juna 1. 2001
I
t’s the quintessential dykey idea: Figure
out a way for women to travel safely and
cheaply by helping each other through a
broad network of friendly faces. And
this was in place long before the Internet made
such ideas truly feasible. In the old days,
women planned their trips via the U.S. Mail!
If you’re a lesbian of a certain age, you’ve
probably seen the amazing pub
lication Lesbian Connection.
Published every two months for
the past 23 years, the magazine
offers a wealth of information
for women on the move.
It’s a very grassroots kind of thing, with all
articles coming from the readers themselves. In
the back is a large classified section that lists
places to stay all over the country that are lesbo-
owned or operated. The list even includes pri
vate homes for rent or exchange.
For example, I’m intrigued by the River Inn
on the Yellowstone in Livingston, Mont. I’ve
been to this small town, a spectacular setting
just oozing charm. The ad invites you to “Tuck
into our cowgirl cabins nestled on five garden
acres.” And these days it’s a snap to find out
more at www.wtp.net/go/riverinn. A visit to the
site confirms my hunch; this is a gorgeous spot—
you can even stay in a shepherd’s wagon! And in
true dyke style, the site reveals that the place is
run by Dee Dee, Ursula, Jake the Dog and Bones
’n’ Charlie the Cats.
Another great idea from Lesbian Connection
is an Alaskan wilderness sailing trip with expert
lesbian guides. They operate out of Juneau and
promise “whales, bears, eagles and hot springs.”
They, too, are wired at www.alaska.net/~sailak/.
At their site you’ll find awesome photos of their
yacht cruising through icebergs and past glaci
ers. What a great adventure that would be!
Many readers are rural dwellers, and the pub
lication consistently posts notices about various
opportunities to live communally on women’s
land. Many communities welcome paying
guests, whose nominal fees help sup
port the group. It’s a fun way to see
what it’s like to live with a dozen or
so other dykes. A recent issue pro
motes a visit to Tierra de Sapa-
jane, a high desert community
in southern Colorado. The
400 acres boast “secluded, for
ever views, pine trees, mead
ows, abundant wildlife and
peaceful relaxation.” Sign
me up!
The March/April
issue contains a list of
major women’s festi
vals all over the
country that could
lived in a funky but charming older house and
soon made me feel like an invited guest.
Janice was also a wealth of information, even
hooking me up with other Contact Dykes along
my route. She made my whole trip vastly more
enjoyable, especially because I was traveling in
the autumn, definitely the high season in New
England.
Co-captains Karen and Terry will take you
sailing in Alaska
Tuck yourself into this shepherd’s wagon at the River Inn on the Yellowstone
How I spen t my
summer vacation...
Meeting friendly women all over the country
by
O
(Formerly Downtown Travel Services)
We Took You to N e w York
for G ay G am e s IV -1994
We Took You to A m sterdam
for G ay G am e s V -1998
N ow : Let U s Take You
to S y d n ey - Nov. 2002
Anthony’s Cabins & R V Park
Gay owned. Located a short walk from downtown
and the beach. Seven uniquely decorated cabins in
a friendly setting. Visit u s on the Web at
www.anthonyshomecourt.com or call Toll-free
1-888-787-2754
r ia n a
inspire a trip to someplace new. The May/June
issue compiles the smaller events (and even
includes our own Women in the Woods). See
sidebar for examples.
But what LesCon, as it’s affectionately
called, is famous for is its list of Contact
Dykes. Women from all over the coun
try—and beyond— who are willing to
have their name and phone number on
the yearly list are available to help you
out when you’re far from home.
What they’re willing to
offer varies wide
ly— it might be
anything from a
referral to budget
lodging to a potluck
invitation to the
name of the only dyke
bar in town to an offer
of a place to crash. Some
women just like meeting
new people and potentially
building relationships for
future home trades (assuming
V a co ilM T ravel Planners
Long Beach Peninsula
31
GAY GAMES VI
Call Rip For All Your Travel Needs:
(503) 223-1100 • (800) 357-3194
email: gavtravel6Tiplanvacationtravel.com
www.iPlanVacationTravel.com
G
reen
you live somewhere desirable, which is a big Yes
for all of us in the Northwest).
I know of friendships that have been forged
in this way, with women trading houses in Port
land and Cape Cod, Mass.,
every summer.
Some years ago I tried
this system myself and met
some wonderful women. I
was traveling in New Eng
land— very unfamiliar terri
tory, and overtly queer estab
lishments of any kind were
difficult to locate.
Enter Janice, the wel
coming Contact Dyke in
Portsmouth, N.H., who met
me at a cafe (presumably to
check me out), then invited
me to follow her home. She
Performers at the Michigan
Womyn’s Music Festival
present a wide array of
music
HIDDEN HARBOR
So if you like some friendly folks mixed in
with your adventures, give Lesbian Connec
tion a try. Just call 517-371-5257, e-mail
elsiepub@aol.com, or write to Ambitious
Amazons, P.O. Box 811, East Lansing, MI
48826. j n
Entertainment Editor ORIANA GREEN is a world
traveler whose favorite trip ever took her into the
arms of a very friendly Swiss Miss. Write to her at
oriana@justout.com.
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August 10-13,2001
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