Las Vegas is best known for its glitz and glamour, from the vibrant neon signs and over-the-top stage shows to the “anything goes” vibe of the Strip. Having visited the Strip on one of my cross-country road trips, I wanted to see a different side of Sin City on my most recent trip. I planned Las Vegas day trips by car to venture beyond the city limits, explore the natural beauty of the desert landscape, and get a new perspective on a destination known for its party scene. While many of the best day trips from Las Vegas cross state lines to venture deep into the nearby mountain ranges and deser ..read more

Once a month I share a roundup of newsy stories that impact LGBTQ lives, with a loose connection to travel. In this month’s LGTBQ travel update: Russians charged under anti-LGBTQ+ law, Moms for Liberty vs. NYC, and Thailand same-sex marriage moves forward! Russian bar employees charged under anti-LGBTQ Law Two employees of a Russian bar are in prison awaiting trial on “promoting non-traditional sexual relations.” The men could receive ten years of imprisonment if convicted. Russia is the least LGBTQ-friendly place in Europe, but things have been getting worse in the country since its invasion ..read more

6 years ago I’m 19 years old. I live in and attend school at a private Christian university in the Bible Belt of America. Oklahoma, specifically. First week of classes, I sit in the pew of a mandatory chapel service. A paper copy of the Code of Honor is distributed throughout the student body to be signed and dated, then collected by the chaplains of each gender-segregated dormitory. Code #5 of 8: I PLEDGE at all times to keep my total being under subjection from all immoral and illegal actions … whether on or off campus. I will not engage in or attempt to engage in any illicit, unscriptural s ..read more

When I shared my list of the best group tours for lesbians, someone commented, “What about single lesbians?” It was a fair point. Every group tour I’ve been on was a majority couple experience. Single travelers––whether solo women travelers, female friends, or (as in my case), family travelers–were often snubbed by the group. In talking with other solo travelers, I’ve learned how common this is. Solo women who travel are often left out on group tours. This happens even when they’re widowed (as my mother in law is) or when they’re traveling sans partner because their spouse hates to travel. Gro ..read more

Necessity drove my decision to swim across the Hawaiian ‘Au‘au Channel. Six months into the pandemic, I craved a sanity break from hunker-in-the-bunker mode. The prolonged isolation had induced an existential quandary: was the enormous time spent on my writing worth the effort?  As a lifelong swimmer, a marathon ocean trek seemed the perfect outlet to drown my quarantine angst. I swam across the channel several times before as part of a six-man relay team, always without incident. The conditions varied, from sunny to gusty showers, from flat seas to twelve-foot swells. But this time, I wa ..read more

Solo travel is getting more popular but if you are considering taking your first solo trip, you may have some questions or be a bit unsure. For years, I traveled with my kids and family vacations were the name of the game. But now that they are pretty much grown, I am once more traveling on my own.  At first, I was a bit nervous. Was it going to be any fun traveling on my own? Would I meet new people? What if anything went wrong? I felt quite anxious by the time I went on my trip. But I am glad I went ahead as I had an amazing time on my first solo vacation. Yes, there are aspects of solo ..read more

Planning a trip to Las Vegas and thinking about kayaking on Lake Mead? Here’s everything you need to know to kayak Lake Mead Emerald Cove. I just got back from Las Vegas a couple of months ago. Kayaking to Emerald Cove was the highlight of my trip, but finding all the logistical information to actually plan my Lake Mead kayak trip was rough. I had a tight schedule and needed to be back in Vegas for dinner. I had the names of several kayak tour operators. I spent a lot of time on their websites comparing the options, trying to decide which tour operator was best given my time constraints. I had ..read more

When my father inquired about my plans for the free time I had gained due to the Nigerian university strike of 2010, I surprised both him and myself. Instead of expressing a desire to enroll in a coding program at one of the city’s computer centers, I found myself uttering the words, “I want to take swimming lessons.”  If you’ve ever seen Baywatch starring David Hasselhoff, you might have a glimpse of why this decision seemed unexpected. Over the course of my 33+ years on this planet, I’ve embraced a wide range of outdoor activities for their positive impact on my well-being. Take, for i ..read more

Zagorohoria Greece is one of my favorite places I’ve visited. It’s nature at its finest, a unique cultural landscape, and – my favorite part – none of the crowds you find in other top places to visit in Greece!  Northern Greece is less touristed than Athens, the islands, or even the central part of the country. Most people who trudge out this way stop at Meteora. Meteora is absolutely gorgeous, don’t get me wrong. The Zagori region, or Zagorohoria, combines jaw-dropping views with tranquil stone villages that seem unchanged for centuries and a near-absence of tourists.  I visited Gre ..read more

Ever since my first backpacking trip in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, I’ve loved hiking. But as a queer person, I haven’t always feel comfortable to be my full self on the trail. Aside from one unpleasant incident in Shenandoah National Park, other hikers haven’t said or done anything to make me feel like I’m unsafe. My worries stem from the lack of diversity in outdoor recreation, a handful of grisly stories about the murders of women and lesbian hikers, and the more widespread (and unfortunate) harassment women and nonbinary folks experience when we do venture outdoors. The outdoor r ..read more