Queer Vacation Destinations in Florida: Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Paradise Coast, and Miami

by
Dirk Baumgartl

7. August 2023
07:00

Even as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis launches a campaign against his state’s LGBTIQ* community, numerous cities and regions remain open to welcoming queer vacationers. There seems to be a world of difference between the political agenda and the diversity and acceptance that actually prevails locally, as you can see for yourself on a tour of Florida.

Fort Lauderdale

With its campaign for trans* vacationers, the metropolis of Greater Fort Lauderdale, located a good 45 minutes by car north of Miami, set standards in terms of inclusion. The current slogan “Everyone under the sun” expresses clearly that everyone is really welcome here. That’s not just true for queer vacationers who like to sunbathe on Sebastian Beach, but also for many Americans who have relocated to Florida from big cities like New York during the pandemic – with the result that Fort Lauderdale’s queer heart Wilton Manors is growing and is thriving like no other LGBTIQ* community in the United States. New venues such as Tulio’s Mexican restaurant and DrYnk bar have recently opened along Wilton Drive, complementing long-established favorites such as Rosies, Village Pub or the ever-expanding Hunters nightclub. There are also bars like The Eagle, which even has something like a small darkroom, and Johnsons, where strippers vie for the guests’ dollar bills. Since everything is in the immediate vicinity, you can easily stroll from bar to bar in the evening and simply have fun wherever you like it best. It’s no wonder that you’ll also find a lot of Miami people here, especially on the weekends, who enjoy the nightlife in Wilton Manors to the fullest.

Key West

The drive to Key West is considered one of the most beautiful drives in Florida. The road leads over numerous bridges that connect the individual islands (“Keys”) with each other, past the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico and numerous nature reserves such as the John Pennekamp Cora Reef State Park or the Bahia Honda State Park. Another stop is at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, where injured sea turtles are nursed back to health. However, the longed-for destination of LGBTIQ* vacationers is at the end of the Overseas Highway US 1. Key West has always been a retreat for the community, which has lost none of its appeal thanks to its openness and tolerance. At naturist resorts like Island House or Equator, gay men relax in the sun and regularly have pool parties before hitting the bars along Duval Street in the evening. And no visit to Key West would be complete without getting out to sea – whether that’s on the Blu Q catamaran, where you can also get rid of all your clothes, or on a snorkeling or diving excursion to explore the colorful coral reef with a multitude of to explore on fish and other marine creatures.

Paradise Coast

Thanks to the Key West Express, which runs daily between Key West and Marco Island on Florida’s west coast during the winter season, the Paradise Coast around the town of Naples is only about three hours away. The boat trip not only saves time, but with a bit of luck you can also see dolphins. While Marco Island invites you to swim with its long sandy beach, Naples lures you with small boutiques, chic restaurants and attractions such as the botanical garden or the Revs Institute, which is one of the best car museums in the USA with its collection of historic automobiles from the years 1896 to 1995. From Naples it is also only a short way to the Everglades National Park. In the Everglades National Park Gulf Coast Visitor Center you can get all information about the huge swamp area that meets the coast here. On boat or kayak tours you can explore the ecosystem of the mangrove forests and observe dolphins and numerous birds. Airboat tours inland, on the other hand, not only have a certain fun factor, but also offer the opportunity to encounter alligators. Nature lovers will also get their money’s worth in the Ten Thousand Islands Preserve: on the remote island of Chokoloskee, which can still be reached by car, the gay couple Aaron and David run the Parkway Marina and motel. From here, the numerous islands can also be easily explored on the water, hiking and biking trails in the area lead through the fascinating landscape of the Everglades.

Foto: Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB

Miami

From the Paradise Coast you can reach Florida’s east coast with Miami in less than two hours via the Tamiami Trail (US Highway 41), which leads straight through the Everglades. The contrasting program could hardly be greater, after all Miami and Miami Beach, which is on an island off the coast, are among the most popular vacation spots for the LGBTIQ* scene in the USA. On the one hand, this is due to a bulging event calendar that includes dates such as the queer Latino festival Gay8 (February), the Winter Party (March), the Pride (April), Sizzle (May) or the Circuit Weekend URGE (November). . In addition, there will be plenty of partying in bars like Palace, Twist, R House or Kill Your Idol. The Hôtel Gaythering is also one of the popular meeting places for the community due to its cool atmosphere, queer bar and sauna. And then of course there are Miami’s beaches: While the motto “see and be seen” applies to the wide sandy beach of South Beach and the Gay Beach located there at 11th and 12th Street, nudist fans can go to Haulover Beach, a good twenty minutes’ drive away drop the covers. Located at the north end of Haulover Beach Park, the gay beach section is usually busy. Thanks to a few sandbanks, you can wade far into the warm water or simply drift with the waves. Tip: Don’t forget a parasol and drinks – you can do without your swimming trunks.