Our rundown of oceanfront getaways (part 2)
ISLE BE | Tybee Island, Ga., boasts a warm beach and fun eateries. (Arnold Wayne Jones/Dallas Voice)
There’s still time this summer to enjoy the surf and sand, as these East Coast towns can attest.
Tybee Island, Ga.
Every bit as quirky, laid-back and personable as nearby historic Savannah, just a 20-minute drive inland, Tybee Island (VisitTybee.com) is one of Georgia’s famed barrier islands, an idyllic locale for beach-bumming, fishing or boating. In May 2013, this colorful beachside community hosted its first Tybee Gay Days, a weekend of parties and events that organizers plan as an annual gathering.
You’ll find plenty of condo and cottage rentals on this compact island, making it a popular destination for extended stays with groups of friends. One very good option is the LGBT-friendly Beachside Colony Resort, which has upscale one-, two- and three-bedroom condos set among eight buildings and adjoins the terrific, lesbian-owned restaurant and bar, Marlin Monroe’s Surfside Grill. Here you can feast on tasty seafood and minty mojitos while relaxing on the deck overlooking the sea. Also check out the sister restaurant, Fannies on the Beach, which is steps from the island’s colorful pier and pavilion. And off U.S. 80 as you enter the island, lively Coco’s Sunset Grille has occasional gay parties and is another sure bet for delicious seafood.
The fact that Tybee is so close to Savannah (VisitSavannah.com) makes it a great option if you’re keen on a vacation that mixes beach relaxation with touring historic homes, tony galleries, and upscale Southern restaurants — and, of course, you can always overnight in Savannah and visit Tybee as a day trip. Charming properties like the snazzy yet historic Mansion on Forsyth Park, the stylish and art-filled Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront, and the sleek Andaz Savannah are all favorites with gay travelers, while Club One is a hot spot for dancing and drag shows, it being the home nightclub of Lady Chablis, of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil fame.
Camden and Rockland, Maine
To experience a ruggedly scenic part of New England, a two-hour drive north of Portland, Maine, lies the historic seaside communities along western Penobscot Bay, including Rockland and Camden. Maine’s Mid-Coast is a place for quiet vacations, ideal if you’re a hiker, photographer, fisherman or sailor. (MainesMidcoast.com). Camden is home to a fleet of Windjammer sailing ships, which can be booked not only on multiple-day excursions throughout the region but also for afternoon jaunts along Penobscot Bay.
The craggy 1,000-foot peaks of Camden Hills State Park delight outdoors enthusiasts — you can scamper along more than 20 miles of rugged nature and hiking trails through this unspoiled paradise — there’s also overnight camping. The formerly workaday town of Rockland has come into its own in recent years, with several outstanding restaurants and cafes — don’t miss In Good Company, a dapper neighborhood wine bar with creative American cuisine, or Primo, where James Beard Award-winning chef Melissa Kelly turns out stunning farm-to-table Mediterranean-inspired fare. The key draw in Rockland is one of the country’s best small art museums, the Farnsworth, which focuses on noted regional artists of international acclaim, including Louise Nevelson, George Bellows and the Wyeth, who are celebrated with their own wing.
Among recommended accommodations, Camden is home to the GLBT-owned Camden Harbour Inn, which is situated across from a harbor and has 18 warmly appointed rooms and suites, plus a terrific restaurant. In Rockland, the gay-owned LimeRock Inn is a handsome painted-lady Victorian B&Bs whose rooms are outfitted with all the perks you’d expect of a modern hotel. A lavish breakfast is included in the rates, and downtown restaurants are within easy walking distance.
— Andrew Collins
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition July 26, 2013.