Where in the world did you have the best time as a single person?

On this Valentine’s Day, PinkPavilions would like GLBT travelers from every corner of the world to let us know what city, town or metro area they have really enjoyed as a single person… even if you are no longer single! Is there a place that comes to mind as a perfect place to be, if you are available and looking?

To add your favorite destination, please click on Register, on the side bar. You will receive a password by email. Please note: your username and password are case sensitive. Hope to hear your recommendation for the hottest spot on earth very soon! If you prefer to make a recommendation for a Romantic Vacation, or for a great destination for Family Fun, please feel free - we have just set up these new categories as well, and we’d love to hear from you!

Wishing everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day.

The Pink Pavilions Team

Have you ever been to a very special place, with someone very special? Where did you go and what did you do? Was it a special occasion?

On this Valentine’s Day, Pink Pavilions would love to hear (and share) your advice for an unforgettable romantic getaway! To add your favorite romantic destination to our gay travel blog, please click on Register, on the side bar. You will receive a password by email shortly. Please note: your username and password are case sensitive.

If you prefer to make a recommendation for a hot singles’ destination, please check our “Sizzling Destinations” section. Or, if you have a great destination for Family Fun, please share your story with our visitors.

Wishing everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day.

The Pink Pavilions Team

More and more GLBT families have kids and grandkids. Even when we, GLBT people, do not have kids of our own, we often like to travel with our siblings and their kids, to experience the joy of seeing through kids eyes. So, where do you go when you have a toddler along? What are the best places to visit with your teens? What do you do when you have kids of different ages in your family?

We invite you to share with our readers the best places for family fun - on the beach, in the country, in the mountains… Where did you go? Why was it great? What did the kids enjoy the most? What about the grown ups?

To add your favorite family destination, please click on Register, on the side bar. You will receive a password by email. Please note: your username and password are case sensitive.

With the Easter Holiday and Spring Break just ahead of us, we hope you will contribute!

Thank you in advance,

The Pink Pavilions Team

Although there are seventeen communities on Fire Island, the two predominantly gay communities are Cherry Grove and the Fire Island Pines. The two communities are separated by an undeveloped stretch of land that runs from the bay to the ocean with huge dunes and a maze of forest trails known as the Carrington Tract (it is also known as the Judy Garland Memorial Forest and the Meat Rack by locals). Visitors can take a walk on the beach or through this enchanted forest to get to either of the towns. No cars are allowed on Fire Island during the summer vacation months; therefore, the only way to get around is by walking the boardwalks or beaches.

Cherry Grove
Cherry Grove is considered America’s first predominately gay & lesbian resort town. Cherry Grove has a lively nightlife and boasts colorful and charming modest homes and a small downtown area with a hotel, shops, bars and restaurant. The town residents include artists, drag queens, leather men, lesbian moms and a few straight residents. Cherry Grove got it’s name from the predominance of wild cherry trees found there. By the 1960s the community became known for the openly gay and bohemian lifestyle of its residents and international visitors. The town sponsers a variety of events including Home Coming Queen, Pride Fireworks, the Art Show and an annual volleyball game played against the local police. Annual benefit events include PAWS, Breast Cancer, and the Doctors Fund.

The Fire Island Pines
The Fire Island Pines is east of Cherry Grove (and the forest), and is a predominantly gay male town. The town is more than twice the size of the Grove, and there are larger more luxurious homes on wooded lots, some with beautiful gardens. This town is more popular with the young, affluent, fashion and body conscious crowd. The downtown area includes restaurants and shops and is located on a beautiful harbor.
Although the towns have their differences, they do come together each year for the 4th of July Drag Queen Invasion and the annual Pines Party on the beach.

Cherry Grove has two hotels, but due to the size of the rooms, restrictions, as well as the expense, most people opt to have shares in homes. This allows you to experience the outdoors too by enjoying the privacy of your backyard or grilling dinner on your rooftop deck.

Weekly activities include Porsche’s show at Sunsets on the Bay (not to be missed), her amazing impressions of legends like Judy Garland and Janis Joplin, and Bette Davis will keep you rolling. There is the Friday Night Underwear Parties at Tides Friday and Erotica Night on Thursdays as well as local theater productions which have included performances of Vagina Monologues, Twisted Nunsense, Torch Song Trilogy, and Vampire Lesbians of Sodom.

We took a fantastic vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains. The scenery was spectacular and the wildlife spottings were amazing. In the morning and evenings we took a drive around Cades Cove where we observed deer, horses, bear, all kinds of birds and even a panther. One day, as we were traveling through, we saw a bear at the top of a tree. We watched for a while and he slowly but meticulously chewed the branch right off the tree. When it fell to the ground, he came barreling down to claim his prize. He proceeded to chow down on the berries and did not much care that he was sitting in the middle of the roadway. When a spectator tried to remove the branch, he was met with a loud, roaring, growling, drooling “mad-bear.” Of course, those of us watching thought this person a “mad-man” to even tempt the bear. Aside from that scare, it was quite an intriguing sight to watch this 300 pound wild animal so close but yet free.

Walking the trails brought us face to face with deer, and once, a small shy bear watched from behind a tree as we chose our path carefully. The vacation ended up being a truly rejuvenating, adventurous time. Besides the restaurants and nearby, lively Gatlinburg, we kept busy hiking and exploring the mountains, streams, falls and the surprises that came around many corners.

Though it was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable vacations we’ve had, it might have been perfect if we had not stayed at a bed and breakfast. Two lesbians showing up for breakfast with Tennessee Christian couples was not our ideal morning ritual. It would have been nice to sit out on a couple of rockers that we could temporarily call our own.

Instead, we felt like we were intruding in someone else’s home, swimming in someone else’s pool, forced sometimes to whisper because of the quietness of the home and we weren’t feeling like our hosts considered us the ideal guests. So though we highly recommend the Smokies, we also recommend that you rent a cabin or cottage of your own so you can relax full time and fully experience the natural beauty of this area.