Two More Reasons to Head to Vermont This Year

From Pride Vermont 2011

The state of Vermont doesn’t have a single gay bar (last time we checked). But it does have a super gay-friendly population and a cool, laid-back, welcoming vibe. It also has two simultaneous gay-related events taking place September 22, 2012: Pride Vermont and Northern Decadence.

Northern Decadence is probably a bit more G-rated than the name would imply (one of the highlights is a cupcake competition). But it is a fun, community-oriented event that, along with Pride Vermont, brings a big, concentrated dollop of “gay” to Northern New England.

At Northern Decadence, you’ll meet the owners of the state’s many fabulous gay-owned and gay-friendly resorts, restaurants, shops and other businesses and enjoy some of the unique cuisine that makes Vermont a great place to visit any time of the year.

From the organizers:

The second annual “Northern Decadence Food & Travel Expo” will take place on Saturday, September 22, 2012, 12 – 5 pm at Battery Park in Burlington, as part of the annual Vermont Pride Festival.  The Vermont Gay Tourism Association (VGTA), in partnership with the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing, produces Northern Decadence to promote Vermont to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel market.  Northern Decadence celebrates Vermont’s diversity, tourism and culinary culture. 

These are but two of many great reasons to head to the Green Mountain State. And here’s one way to do it: Linda Edelman at Custom Tours has set up trips for LGBT customers and is soon launching a business specifically welcoming LGBT visitors to the state. Stay tuned. Also JetBlue offers convenient flights to Burlington from JFK and other destinations.

JETBLUE PLUS CAPE AIR EQUALS EASY ARRIVAL IN PTOWN

Best way to get to Provincetown, Massachusetts, especially if you are short on time, is via JetBlue and Cape Air.

The two airlines have a marketing partnership which allows for seamless travel between any cities JetBlue serves and this famous and fabulous gay summer resort destination at the curly-cue tip of Massachusetts’ Cape Cod.

“The Boston to Provincetown portion is usually 26 minutes and drops you minutes from Herring Cove Beach,” says Cape Air’s Michelle Haynes. “There is also a handy shuttle stop at the airport and for the grand total of $2 you can get a ride directly to Herring Cove or to downtown P’town. Leave the car at home! “

I recently experienced the service flying from New York (JFK) to Boston with an easy switch — it’s only a few gates away in the same terminal — to Cape Air and onto Provincetown. Each flight is well less than an hour so depending on close you cut it arriving at the airport, it is usually the quickest way to the Cape.The return trip is even better.

The tiny Ptown airport only has one flight at a time so you can arrive 30 or even 15 minutes prior to your flight.Tip, if you are checking luggage: You must purchase your entire ticket on JetBlue to be able to check your bags all the way through to Provincetown. Otherwise you may have to exit the airport in Boston to collect and re-check your bag. That’s not fun!

Originally published in GPS.OutTraveler.com.

JetPride: JetBlue Launches First-Ever Gay Flight

Arrive in grand gay style for Long Beach Pride aboard JetBlue‘s JetPride flight #1969 departing San Francisco International Airport on May 14, 2010 at 12:30PM and arriving at Long Beach Airport at 2PM. This rainbow-powered flight features ribald and hilarious comedian, Pam Ann, serving as the flight’s honorary purser. She’s a straight woman female impersonator à la Dame Edna, who is a straight, married female impersonator. Go figure. The flight features pink cocktails, gift bags, and other goodies, natch.

JetPride’s flight is priced at the incredibly low price of $79 per one-way ticket plus taxes and fees. To purchase, you must contact the ‘JetPride desk’ at 888-538-2583 option 4. It is not available online since it’s an exclusive offer. (See below for the ‘fine print.’) Passengers have a wide range of options to return to San Francisco or Oakland (with five and four daily flights, respectively).