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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE SEPTEMBER 26, 1997
TRAVEL AND LEISURE
Hot and cold: Nude beaches and lesbian-gay ski weeks
by Sasha Alyson
I was recentlyasked for recommendations on the world's best gay nude beaches. The following suggestions are a good starting point for the novice gay naturist. While some people enjoy the serenity of isolated and unspoiled clothing-optional beaches, others enjoy the camaraderie (and sight-seeing) at more crowded
spots.
Black's Beach, near San Diego, is a beautiful stretch of beach, after you scramble down the steep cliff path. The gay section is to the north and gets crowded on warm weekends. Further up the Pacific coast is San Francisco's ever-popular Baker Beach, and Vancouver's Wreck Beach, both of which have large and friendly gay followings.
In Europe, nude and topless beaches are common. You'll find wall-to-wall beautiful bodies at Super Paradise and Elia beaches on Greece's gay mecca of Mykonos. Spain also has a number of excellent, gayfriendly playas natural including those found on Ibiza; in Sitges, south of Barcelona; and on Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands.
The aptly named Studland Beach, near Bournemouth,
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England draws many gay British naturists. The Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavian countries and Russia also offer many nude bathing options, but chilly temps can make for a short season and icy cold swimming.
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In Africa, there's beautiful Sandy Bay Beach near Capetown, a popular spot for gay South Africans and tourists. With the exception of Brazil, South America and Asia don't offer many opportunities for legal nude sunbathing, but going topless is sometimes permitted in a few countries.
With its thousands of miles of coastline, Australia has some of the world's most delightful nude beaches, and finding an isolated spot to remove your "swimming costume" is rarely a problem. There is also at least one nude beach close to most major cities, including Reef and Lady Jane beaches in Sydney, South City Beach in Perth, and Maslins Beach in Adelaide.
For more suggestions, pick up one of the following guidebooks, available at most gay bookstores: Gay Nude Resorts, Beaches and Recreation '97 (Summers Edge Publishing); The Gay Nude Manual; The North American Guide to Nude Recreation; and Lee Baxandall's World Guide to Nude Beaches and Resorts (The Naturist Society). Naked, a monthly color magazine for gay 'male nudists, is also available for $6 an issue, or $46 a year by calling 800-796-2533.
Winter might be a season of freezing temperatures, snow, and fewer hours of sunlight, but it also makes possible a number of enormously popular gay ski weeks.
In 1998, Aspen will hold its 21st Gay Ski Week, January 24-January 31. The event is a week of world class skiing, shopping, and partying for gay women and men. This year,
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organizers expect more than 5,000 participants from all over the country and around the world.
The event features opening and closing parties, daily tea dances, special women's events, ski competitions, fashion shows, and a '70s retro night, featuring popular acts from the disco era. The annual “Bump Your Buns" Downhill Costume Party, a drag and costume competition on skis, has become so popular, some shopkeepers close their stores to attend. For more info call 800-984-8863; send email to aspengay@rof.net or visit their website at www.rof.net/yp/aspengay.
Whistler, in British Columbia, Canada, will hold its sixth gay ski week, Altitude '98, February 1-February 8. Past gay ski weeks have drawn more than a thousand gay skiers and have featured a wealth of gay parties and
contests.
The final weekend is always especially popular. For information, call 888-258-4883.
WinterFest '98, the fifth annual Lake Tahoe gay and lesbian ski weekend, will take place March 11-March 15. The event will feature a non-stop circuit party and casino, nightly entertainment and the third annual gay and lesbian World Cup ski race. For reservations, call 800-886-2623.
Last month, I cruised the Internet forum known as the World Wide Web, in a less-
than-fruitful search for gay travel information. The best way to avoid the long and frustrating searches I endured is to go directly to a website. Here are a few addresses you might find of interest:
"www.gay-travel.com" leads to Rancho Mirage, a gay travel agency, with an extensive and well-designed website offering information about tours, destinations, and discount travel offers.
"www.q-net.com" is Ferrari Travel Guides' site, which looks good and provides a wealth of information on gay travel for both women and men.
"www.oliviatravel.com" offers everything you need to know about Olivia Cruises and Resorts, a leading provider of vacations for lesbians.
"www.rainbow-mall.com/igta" is the site for the International Gay Travel Association, which offers links to many of its members, including Men on Vacation.
These are just a few of the gay travel web sites out there, and more come on-line every week. Happy surfing!
Send questions or comments about gay travel to Sasha Alyson, Alyson Adventures, P.O. Box 180179, Boston, Mass. 02118; or via email at AlyVenture@aol.com, or web site www.channell.alyson/com.
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travel together or apart?
by Sasha Alyson
and the editors of Out & About
"I want to vacation with both gay men and lesbians," my friend Joan asked me not long ago. "What's out there?"
Not a lot. Most of the lesbioan and gay community's opportunities fall into one of three categories: Trips of all men; trips of all women; or "gay and lesbian" trips that are 80 to 90% men.
Not everyone considers that a problem, of course. Single-sex groups are popular, and for just the reasons you'd expect. Woody Allen once quipped that bisexuality doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night. If you're gay or lesbian, it's a same-sex trip that doubles your chances of meeting Mr. Right or Ms. Right Now.
Some travelers have other reasons for preferring a same-sex group. "I can't stand the PC nonsense that you always get from lesbians," a man told me. “Men always want to be in control," said a lesbian.
Dan Ware reports that his company, TotoTours (800-565-1241), finds that older gay men often prefer an all-male environment, while Generation Xers usually enjoy a mixed group. Ware is committed to having both men and women on his trips, though when staying at clothing-optional facilities, he will sometimes target only men.
Price has a big influence on gender ratios. RSVP, originally famous for its cruises, has branched out into a "Club RSVP" resort
package. Paul Figlmiller, the company's marketing director, says that cruises get about 10% women, while the resorts, often priced lower, get 25%. (RSVP: 800-328-7787)
Different activities draw different mixes. Whitewater rafting seems particularly popular with lesbians. Mariah Wilderness Expeditions (800-462-7424), a lesbian-owned company offering rafting to the general public, has women-only trips that are about 80% lesbian, reports co-owner Donna Hunter. Their designated lesbian and gay trips get about 30-50% women, and they often run charters for gay and lesbian groups. “Many women still want women-only trips, but we're seeing more women who want to mix with
men.
There's not as strong a need anymore to make such political statements," says Hunter. The 1998 Gay Games in Amsterdam also seem likely to draw a mixed group, according to Kevin Kailey of Above and Beyond (415-284-1666), which will run a 1998 tour
there.
This fall, my own company will try a new approach: For a bike trip in France, we've reserved half the spots for gay men, half for lesbians. If this proves popular, I hope other companies will try it. (Alyson Adventures, 800-825-9766.)
What should you do if you want a particular mix? Ask clear questions of the tour operator. They should be eager to steer you to the trip that best fits your interests.