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Published on Gay.com, April 2004
By Sean Timberlake, editor, Gay.com/Planetout.com Travel
New York, San Francisco, Paris, London -- all gay-popular cities where you'll find tons of like-minded men and women, clusters of gay bars and clubs, great dining and scads of entertainment options. You'll also find congested streets choked with traffic, air thick with soot and stores and restaurants jam-packed with crowds. Luckily for you, there's a surprising number of little-known small towns and hidden spots around the globe where gays and lesbians are not only tolerated but are sometimes even in the majority. Here are 10 of our favorite spots, from a lesbian mecca in the mountains to a gay utopia down under, all worth a visit. Who knows -- you might just decide to stay on.
1. Asheville, NC
Maybe North Carolina doesn't leap immediately to mind when you think of gay havens, but Asheville, secreted in the smoky blue Appalachian mountains, is dyke central. The main meeting place is Malaprop's Bookstore & Café (55 Haywood St; 828/254-6734; $5-10), a bookstore-cum-café serving up tasty sandwiches (try the Frida Kahlo, a croissant topped with salsa, red onion and pepper jack cheese) and fresh coffee with a serving of queer culture on the side. We're not teasing when we say Hairspray (38 N. French Broad St; 828/258-2027; $5-10 cover on weekends) is the spot to mix and mingle with an eclectic group of country chicks, drag kings and grrrl rockers, plus a peppering of trans guys and gals to keep it fresh. Note that clubs in North Carolina that serve liquor require memberships, so expect an additional fee of $5-10 on the first visit. Asheville is also among the most romantic of gay destinations. For a snuggle-inspiring getaway, stay at one of the quaint gay-owned B&Bs, like the Biltmore Village Inn, occupying a grand 1892 Queen Anne Victorian mansion.
2. Daylesford, Australia
3. Languedoc, France
4. Lehigh Valley, PA
5. Napa, CA
6. Northampton, MA
7. Pensacola, FL
8. Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada
9. Saugatuck/Douglas, MI
10. Todos Santos, BC, Mexico
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