Being gay or lesbian influences our choice of accommodations, nightlife, dining, shopping, and perhaps even ightseeing. This book will enable you to plan your trip confidently and with authority. On the following pages I've tried to provide ideas for every segment of our community, giving you the skinny on everything from bars and clubs to gay beaches, from where to find the best sushi in South Beach to where to find Tennessee Williams's former home in Key West. You'll also find a wide selection of accommodations, from exclusively gay resorts to mainstream hotels. And you'll be shown which properties are closest to downtown businesses and which are near gay nightlife.
How I Researched this BookI've visited South Florida a half dozen times over the past three years, venturing up and down the coastline, watching it evolve into one of America's gayest destinations. Most recently my companion, Kaline Carter, and I spent the better part of a month revisiting places I've seen before and discovering
hundreds of new ones. In every community I interviewed local gays and lesbians -- newspaper editors, activists, innkeepers, barflies, and people on the street.
This is an opinionated book. I don't hesitate to say what I think -- I'm prone to describe certain neighborhoods as characterless, resorts as touristy or uppity, restaurants as dumpy or over-the-top. My intention is always to relate what I've observed and what I've heard locals say.
For the most part I traveled without announcing myself -- the majority of the businesses in this book had no idea I was writing about them when I visited. In the end Fodor's Gay Guide to South Florida is a service not to hotels and guest houses, or to gay bars and restaurants, or to anybody in the travel industry. It is a resource for you, the traveler.
ContentEach chapter has several sections. Here's a quick rundown:The Lay of the Land
If you're looking for a quick summation of each destination's geography, its neighborhoods and major attract
ions, and its shopping, you'll want to read this carefully. At the end of each section are tips on getting around.
Eats
I'm a restaurant junkie, so I've included a broad range of options. The places I investigated were suggested by gay and lesbian locals, advertise in gay publications, or were reviewed positively in local newspapers and magazines. I stopped by almost every restaurant (and ate at as many as I could) to study the menu, check out the ambience, and observe the crowd.
I've tried to include choices for every budget. Many recommendations are in or near gay-oriented neighborhoods. A few establishments get a nod less for the food than the overtly festive atmosphere. Conversely, some places are listed simply because they represent some of the destination's finest or most unusual dining. The omission of your personal favorite may be more because it was similar to a place I did include than because I think it's not up to snuff. Unless otherwise noted, any restaurant in this book is at least somewh
at popular with the community.
The Eats section ends with a sampling of area coffeehouses. Unless I describe the food, assume that each place offers only coffee and light snacks.
Scenes
I checked out nearly every bar in South Florida. If a place opened after my visit, I telephoned an employee and also got a report from a knowledgeable local resource to ensure an accurate review.
The most popular spots are listed under the heading "Prime Suspects" and are also located with bullets on the dining maps. I've also written short reviews about neighborhood bars, roving parties, and sporadic events -- plus a few straight bars with queer-friendly reputations.
Male-oriented places outnumber those that cater mostly to women by about 10 to 1. This is not a reflection of my preferences but of America's gay-bar culture -- it's overwhelmingly young and male. Still, don't assume that a bar described as 80% male or mostly young doesn't welcome lesbians or older guys. Descriptions of each bar's crowd and its "cruise
factor" are based on my own observations and interviews and are provided simply to give you a profile of what's typical.
Under the heading "Action," I've listed a few bathhouses, adult theaters, and the like. I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you what's where. (I would also be remiss if I didn't encourage you to play safely and observe local regulations.)
Sleeps
In most chapters I've included any gay-specific establishments that I felt confident recommending. I visited most of the B&Bs and small inns (usually anonymously), though I stayed in only a handful. If the establishment was straight-owned and I had no knowledge of its gay-friendliness, I checked with the owners to verify their interest in being covered in a gay publication. My descriptions of the clientele, compiled without the owners'input, are there to give you a general sense of the place.
When I discuss larger hotels, particularly those in cities, don't assume that they are gay-friendly (or otherwise) unless the reviews specifically state s
o. Obviously the degree of tolerance you encounter at a large property with many employees will depend largely on who happens to assist you. I've favored mainstream properties that are in and near gay neighborhoods and those that have a strong reputation with the community.
The Little Black Book
This is your quick resource guide. If some establishments have closed by the time you read about them -- bars and restaurants are unpredictable -- try the contacts here to get the latest scoop. Local tourist boards can be helpful, and lesbigay bookstores and community centers are tremendous resources. I've included a few gay-popular gyms, and the phone numbers of resources for persons who are HIV-positive or who have AIDS.
