Kelsy Chauvin

It's a little off the radar of many LGBTQ+ travelers, but that's a big part of what makes Charlotte so exciting. North Carolina's biggest city is home to almost a million residents, many of them members and proud allies of the city's vibrant LGBTQ+ community. They're also big fans of arts and culture, dining, outdoor fun, and going out on the town — which adds to the city's sparkle as a great U.S. destination, easily reachable by road, rail, and airplane. For LGBTQ+ visitors, Charlotte...

The rainbows are here, and while LGBTQ+ Pride season always marks the return of summer, this June it marks the return of more community merriment, too. For many the pandemic has been a long stretch void of face-to-face quality time with far-flung friends. More than that, we’ve been separated from our favorite places, whether that’s a historic Cape Cod beach, sophisticated Southern hitching post, colorful coastal retreat, or sparkling metropolis. So now that we’re breaking out our luggage again...

For LGBTIQ+ travelers, most trips begin by seeking out the local “gayborhood.”
The sight of rainbow flags and same-sex couples can feel like a liberating breath of fresh air. For many, these destinations are welcoming, safe havens; friendly places where the collective community spirit dwells. There’s often a rich gay history embedded, too, inviting visitors to join the local legacy of queer culture—and likely catch Pride festivities and colorful year-round events. Here’s a look at the best...

The splendor of waterfalls is a reason to travel. Whether tall and dramatic, short and broad, or a collection of falls in one panorama, waterfalls are like watching rivers flow vertically. They’re also perfect reminders that our planet creates its own beauty at which we mere spectators can only marvel.

Across the US there are countless waterfalls to gush over, all of them changing natural flow rate by season. Some are tucked away in state parks or mountain ranges, others are readily spotted...

The sweeping vistas from Chattanooga's surrounding hills and mountain ridges frame a lovely American city. From perches like Lookout Mountain, home to the Incline Railway and Rock City, to the Bluff View Art District, to Stringer's Ridge Park, the nickname "Scenic City" becomes ever clearer.
Down on the streets of Chattanooga, the culture, nightlife, and sights are just as enticing, albeit layered with a complex history that's equally worth exploring, including an active LGBTQ+ community...

It felt radical when the first U.S. state legalized medical marijuana back in 1996. The California milestone was the spark that changed the course of American history. That legal shift broke open the potential for cannabis to serve as a medical option. It took a while, but by 2012 voters in Colorado and Washington passed the first adult-use recreational marijuana laws.

Cut to 2022: Most states have legalized marijuana either recreationally (18 states) or for medical purposes (38 states)...

Up the Hudson train line, about an hour from New York's Grand Central Terminal, the river bends into Putnam County. The historic county is a destination of nature and culture, a place where you can discover scenic trails, original arts, independent shops and eateries, and a vibrant LGBTQ+ community. And because it's easily accessible from Manhattan, New Yorkers seeking a bit of small-town serenity turn to Putnam County for getaways that invite exploration...

Romance may be timeless, but it sure makes winter feel a lot warmer. As we drift toward Valentine's Day, it's the hot season for getting intimate. Passion means different things to different people, though. Some might find LGBTQ+ love across a crowded beach or holding gloved hands on top of a snowy mountain. Maybe a slicked-up massage at a couple's spa day is your style.
EDGE offers six of our favorite LGBTQ+-friendly Valentine's Day getaway ideas...

Story by Kelsy Chauvin
Being apart from our communities makes us love them even more. Ask anyone at a 3 Dollar Bill, the largest queer venue in Brooklyn, New York. The team survived COVID through 2020, then found a new beginning in 2021, one where the LGBTQI+ community could gather in person—safely. But 3 Dollar Bill couldn’t do it alone. General Manager Willie Lazcano shared how collaborations were the key to rebounding during a pandemic, and how 3 Dollar Bill ...

Legal cannabis is a phenomenon. Today, there are 36 states where medical marijuana is legal, and 18 states where recreational marijuana is legal. Meanwhile, hemp is legal nationally, so CBD and other hemp-derived cannabis strains are sold in all 50 U.S. states. As a result, dispensaries, new brands and novel cannabis products are cropping up everywhere. And yet, it feels like the legal-green industry is only just beginning.

As a consumer, it can all feel overwhelming. Whether you're new to the scene or a seasoned connoisseur, finding the right cannabis resource can make all the difference...

Bloomed like a four-leaf clover over Europe is the wondrous LGBTQ+ destination of Dublin. The Irish capital is famous for its warmth and good cheer, and queer travelers know that the city is one of the continent's most out-and-proud places.

Ireland stands out as the first country to legalize marriage equality by public vote in 2015. Decades prior, Dublin solidified its rainbow flair with the inaugural LGBTQ+ Pride march back in 1974. What was once a single-day event is now a dynamic, 10-day-long June festival and parade. This year also featured a winter-themed Wilde About Pride...

(This story is part of EDGE's "7 Queer Wonders of the World" series, in which we share our top LGBTQ+ travel picks for 2022.)

Infused in the salty sea air of Provincetown, Massachusetts is a sense of queer pride that is, simply put, beguiling. The place is synonymous with the LGBTQ+ community, and to stroll its narrow streets is to both soak up queer culture and contribute to it. There are technically just 3,000 residents, but in a sense, every LGBTQ+ person is part of this queer wonder...

One glance at a map shows how New York’s Finger Lakes got their collective name. The 11 long, slender lakes, extending roughly north-to-south, look like outstretched fingers.
On the mystical side, Iroquois tribes believed the lakes were formed by the Great Spirit, reaching down to bless the land and leaving impressions of fingerprints that were filled with clear, fresh water. According to geologists, however, the gorges of water that form the present-day Finger Lakes were carved...

It seems like CBD products are popping up everywhere, from local drugstores and gas stations, to spas and social-media feeds. But what if you’ve already found your favorite CBD brand and want to carry it on your next trip? Is traveling with CBD a sensible idea or risky behavior?

The good news is that CBD is legal across America, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill legalizing hemp farming and products. So, for starters, don’t be afraid to pack your go-to CBD brand for domestic air, water, rail, or road trips like you would any other toiletry or wellness supplement. Better still, CBD’s potential...

The magic of travel starts with the obvious: Figure out where you want to go, then make plans. But there's an ecosystem of tourism and hospitality that's likely swaying each part of your decision-making process, especially for LGBTQ travelers.

And those travel choices are plentiful. Cities like San Francisco, Miami and New York City beckon as queer hotspots because of their high concentration of LGBTQ+ locals and nightlife. There are attractions with special "Gay Days," and locations with niche theme weeks. There are timeless destinations where majestic sights...