But there are other cities vying for the $1.4 billion that LGBT travelers spend every year. (That figure is bound to increase substantially with the same-sex wedding and honeymoon boom.) Most ambitious of those is Las Vegas, NV. On October 6, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal to a  lower court’s decision to strike down same-sex marriage bans in five states. That meant that a Nevada court ruling to effectively legalize same-sex marriage would also be allowed to stand. Within hours of the Supreme Court’s decision, the Las Vegas Tourism Board was using social media and placing ads in daily publications such as USA Today designed to lure LGBT couples. Almost immediately, a page went up on Vegas.com, welcoming gays to Las Vegas and giving them advice on planning their weddings there.

Clearly, Vegas was ready for this and took maximum advantage of the occasion. And it wasn’t just the tourism board — hotels, tours, wedding planners, restaurants all put out their welcome mats to gay couples who want to get married in Sin City. Even chapels, including one which claims to the “the city’s first and only gay-owned-and-operated” wedding chapel, vie on the tourism site for the gay dollars.

With the risk of being left in the dust, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (GFLCVB) has allocated $35,000 to a dedicated LGBT ad campaign. Already, in July of 2014, the GFLCVB was the first such bureau in the country to actively oppose its own state’s same-sex marriage ban. It remains to be seen if that will be enough for Fort Lauderdale to get some financial benefit out of the same-sex marriage boom by the time it becomes legal in the State of Florida.

Photo is a screenshot of TotalVegas.com, a tourism website.

For more information on same-sex weddings in Las Vegas, go to:
http://www.vegas.com/weddings/gay-weddings/

Safety & Emergency Situations

Back in the B.C. (before cell-phones) days, when travelling, it was difficult to be reached in an emergency. Now that’s no problem, but if you want to avoid roaming charges and be available in case of an emergency, “UrgentCall” supplies you with a private emergency number to use that ensures that you’re only receiving an emergency call. In addition, your phone will not stop ringing until you answer the call, even if there is no service or you have a dead battery.

“TravelSafe” compiles emergency numbers and embassy contact information for countries worldwide. You can even pin certain services to your home screen as widgets for one-touch access to emergency services.

Anyone who’s traveled with a pet knows how helpless you feel if there’s an accident. “Pet First Aid” deals with everything from cuts and impalement, to choking and CPR. The app offers detailed video instructions and illustrations. It can also store your pet’s vital medical information.

There’s no chance of getting a sun burn with “Sunscreen,” which can detect the UV rating of any location. Input your skin type and the SPF of your lotion, and it alerts you when it’s time to reapply.

Navigation

“Waze” users connect with other drivers in the area and share real-time traffic information, which is particularly helpful for road trips. It can even find the cheapest gas prices in proximity.

“FlightTrack” details thousands of domestic and international flights. Delays and cancellations are updated instantly and, once you get to the airport, terminal maps help you negotiate with ease.

“HopStop” offers maps and directions for subways and buses as well as walking directions for most European, Canadian and U.S. cities. If you’d rather cab it, check out “Hailo.” The free app uses GPS to send cabs to you in 16 cities, including New York, London, Barcelona, Toronto and Tokyo.

Documents

“TripIt” organizes all of your trip details into an itinerary stored in one place. Forward your confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com and TripIt will automatically build an itinerary for your trip. Although not the certified copies that are usually required, it never hurts to have back-up copies of essential travel docs such as birth certificates, visas and passports. Upload your docs to web-based servers such as “Dropbox,” “Webjimbo,” “Dataviz” or “Evernote” or store on your phone using “Scanner Pro” “Genius Scan” or “Mobile Doc.”

Making Life Easier

“XE Currency” is a free currency app that converts prices using live currency rates. Enter where you’re going and how long you’re staying into “Packing Pro” and it’ll create a suggested list of what you might need to pack. The list is separated into categories. With “HopStop,” point your camera at a building, statue or monument and up pops a list of articles about the subject. It also works with barcodes or QR codes.

It doesn’t matter how many of these apps you have, if you’re in a locale where English isn’t spoken and you’re not able to communicate with the locals. That’s where translation apps come in handy. The best-rated translation app for Androids is “Better Translator Pro.” It supports more than 50 languages in text-to-text mode (great for signs and menus) and 11 using voice recognition. You won’t be able to have a conversation, but simple questions are a breeze. “Lost in Translation” is a free app that supports 36 languages, but only as text. “Google Goggles” is a free app that can read text in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Turkish, and translate it into other languages. “SayHi Translate” is geared towards conversational speaking and is one of the most user friendly apps available. The standard free app comes with 41 languages and more languages and specific dialects are available via in-app purchases for a couple of bucks.

Rainbow Days at Six Flags Over Georgia ticket packages are available and range from $49.99, which is the same as general park admission, but also includes free parking, entry into the private Pavilion area for entertainment, an all-you-can-eat buffet and entry to the water park (good until August 31, if you want to make a whole weekend of it). The general admission ticket is $35.99. To purchase the official T-shirt, only available on-line, go to http://www.rainbowdaysatsixflags.com/#!rainbow-days-store/c251y. Rainbow Days is produced by a private, for-profit corporation and the event is not a benefit for any GLBT agency. For more information, go to http://www.rainbowdaysatsixflags.com/

Of course, if you’re going up to Atlanta, you’re going to want to do other things as well, including bar-hopping. Atlanta’s main gayborhood is Midtown and it has no shortage of GLBT bars and clubs. For the leather crowd, there the legendary Eagle. If you prefer your guys undressed, there’s also a Swinging Richards in town. Mixx is good for dancing, Blake’s on the Park is a friendly neighborhood bar, and Burkhart’s Pub has performances and dancing on the main floor. If your preference is for quieter areas, head out to the patio or the upper level, and the food here is way better than it needs to be. Bulldog’s spins house and hip-hop and the drinks are strong, Xion is a members only, after-hours club and is only open Sundays from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Atlanta is a foodie’s heaven where you can find anything from haute cuisine to finger licking BBQ. Cowtippers is all about comfort food. Beware; the enormous Texas Margaritas are deadly. Roxx may not draw the young ‘uns, but the burgers and chili are killer and Sunday brunch is a hot ticket. Buckhead puts an upscale twist on diner fare, with prices to match. Doc Chey’s is a mini-chain featuring Asian favorites, with locations throughout the Atlanta area. Eats is a favorite budget spot serving healthy fast food ranging from jerk and BBQ chicken with sweet potatoes, collards, and hot mac n’ cheese to fettuccine Alfredo and fresh vegetarian dishes.

For a bit of sight-seeing, check out Piedmont Park, right in Midtown, shop at Atlantic Station or visit The High Museum of Art, with more than 13,000 modern and contemporary works of art. Frankly my dear, no visit to Atlanta is complete without a visit to the Margaret Mitchell House, where most of “Gone With the Wind” was written.

If you’re going for stay in Midtown, you’ve got a number of choices from upscale hotels (W Atlanta Midtown, Hyatt Regency Atlanta) to the boutique Ellis Hotel to B&B options (Stonehurst Place and Hello, both come highly recommended). If you’re looking for something cruisey, check out the Cheshire Motor Inn. Rather rough it and save some dough? River’s Edge gay campground isn’t too far out of town. The Embassy Suites at the airport is the host hotel for Rainbow Days and is offering special rates, use the promo code: RBD. Enjoy!

My name is Rick and I’m a chocoholic. Last week I licked the frosting off a cake and threw the cake away. I get a Tootsie Pop and smash it on the ground to get to the chewy, chocolaty center. I’ve been tempted to snort cocoa like cocaine. To paraphrase an old saying, “I like my chocolate like I like my men: dark, rich and filled with cream.”

So, it’s no surprise that I have an entire file folder filled with places to check out for a chocolate fix when I’m traveling. Europe is on the agenda this fall because the 20th anniversary of The Salon Du Chocolat will be held in London from Oct. 17-19. The Salon du Chocolat is like the ultimate circuit party for chocoholics. Imagine more than 60,000 square feet of exhibition space dedicated to chocolate and cocoa! Chocolatiers unveiling their new products, live demonstrations, workshops, exhibitions and special events all pay tribute to the humble bean.

The highlights of the show include award presentation and a chocolate fashion show, where all the creations are edible. For its 20th Anniversary, the Salon du Chocolat will present a great retrospective exhibition featuring the 150 most beautiful chocolate dresses ever.  Entrance fees are a quite reasonable £15 (£12.5 if purchased in advance). There are other shows scheduled throughout the world. For a list of cities and dates or more information, go to http://www.salonduchocolat.fr.

As long as I’m in London, a trip to the Rococo flagship store on Kings Road is in order. In the winding aisles of all things chocolate, I can sip hot chocolate in a courtyard while watching chocolatiers in action, take a truffle-rolling class at the adjacent school, and, of course, shop for all things chocolate. For more information on the store and classes, go to http://www.rococochocolates.com/.

After a short ride on the Chunnel train to Paris, for the Salon du Chocolat show there (Oct. 29-Nov. 2), I’ll make a short stop for the impossibly thick chocolatchaud. More than a simple hot chocolate; this is like chocolate lava, at Angelina on Rue Rivoli (http://www.angelina-paris.fr/en). Then I’ll head to Montreux and board the Swiss Chocolate Train, for a round trip journey in a 1915 Pullman car to Nestlé’s Maison Cailler chocolate factory, in the western Swiss village of Broc. An hour-long tour begins with a look at ancient Aztec cocoa ceremonies, a view of the milk chocolate production line and ends with an all-you-can-eat tasting experience. Reservations are required and can be made at http://cailler.ch/.  To totally bliss-out, I’ll also work in a tour of Confiserie Poyet in Vevey for a chocolate tasting class. For more information go to http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/confiserie-poyet.html, and a chance to enter a contest to win an assortment of Swiss chocolates.

Of course, if my budget didn’t allow the trip to London and Paris, I could always head north to Mast Brothers Chocolate, in Brooklyn. Sourcing their cacao from small farms in Ecuador, Madagascar, and Venezuela, the Mast Brothers create artisanal chocolate confections from scratch at their Brooklyn factory, which offers tours during which you can see how raw cacao beans from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Madagascar are hand-sorted, roasted and winnowed through a machine custom-made by a former aerospace engineer. One of the tour’s highlights is seeing a demonstration on how flavors like fleur de sel and coffee are added to the confections. Tickets are inexpensive, but do require advance purchase. Go to http://mastbrothers.com/.

In Somerville, Mass., just outside of Boston, the Taza factory tour, with its aroma of dark chocolate, lets you know that you are in for an intense chocolate experience. The 45-minute tour ends at the company store, which is laden with free samples and includes some limited edition creations. For more information, check out http://www.tazachocolate.com/Tours.

Of course, any tour focusing on chocolate would have to make a stop in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Hershey Chocolate World’s Great American Chocolate Tour includes a chance to create your own candy bar and go on “Hershey’s Chocolate Tasting Adventure.” A quick stop at the Museum on Chocolate Avenue for the Hershey story and some hands-on activities is a must before heading off to Hershey Park for a day of riding roller coasters, visiting the water park, taking in some of the campy shows and, of course, sampling chocolate. Before heading home, book a day at the Chocolate Spa. The treatments at this high-end hotel spa include a dark chocolate fondue wrap, a whipped cocoa bath, an edible dark chocolate facial and an invigorating chocolate sugar scrub. For more information on attractions in Hershey, go to www.hersheypa.com. I’d say more, but I’ve got a half-gallon of Dove Unconditional Chocolate Ice Cream to consume before lunch. Pass the spoon.

Last week, in honor of Pride Month, we took a look at various monuments across the United States devoted to GLBT individuals and achievements. Of course, the U.S. is not the only country to honor members of the GLBT community. Throughout the world, memorials have been erected in parks and public spaces where people of all ages can visit and learn about individuals who were persecuted because of who they loved. This week, we expand our focus to look at global remembrances.

England’s Alan Turing, known as the father of computer science, most likely helped end WW II by breaking Germany’s codes. However, in that unenlightened day, it didn’t stop his country from harassing him to the point where he eventually committed suicide. Today he is revered and remembered with a peaceful statue of him sitting on a park bench in Sackville Park, Manchester, England. A plaque explains that he was not only a great mathematician and scientist but also a ‘victim of prejudice’. Turing holds a half-eaten apple because it is thought that he killed himself by taking a bite out of a cyanide-laden apple after he started taking female hormones as an alternative to being sent to prison.

While not specifically dedicated to the GLBT community, The Kiss Wall on Brighton’s seafront shows six couples of different genders and ages frozen in a kiss. The wall celebrates the diversity of Brighton, which is proud of being known as one of the most accepting and gay-friendly places in the UK.

Barcelona has a reputation as a safe haven for persecuted groups and individuals, as well as a city that respects the rights of the GLBT community. In the Spanish city’s Ciutadella Park is a monument with a Catalan inscription which translates as “In memory of the gays, lesbians and transsexual persons who have suffered persecution and repression throughout history.”

Just as Jews were forced by the Nazis to wear yellow Stars of David to identify themselves, gay men were forced to wear pink triangles. In the 1980s, in the midst of the AIDS crisis, the GLBT community inverted the triangle and adopted it as a symbol against oppression. The Homomonument in Westermarkt, Amsterdam, is one of many memorials that use this symbol to remember gay victims of the Holocaust. It consists of series of triangles, three of which make up a larger triangle forming a plaza.

Sydney, Australia’s Gay and Lesbian Holocaust Memorial Project (at Green Park in Darlinghurst, the heart of Sydney’s gay and lesbian community) features a pink triangle with black poles. It was dedicated in February 2001, and is maintained by the Sydney Pride Centre.

Throughout Germany and Austria, there are numerous monuments to the gay men who were put to death by the Nazis. The Nazis didn’t believe that there was such a thing as a lesbian, but no doubt, many were persecuted under other guises. In 1984, the former Mauthausen concentration camp was the first to install a monument acknowledging gay prisoners. It is inscribed with (translated here) “Put to death – ‘put to silence’ – for the homosexual victims of National Socialism.” A year later, the Neuengamme concentration camp erected a memorial to the 100 gay men imprisoned there, at least 33 of which lost their lives.

In Frankfurt, a statue stands in remembrance of the homosexuals who were persecuted by the Nazis. The monument is a 19th century bronze sculpture depicting an androgynous “injured” angel. The damage to the statue resembles a scar, to symbolize the violence against the GLBT community experienced during the Third Reich. At the base of the memorial is an inscription that translates as “Homosexual men and women were persecuted and murdered in Nazi Germany. The crimes were denied, the dead concealed, the survivors scorned and prosecuted. We remember this, in the awareness that men who love men and women who love women still face persecution.”

In 1989, at Nollendorfplatz, on the wall of the Underground Station, Berlin installed a commemorative plaque as a monument to Berlin’s homosexual victims of the Nazis. Nearly 25 years later, the city also erected a memorial that aims to address ongoing discrimination. The sloping gray concrete slab on the edge of Berlin’s Tiergarten Park, echoes similar structures honoring Jewish victims of the Holocaust across the road. The Tiergarten monument features a video clip of two men kissing. At the dedication ceremony, the city’s openly gay mayor Klaus Wowereit said, “This memorial is important from two points of view: to commemorate the victims, but also to make clear that even today, after we have achieved so much in terms of equal treatment, discrimination still exists daily.”

In a recent column, we mentioned Chicago’s Legacy walk, the world’s only outdoor walking museum dedicated to LGBT history. And, of course we have the World AIDS Museum, The Stonewall Museum and Archives and its Wilton Drive Gallery right here in Fort Lauderdale/Wilton Manors. In honor of Pride Month, here’s list of other U.S. landmarks dedicated to the LGBT community.

To paraphrase the sound of music, “Let’s start at the very beginning…” The Stonewall, 53 Christopher Street in Greenwich Village, New York City, is widely regarded as the birthplace of the modern LGBT rights movement. Housed in a former stable, The Stonewall opened in 1967 and was one of the largest gay bars in New York. As with most gay clubs at the time, police raids were common. On June 28, 1969 some of the patrons, tired of the harassment, fought back against police, starting what came to be known as the Stonewall Riots. The bar closed shortly after the riots and over the next 20 years was occupied by a bagel shop, a Chinese restaurant, and a shoe store, among other businesses.

In the early 1990s the block of Christopher Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues was given the honorary name of “Stonewall Place” by the Borough of Manhattan and, in June 1999, the area, including Stonewall, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its historic significance to LGBT history. The building was renovated and reopened as the Stonewall Inn in March 2007 and remains a popular gay bar for tourists and locals alike.

Across the street from The Stonewall Inn is what may be the United States’ first LGBT monument. A decade after the Stonewall Riots, Peter Putnam, a wealthy arts patron, commissioned the Gay Liberation monument. Titled “Gay Liberation,” the sculpture in Christopher Park by artist (not the actor) George Segal honors the struggle for LGBT rights. Though Segal was not the first artist approached, he accepted the commission, which stipulated only that the work “had to be loving and caring, and show the affection that is the hallmark of gay people . . . and it had to have equal representation of men and women.”

Another rallying point for the LGBT community was the assassination of Harvey Milk, a San Francisco Supervisor and the unofficial “Mayor of Castro Street.” Although riots followed his murder, his legacy is fitting for a man who tried to bring different factions together. The City of San Francisco has paid tribute to Milk by naming several locations after him. An elementary school is named for him and at the corner of Market and Castro Streets, an enormous gay pride flag flies over Harvey Milk Plaza. Other cities have honored Milk as well. Two blocks in San Diego’s Hillcrest district have officially been renamed Harvey Milk Street. In New York City, Harvey Milk High School is available for at-risk youth addressing the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students.

Not far from Harvey Milk Plaza, Pink Triangle Park, the first permanent, free-standing memorial in America to the thousands of persecuted homosexuals in Nazi Germany during the Holocaust. Fifteen triangular granite columns surround a pink-quartz-filled triangle in the center of the park.

Since we started this column with a reference to a musical, it’s fitting we end with another. Although not particularly directed to the LGBT community, we can’t overlook “The Wizard of Oz” rainbow at Sony Studios in Southern California. The rainbow arches over the trees and rooftops of the studios where “The Wizard of Oz” was filmed.

Next week: We take a look at LGBT monuments around the globe.

Gay Days began in 1991 when the LGBT community was encouraged to visit Disney World on the first Saturday in June and wear red so as a show of Pride. Nearly 3,000 took part in that first event. Since its inception, the event has endured attacks by the right-wing American Family Association and other organizations. For many years, it was pretty much ignored by Orlando’s hotel/motel industry and the press (except for coverage of the protests).

As the event grew, it became increasingly clear that some organization was needed. In 1998, GayDays.com launched, and a year later joined the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Gay Days now attracts more than 150,000 GLBT celebrants and their allies who pump an estimated $100 million into the local economy. As the saying goes, “Money talks, BS walks”. Today, the parks offer expanded operating hours, and fireworks displays welcoming us and hotels compete to be the host of the event.

This year, Doubletree Orlando at Seaworld is the official host hotel and the site of the week-end’s 25 pool parties. The hotel has just had a multi-million dollar makeover and boasts three pools. The Gay Days ticket center is located in the hotel, as is the Gay Days Expo. Passes for the pool parties at the host hotel are sold for three day, four day and five day attendance. Daily events passes are about $5-10, if bought in advance, double that if bought at the door. While outsiders will need to pay for admission to the pool parties, they are free for the hotel’s registered guests. All of the parties feature top-name DJs spinning poolside. Day time parties at the main Lagoon pool are $35 advance/$60 at event (all prices that follow are listed are for the three day passes), evening parties are $65/$95. Bear parties are held at the Lakes pool daily ($20/$45) and nightly ($50/$75.) “Girls at Gay Days” parties, held at the Key West pool are $20/$45 for days, $30/$60 in the evenings.

A number of other events take place during the weekend. For most, there are two ticket price levels, general admission and VIP. General admission tickets usually have a cash bar, VIP tickets include and open bar and other perks. The official kick-off party is on Tuesday, June 3 at The Parliament House. Tickets are $15/$20 and include music, a fashion show, and special performances by Parliament House entertainers and this year’s Miss Gay Days Pageant contestants. Wednesday, June 4 brings the Miss Gay Days 2014 pageant, hosted by Coco Montrese, of RuPaul’s Drag Race and Frank Marino’s “Divas Las Vegas”. Tickets are $20/$27, if you want to enter the contest, there is a $75 contestant fee.

“A Taste of Gay Days” on Friday, June 6, features tastings of fine wines, beers, and spirits and hors d’ouerves, dancing and silent auction. Tickets are $25/$30. Also, for those who want to party late into the night, that same night the “Unzipped Black & Blue Ball” will be held at the hotel, running from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. costing $20/$25. During the weekend there will be a production of “Pillow Talk”, a play by Peter Tolan, held at the Doubletree. Tickets for this event are $15 – $25, with tickets for the Sunday evening performance only available by advance sale. On Saturday June 7 there will also be a night of stand-up comedy for the girls, with Mimi Gonzalez and Sandra Vall at the Doubletree, $40/$50 advance only.

With all this going on, you don’t want to miss the Gay Days at the various area amusement parks. None of the “gay days” are official park events and no special tickets are required, so you may want to take advantage of the various package deals. Don’t forget that Florida residents get discounts on most theme park tickets. Don’t forget to wear your red shirts as you visit Animal Kingdom on Thursday, June 5. The red attire continues Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Friday. Saturday’s event at Magic Kingdom (at Walt Disney World) is still the signature event of the week. An estimated 50,000 Gay Days attendees pack the park and the 3:00 parade down Main Street always draws an unforgettable “sea of red” that can be seen from one end of the park to the other. Epcot is the site of Sunday’s final Gay Day.

Gay Days Orlando not only provides an opportunity to make memories that last a lifetime, it is a chance to make GLBT friends from around the globe, proving that “It’s a Small World” after all.

For more information on Gay Days Orlando, visit gaydays.com.

In its reasons for choosing this area, the web site lists the fact that you “can kick back and chill in flip flops and relax on the blue wave beaches or slip on dancing shoes and bust a move at one of the dozens of gay clubs!” Bust a move?!?!? What is this 1985? They also suggest staying at the W Hotel and B Ocean. What about some of the areas fab gay-owned guest houses and resorts? Oh right, they don’t take out huge ads on the web site.

We all know that Fort Lauderdale (and WilMa) is still “where the boys are.” According to GayTravel.com the following (in ascending order) are the places that are better than our hometown for GLBT Spring Break destinations.

9. Puerto Vallarta, at least it has GLBT nightlife and they do mention one GLBT business, Blue Chairs Hotel.

8. Carlsbad, CA: Sure, it’s got beautiful beaches, world-class golf, spas and shopping, but what about nightlife or dining for the GLBT community?

7. Las Vegas. Okay, we can’t argue with this one, especially since Vegas is doing so much outreach to the GLBT traveler. Its bid to be a family-friendly vacay spot didn’t work out, so the convention bureau is working with local clubs and businesses to make it a GLBT vacation destination. GayTravel’s article doesn’t mention “ Xposed!” the weekly Saturday gay beach party at the Tropicana, Blue Moon Hotel for Men (Vegas’ only all-male gay resort,) Dinah Vegas and its “Infinity” pool party at the Flamingo, “Temptation” on Sundays at the Luxor, the “Matinee Las Vegas” circuit party or “Gay Days Las Vegas.”

6. New Orleans. Okay I’ll give it to them for Mardi Gras and “Southern Decadence” (which the web site doesn’t even mention) and again no GLBT businesses mentioned.

5. Maui. Once more its description sounds like it was a cut and paste job from the tourism bureau’s press release. With all the fabulous gay life in Hawaii, the only thing they recommend is the Sunseeker GLBT Resort. Nothing against that place, but there’s more to Maui than that.

4. Palm Springs. Another fine choice, but all they mention is Dinah Shore Weekend and The White Party. How about listing some popular clubs and restaurants?

3. Thailand. With three gay pride festivals each year all they can recommend is to stay at the St. Regis or Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa?

2. Miami. Yes, it is, as they describe it, “… the “Gay Riviera” of the United States.” The site does mention that there are a number of clubs in South Beach, but what about the Design District, Coral Gables or the amazing Wynwood District? Gays do not live by nightclubs alone.

1. Honolulu. Again, no complaint about the location, just the suggestions, all corporate owned hotels and resorts. Once more the write-up sounds like it was lifted from the tourism department’s brochure, “Picture perfect cliffs of Ko’olau Mountains in the backdrop, pristine ocean waters, excellent food and a lively nightlife. For the best of Honolulu’s accommodations, look no further; Hyatt Regency Waikiki, Sheraton Waikiki, and The Royal Hawaiian!”

One of the things I enjoy about traveling is getting to know the locals. One of the best ways to do that is to stay in, shop in and dine at independently operated GLBT owned businesses. We all appreciate that fact that the big corporations are finally recognizing the importance of the GLBT market, but let’s not forget about supporting our own community.

While standing in line waiting to check in or board, do each exercise three sets of ten on each side, waiting 20 -30 seconds between sets, unless otherwise noted. If you’ve got an extendable handle on your luggage, use it to steady yourself, if necessary.

Side leg lifts; lift your leg straight out to the side a few inches while turning your toe in. Do three sets of ten on each side.

Rear leg lifts; squeezing your glutes, keeping your back straight and holding in your abdominal muscles, lift your leg back as far as if will comfortably go.

Hamstring lifts; Stand on one foot, moving only from the knee down lift your back towards your butt.

Butt clench; clench both glutes for 5 seconds, relax, repeat 20 times.

Calf strengthening; rise up on your toes, lower yourself slowly.

Bag lift; hold your bag in front of you, at shoulder height, with your arms straight. Lower the bag slowly, lift slowly.

After you’re through security, those long terminals are perfect for some power walking. When you’re seated in the waiting area, there are a number of easy exercises you can do that will not only help you keep fit, but also helps pass the time. Again, do each exercise three sets of ten on each side, with a 20-30 second pause between sets.

Squats; hold your arms across your chest, keeping your feet shoulder width apart, pull in the abdominals, stand and sit slowly.

Seated bends; hold your arms across your chest, keeping your knees together, exhale as you lean forward as far as possible. After completing your set of ten, slide to the front of the seat and keeping the abs tight and arms across the chest, lean back until you are just inches away from the back of the chair, hold for ten seconds.

Knee lifts; keeping your knees together and abs tight, inhale. On the exhalation, lift your feet just a few inches off the floor. For a more challenging variation cross one leg over the other and lift the lower foot off the ground, hold in place or pulse.

Side twists; sitting straight up, tighten your abs. Put your right arm on your left thigh, turn your torso and look over your left shoulder as far as you can. Repeat with the opposite arm and leg. Whenever doing exercises when you turn your neck/head, it is important to move slowly.

While on the plane, your range of movement is restricted, but there are a couple of exercises that will keep you from getting all stiff (get your mind out of the gutter, we’re not talking “Mile High” club stuff here) during the flight. Again, do sets of ten, and during a long flight, you can repeat these exercises at least once per hour. They should be unobtrusive enough that you won’t look like a freak and shouldn’t bother the person next to you!

Ab clenches; sit straight up and tighten your abdominals and hold for 30-60 seconds.

Glute clenches; straight up and tighten your glutes and hold for 30-60 seconds.

Calf stretch; sitting straight up and holding in your abs, lift your toes off the floor an inch or two and hold for 20-30 seconds. Repeat, doing the same with your heels.

Bicep curls; when they come around with the beverage cart, ask for a can of juice, unopened. Hold it in your hand, keep your elbow close to your side and raise the can from your lap to your shoulder. If it’s a long flight, hold on to it for a while, then pop open and enjoy it shortly before landing.

At baggage claim; do a few stretching exercises to loosen up while waiting for your luggage.

Lower back stretch; place your hands on the luggage cart, inhale deeply. On the exhalation, push the cart forward as you lean forward until your torso is parallel to the floor, hold for five seconds, and inhale. On the exhalation slowly rise to your original position.

Leg stretch; extend your left leg to the side, put your hands on your right thigh and lean to the right slightly, pulse slightly. Make certain that your knee doesn’t extend past the front of your foot and keep your left foot firmly anchored on the ground,

Shoulder shrug; take a deep breath in and raise your shoulders to your ears. On the exhalation, drop your shoulders. This is also a good way to release tension and should have you all set for your next destination.

“Don’t drink the water” is a common warning that can be disregarded with CamelBak All Clear’s UV purification system that turns any tap or clear natural water into potable drinking water in just 60 seconds. For more info, go to camelbak.com.

Eagle Creek makes some of the most innovative and convenient packing tools on the market. Its Pack-It line helps compress items to maximize packing space, while it minimize wrinkles. The convertible bag is a teeny pouch weighing less than a pound, those folds out into a tote, backpack or duffel bag. For a look at the full line of products, priced from as low as $22, go to shop.eaglecreek.com.

There are times when you want to take a photo and don’t have anybody you can ask. That’s when the Tiltpod comes in handy. It easily attaches to a camera or small phone, has a magnetic base that pivots and comes with a wrist. It is reasonably priced at $14.95 at gomite.com/products/tiltpod.

Kate Spade’s two-tone leather passport holder, comes with interior slots for a passport and three cards, plus a clear ID window and an exterior slot for stashing a boarding pass, making getting through security a breeze. Available at saturday.com for $50.

Maybe it’s my inner hippie speaking, but I love to give a gift that gives back. The compact, seven-ounce WakaWaka solar charger juices up a phone in just a few hours and has a built-in light that can shine for more than 60 hours. Best of all? For each charger purchased, the company donates one to the typhoon relief effort in the Philippines. Available from wakawaka.com for $69.

Remove all doubt as to which is their suitcase at the luggage carousel with a gift of Jonathan Adler’s “This Is Mine” leather luggage tag. A snap closure allows a space to put personal info. Available at joanthanadler.com for $38.

Hotel room bedding can be suspicious, even in the best of places. Let them put a layer of silk between their skin and unfamiliar bedding with a DreamSack (which comes in its own 8” x 4” pouch). Made of silk with a built-in pocket for a pillow. It is machine washable, quick-drying and only weighs 6 oz. Flight Spray helps prevent viral infections by creating an unsuitable environment for inhaled germs to reproduce. Both are available at magellans.com.

Your gift recipient will never have to pay for overweight luggage again with the Balanzza digital luggage scale. It’s small enough to pack and strong enough to weigh up to 100 pounds. It indicates pounds and kilograms making it ideal for the international traveler. Available at many retail stores and web sites for less than $20.

Laugh all you want about the Home Shopping Network, but for every bedazzled denim jacket for plus sized ladies, there’s a terrific product. One of my favorites is the Grid-It! Organizer. Its compact size makes it easy to slip into a briefcase or backpack and ends rummaging around for stuff that falls to the bottom of the bag. It’s only $19.95 and available in a plethora of colors at hsn.com.

My final entry comes from one of my favorite sites, Flight 001. “Airline: Style At 30,000 Feet” is a fascinating book examining every aspect of airline style, from the interior design of planes to the days when flight attendants wore haute couture instead of polos and khakis. It’s only $14.95 at flight001.com.