While it may be tempting to dance the night (and day) away with Speedo-clad musclemen in questionable chain jewelry and high-top sneakers, it’s equally as important to take the time to support small, LGBTQ+-owned businesses while traveling. After all, it’s the presence of local entrepreneurs that allows music festivals and community-driven queer events to exist, as they often sit on the boards that spearhead these programming efforts to bring tourism dollars to their cities.
No matter the locale, here are a few suggestions of places to consider visiting in between the bouts of partying:
Coffee Shops
Many queer coffee shop owners are ready to jump-start your morning after you’ve chosen to destroy your body with eardrum-bursting house music and cheap liquor. Grab a latte and a pastry, mingle, and set a positive tone for the rest of your day.
Favorite Spots
- Couplet Coffee: Los Angeles, CA: Come for the coffee, stay for the adorable, rainbow-hued merch.
- FiNCA TO FiLTER: Atlanta, GA: They also have a monthly wine club. Cheers.
- Matryoshka Coffee: Nashville, TN: Opt for an innovative specialty drink made with condensed milk.
Book Stores
Bookstores are troves of information, as well as stories from the LGBTQ+ owners themselves. Many will use their businesses to curate book collections to not only educate customers and promote queer authors but also provide relevant materials to understand current events.
Favorite Spots
- Antigone Books: Tucson, AZ: A place to also stock up on fantastic stationery.
- Petals and Pages: Denver, CO: Thoughtfully curated with queer readers in mind.
- Reparations Club: Los Angeles, CA: A wide selection of signed books for those who enjoy collecting.
Boutique Hotels
While major hotel chains offer a sense of familiarity and comfort, change up your routine and opt for an LGBTQ+-operated boutique hotel or bed and breakfast. These come with personalized service and the opportunity to meet like-minded people from all walks of life and all over the world.
Favorite Spots
- The Trixie Motel: Drag queen Trixie Mattel’s pink Palm Springs hideaway.
- The Francis Modern Inn: Austin, TX: Maximalism done right in the heart of the city.
- Blue Shutters Inn and Studios: Ogunquit, ME: Historic charm meets seaside living.
LGBTQ+ Community Centers
Aside from being a resource to local residents, LGBTQ+ community centers can be your go-to spot for comprehensive travel guides and queer-themed programming. They have the pulse on everything and anything that’s happening in a city and will welcome any type of visitor with open arms.
Favorite Spots
- Center on Halsted: Chicago, IL: The organization also provides free HIV and STI testing.
- The Center: Las Vegas, NV: A handful of on-site events offered every day.
- William Way LGBT Community Center: Philadelphia, PA: Home to an active art gallery featuring local queer artists.
Clothing and Interior Design Shops
Much like an art gallery, the contents of a clothing or interior design shop are a labor of love and personal style. Invest in anything from a t-shirt to a pillow to champion the vision of an LGBTQ+ store owner and their passion project.
Favorite Spots
- Atlas Body + Home: St. Petersburg, FL: The most adorable clothing and swimwear from lesser-known designers.
- Virgins on Fire Candle Co.: Brooklyn, NY: Hilarious and brutally honest labels that make these candles perfect gifts.
- Thrift Witch: Lansing, MI: A trove of one-of-a-kind treasures, from clothing to home goods.
Art Galleries
Creatives in the community, especially those who may be more reclusive and not at the aforementioned circuit parties, express themselves through their art. Celebrate their work by stopping by galleries to peruse the paintings, sketches, and sculptures that they’ve spent months (and sometimes years) completing.
Exhibits at galleries are revolving but the gayborhoods of Key West, Provincetown, MA, and Eureka Springs, AR are havens of queer creativity.
