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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2001)
juna 1. 2001 » back of every issue listing hotels, bed and breakfasts, etc. I also did some double-checking on the Internet, now absolutely necessary when book ing almost any kind of travel. I partic ularly found www.gaaykeywestfl.com useful. E-mailing house photos to every one made coming to a consensus much easier. Once we had all agreed the proper house had been located, I cemented our reservation. 1 highly recom mend a sh o rt term, separate checking account. It made the bookkeeping easier than running it through my personal account and prevented any em bar rassing confusion. We all made our own air reserva tions. Different frequent flyer plans put us in two groups, and we ren dezvoused in Miami. After the requisite hassle of han dling too much luggage and getting a van big enough to handle all the accouterments of seven stylish m m m 'MM ' V • • . dressers, we were off. Our intention ■ lägrar ' v*A" was to spend Friday night in South Beach, but thanks to the hotel from Living ¡t up with a house— and pool— of their own hell that didn’t hold our guaranteed reservation, we drove much of the way through southern Florida, staying at a Hol little pool right off the living room. We settled in and started exploring. iday Inn in Key Largo. By morning, we had coffee, warm sunny skies The core area of Key West—Old Town and and a fresh perspective. O ur vacation had the main drag, Duval Street— were all within begun. The Overseas Highway through the easy walking distance, for us about 20 minutes. Florida Keys is breathtaking, composed of 40 Gay bars and gay-friendly restaurants are bridges linking 100 islands for 109 miles. abundant. Be sure to visit 801 Bourbon for great music and video and the omnipresent Our rental house was exactly what we had male dancers during weekends. Diva’s of Key hoped for with a large, well-stocked kitchen, excellent sleeping arrangements and a perfect West had an excellent drag show, which was ; » ' - ' V . _____ ' ' hilarious at times. Dudes, also on Duval Street, offers dancing— and dancers— nightly. The style is easygoing and the dress code casual. Shorts and shirts were fine for the day. Dinners out were just a bit more formal, although a nice shirt and a pair of khakis were more than sufficient. We found reservations helpful and necessary. We celebrated our arrival by dining at Café des Artistes. The food, although a bit pricey, was virtually perfect and set the tone for a week of great dining. Key West is the southernmost point in the continental United States, marked by a huge buoy, the perfect place for a picture. Also nearby is Ernest Hemingway’s grand Spanish Colonial house, where he created about 70 percent of his work. It exudes literary history. Being a former book store owner, I found this visit well worth the time. Although slightly touristy, one of Key West’s most entrenched traditions is watching the sunset down at the pier. This is an excellent people- ‘ watching scene, filled with mimes, jug glers and comedy acts all vying for your dollar in the hat. Frankly, beers are a must, and all comes to a stop as the sun winks below the horizon and everyone pretends to watch for the mythic green flash. We were surprised by Key West’s lack of good beaches and were glad to have our cozy and private pool as a backup. Our own martinis were as good as any we found at the bars, so cocktail hour generally was taken there. Besides, we all had stories to tell from that day’s exploration. Key West was pretty much all that we hoped it would be. The weather was predictably per fect, the people casual and friendly, and we found traveling that far south in January good for the soul and the midwinter blues. It’s not too early to start planning. Enjoy! J H Veteran traveler RICHARD B ray just returned from a trip down the A m a zo n River. H e can be reached at richbray2000@ hotmail.com. Best Coast Inns Oregon Nehalem River Inn and Restaurant The Inn on Manhattan Beach, Writers say, “...charm galore ema nates from” this nationally rated “Oregon star attraction” country inn. Critically acclaimed as “...a hideaway par excellence” “taste of Oregon paradise” “Four Stars...” “...bucolic setting” “...oasis of fine cuisine" “...renowned restaurant” “...best al fresco dining in region” “best seafood on coast,” “...culnary masterpieces” “...best food on coast” “A celebration of northwest cuisine.” the little white inn on the seashore, The River Inn offers in-room jetted spas and fireplaces, luxurious comfortable wood framed beds, private decks overlooking the river with scenic mountain views, pri vate dock, kayaks, daily River Inn label wine tasting and many other amneities. Guests can relax and lodge at the main inn, or stay in Riverside Cottage next to the dock. Wildlife watch nearby as guests dine amonst tangled rainforest greenery and to the naturally tran quil music of croaking frogs. Fresh wild and organic delicacies from the forest, river, sea and River Inn gardens compliment your gourmet dining adventure. A riverside soad in the hot tub, on a moonlit night, may be the perfect ending to a day on the river or exploring the coast. Kayaks are available not only for hotel guests, but for those simply wishing to explore the natural splendor of the Nehalem River. The River Inn is centrally locat ed, yet semi-secluded in a natu rally romantic setting away from the crowds. sits on spacious private ocean- front acreage bordering Man hattan Beach Sate Park, an unspoiled, untamed sand beach sanctuary. Studio, one or two bedroom suites feature fireplaces, in-room jetted spas, comfortable plush beds and nautical decor. French doors open onto private decks for whale watching and spectacular views of the Pacific, Manhattan Beach, mountains and wildlife. Kayaks are available and Lake Crescent is only steps from the inn. It’s a short distance along the beach for crabbing and clamming, or relax in the beach- side hot tub. Semi-secluded but close to all amenities and activi ties, enjoy privacy away from the crowds. Breakfast is available fireside. The Inn is minutes from Cannon Beach, Manzanita and Rockaway Beach. 1 - 800 - 368-6499 Visit the website at www.river-inn.com Jiideaway Resort fmJ 1,465 ppdo - 7 NIGHTS FRANGIPANI BURE - - DAILY BREAKFAST - - LATE CHECK O U T - Blue Xggoon Cruise $ Malolo Island ^esort 2,157 - 3 NIGHTS CRUISE MAIN DECK - (includes meals) - 4 NIGHTS MALOLO ISLAND OCEANVIEW ROOM - - DAYROOM AT TOKATOKA RESORT PRE-CRUISE & DEPARTURE - RT air from LAX on Air Pacific valid thru 3/02. Subject to availability. Seasonal surcharges may apply. LLOYD TRAVEL 1026 NE Multnomah 503 288-5145 - Mon. - Fri. 8:30 am - 5:30 pm Sat. 10 am - 3 pm Escape your everyday routines in this secluded, creekside setting on 28 acres. Take a long hike, picnic by the creek, or simply relax in 800 sq.ft, of unique country living. Fully furnished with full kitchen, bath, and wood-burning stove to warm your toes. Solar powered. Bring your pets, they’ll love it too! Come for the adventure — stay as long as you like! Stillpoint Acres ( 503 ) 366-1712 eagleheart@ados.com 29
