Photo courtesy Austin Conventions & Visitors Bureau
We love Dallas, but let’s admit it: If you had to live in another Texas city, you’d pick Austin, wouldn’t you? The seat of state government is one of the funkiest towns in America, known for its live music scene (Austin City Limits, SXSW), its alternative air (unofficial motto: Keep Austin Weird) and, best of all for North Texans, proximity to Dallas (a quick three-hour hop down I-35). With great restaurants, fun bars (gay, straight and mixed) and tons of opportunities for outdoor activities from biking to hiking to chilling on a patio, Austin is where readers go when they need to refresh.
BEST WEEKEND GETAWAY
Austin
BEST LOCAL HOTEL
Warwick Melrose Hotel Dallas
3015 Oak Lawn Ave.
214-521-5151. WarwickHotels.com.
BEST LGBT DESTINATION
Key West, Fla.
GET LAID DESTINATION FOR MEN
GET LAID DESTINATION FOR WOMEN
Palm Springs
BEST COUPLES ROMANTIC GETAWAY
Santa Fe, N.M.
BEST LOCAL TRAVEL/CRUISE AGENCY
The Pauer Group
Call for an appointment.
972-241-2000. ThePauerGroup.com
BEST LGBT CRUISE COMPANY
RSVP
310-432-2300. RSVPVacations.com.
BEST ONLINE TRAVEL SITE
Ejurne.com
Ever since Virgin America took over the gates at Love Field vacated by American Airlines last fall — just as the Wright Amendment expired allowing (finally) long-haul flights between Oak Lawn’s airport and distant ports of call — the luxury/low-cost airline has been a favorite of the gay community, owing in no small part to the first cities VA serviced: San Francisco, New York, D.C. and Los Angeles. (Just last week, Virgin announced it would even be expanding to 19 flights daily from Love Field, including a new route to Austin.) But it’s not just the competitive prices and online fare-slashing programs that we love, it’s the flight itself: The inside of each plane is less Spam-in-a-can than discotheque-in-the-sky, with dramatic lighting, roomy seats, excellent service and countless amenities. It’s fitting that the airline is called Virgin: Once you’ve ridden it once, you are forever spoiled.
BEST AIRLINE
Virgin America
877-FLY-VIRGIN. VirginAmerica.com
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 20, 2015.
