Author: Lauren Mulvey

Offering famous Modernism Architecture Tours and featuring the esteemed Palm Springs Art Museum, the Palm Springs area is a hub for west-coast art. Now, it’s time to mark your calendars because between March 8 and May 11, you can join the biennial art celebration of Desert X in Coachella Valley.  Each year, Desert X brings site-specific art installations to Coachella Valley, and for their fifth year The Desert Biennial’s exhibition reflects on the desert’s “deep time evolutions reframing ideas and wilderness.” it will also explore themes of “Indigenous futurism, design activism, colonial power asymmetries, the impress of humanity on the…

The city council of Worcester Massachusetts has voted overwhelmingly to become a sanctuary city for transgender and gender-diverse people. The resolution to become an official sanctuary city passed by a 9-2 vote. The decision follows the departure of nonbinary city council member Thu Nguyen who cited the “discriminatory and toxic” environment and the “transphobia” of the city council’s culture as reasons for leaving. Upon their leave, Nguyen said “I wish to have felt safe on this council floor, but I don’t.”  Nguyen also claims that Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty had misgendered them on the council floor, while another council…

If you’ve been saving your money to embark on an adventure, you’re in luck. Here are some unconventional and affordable ways to travel that will help you appreciate the journey and savor the experiences along the way. Volunteer Travel  Volunteer travel is arguably one of the most ethical forms of tourism. Wwoofing, Workaway exchanges or Worldpackers opportunities allow travelers to connect more with the communities they visit rather than just passing through. Volunteer travel involves an exchange of work for accommodation, food and cultural experiences in your desired destination. This could mean you stay in an Italian villa in Tuscany and…

Taiwan has launched a 6-month remote work visa for travelers who want to play as much as they work this year. With Taiwan’s new 6-month visa, digital nomads hoping to explore a new country need only apply by submitting necessary info including a valid passport, travel itinerary, and any supporting documents related to your purpose of visitation.  U.S. travelers could only enter Taiwan as a tourist or short-term visitor without a visa for up to 90 days prior to the introduction of the new visa. The visa takes effect this month, inviting working travelers to come and set up shop and…

A new route between Berlin and Paris now offers travelers high speed transport between the two famous cities, getting passengers there in just 8 hours. The route connects the European Union’s two most populous countries. According to The Independent, the move is also believed to be a sign of the EU’s hopes to attract more people to rail travel. Before the bullet train offering, rides from Berlin to Paris typically took just over 11 hours. The new service, operated by  Deutsche Bahn on an ICE train, will run once a day. The daytime service offers an alternative to a slower…

One of our favorite must-visit destinations is Key West, Florida. Year-round, Key West hosts LGBTQ+ events and festivals including Pride, Womenfest, Bear Weekend, and much more. In Key West, you can create and enjoy a choose your own adventure vacation. Relax on the beach, enjoy amazing food and wine with friends, or discover one-of-a-kind experiences day and night. Here are some of Key West’s annual events to put on your calendar.  Key West Pride – June 2025  Though you can celebrate pride with thousands of friends in nearly any major city these days, Key West Pride is truly something special.…

Hit the slopes in the beautiful Catskills Feb. 7-9 with Hudson Valley’s LGBTQ+ organizers including Big Gay Hudson Valley, Pride Center of the Capital Region and Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center, for NYS Pride Ski Weekend 2025 at Belleayre Mountain in Highmount.  Skiers and snowboarders are welcome to cruise down all of Belleayre Mountains’ 62 trails and enjoy entertainment and special festivities throughout the weekend. Events on the docket take visitors on a tour of an increasingly vibrant nightlife, culinary, and cultural scene in Kingston where the mountains meet the Hudson River. On Friday, Feb. 7 enjoy a cozy DJ…

Travel trends come and go, but the whirling wormhole of social media is stirring with content on an increasingly popular trend: wellness tourism. Users on apps like Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube have grown increasingly obsessed with “self-care.” And nowadays you can find thousands of videos across the web telling you exactly what supplements to take, how to workout, what to eat, what skincare to use, and how to live your most “healthy” life. Realistically it can be overwhelming to try and balance all the unsolicited influencer advice and noise with what your body and mind really need. Some wellness trends…

Each year millions of travelers arrive at airports around the world hoping to grab their luggage and quickly begin enjoying they vacations or starting their business meetings. Also each year, millions of bags go missing at airports everywhere, and unfortunately for travelers whose luggage is lost, this means an interrupted itinerary and additional travel stress. Though travelers cannot necessarily stop their luggage from being lost across international airport systems, new technology allows savvy travelers to track their luggage. Apple has recently unveiled a new feature allowing users to share their AirTag location with third parties, including airlines. This will be…

As major neighborhoods in L.A. continue to lose homes, businesses, and community resources to raging fires, Airbnb and other short-term and vacation rental platforms are offering free accommodations for those who have lost their homes. Airbnb and competitor vacation home company Pacaso are using their vast database of rental properties to match available rentals with displaced families and individuals. Airbnb is executing the assistance through a partnership with 211 LA, a 24-hour hotline for individuals and families in need of aid in health, human, and social services, including housing crises.  They are offering services to residents who have lost their…

Tourist hotspot Florence, Italy has implemented additional measures to limit mass tourism. The latest developments in the city’s campaign against mass tourism include the banning of lock boxes most commonly utilized by residents renting out their properties on short-term rental platforms, and a heaven-sent ban on tour guide loudspeakers. The lock boxes, which allow tourists easy access to short-term rentals without the middleman have been subject to vandalism recently, being taped closed with red Xs by locals, according to CNN. These sentiments have been echoed in various hotspot destinations. Many cities are fed up with short term rentals driving up…

Global efforts to combat mass tourism spill into Mexico as the country’s government imposes a $42 immigration fee per passenger on cruise ships docking in the country. All cruise ship passengers docking in Mexico will now be subject to paying this fee whether they disembark or stay onboard, according to the Associated Press.  According to the Mexican Association of Naval Agents (AMANAC) this fee and an additional $5 per passenger fee imposed by local states makes Mexican destinations some of the most expensive in the world to visit. The association urged the Mexican government to reconsider this new fee warning…

There’s a recipe for an excellent trip abroad: combine friends, food, a bit of history, a taste of culture, and you’ll be cooking up a memorable visit in any part of the world. The internet is thoroughly saturated with travel recommendations and content, and it can be difficult to sort through the muck. Sure you can log into the old reliables, Expedia, Kayak or TripAdvisor to plan your trip, but don’t you want something a little more…personal? Something tailored to you and the experience you’re dying to have?  You’re in luck! There are plenty of emerging apps that can help…

Discover some of our favorite restaurants in Toronto, Canada. From charming neighborhoods to downtown hotspots, these culinary wonders will tantalize your taste buds. A veteran travel writer once told me to never compare cities or destinations. “From San Francisco to Shanghai, it’s the Paris of this, the Paris of that,” she said. “There is only one Paris. Describe a place on its own merits.” Rules are meant to be broken, though, and in Toronto’s case, it carries its long-time association with New York City. “Like NYC, Toronto is this incredible weave of urban villages that form a connected, cohesive whole,”…

Elevate your travel experience with these six best-kept secret hotels. From unexpected encounters to exceptional accommodations, make memories that last. THE CHATWAL LODGE (Sullivan Catskills, New York) The Chatwal New York City, opened in 1905 in the heart of Manhattan, is iconic, graced by the likes of Cecil B. DeMille and Charlie Chaplin. But the legendary hotel has a secret sister property opened in the Sullivan Catskills in 2023. Just about a two hour drive from Manhattan, the newest Chatwal is situated in the lower Hudson Valley near Bethel Woods (where Woodstock took place) is a 100-acre, self-enclosed sanctuary deep…

Where will your travels take you in 2025? Will you return to the same destinations you know and love, or perhaps dip your toes into some new cultures and explore unknown cities? The choice is yours, and there’s a perfect destination for every traveler in 2025. So pack your bags and start exploring! WINTER Chiang Mai, Thailand  For travelers from the northern hemisphere who would rather escape the cold than grin and bear it, Chiang Mai, Thailand is guaranteed to be balmy and beautiful. Thailand was in fact just named Travel and Leisure’s destination of the year for 2025. Chiang…

Beginning January 8, 2025 U.S. and other world travelers will need to obtain Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs) ahead of traveling to the U.K. The U.K. is moving to fully digitize its borders by the end of 2025, according to Conde Nast Traveler. This means any visitors who are visiting or passing through airports in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, who aren’t citizens must obtain an ETA or eVisa. The news of this shift follows various delays of the implementation of the U.K.’s new ETA application portal. Now, travelers can apply for the U.K. ETA via mobile app or web…

Passport is always up to date with the hottest new publications from LGBTQ+ authors on love, life and adventure. Grab one of these thrilling narratives, biographies, or guides at your favorite bookstore and pack them in your carry-on for your next flight. If Lil Nas X shot a bit of his DNA into a pop music version of 23andMe, the results would unquestionably trace back to Little Richard, whose first hit song’s original lyrics, replaced with nonsense syllables on the record, were “Tutti Frutti, good booty/If it don’t fit, don’t force it /You can grease it, make it easy…” British…

Around the world Christmas is celebrated with unique traditions and events, and some of the most enchanting holiday markets might be in your own neighborhood. Here are some curated picks making lists across the web for the best places to shop for gifts around the globe. 1. Union Square – New York, New York  New York is home to some of the most beautiful holiday displays, and many people come from near and far to witness its holiday glamor. The Christmas market in Union Square has been named one of the best holiday markets in the U.S. Located in Union…

If you are looking to spend the holidays in a LGBTQ-friendly destination, Key West, Florida offers a plethora of exciting things to do and experience. Festivities kick off on Wednesday, Nov. 27 with a sunset illumination of the Harbor Walk of Lights at the Key West Historic Seaport. This Christmas display is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit and is a great way to spend an evening with family and friends ahead of Thanksgiving.  Events continue throughout the Keys into December. Highlights include the Holiday Party Trolly on Wednesday, Dec. 11. Grab tickets for you and your…