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
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dressers, we were off. Our intention
■ lägrar
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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
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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
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