The party that is SF Pride is about to descend on San Francisco. This year’s tagline is a not-so-subtle-allusion to the year’s political events declaring: “A more perfect union.” In honor of Pride and in spite of recent California decisions, we’ve put together a listing of offbeat LGBT honeymoon destinations, most of which where same-sex marriage is legal or well accepted. San Francisco, New York and Key West have been done – here are some out-of-the-box suggestions for newlyweds.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Far from a conventional island vacation, you and your sweetie can find thermal baths to soak in all over the city.

Utrecht, the Netherlands

Holland has long been famed for its liberal policies and being in the forefront of across the board tolerance. But this chilled out but cosmopolitan city is a also a great place to explore with your partner.

Valencia, Spain

With gay marriage legalized in 2006, this fun-loving city could be the perfect place to celebrate your union.

Vermont, USA

Summertime in Vermont is legendary for great swimming and hiking trails. Retire to one of the state’s many bed and breakfasts for a great honeymoon experience.

Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

With a thriving gay nightlife centered just outside the walls of the old city, Quebec City has long been a gay-friendly destination.

By Lauren Locke-Paddon, editorial.

A crowd of merely hundreds would be a rare sight at a parade in San Francisco. But at Shanghai Pride, China’s first gay pride celebration, in a country where gay sex was illegal until 1997 and homosexuality is still widely stigmatized, a crowd of hundreds was a fabulous start.

Last week, a rainbow of faces gathered in the metropolis of Shanghai to kick off what supporters hope will become a yearly tradition. Festivities even included a symbolic marriage ceremony for two couples, even though gay marriage is illegal in China. The weekend was rounded out with a Hot Body Competition, a Queer Olympiad, and some drag shows.

It’s not clear whether China’s gay community would be thrilled with how things went. While the surprising turnout and the positive media coverage are definitely signs of progress, the government’s reaction was disturbing. During the week leading up to the main party, Shanghai authorities shut down several planned pride events. There were reports that police threatened some venues out of participating, and many blame anti-gay sentiment for the interference.

Still, previous attempts at pride celebrations in China have not been nearly as successful as this one. There’s a fight ahead, but Shanghai Pride 2009 is proof that things are beginning to change.

Click here for more on Shanghai Pride.

by Kay Dover, editorial

At OffbeatGuides.com we are in the business of up-to-the-minute travel guides customized just for you—no matter where you want to go or see—we know how to take you there!

For today, here is a mini-guide to some of our must-know recommendations for gay and lesbian travel websites, blogs and other resources to get you ready for your next holiday or honeymoon.

1) GayCities: The world’s largest LGBT site, it provides useful, up-to-date information on gay bars, clubs, hotels, restaurants and even beaches to the masses. GayCities has also released the first full-featured LGBT travel application for the iPhone from a gay media company. The iPhone application provides user reviews as well as maps nearby gay-friendly restaurants, bars, hotels, and beaches in over 70 cities worldwide for the iPhone and iPod touch.

2)  Axel Hotels is advertised as “The World’s First Gay Hotel Chain.” Their philosophy is “Axel Hotels is a hotel chain focusing on the gay community. However, we created a free and tolerant society, where diversity and respect are valued…we introduce a new term: ‘heterofriendly’. Axel is designed for the gay audience, but is opened to everyone.”

3) NewGayTravelGuide: A blog for what’s happening with gay travel, events and entertainment around-the-world.

4)  Gay Travel: Gay and Lesbian travel destinations with resources for events, shopping, restaurants, attractions, and hotels.

5)  Planet Out’s Travel blog.

6)  Queer Trip: Whether it is a Walt Disney World trip for the LGBT family with kids, an overnight getaway for two, or a trans-continental trip, this site is a great resource for car, airline tickets, and hotels.

7)  OutAdvisor:Travel reviews and ratings site for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered communities.

8)  Savvy navigator: Luxurious trips for sophisticated groups and gay honeymoons.

9)  Olivia.com: Lesbian cruises and resort vacations with focus on entertainment.

By Mara Rogers, Editorial

Soccer (or football, as everyone outside the United States calls it) is probably the most popular sport on the planet, and this Sunday the Confederations Cup final between Brazil and the United States is being held in Johannesburg, South Africa. As the South Africans use this tourney to tune up for the 2010 World Cup, other soccer leagues continue to play on in almost every country around the world. Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is no exception. In a place where there are laws against gatherings of more than five people at one time, crowds at soccer matches would definitely be under watch in Burma (via Deadspin & the WSJ.)

Political situations like the ones in Burma are something to reflect upon when we’re able to make our own travel plans with such ease, whether it be to the World Cup in South Africa next summer, or just to a baseball game on July 4th.

Many people would agree that one of the finest aspects of traveling is dining at local restaurants. But, food tourism is on the move to something much bigger—the ultimate gourmet experience, and the only way you can truly learn about a cuisine—is to take an international cooking class in its country of origin.

When you travel to Parma, Italy, you are actually taking a journey into centuries-old Italian culinary history. Next, when you cook food using the ingredients from that specific local, such as the only true Parmigiano Reggiano in the world (an aged Parmesan cheese) named after the province of Parma where it is produced, that is when food meets with art and the celebration of a country.

Discover Spain when harvesting Spanish olives, then making them into olive oil. Or, traveling to the home of Spain’s most popular sheep’s milk cheese “Manchego” made from the milk of sheep grazing on the plains of La Mancha, or sipping regional wines such as the famed sherries from Jerez and Montilla.

Imagine: after a hunt for rare black truffles in France and then a shopping excursion at a Parisian open-air market, learning traditional French culinary techniques and preparing your treasure in a Provençal farmhouse kitchen. Or, serving-up genuine Creole and Cajun recipes in New Orleans and then dining on the feast with Dixieland jazz in the background.

The following is a list of resources for your international culinary vacation. There are one-day “a la carte” workshops in many countries, or you can sign-up for a more intensive, longer course of several days.

http://www.TheInternationalKitchen.com
http://www.PatriciaWells.com
http://www.NewOrleansCookingExperience.com
http://www.ItalianCookeryCourse.com
http://www.Sazon.com
http://www.Tuscany-cooking-class.com
http://www.AlhambraTravel.com
http://UK.geocities.com/laculinaria

By Mara Rogers, editorial.

On a long bus ride in Vietnam, a young guy next to me asked if we could share the headphones on my ipod. ‘Err, yeh’ I spluttered out, wondering if he would like my collection of early 90’s tunes and gingerly handed him the (L) earphone, cringing as he jammed the earpiece right up in his ear and wondering whether he had showered more recently than me, (we were both backpackers). We spent the bus ride in uncomfortable intimacy and not really hearing anything, and we both thought the volume was too loud.

If only there were a rest stop during the trip, I would have gotten off the bus and tried to find an audio splitter, like this one from Apple. Use it for watching a movie on your laptop during a flight, plug it in your iPhone and party line a friend, or listen to music comfortably with a strange backpacker you just met. Great value at $20, and you can even ask your friend to pay half!

Higher fuel prices are already hitting gas stations around the United States (here in San Francisco, we’re already seeing gas edge above the $3 mark.) Does that mean airfares will follow the same path? Not if you’re Singapore Airlines. From almost every destination they serve in the United States, they are offering fares as low as $579 to Europe, $679 to Singapore and Southeast Asia, and $879 to Australia and India in the months of July and August. How can you not afford to book a ticket at those prices? It could up being less expensive than a summer road trip to the beach! For booking info, check out the Sinagpore Airlines website here

“Voluntourism” is a new term for those who wish to travel with a purpose.

Most people think of travel as being a life-changing experience–in the past that meant life-changing only for you–but through Voluntourism, travel becomes life-changing for you and for an important cause that is close to your heart.

When volunteer work and travel are combined it can change you and your world view, while adding tremendous life-meaning to your next holiday.

Whether you decide to make your meaningful, Volunteer Vacation a short- or long-term occasion, the following are some exciting opportunities and resources.

1). Biosphere Expeditions North America
www.biosphere-expeditions.org
Tel.: 1-800-407-5761
Note: Their Head Office is in the UK, with offices in North America, Germany, France, and Australia

Biosphere Expeditions is a wildlife research and conservation non-profit organization whose main focus is to conserve the biosphere with volunteer-led scientific conservation expeditions to several countries around the world. Biosphere Expeditions states its purpose as the promotion of sustainable conservation of the planet’s wildlife by involving the public, with scientists across the globe on real hands-on wildlife research and conservation expeditions. Expeditions typically place interested people with no research experience alongside scientists widely accepted to be at the forefront of their conservation work.

Biosphere Expeditions is listed as currently working in eight countries around the world; Oman, Honduras, Portugal (or more specifically the Azores), Spain, the Altai Republic, Slovakia, Namibia and Brazil.

2). Crooked Trails:
www.CrookedTrails.com
Tel: (206) 383-9828

Crooked Trails is non-profit, community-based travel organization helping people broaden their understanding of the planet and it diverse cultures through education, community development and responsible travel. “Our travel programs explore many destinations around the globe and teach the ethics of responsible travel to reduce the environmental and cultural impacts of tourism. We only work in communities that have invited us and on community development projects chosen by the people we visit.”

Programs are held in Peru, India, Nepal, Kenya, Ecuador, Thailand, China, Bhutan, and Mexico.

3). Gap Year Abroad
www.gapyearabroad.ca
Tel: 1-866-GAP-TRVL

They describe their programs as ways to “seek greater depth in life,” “satisfy cultural curiosity,” “renewing your sense of purpose in life,” and “effect positive change.”

Past programs have included projects such as being part of a world-wide movement that sets up wind-power generators in Nepal, places math or English teachers in remote parts of Ghana, develops business plans for women’s co-ops in Guatemala, that protects endangered animals and their habitats in Borneo, or one that builds schools in Thailand.

More Resources For Philanthropic Travel So That You Can Make A World Of Difference:

Websites:

* Directory on International Voluntary Service: www.avso.org.

* Idealist.org: Action Without Borders: www.idealist.org.

* International Volunteer Programs Association (IVPA): www.volunteerinternational.org.

* Voluntourism.org Travel and Volunteer Opportunities: www.Voluntourism.org

Videos:

* “Making a Difference: College Volunteers Abroad, and Making a Difference: American Volunteers Abroad” by Bob Gilner. Bob Gilner Productions, www.docmakeronline.com/VolunteersAbroad.html.

Books:

* “Green Volunteers: The World Guide to Voluntary Work in Nature Conservation” edited by Fabio Ausenda and Erin McCloskey; www.greenvolunteers.com.

* “Volunteer: A Traveler’s Guide to Making a Difference Around the World” by Charlotte Hindle; Nate Cavalieri; Rachel Collinson; Korina Miller; Mike Richard.

* “How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Abroad “ by Joseph Collins, Stefano DeZerega, and Zahara Heckscher; www.volunteeroverseas.org.

By Mara Rogers, editorial.

The first in our “What Not to Wear Traveling’ series, Lauren Theriot Locke-Paddon in our editorial team puts the spotlight on India and dress etiquette.

This is a public service announcement: Leave your hot pants at home when traveling in India. In a three-month journey around the subcontinent I saw the legs of five or six local women, notable because temperatures often topped 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The popular salwar kameez (a long tunic worn with drawstring pants) is a fabulous option for staying cool and keeping some credibility as a respectful traveler.

It seems common for a first time female visitor to this amazing country to be filled with warnings concerning the behavior of local men towards foreign women. It is also common to hear these women complaining about said behavior, especially in the North. However, a woman wearing short jean shorts in rural India that is talking about a lack of respect shown towards her is clearly confused. It’s her that has forgotten certain rules of decorum. After all, it’s evident to everyone that lives in that village that she’s dressed like, well, a streetwalker.

It’s true that my sense of fashion languished during my trip. It was hot, and my wardrobe needed to fit into an oversized book bag. I often favored mustard pants and a maroon tunic with gold edging I had picked up in Kerala. This was paired with a ratty straw hat, Ray-Bans and my only pair of shoes – Chaco sandals. Looking back, I seemed to have forgotten that I would be taking photos on my vacation. I didn’t look good, but at least I looked decent, which is important when one of your main activities is drinking chai with old men.

Another note: you’re not going to fit in, even when you don a sari. My friend and I spent a full day shopping for used saris in Hyderabad, finding blouses and petticoats and getting an impromptu sari-tying lesson from the shop-owner’s daughters. My delicate blue silk sari was shot through with a silver pattern and its debut on the streets of Hyderabad was about the equivalent of wearing a ball gown around Oakland, California. Attention factor went up, especially when my friend and I paused for a photo shoot at the chai stall.

An unexpected side effect of wearing saris to the Chowmahalla palace the next day was all the attention we got from wonderful ladies who approached us to help us readjust the 15 feet of fabric we’d wrapped around ourselves that morning. Upon exiting the hotel room I asked the cleaning woman if my sari was “ok?” She dissolved into laughter, and basically made me start from scratch. The offending aspect? My front pleats needed to be moved about three inches to the left. Women that would have never otherwise spoken to us, minding their own business as many normal, friendly people often do, would take us to the side and ask if they could help. The imperfections in our saris, so subtle as to be totally imperceptible to us, were the equivalent of wearing your pants backwards, or using your underwear as a hat. It’s up to you whether that’s a “do” or a “don’t”.

For more specialized information on Hyderabad, check out the Offbeat Guide here!

By Lauren Theriot Locke-Paddon, editorial.

Meaning “the sun stands still” in Latin, the summer solstice marks the beginning of summer for those living in the Northern hemisphere. The event, which takes place annually on June 21, gives earthlings our longest hours of sunlight in a day. Early civilizations have long regarded this celestial event as a day of reverence to the life-giving sun, and to this day, nations still find special ways to celebrate summer’s arrival. Here is a little glimpse into how your global neighbors are ringing in the summer season.

Midsommardagen, or Midsummer Festival, in Sweden

On the weekend closest to June 24, the Swedes celebrate one of their biggest – and arguably the most important – holidays: Midsommardagen. The celebration, which honors the summer solstice and Saint John, generally lasts from June 19-25. Midsommardagen is thought to originate from the Vikings and holds many traditions. For instance, single Swedish ladies often place up to nine different flowers beneath her pillow to dream of her future love. Additionally, maypoles are decorated and danced around, while new potatoes of the season are picked to create traditional Swedish dishes.

The Around Admiralty “Spirit of Adventure” Sailboat Race in Juneau, Alaska

Each year, the Juneau Yacht Club hosts the longest inland water race in the North American West Coast. Beginning and ending in Juneau, Alaska, the 192-mile overnight sailboat race takes sailors around Admiralty Island National Monument. The race, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, showcases the best of Alaska’s natural landscape and wildlife: snowcapped mountains sit majestically in the horizon, while groups of sea lions, Orcas and Humpback whales are often spotted along the racecourse. Beginning on June 20, the seven-day adventure is led with the full moon overhead, the sunset to the west and the dawn’s light approaching in the east.

For more information, visit www.juneauyachtclub.com

Summer Solstice at Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England

It’s been described as a spiritual experience. Every year, thousands of people flock to Stonehenge to silently observe the solstice morning creep over the site’s ancient and mysterious stone monuments. Many visitors spend the night from sundown the night before to watch the sun rise on June 21, usually at 4:45 a.m. While past events have been known to be violent, the celebration is now known for its peaceful and relaxed atmosphere. Families, travelers, pagans and party people unite for a festival of dance, food, music, and of course – light.

For more information, visit www.english-heritage.org.uk.

Festa Junina, or June Festivals, in Brazil

Though it is technically the beginning of the Brazilian winter, Festa Junina is a countrywide celebration that is originally born from European summer solstice festivals. The festival, which can last up to two weeks, was brought to the Brazilians by the Portuguese, who rang in the summer solstice with bonfires. As a consequence, Festa Junina still traditionally begins with the burning of bonfires, though the focus of the festival has shifted away from a sun celebration to a celebration of Catholic saints (namely Saint Anthony, Saint John, and Saint Peter). Compared to Carnival, Festa Junina is celebrated in both rural and urban areas of Brazil, and features fanciful costumes, square dancing, accordion music, and corn dishes. Brazil’s two largest Festa Junina festivals take place in Caruaru, Pernambuco and Campina Grande, Paraiba.

By Victoria Nguyen, editorial.