For Queer Mice
by BROWWWSER
Get The Hell Out Of Dodge
ith Memorial Day right around the corner,
it's time to get the hell out of Dodge. Now I love St. Louis, but sometimes I wish the
Arch had a big slingshot attached to it so it could shoot me somewhere with a beach. A
place with local food a tad more exotic than toasted ravioli. A state where the cultural
highlight isn't Branson. Anywhere else but here! With the Internet you can now get travel
info ahead of time to plan your schedule, order plane tickets, and find a place to stay
right from your computer in your underwear. So slip on those Calvin Kleins and rev up your
computer 'cause we're getting the hell outta here!
So where do you want to go today? (Sorry, bad pun.) Anyway,
no matter where you go, there's a gay scene somewhere. To find it head on over to www.gayscene.com and choose the country,
state/province, and city where you want to go and Gayscene
will list the available bars, restaurants, hotels, shops, and events around town. Then
browse or place your own free personal ad at this sharp site. To get some ideas on queer
destinations go Over The Rainbow for travel articles
and listings on Key West, gay rodeos, West Hollywood, and much more at www.overtherainbow.com. Search for a particular
destination, peruse the message boards and classifieds, and read the fun cartoon and
horoscope. Chances are someone's been there before you and wrote an article about it here.
Also while you visit queer travel sites you may see the logo for the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association. These
companies have joined the IGLTA at www.iglta.org to
promote the queer travel industry. Because we're worth it.
Even though this site is still under construction, the Pride
InfoNET is still worth visiting for ideas and info on gay and lesbian tours,
cruises, pride events, and more. Watch soon at www.prideinfonet.com
for travel reviews, agent search, and even more city info. Another good place to launch
your getaway is at www.gayamerica.com and its
sister site www.gaybars.com. GayAmerica
has tons of links for almost everything, but to be honest it's a little scattered. GayBars is a little better on breaking down bar locations by
state and city. Ladies looking for adventure should point their browsers over to gay-guide.com/co-women/ for lesbian trips and
events that are In the Company of Women. If you want
more head on over to the GirlSpot / Club Skirts
homepage for news on the Dinah Shore Weekend, Monterey Women's Weekend, and more at www.girlspot.com. Definitely a spot you want
bookmarked!
Several queer magazines and
travel guides have made excursions into the Internet. The Guide's
steamy site at www.guidemag.com has lots of queer
travel articles covering the globe, plus naughty porn reviews and sex histories to boot.
The acclaimed gay and lesbian travel newsletter Out & About
in online with a listing of gay pride events and some of their best articles at www.outandabout.com. For tips on where to go, what
to do, where to stay, and when to go, go to www.q-net.com,
the home of the Ferrari Guides' gay and lesbian travel
site. This comprehensive site lists destinations from Abaco to the Zion Canyon. Another
gay and lesbian travel guide, Damron, can be found at www.damron.com. Browse their entire line of travel guides
and books that can be ordered online, or search their limited database for free.
If you're the cruising type, set sail with some of these queer businesses. Most of the
1998 RSVP cruises are sold out, but they're taking
reservations for 1999 at www.rsvp.net. This popular
cruise line for both men and women travels to the Caribbean, the Greek Isles, and the Far
East. Alyson Adventures will take you biking in
France, hiking at Edelweiss, and climbing the Grand Tetons. At www.alysonadventures.com, it's not just a
vacation, it's an adventure! For men only: Atlantis.
How would you like to party with lots of tan, hunky men in Mexico, the Caribbean, and
Australia? I thought so! Visit www.atlantisevents.com
for more info. Then Toto Tours will take you
whitewater rafting in the Grand Canyon, trekking in the Himalayas, and sailing in the
Virgin Islands at www.tototours.com. Now for women
only: Olivia. Does visiting exotic ports of calls like
the Caribbean, Alaska, and Bali with only other women sound exciting? Is the Pope coming
to St. Louis? The vacation you've always dreamed of can be found at www.oliviatravel.com, plus you can watch the banned
"Ellen" commercial too!
If you really hurry you might
still be able to go to Gay Day at Disney on Saturday
June 6. For all the info on the wild Animal Kingdom, the One Mighty Party at MGM Studios,
GirlSpot events, and RuPaul at the House of Blues, www.gayday.com
is your Magic Kingdom. Then from August 1st through the 8th the Gay
Games 1998 in Amsterdam will be held. The official site at www.gaygames.nl has a downloadable visitors guide, info
on the 30 official and six demonstration sports, festivities and party schedule, and much
more (plus they'll have results for those of us who'll be stuck here). If you miss these
two events but still want on the circuit, the next sites will help you there. Circuit Noize Interactive offers articles and free personals at
www.circuitnoize.com, and much more naughty
things if you're a member. From there you can click to www.partyfinder.com to search for a party anywhere
by location, date, or DJ. If it's a circuit event, PartyFinder
will have it. Maybe if I start now I'll have the body for a circuit party by the year
2000. Maybe not.
So call your local travel agents (Patrik Travel at 314-367-1468 or Dynamic Travel at 314-781-8400 (also at www.showmetravel.com)) today. For places to stay I
suggest the Rainbow Destinations website at www.guesthouses.net for gay owned and friendly
accommodations world-wide. Let's face it: after Pride there ain't much to do in St. Louis
in the summer. Get out while you can!
