About Southern California

About San Diego

San Diego welcomes gay and lesbian travelers with a vast array of activities, including six popular annual Pride festivities, and a vibrant gay and lesbian community. Visit once and get hooked on the sunshine and spirit of a city where people from all walks of life come together to meet, shop, dine and enjoy the area's arts, culture and nightlife.

Hillcrest, home to San Diego's gay and lesbian community, is an exciting uptown district that celebrates diversity year-round. Strolling along its main thoroughfares, University Avenue and the tree-lined Fifth Avenue, guests are eased by the community's openness, hospitality and quaint neighborhood charm. Hillcrest celebrates San Diego's hip and wild side with a mix of exotic bistros, eclectic coffee houses and cafes, urban-style boutiques, nightspots and so much more.

Featuring hundreds of antique dealers in six malls, the Ocean Beach Antique District is a shopper's delight with one-of-a-kind vintage items. If vintage isn't your thing, visit Cedros Design District in Solana Beach for designer home items both luxurious and hip. Feeling funky? Browse through Hillcrest's vintage stores, record shops, used bookstores, kitschy novelty shops, condom and adult video stores and piercing studios.

Serving everything from Afghan to Vietnamese, San Diego's eclectic dining scene is more than just Urban Mo's. Check out neighboring Kemo Sabe, Parallel 33 and Terra restaurants for fare that rivals the country's best.

With kid favorites such as the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California, San Diego is the ideal place to bring the family. Hit the sand on Coronado Beach, consistently recognized as one of top family beaches in the United States.

Here are our top ten recommendations for the perfect San Diego staycation. To plan your San Diego staycation, visit www.sandiego.org/stayhappy.

Experience one of San Diego's fine hotels and resorts.
Visit Balboa Park.
Be a kid again at one of San Diego's world-famous attractions: the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, LEGOLAND and SeaWorld.
Dine out in the Gaslamp.
Take surfing lessons in Pacific Beach.
Go golfing at the home of the 2008 US Open — Torrey Pines.
Spend a day with your toes in the sand.
Go shopping somewhere you've never been before.
Go sailing in San Diego Bay.
Go to a baseball game and stay late for fireworks under the stars.

The beach is more than a boundary dividing land from sea, more than a place to swim or sunbathe. In San Diego, the beach is a way of life, a source of pride and joy, a defining influence in people's lives. For some, the mere memory of a mid-summer sunset melting into the Pacific is reward enough. Others have a more intimate relationship with the sea: surfing and sailing, biking and running, swimming and diving along San Diego's many coastal beaches and bays.

Free Attractions in San Diego

Visit La Jolla Cove and see the magnificent sunset on the ocean. La Jolla Cove is one of the most spectacular natural settings in the world.

Visit downtown San Diego's Seaport Village for hours of free entertainment, leisurely strolling and window-shopping. Enjoy a laid-back day of hanging out in the grass and watching the many passing yachts and ships on picturesque San Diego Bay, or take in the sights from one of the many bay-view eateries.

Stroll through the 16½-block historic Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego and view the renovated turn-of-the-century Victorian architecture, home to boutiques, art galleries, specialty shops and more.

Fly a kite along the grassy field in the Tecolote Shores of Mission Bay Park, a 4,600-acre aquatic park. Here, away from trees and overhead wires, friends and family gather to launch colorful kites into the bay breezes.

Enjoy free organ concerts at 2 p.m. on Sundays at the Spreckels Organ Pavillion in Balboa Park. The Organ Pavillion features one of world's largest outdoor pipe organs, a San Diego landmark since 1914, where organists play traditional favorites, waltzes and show tunes on enormous 32-foot pipes.

Visit Old Town and witness the living legacy of San Diego history. Guests are also invited to wander free through Old Town's historic buildings, including the blacksmith shop, Seeley Stables, Stewart House, Estudillo House and the oldest schoolhouse in San Diego.

Bike or jog along Mission Bay Park's many trails. Joggers and walkers share more than 20 miles of scenic running paths that wind through sunlight and shade near the shoreline and feature workout courses at planned stations along the route.

Visit the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista for a free tour of the 150-acre facility, including training fields and tracks, athlete dorms and the Otay Lake Reservoir. Tours are offered daily from the Copley Visitor Center between 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m-3 p.m. on Sunday.

Stargaze outside the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park on the first Wednesday of every month. The San Diego Astronomy Association sets up huge telescopes to offer guests a great view of all the stars in the night sky.

About Palm Springs

Palm Springs CA: a desert oasis with a cosmopolitan twist. A visit to Palm Springs is an opportunity to dine in world class restaurants, lounge at legendary boutique hotels, & discover why mid-century modern enthusiasts gather here yearly. For the outdoor adventurer; Palm Springs offers magnificent hiking, unique jeep tours & 360 days of sunshine & starry nights.

Palm Springs is a city that celebrates diversity, Palm Springs has long been a favorite destination for the Gay and Lesbian community. Unique to Palm Springs is its abundance of resorts catering to the gay and lesbian community. With nearly 40 gay and lesbian specific resorts/guesthouses to choose from, you're certain to find the perfect place to stay at a price you can afford.

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians named the area now known as Palm Springs "la palma de la mano de Dios," which means the palm of God's Hand. After a visit to this Gay Desert Oasis you will likely agree that Palm Springs is indeed blessed... with great weather, stunning mountain views, and a community that is about as welcoming as they come.

Cradled by the Little San Bernardino Mountains to the north, the Santa Rosa Mountains on the south, and the San Jacinto Mountains to the west, the Coachella Valley enjoys its famed warm, dry climate as a result of their shelter. Rainfall is generally less than 6 inches a year and the average "Winter" temperature is in the upper 70's. Summers are warmer with temperatures averaging about 108 degrees during the day with lows in the upper 70's to mid-80's at night. A midnight swim? Of course! What could be better than gazing at the ink-black sky dotted with a zillion stars while you're floating on a raft sipping a nice cool drink?

About The Los Angeles Area

One of the world's leading gay and lesbian destinations, Los Angeles is much more than a single metropolis — rather, it's an entire collection of both sprawling and in many cases scenic neighborhoods and adjacent cities. It could take a full week just to visit even those areas with the greatest numbers of gay-popular businesses and residential blocks, including West Hollywood, Silver Lake, Hollywood, the San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Beverly Hills, Westwood, and even the increasingly trendy downtown. The center of America's entertainment industry has a gazillion great restaurants, hotels, and bars. One of the world's leading gay and lesbian destinations, Los Angeles is much more than a single metropolis — rather, it's an entire collection of both sprawling and in many cases scenic neighborhoods and adjacent cities. It could take a full week just to visit even those areas with the greatest numbers of gay-popular businesses and residential blocks, including West Hollywood, Silver Lake, Hollywood, the San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Beverly Hills, Westwood, and even the increasingly trendy downtown. The center of America's entertainment industry has a gazillion great restaurants, hotels, and bars.

From West Hollywood to the San Fernando Valley, Silver Lake to the beaches, there's plenty to text home about. Gay visitors will find hundreds of LGBT-specific sights, sounds, tastes and activities — and even more opportunities to make new friends. So put on your tank top and board shorts, your best accessories or swankiest shoes, or even sneakers or hiking boots, and join us on a spin through Gay LA.

Just to mention a few...

Silver Lake

Silver Lake and Los Feliz: Just east of Hollywood is Los Feliz, one of L.A.'s hidden gems, a tidy, attractive neighborhood of hilly lanes tucked beneath the dense greenery of Griffith Park. To the east lies L.A.'s second most gay-identified neighborhood after West Hollywood, the quirky and artsy Silver Lake district, where many gays and lesbians reside. You'll find a number of cool bars, restaurants, and shops in Los Feliz and Silver Lake.

West Hollywood

The small but bustling city of West Hollywood, which is completely encircled by Los Angeles, is the region's gay mecca. A sizable number of its nearly 40,000 residents are gay, and the city contains the greatest concentration of gay-oriented or gay-popular hotels, restaurants, shops, and bars in metro L.A. It's also the site of some of the area's largest GLBT events, such as Gay Pride, OutFest, and the Halloween Carnaval. For gay visitors to LA, West Hollywood is a must-see, and also a good base for exploring the region.

West Hollywood is proud to be the hip and happening center of gay and lesbian life in Los Angeles. Since its incorporation in 1984, the City of West Hollywood has continued to be recognized as a leading community in gay and lesbian rights. Visitors are assured of unique & welcoming hotels, hip restaurants and bars, exciting special events and the "living forward" atmosphere of a progressive city.

Long Beach

A unique seaside community full of arts, entertainment, great food, and shopping, Long Beach is a surprisingly large gay hub. The modern gay can enjoy a tour of stay on the famous haunted and suitably named Queen Mary, nosh on tasty California cuisine, toast to life with evening libations, or absorb a little marine culture at the Long Beach Aquarium. Though there are bars and restaurants that cater to the queer crowd, most of Long Beach is as gay-friendly as it is sunny.

Life is better at the beach and Gay Pride is better in Long Beach, California. Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Festival & Parade is the third largest in the US attracting over 75,000 participants. With performers such as Corday, India Aire, Mya and Morris Day and the Time, you know this is one party you don't want to miss.

Santa Monica & Venice Beach

These neighbor beach communities to the west are loaded with great shopping, several hip hotels, and plenty of great restaurants — not to mention outstanding beaches. Venice, home of Muscle Beach and the famous boardwalk, is one of the most entertaining places in L.A. , if not the world.

Venice Beach is a desired destination for travelers from all over the world. It is unlike any place on Earth, well known for its artists, street performers and funky atmosphere. It is a virtual carnival running year round with free admission.

Orange County

The gay scene in vast Orange Country (which is south of L.A. and north of San Diego) is mainly concentrated in Laguna Beach, a very queer beach town getaway with gay bars, a gay beach, and gay everything else one can imagine. . And of course, don't forget the other gay-popular attraction: The Happiest Place on Earth (aka Disneyland), still going strong in Anaheim after 50+ years. Gay Days in Anaheim in early October is a great time to join thousands of LGBT revelers all wearing red shirts. It's smaller than the huge Gay Days in Orlando, but well attended nonetheless.

The upscale beach towns that line Orange County dub themselves the "Orange Coast" and are home to fabulous resorts and wealthy beach communities. Take the Pacific Coast Highway to explore these lovely jewels, which include the surfer-popular Huntington Beach, the tony community of Dana Point, and the atmospheric Newport Beach surrounding charming Balboa Island, with an historic pavilion and old-fashioned pier — and of course Laguna Beach is the best of all the towns along the coast for gay travelers.

Orange County currently has no pride celebrations, but that doesn't mean there are no festivals worth seeing: The world's top wave riders flock to Huntington Beach each August for the rowdy but professional U.S. Open of Surfing. The Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters in July is where live actors keep perfectly still in their exact recreations of famous masterpieces of art. And the town of San Juan Capistrano, home to one of the original Spanish missions of California, holds a fun Return of the Swallows Celebration every March, about the time when the local birds come back after their migration from Argentina.

Interesting L.A. Facts

With a population of 10.3 million, LA County is the most populous in the United States
If LA County were a state, it would be eighth largest in population
The population of the five-county region of Los Angeles is larger than all of the states in the nation, except California, New York and Texas
LA County is home to 88 cities
LA is the largest city in LA County with 3,976,071 people
Vernon has the smallest population: 95
10,064-foot Mount San Antonio is the highest point in LA County
LA County has 75 miles of coastline
The longest street in LA City is Sepulveda Boulevard at 26.4 miles
Sepulveda Boulevard continues through LA County for a total of 76 miles
LA County's land area is 4,752 square miles
LA County has 79 certified farmers markets
The Los Angeles Unified School District is the second largest school district in the nation
La Opini n in the largest Spanish-language newspaper in the United States, with a circulation of 125,624 Awesome L.A Weather & Related Activities Facts
LA has, on average, 325 days of sunshine a year
The average temperature in December is 68 degrees; and in July, 82 degrees
LA is the only city in North America to have hosted the Summer Olympics twice
The Olympic Cauldron (torch) from the 1984 games is still lit during USC football games
Seven Super Bowls have been held in LA
Dodger Stadium was the first ballpark to host more than 3 million spectators in one season
You can surf, snowboard, ski, and blaze a trail through the desert all in the same day, thanks to the area's unique geography
More than 50 million people go to LA's beaches each year
The Santa Monica National Recreation Area covers 153,095 acres
Griffith Park, at 4,014 acres of land, is the largest municipal park in the nation
One of the largest manmade recreational harbors, Marina del Rey, is home to more than 6,000 private yachts
LA has 475 miles of bicycle paths
LA County has 19 golf courses, and 344 miles of horse and hiking trails
Sports generally considered to have been invented here include: Beach Volleyball, Windsurfing, Skateboarding

Miscellaneous Fun L.A. Facts

The organ at Walt Disney Concert Hall has 6,134 pipes ranging in size from pencil to a telephone pole
Los Angeles is the birthplace of:
- The hula-hoop
- The Barbie doll
- The Mazda Miata
- The DC-3
- Mickey Mouse
- The Fender Stratocaster
- The chaise lounge
- The Space Shuttle
Angel's Gate/LA Harbor Lighthouse is the only lighthouse in the world that emits an emerald green beacon
The world's first air meet was held in Los Angeles, at Dominguez Field in 1910. The event featured the first powered flight in the West
The first plane to fly around the world, in 1924, the Douglas World Cruiser, was built in Santa Monica
The world's first TV news helicopter, dubbed the Telecopter, was sent aloft by KTLA on July 4, 1958
USC was first in the nation to establish schools in these fields: Cinema-Television, Gerontology and Urban Planning and Development
According to the LA County Psychological Association, there are 3,000 licensed psychologists in LA County
There are 157 board certified plastic surgeons in LA County Bottom of Form