LGBTQ+-Friendly Travel Destinations Across the U.S. (including Puerto Rico!)
Summer is the season to travel, which is why we at The Persistent have been reserving days off on our team’s Slack calendar and booking road trips, train rides, ferries and flights to make sure we get the most out of the next few months.
That said, there’s no point in spending your time or money in a place where you’re liable to get the cold shoulder or, worse, be discriminated against. That’s why we’ve rounded up this list of queer-friendly destinations across the U.S. Wherever you fall in or out of the LGBTQ+ community, all these destinations, each with its own queer history and modern LGBTQ+ sensibility, are worth a visit. So whether you’re yearning to plop yourself down on a beach chair and do some reading, hike a mountain, wander an inviting neighborhood or something in between, we have the location for you.
My husband and I love the Condado neighborhood in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which attracts a fun-loving crowd, gay and straight. The vibe is simultaneously relaxed, hip, and lively, with music constantly flowing onto the gorgeous beaches and walkable sidewalks. Besides being home to the best gay beach and hotel on the island, the scenery is stunning, and the area offers great food and drinks; plus, it’s adjacent to the Condado Lagoon where you can go kayaking or paddle boarding. And for sightseeing, Old San Juan is just a quick Uber ride away. I can’t wait to go back. — Stacey Colino, contributing writer
Provincetown, on the very tip of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, has long been an LGBTQ+ haven. We took our kids for the day just after Covid, and it was more alive than anywhere we'd been for a year. With water on three sides, it has a bustling street culture and is all about the arts. There are cafes and outdoor music, inns and guesthouses, and art on every corner and in between. (The town is America’s oldest continuous art colony and has more than 60 galleries.) All this aside from the beaches. Pure joy. — Katherine Dykstra, contributing writer
One of my favorite beach destinations is famously queer-friendly Fire Island, which consists of a series of small towns dotted along the shore of Long Island, New York. Some, like Cherry Grove and the Pines, have been frequented by gay men and lesbians since the 1950s; other towns have their own identity, whether preppy (Saltaire); partying singles and daytrippers (Ocean Beach); or families (Fair Harbor). What unites them is the sense of relaxation that descends the instant you step off the ferry: There are no cars and there’s little to do except go to the beach, take walks, ride bikes and sit on various decks and drink cocktails. When I’m there, I feel like a more carefree version of myself. — Paula Derrow, features editor
There’s something uniquely magical about southern Appalachia, and if you’re looking for a queer safe haven in the area, I can’t recommend Asheville, North Carolina, highly enough. You’ll experience views of an ancient mountain range, enjoy time outside, and take in the local queer scene. One example: Blue Ridge Pride, which is held in September, takes advantage of cooler weather and “leaf peeping” opps. Make sure to check out West Asheville for the thrifting and coffee shops, or head downtown for an eclectic mix of restaurants and stores. —Han Goldstein, social media editor
Andersonville, Chicago is a historic North Side neighborhood famous for its Swedish roots, vibrant LGBTQ+ community, and thriving independent boutiques (including the indie Women & Children First bookstore). To me, Andersonville will always be famous as the setting of my sweetest LDR ever, with an Andersonville resident who remains, in proud lesbian tradition, a good friend. — Meredith Maran, contributing writer
Have you gone to a great LGBTQ+-friendly travel destination? Send it our way! Email us a few sentences about the location at hello@thepersistent.com to be featured next week. We'll be back with more queer recommendations next Friday.
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