Issue 11 November/December Holiday Travel

Here’s what you can find in Issue 11 of Gaycation Magazine, the Holiday travel issue:

 Leavenworth, A Storybook Holiday

by Rhona Baron

Let’s just say you won’t find yourself in Kansas anymore this holiday season. On the other hand, you might think you’ve landed in an Oz-like fantasy when you arrive in Leavenworth. Leavenworth, Washington that is—a Bavarian themed village that Distractify recently listed as one of the thirty most beautiful small towns on the planet.

Leavenworth nestles against the flanks of the Cascade Mountains on the eastern side of Washington State. The Wenatchee River flows along one side of town and the surrounding valley spreads like a jewel filled with green space and wildlife. That same proximity to natural resources gave the town its start in the early 1900’s but, like many towns in the west, by the mid 1960’s mining, timber and the railroad were running dry. At that point a group of local women stepped forward with a radical plan. They proposed that the whole community “Go Bavarian,” with surrounding mountains that looked just like Bavaria and an historic main street ripe for a makeover. Bythe1980’s the transformation had taken hold, right down to the appearance of alpen horns, glockenspiel and lederhosen…”<Read more>

The Snowy Magic of Reykjavik

By Birna Hronn Bjornsdottir

December is a magical month in Iceland. The average temperature hovers around zero degrees, not too cold, not too hot. The perfect conditions for adding a bit of snowy magic to the already enchanting old town of Reykjavík. During Iceland’s long winters its inhabitants do what they can to brighten their surroundings and lift their spirits. Never is it more obvious than during those few weeks leading up to Christmas.

Reykjavik is charming and welcoming on any given day but during the holiday season its inhabitants, store owners and the city itself put a lot of effort in creating a truly magical holiday experience. Around the holidays the beauty of winter is on full display with snow adorning the trees, holiday lights in almost every window, lamp-post and tree. Live music, mixed with the hustle and bustle of passers-by and Christmas songs chiming out of every store on Reykjavík’s main shopping street echo through the air. The brisk, fresh air, mixed with hints of hot chocolate and cinnamon is invigorating and the mood is festive.

When Mother Nature feels like it The Reykjavik Pond freezes over allowing us to admire and, occasionally, laugh at ice skaters, some of whom are taking their first steps on the ice and others displaying wonderful talent after years of practice on the “Tjörnin” – the pond…”<Read more>

Vienna, The City of Music and Dreams

By Donovan Hall

The former center of the Hapsburg Empire and current capital of Austria, Vienna (or Wien as you’ll see it spelled in German) is a city rich in history, culture and beauty; but hardly ever talked about to the same extent as Paris, Barcelona or even Berlin. That gives this city an advantage though, because when you do finally make this central European metropolis, you’ll be able to approach the city without expectation, leaving you open to all the fun things it has to offer. There is much to explore and experience, especially for queer travelers. So let’s examine what exactly is so cool about this Central European city.

For starters, let’s just take a moment to mention how nice this city looks. Thanks to its imperial history andregal standards; this city is lavishly styled with pristine white baroque buildings, decorated in gold being the norm. Majestic palaces, capital buildings and gardens display themselves across the cityscape, reminding you of the region’s former glory and present success. Just like in Paris, a tourist can spend an entire day just wandering the streets, taking in the atmosphere. As in most major European cities, there are free walking tours available to give you a well-rounded exploration of the city streets. The time of year you visit a city always affects the experience, and if you happen to jump up and buy a plane ticket right after reading this article, you’ll need to brace yourself for windy, overcast, and somewhat rainy conditions. You’ll probably want to dress warmly. Regardless of when you chose to visit, you’re going to want to bring some formal evening attire as well as a friend you’d like to be seen with. Vienna is nothing if not classy…”<Read more>

To finish reading these and many other fantastic features and articles:

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