The Victoria Inn was built around 1915, and has been restored and furnished, complete with modern amenities. The kitchen seats 20, there is a bar area, Victorian-furnished parlor with ocean views, and family room. For weddings or parties, there are three rental units that can accommodate up to 40 guests.

The Victoria Inn is one block from the beach and boardwalk in Ocean City, located at the Jersey Shore in Cape May County. Ocean City’s boardwalk is two and a half miles of shops, over 100 restaurants, two amusement piers, a water park, movie theatres, and more.

Activities include: bike rentals, guided beach walks (summer months only), jet skiing, boating, fishing, whale and dolphin watching. Also, there are shuffleboard courts, beach volleyball courts, tennis courts, a skate park and a football field.

I’m trying something new with LesbianTravel.net. I would like to get as much info as I can for my visitors, and have real women comment, rate, ask questions, and chat about the various locations. So, feel free to add your 2 cents to any of the info you read about lesbian destinations. Thanks!

By Catherine Potter, Co-owner, Bambú Lesbian Country House ApartHotel, Andalucia, Spain

00 44 (0)7840 895116 for reservations
Visit the Bambu Resort website
Rooms: 7 (double and twin suites), kitchens, outside seating areas
Amenities: Pool, weekly welcome reception
Prices: ₡55 and up
Women only

Where do lesbian families go on holiday?

The simple answer is they go to the same places as straight families. Which is nice. After all, straight, gay, what does it matter?

But wouldn’t it be nice if mum and mum could enjoy some frolicking in the pool, without shocked or overly-intrigued onlookers? Wouldn’t it be nice if the kids didn’t have to be shy about explaining why their dad isn’t on holiday with them or who the other woman is? And wouldn’t it be nice if starlit evenings could be spent exchanging anecdotes and stories with other lesbian parents and their children.

Unfortunately, and we all understand why, most lesbian hotels are adult-only environments. And what self-respecting 12 year old wants to spend their entire holiday with a bunch of ‘boring old’ women?

Indeed, when my partner Susanne and I first conceived Bambú, our Spanish lesbian holiday destination, we also presumed that it would be adult-only. Yet we have brought up two daughters of our own, so no reason for us to be prejudiced against families. Our daughters are 18 and 19 now and starting the process of moving on to new chapters in their lives. May I point out at this juncture that we were very young mothers and that we are still in the prime of our lives despite our chicks having (almost) flown the nest!

2010 is the inaugural year of Bambú. We have both given up our jobs in the rat race and are thoroughly enjoying this new challenge. It is lovely working in a women-only environment and it is lovely living and working under the Spanish sun. Everything is a little more laid back over here, a little less materialistic than Britain. It feels like a new lease of life.

But when we first started promoting our lovely lesbian paradise we very quickly hit a particularly perplexing challenge. We kept encountering requests from lesbian parents as to whether they and their children could stay. I initially fumbled around for some evasive and feeble answer, not wanting to say either no or yes. But one parent, a little more intelligent than me, suggested designating certain weeks for the exclusive enjoyment of lesbian families.

Yes, here was a solution. We don’t need to worry about lesbian couples who understandably don’t want to take their holidays in a family resort and never be able to spend a few moments on a lilo without being splashed by some underage dive-bomber. And similarly we don’t need to worry about bored children with no company of their own age, with only that bunch of ‘boring old women’ to terrorise!

So, that is what we have done. For starters, we are designating 4 weeks per year for lesbian families – the last week of May (2011 onwards), the last two weeks of August and the last week of October. School holiday dates vary across Europe but there appears to be a certain pattern whereby these weeks should suit most European nationalities. We will gauge demand but it may be the case that we add other weeks to these four.

And lo and behold, after barely a few days of promoting our lesbian family weeks, we have three bookings. So, fingers crossed, it is looking like we have hit upon a gap in the market. So it is true that lesbian parents and their children wish to holiday in an environment of people with lives and experiences similar to their own.

So, a little about Bambú before I sign off. We are a country house apart-hotel in Spain’s beautiful southern province of Andalucia, with 7 self-catering suites, which share extensive terraces and a stunning pool. The majority of the year, it will be lesbian couples or groups of friends sunning themselves by the pool but for these 4 weeks only Bambú will erupt into a lesbian family fiesta. Decibel levels will be higher, pool turbulence will be unprecedented, and tears and laughter will suffuse the air. Bambú is a great place for a holiday for adults and children alike. We are located in a stunning position – the views really take your breath away.

We are in a completely peaceful, safe and secluded rural location. However we are very close to civilisation and lots of things to see and do. Bambú is 1km from the nearest village of Benamocarra, 5km from the small historic city of Velez-Malaga and, most importantly, about 8km to the lovely and lively seaside town of Torre del Mar.

The promenade at Torre is beautiful and a pleasure all year round but in the summer months it transforms itself into a thriving Spanish holiday destination with great restaurants, fabulous markets and an electric atmosphere. We are also just 30 minutes from the lovely city of Malaga and encourage all of our guests to visit the city at least once during their stay.

Bambú is the perfect place for a lesbian holiday, whether you are a couple, a group of friends or a lesbian family!

I read an interesting article in the Ottawa Citizen the other day, about how Nepal has set up a travel agency for gay and lesbians. It’s called The Pink Mountain Agency, and one of its founders is the only openly gay member of parliament in the country. There will be adventure sports, safaris, treks on Everest (you can even get married up there if you want – if your partner doesn’t die on the way up).

Although Nepal is considered old-school when it comes to homosexuality, they have become a lot more gay-friendly in the past few years.

Read the Ottawa Citizen article.

Just some of the fun...

Friday, July 31

It’s the first real party night of the Pride weekend. The numerous gay street parties are huge and full of energy, starting at the Reguliersdwarsstraat, Amstel Westermarkt, Paardenstraat (Women), Rembrandtplein, Halvemaansteeg and Amstelveld. (Don’t worry if you can’t pronounce it, just follow the hot girls and guys to whatever party you want). The main party tonight is held at the Melkweg. Also, Club Rapido production presents Reflexxx with famous DJ Offer Nissim. Not feeling the more commercial, clubby vibe? Head to M.U.L.T.I.S.E.X.Y or Galore.

Saturday, August 1

The highlight of the whole Amsterdam Gay Pride weekend is the Canal Parade in the afternoon afternoon. This parade attracts about 350,000 spectators a year, and features 75 fantastically decorated boats filled with hot boys and girls, sailing through the Amstel and Prinsengracht river from 2 to 6 pm.

Amsterdam Street

Sunday, August 2

What, it’s almost over! If you’re not sidelined with a severe hangover and are still up for partying, the traditional Closing Party is late this afternoon with a mix of Dutch artists and DJ’s. Celebrate the last day of Amsterdam gay festivites at the Stopera.

To find a complete event schedule and more great info, visit Amsterdam Gay Pride.

Vancouver Pride

First is the official Pride Weekend Launch, presented by the Vancouver Pride Society. Kick off this year’s celebration with a Krispy-Kreme donut fundraiser at 7 am on Friday (you had me at donut), then onto the Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby St.) to meet the parade Grand Marshals at noon.

Friday night starts the festivities off right with the Davie Street Pride Party, starting at 7 pm. Two words: beer garden. Actually, there’s a lot more to it than that: enjoy DJ’s spinning, hot models, tons of dancing, live music, a giant Twister game and much more! It’s sure to put you in the spirit of Pride Weekend. It goes on until midnight, and is hosted by Kim Kuzma. If you’ve got two X chromosomes there’s also a great Chicks Ahoy Women’s Boat Cruise from 7 till midnight if you’re interested (FlygirlProductions.com).

Up early? Check out Rise and Shine on Saturday morning (Aug. 2) at 9 am, when Vancouver Front Runners host a Pride Run and Walk in gorgeous Stanly Park. That afternoon, the Dyke March and Festival is at McSpadden Park (Victoria Dr. And 4th Ave.) from 12-4.

Vancouver Pride Parade

Worth checking out: Big Roger Events throws a number of circuit parties throughout the weekend, starting with Hard on Friday night, Power on Saturday, and the grand Global Pride Party on Sunday night. Don’t miss the Big Muscle World Tour after-hours party on Sunday night, the Sunday Sweat Pride Brunch in the am, three Pride boating excursions on August 3 and 4. Don’t forget to check out the local merchants, there are lots of gay-friendly and gay-popular restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels and shops that will be offering special deals and events throughout pride week.

Buy a pass: You can buy an event pass for $185 for all of the weekends events, or pay separately. Get more info here.

Keep checking back for info, as a lot of events haven’t been finalized yet. Check local gay papers like Xtra West, for details and the Tourism Vancouver site.