When it comes to creating a romantic getaway, nothing beats a tropical vacation, where sea breezes blow gently over white sands while you sip on a fruity concoction. Equally important is finding a place where you and your partner are free to express your feelings without the fear of homophobia. Enter Miami, the tropical destination that welcomes LGBT couples with open arms. Best of all, you don’t even need your passport!
“The areas of South Beach” to Greater Miami and the beaches “have a very gay-positive culture,” said Karen Brown, executive director of the Miami Beach LGBT Visitor Center. (http://www.gogaymiami.com) “It is probably one of the sexiest destinations in the world. You don’t lack for anything you want to do, from recreational activities to good places with great drinks and wine lists and spectacular views, with no fear of judgment.”
An Enchanting Tropical Getaway
In Miami, South Beach’s 12th Street Beach is legendary. This gay beach is ground zero for sunbathing, people watching, volleyball and assorted canoodling. For sunbathing au natural, head 30 minutes out to Haulover Nude Beach, to the north. Active types can hit Key Biscayne for windsurfing or snorkeling, or biking. Rent a DecoBike, Miami’s official rent and share bike program, or explore South Beach’s Art Deco district with a Bike and Roll guided tour.
The Art Deco district is an ideal place for LGBT couples to stay. In South Beach, gay Hotel Nash is located one block from the beach, and features three plunge pools in its courtyard.
Other hot spots that are diverse and trained in gay hospitality include the Z Ocean Hotel South Beach, Beacon Hotel, The Betsy Hotel, W Hotel South Beach, Dream South Beach, Beachcomber Hotel, Viceroy Miami Hotel and Trump International Resort.
You have Brown to thank for ensuring that local hotel employees are trained in how to deal with LGBT visitors. Through the Pink Flamingo Hospitality Diversity Training Program, hotel employees are educated on LGBT sensitivity. For example, desk clerks are taught not to assume that just because two guys check in, they want two smaller beds instead of a king-sized one — a surprisingly common assumption, said Brown.
“These are people that walk the talk and are not just checking a box,” said Brown. “They are taught on sensitivity, cultural divides, and even transgender issues.’”
Michael Jamrock, co-founder of EnGAYged Weddings, said that his hometown area of South Florida is consistently amongst the top LGBT wedding and honeymoon destinations, despite the fact that Florida does not have marriage equality. He has seen his business increase fourfold since the federal DOMA ruling, especially in the Miami area.
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