get special pricing and discounts.

Check it out!

July 30, 2009 Canada, Gay News, News and Happenings, Places outside US

Celebrate Gay Pride in Ottawa Canada August 21-30

Ottawa is an open, friendly and welcoming destination for gay and lesbian travelers. Canada’s Capital has an LGBT pedigree that extends back to the first-ever gay and lesbian public demonstration in Canada (1971), and that in recent years included perhaps the most public gay marriage of all time between two gay stars of the TV program The Amazing Race.

Today, Ottawa is home to a proud and active gay and lesbian community with an ever-expanding variety of clubs, organizations, activities and events – including a very boisterous annual Pride Week celebration – that reflects the diversity of the local community.

The centre of gay and lesbian life is the area around Bank Street and Somerset in the downtown core. The growing gaybourhood has shops and bars and is the home base for local institutions serving the LGBT community.

Explore it by day—or by night. But don’t feel you have to limit yourself to one neighbourhood. There are things happening all over. On Sunday evenings, for example, there’s a lesbian coffee club in suburban Barrhaven. You’ll find gays and lesbians all over the city, doing the active things Ottawans do. Check publications such as Capital Xtra for listings and up-to-date information.

CAPITAL PRIDE, Ottawa’s most colorful event, takes place August 21st – 30th, 2009. More than 50,000 people are expected at the week long celebartion!

Highlights of the 2009 festival include:

· The annual and highly-anticipated Capital Pride Parade on August 30, which is historically well-attended by members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, two-spirited and questioning (GLBTTQ) community and their friends and allies;

· The 2009 Capital Pride festival at Ottawa City Hall immediately following the parade, featuring music, entertainment and an information fair;

· New and expanded events including the Pride Family Street Fair, the Diversity Fun Run, Rainbow Party 10, and youth events hosted by the new Capital Pride Youth group (CPY-A set of “Spy’s”).

Capital Pride has geared up with several community partners to bring the community a more diverse set of events, providing something for all demographics of the GLBTTQ community.

Capital Pride also announced that the 2009 Parade Marshal would be long-time community and trans-rights activist Joanne Law. Capital Pride also officially launched its first issue of its new quarterly Capital Pride newsletter, helping the community stay more connected to their Pride committee.

The theme for the 2009 festival, “Capital Pride on the Map”, recognizes the significant place the festival holds in the Ottawa–Gatineau festival season.

The Capital Pride Festival has made leaps and bound throughout its 20-year history, growing to be Canada’s fourth-largest Pride celebration. Also incorporated into the theme Capital Prides new logo, whose purple star is the symbol marking a capital city on a map.

Ottawa is blessed with a natural setting offering boundless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Paved recreational paths welcome cyclists, inline skaters and joggers across the region and on Sunday mornings from May through September, several streets are closed to cars for Sunday Bikedays. The region’s many waterways are ideal for kayaking, canoeing and boating, and the upper Ottawa River offers some of the best whitewater rafting anywhere. And nearby Gatineau Park offers hiking, rock climbing, camping, exciting zip line aerial experiences and more.

Ottawa is also city of museums, galleries, and theatres showcasing the best in Canadian and world culture. 5-Diamond dining, a vast selection of international cuisines, relaxed, casual fare – Ottawa offers restaurants and culinary experiences to suit every palate, with a thriving local culinary scene and local chefs making names for themselves at home and abroad.

Dining districts include the courtyards and outdoor cafés of the historic ByWard Market, great Asian dining along Somerset Street West, Italian along Preston Street, and a mix of culinary treats along Elgin Street, Bank Street and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Ottawa is just a two-hour drive west of Montreal, just a one-hour flight from Toronto and New York City and a two-hour flight from Chicago. Superb air, rail and road connections make Canada’s capital easily accessible.

CAPITAL PRIDE OTTAWA LGBT TOURISM

ARC THE.HOTEL is proud to sponsor Capital Pride 2009 and is offering a special Capital Pride rate beginning at $119 for a Classic Room with Queen-size bed*. Comfort and luxury are paired with contemporary design in the serene and sophisticated ARC The.Hotel Ottawa. The premier design boutique hotel in Canada’s capital offers luxuriously appointed rooms in an intimate atmosphere to ensure you feel energized and relaxed. Minutes away from Ottawa International Airport and close to all major Ottawa attractions.

Please contact the hotel for details and availability, or visit www.arcthehotel.com.
*Rates quoted are for double occupancy and do not include applicable taxes and fees.

Reserve your room today at 1-800-699-2516 – Be sure to ask for the special RAINBOW RATE.

BEST GAY CITIES New Gay Travel Guide

May 21, 2009 Canada, News and Happenings, Places outside US

Gay Ottawa Canada and Capital Pride in August