Ft. Lauderdale - July 2013 - A Sad Departure

We've had a wonderful time  here in the Ft. Lauderdale area over the last week and I for one am feeling less than thrilled to be headed back to Hampton Roads and anti-gay Virginia.  Admittedly, Florida is not a gay friendly state, but in this area one would never know it.  Virginia has nowhere comparable where gays seemingly are accepted by almost everyone and where business that cater to the LGBT market are so plentiful. During our stay we have been places ranging from the beautiful Lauderdale Yacht Club, to cruising down the Intercoastal Waterway to hitting the gay clubs in Wilton Manors taking an air boat ride across the Everglades at Cooperville.  

For those who have never visited the area, I recommend Ft. Lauderdale highly.  Below are some photos from over the last week.

Lauderdale Yacht Club

Intercoastal cruising

Everglades tour

Making it all the more fun were our hosts and their amazing home and our friends we shared time with, both the locals and the ones visiting from Virginia.

A little too close for comfort!!

Sebastian Beach

Our friends' home

Thankfully, we have been invited to visit again "any time."

Ft. Lauderdale - July 2013 - Day Six

Yesterday was pretty much non-stop from the time we headed out in the morning for our tour of a portion of Everglades National Park.  The photo above shows the sign for the tour company we used.  To say it was rustic is an understatement, although the air boat tour was enjoyable and informative   albeit unnerving when I had a 10 foot alligator about 4 feet away as I was seated near the side of the air boat.  Our boat captain was a hoot even though at first glance he was major league Bubba type.  Our band of adventurers included a number of friends also down visiting from Virginia (shown below in a somewhat cheesy photo that was included in the ticket price). I will post an alligator photo tomorrow.

After the Everglades expedition, we had drinks at the gorgeous home of friends in Wilton Manors followed by dinner at a great Thai restaurant in the same complex as the Alibi and Boom (gay clubs).  After dinner, we visited both clubs and also the Village Pub across Wilton Drive.

While Florida hardly ranks as a gay friendly state, the Ft. Lauderdale area is very gay friendly and I am not looking forward to returning to Virginia tomorrow evening.