Writer, reporter, editor. I love covering LGBTQ+ interests, cannabis/CBD, travel, hotels, food/drink, arts, and more. Partner content, editorial, profiles, press kits, blogs, proofreading, guides.
Our go-to guide to Palm Springs hotels
From designer desert digs to family water fun to spa serenity, we have a getaway for you.
Framed by the towering San Jacinto Mountains and filled with iconic mid-century modern buildings popping with bright colors, it’s easy to shift into vacation mode as soon as you arrive in sun-filled Palm Springs.
There is one challenge, though...zeroing in on the right accommodations. Palm Springs serves up everything from luxury hotels to casual inns, family fun spots with pools galore to adults-only spa retreats...
An Essential Guide to Bologna, Italy’s Ravishing Cultural and Culinary City
Just off Piazza Maggiore, Bologna’s central square, the Quadrilatero seduces all of the senses. Grocers deal out chunks of nutty, rich Parmigiano Reggiano cheese as samples to discerning shoppers, along with razor-thin slices of prosciutto di Parma that melt on the tongue. Wine bars pour effervescent glasses of local pignoletto wine alongside boards of warm focaccia, lightly salty-herby mortadella, and balsamic so delectable it tastes closer to dark-chocolate syrup than vinegar....
Unleash your wild side: An Anchorage adventure with bears, brews & biking
We curve around a bend on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail on the outskirts of Anchorage, Alaska, finally catching a break from the overcast skies. It’s easy to understand how this is considered one of the country’s most beautiful urban coastal trails. On our bikes, we pedal along quiet stretches under the dappled sun that gives way to the wide harbor and downtown skyline vistas.
Suddenly, our Alaska Trail Guides leader pauses our ride and whispers the words we’d hoped to hear: “There’s a mama bear...
Following the Senses in Barcelona
It was a brisk evening in Barcelona on the hotel rooftop. Our bottle of cava, two glasses, and a view across the Gothic Quarter felt like the perfect welcome back to the Catalonian capital.
We heard footsteps and laughter rising from the slim streets below. A few blocks away, the ancient spires of the Barcelona Cathedral glowed orange with last daylight, timed with evening church bells ringing softly across the city.
I haven’t stopped dreaming about Barcelona since my first visit there in...
8 Finger Lakes Wedding Venues for Unforgettable Upstate New York Nuptials
The happy couple seemed to glow in the soft sunshine of Canandaigua Lake, posing effortlessly in love on the waterfront promenade. They stood in a moment of perfect autumn weather, and the kind of natural beauty that’s made New York’s Finger Lakes a beloved and understated wedding destination—and as much of a treat for guests as it is for the newlyweds.
As one of the country’s favorite wine and food regions, the Finger Lakes now rivals Napa, Sonoma, and even some European destinations for its...
Passport Profile — Thom Seivewright, Founder of Tours Montréal
The best cities have layers. Thom Seivewright found new, surprising ones in his hometown of Montreal, and he’s sharing them through his deep-dive Queerstory tour.
After years as a Clefs d’Or-member hotel concierge, Seivewright, 44, got out from behind the desk to begin working as a local tour guide. He completed guiding-school coursework, learning all about Montreal’s famous sights and attractions, such as its French-colonial origins, religious history, and iconic architecture, but he soon realized that success as a city guide would come from differentiating himself. He wanted...
The 7 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Honeymoon Destinations in the World
Love and marriage may be the ultimate gift, but just beyond those cherished vows and celebratory toasts comes the unforgettable honeymoon. Unlike the nuptials themselves, the honeymoon is intimate; a private dessert for two. It’s chapter one of a love story. Better still, it’s the newlyweds’ first chance to voyage together in wedded harmony. For LGBTQ+ couples, planning a romantic honeymoon comes with familiar choices—beach or city, resort or B&B, adventure or light recreation—plus considerations about feeling welcome as well as safe...
Malta Prepares to Dazzle with EuroPride 2023, Featuring Christina Aguilera
The small island nation in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea is bound to be the greatest show in Europe this September 7 through 17. Over those 10 days, Malta will host EuroPride Valletta 2023 in its capital city, with superstar Christina Aguilera headlining the highly anticipated closing concert on Saturday, September 16.
EuroPride is one of the world's largest LGBTQ+ celebrations, taking place in different European Union nations each year since 1992...
Escape Plan — Puerto Vallarta
From breezy beach days and delicious dining, to sunny adventures and sassy drag shows, Puerto Vallarta is serving the ultimate escape plan. Mexico’s famous LGBTQ-welcoming city is roaring back as a top 2023 destination, ready for travelers to reclaim its spicy fun in the sun.
With direct flights from most major U.S. airports, Puerto Vallarta is easy to reach, and the Zona Romantica city center is just a half-hour from PVR Airport. The best part of any visit here is that refreshing feeling of being in a vibrant, coastal city where time seems to pass a little slower, under blue skies...
The Best Things to Do in Palm Springs
In Palm Springs, it can feel like leisure breezes in the warm desert air. For travelers ready to embrace that easygoing Coachella Valley spirit, there are many ways to experience this Southern California destination where the sun shines 300 days per year. Much of the early local history started with its natural hot springs, whose mineral water attracted the Cahuilla people that made this valley home for two millennia. The same desert springs and scenery live on today in modern spas...
Exploring the Best of Europe in Splendid Croatia and Slovenia
[SPONSORED CONTENT by Kelsy Chauvin]
Crystal blue waters set against deep green forests, cliffside castles and red-roofed villages, farmers’ markets supplying fresh ingredients for divine fine-dining dishes—this is the start of your wondrous visit to Croatia and Slovenia. The two countries share a border and easy access to both the Adriatic Sea and the Alps. They also share a wealth of natural attractions, unforgettable gastronomy, and deep cultural heritage, making Croatia and Slovenia two of the most captivating destinations...
10 best LGBTIQ+ neighborhoods in the US to visit in 2023
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.
Putnam County Raises the Curtain on 2023's Summer Shakespeare Festival
The curtain rises on one of New York's most exciting summer traditions this month with the premiere of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival's "Henry V." It's one of three productions enticing theater lovers to Putnam County, the scenic destination a short train ride north from Grand Central Terminal.
The summer festival has been a beloved annual event since 1987. And while each play through the decades has brought incredible talent to the stage, the 2023 season promises to be especially...
10 of the best lesbian bars in the US
It’s no exaggeration to say the movement for LGBTIQ+ rights would not exist without lesbian bars.
Yet even before the challenges of the pandemic, these crucial community spots were becoming an endangered species. Today, of the nearly 69,000 watering holes in the USA, a mere 27 of them are lesbian bars – down from about 200 in the 1980s. You can chalk up this diminished showing to online dating, or to urban gentrification, or to (largely positive) societal changes. But no matter the reasons...
Where to Watch the New York City Pride Parade 2023
Across America and the world, June means celebrating Pride. For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual orientations and gender identities, U.S. National Pride Month brings moments of contemplation, commemoration, and celebration. And while out-and-proud festivals and events take place around the globe all month, in New York City, the whole scene culminates with the 53rd annual NYC Pride March, this year on Sunday, June 25.
In 2023, one might expect more than a half-century’s worth of progress—including marriage equality in America and 33 other countries—means that Pride..