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Subscribe to GIRLFRIENDS MAGAZINE. Sign up online for a PAID US subscription to Girlfriends magazine and save 50% off the newstand price - and get a free 2004 On Our Backs Calendar. Go to http://store.yahoo.com/girlfriends/subscribe1.html |
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Welcome to the January 2004 newsletter! We made it through another year - boy are we glad to put away all the holiday decorations. <grin> Back to normal, whatever that may be. This month we have an article about gay South Africa from the 17 on Loader guys, and one on Montana from John at Foxglove Cottage. Thanks, guys! Innkeepers - write us an article about your area, and we'll include it in a future issue of this newsletter with credit and links to your website and email addresses. Contact wheretostay@purpleroofs.com for more details. Late Availability/Special Offer Accommodation Notices As always, we also have our Late Availability & Special Offer notices (126 offers in 22 countries/regions) all at http://www.purpleroofs.com/lateavailability.html, or just check your favorite destination page - these notices are also right there on the regular listings. Innkeepers - Eight Local Print Ad Co-ops in February We're starting a new batch of co-op ads - Chicago's Windy City Times, Boston's Bay Windows, San Francisco's Bay Times, NY City's New York Blade, Washington DC's Washington Blade, TX's Texas Triangle, St. Louis's Vital Voice, and Los Angeles's Frontier Magazine. For details, see http://www.purpleroofs.com/samplead/coopform.html, or email us for more info at wheretostay@purpleroofs.com. That's it for this issue - see y'all next time! :) Mark & Scott, PURPLE ROOFS |
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Thanks to our columnists this month! Missoula, Montana Missoula, Montana is a great place to live and a great place to use as a starting point for your Montana vacation. All around the city are beautiful places. North is Glacier National Park (2 hours); Flathead Lake (1 hour) and the National Bison Range (45 minutes). East is Yellowstone National Park (4 hours), Helena (2 hours); Butte (2 hours), Pinter Scenic Route (1 hour) and Rock Creek (30 minutes). West is Idaho (1 hour 30 minutes); St. Regis (1 hour) and the Alberton Gorge (30 minutes). South is the Bitterroot Valley (1 hour); Lolo Pass (45 minutes) and Stevensville (30 minutes). The city of Missoula has a wonderful old downtown that is still very viable. Higgins Avenue is lined with interesting shops. The city is also an art center with plenty of galleries to keep any visitor interested. On the first Friday of every month is an art walk featuring shows at the Art Museum and many of the galleries. There are lots of antique stores as well. Every Saturday morning is summer is the Farmers Market where it seems the whole town meets for coffee and sweets while they do there shopping. On every Wednesday during the summer there is a Out to Lunch a festival of music and food. And remember Montana doesn't have a sales tax! Missoula itself has wonderful restaurants and cafes. Many places have international cuisine not just the meat and potatoes places the rest of the state have (although Montana's beef is justly famous). Fresh seafood is flown in from Seattle daily to many establishments. East Indian, sushi, Mediterranean, Mongolian, Thai, Cajun are featured besides the regular Steak houses, Italian and Chinese places. Although Montana is rather conservative, Missoula itself is liberal. There is an active gay and lesbian community and we have a gay bar (something only one other Montana city can boast). Gay visitors will feel comfortable visiting Missoula. My partner and I have lived here for 12 years and never have had any problems. A great two-week trip to Montana would be to fly into Missoula and stay here for 3 days days. Drive up to Glacier National Park and spend 3 days. Cross the Continental Divide and drive down to Yellowstone National Park and spend 3 days. Then drive back to Missoula and spend a few more days before going home. Between Missoula and Glacier you could spend a night on Flathead Lake or at Bigfork (a great little art town). Between Glacier and Yellowstone you could spend a night in Livingston or at Chico Hot Springs in the Paradise Valley. And between Yellowstone and Missoula you could spend a night in Bozeman, Helena, Butte or Virginia City (an historical ghost town). Hope to see you soon in Big Sky Country! We own a bed and breakfast called Foxglove Cottage. Check out our website at foxglovecottage.net or e-mail us at foxglovecottage@msn.com. Many of guests are gay although, of course this being Montana, not exclusively so. We have four guest rooms in a hundred-year old house surrounded by lovely gardens. The house is in an historic neighborhood called the Rattlesnake Valley minutes from downtown and the University of Montana. At the end of the valley is the Rattlesnake National Wilderness Area which features great hiking. Gay South Africa Gay South Africa Only a very short time ago, South Africa was considered the pariah of most civilized countries. This is now thankfully a thing of the past, and South Africa is fast becoming a leader in many fields. Not the least of these is the extremely liberal new South African constitution adopted in 1996. This has been most welcome for gay travellers as it offers protection from discrimination on the grounds of race, gender or sexual orientation. We are indeed proud to have the first constitution to legally enshrine our rights, and as a result, South Africa is fast becoming a tourist Mecca for gay travellers from around the globe. Gay Cape Town Although always a hotly debated subject, Cape Town is arguably considered to be the gay capital of South Africa, and indeed of the whole African continent. Generally, Cape Town is an extremely tolerant city, and most venues are gay-friendly. Most of the more sophisticated night clubs and bars welcome patrons of all sexual persuasions. No gay traveller should miss visiting Cape Town. Apart from being able to hook up with fellow gay people, the breathtaking scenery, beauty and warm hospitality will most definitely make it an unforgettable experience. There is an area, known as de Waterkant, which is considered to be the gay village of Cape Town. Situated within walking distance of Central Cape Town and the world famous V & A Waterfront, this historic neighbourhood boasts cobbled streets, renovated Cape styled cottages and a profusion of lifestyle and entertainment options. Here, the predominant businesses are gay owned and/or managed, and cater primarily for gay clientele. Some of these businesses include lifestyle shops, cafés restaurants, theatres, nightclubs, pubs, steam baths, and guest houses. MCQP (Mother City Queer Project) For the low down on the MCQP party, set for December 13th 2003. Cape Town’s very own annual big gay costume party, where over 8000 people dress up for the Mother of all parties……………………….. please visit their website at www.mcqp.co.za So, when next planning a vacation, be sure to list South Africa as one of your "must see places to visit"! 17 on Loader is situated in de Waterkant. See us at www.17loader.za.net. |
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Here are the current inns we have listed for sale - wanna become an innkeeper? :) Add your inn at: http://www.purpleroofs.com/forsaleform.html
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