Gay travelers who think of Phoenix may think of the Melrose neighborhood first. The city’s gay district, which runs along N. 7th Avenue, is a fun neighborhood with great nightclubs like Stacy’s at Melrose, Pat O’s Bunkhouse Saloon, and Boycott Bar. But amid the pandemic, many LGBTQ travelers are looking for destinations with more to offer than the traditional bar and restaurant scene. Phoenix – and neighboring Scottsdale – have plenty of Covid-friendly outdoor activities here to delight you. Here are six great reasons to book your next trip to queer-friendly Phoenix.Architectural GloryFrom the mid-century modern aesthetic to the beauty of local landmarks like The Biltmore, queer travelers will find plenty of stunning designs to ponder. But our favorite architecture excursion here was visiting Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s home in Arizona in his later years during the winter months. Due to the Covid protocols, the normal instructor-led tours have been replaced by a wonderful hour-long audio tour called “Guided” by Wright. Visitors will learn some of what makes the work of this architect so moving – including his belief in the harmony between buildings and the landscape, as well as his practice of using narrow, low entrances to give the open spaces a more spacious feel. Frank Lloyd Wright’s incredible Taliesin West is a must see while in the Phoenix area. (Photo by Paul Heney) Desert DelightsFriends raved about the Desert Botanical Garden, and they were right. This 140-acre gem is home to more than 50,000 plants and succulents in outdoor exhibits. While the gardens usually attract half a million visitors annually, we felt safe on the wide paths as they could easily be spread out among the other guests. The facility offers a wide range of events, from dog-friendly Saturday mornings to wine tastings and weekend concert nights. We went to one of the concerts and it was set up thoughtfully so that people could stay socially distant while listening to a wonderful local band. A variety of events are held at the Desert Botanical Garden, including weekend garden concerts with local bands. (Photo by Paul Heney) If you have free time, the Phoenix Zoo is almost next door, which has a variety of animal encounters, Stingray Bay, a giraffe encounter, a 4-D theater, and more surrounded by mountains and hills, and some-like the Camelback Mountain – even sit in the middle of the city. We enjoyed several hikes in the magnificent McDowell Sonora Preserve. The Gateway Trail is a great hike to burn off last night’s margaritas and dessert, and the views from the Tom’s Thumb Trail across the reserve are some of the best in town. The Tom’s Thumb hike at the McDowell Sonora Preserve provided a breathtaking view back towards Scottsdale. (Photo by Paul Heney) Other popular hikes include Camelback, Piestawa Peak, and South Mountain Park, although some (Camelback) can be very congested with tourists, making them less Covid-friendly. Whichever you choose, you can be from your condo or hotel room to one of the starting points in 15 to 30 minutes, making this activity super accessible, convenient and a fascinating attraction. Divided into regions of the world, visitors wander through the spacious corridors to get to know and hear the musical traditions of different countries one after the other. As you approach an area, the exhibition actually feels your audio player and you hear the music through your headphones while a video plays on the big screen in the display. We spend hours here not only exploring the similarities of musical styles and instruments across the continents, but also playing with some samples in the super fun Experience Gallery. For LGBTQ families with school-age children, this is a must see! Accommodation Galore There are so many glorious resorts in Scottsdale alone, but two that are worth a look are the funky Hotel Valley Ho and the lovely Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows. For our most recent trip, we decided to try something new and booked through Meridian CondoResorts, which specialize in golf packages. Our two bedroom condo was in the upscale Kierland area of North Scottsdale and had every amenity from a fully equipped kitchen to smart TVs in every room, a luxurious pool and hot tub area and a world class on-site gym. A highlight for us was the pool area in the luxury apartments from Meridian CondoResorts. (Photo by Paul Heney) Great Day Trip Options Phoenix has a lot to offer, but there are other options within a 3 to 4 hour drive as well. Tucson is a couple of hours south and we enjoyed the (mostly outdoor) Pima Air & Space Museum, as well as hikes and scenic drives in Saguaro National Park. And heading north, you can spend several days in Sedona, Jerome, the Grand Canyon, and the Painted Desert. If the hikes around the Phoenix subway get your heart racing, Sedona hikes like Cathedral Rock and Devil’s Bridge are well worth the drive on I-17.
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