One of the wealthiest and largest cities of pre-Colonial America, Charleston today mixes expected, if stereotypical, Southern charms like plantation museums, cobblestone lanes, ancient military sites and traditional Lowcountry cuisine with a number of facets that surprise first-time visitors: hip coffeehouses, edgy galleries, informal restaurants and nightspots, and an increasingly more youthful and progressive population (Obama easily outpaced McCain in Charleston County in 2008). It’s hardly surprising that this fast-growing, sophisticated city known for its arts festivals and historic architecture has become a favorite weekend destination among GLBT travelers.
Museum junkies won’t lack for things to see and do here, although there’s no reason to focus your explorations indoors, especially from fall through spring, when the moderate climate is perfect for strolling along the riverfront or trekking to one of the beach communities nearby.
A good place to begin exploring is with a stop at the Historic Charleston Foundation. A number of key events are held here, including the famed Spoleto Festival, which in late spring offers two weeks’ worth of first-rate opera, dance, theater, music, poetry readings and visual arts exhibitions. The foundation also operates two superb museums, the 1817 Aiken-Rhett House and the 1808 Nathaniel Russell House. From the latter you can walk a few blocks south to Waterfront Park, a grassy tree-filled plot of land with gardens and an adjacent promenade overlooking the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper rivers.
Walk north through the historic downtown along Meeting Street, Charleston’s “Museum Mile,” and you’ll find one intriguing attraction after another. The Gibbes Museum of Art, with its 7,000-piece permanent collection and the Charleston Museum, which opened in 1773, are highlights. Meeting, King and Bay streets have their share of both high-quality and predictable gift and antiques shops, as well as several galleries.
Charleston figured pivotally in the American Revolution and even more directly in the start of the Civil War. Today Fort Sumter Tours offers boat excursions out to Fort Sumter National Monument, the 19th-century fort on which the first shot of the war was fired on April 12, 1861.
No visit to Charleston is complete without a side trip to one of the imposing plantations. Consider the 1740s Drayton Hall, the only extant antebellum mansion along the Ashley River (it’s unfurnished, however); and Middleton Place, a 1741 spread whose colorful gardens are the oldest in the country.
In the other direction, head east and then south to the breezy Sullivan’s Island, an excellent place to stroll along pristine gold-sand beaches. You can tour Fort Moultrie, another significant Civil and Revolutionary war site that’s now run by the national park service. And then stop for a filling lunch at rustic Poe’s Tavern, which turns out enormous and delicious burgers with names inspired by 19th-century horror writer Edgar Allan Poe - he was stationed at Fort Moultrie for a couple of years.
In downtown Charleston, you’ll find countless opportunities to partake of the region’s famed Lowcountry cuisine, which mixes soul, Creole, and Southern recipes. Head to Slightly North of Broad (aka “S.N.O.B.”) for a creative take on classic Southern fare, including a flawless rendition of shrimp-and-grits. Just down the street, Blossom serves similarly creative Lowcountry cooking with a modern spin - try the pan-seared flounder with butterbean ragout and bacon jus.
Quite a few more modern establishments have been gaining favor with foodies of late. A good choice for sipping flights of different styles of wine while nibbling on tasty tapas is Social Wine Bar, which makes fantastic wood-fired pizzas - the one with prosciutto, fontina, sliced pear and mozzarella is a stand-out. Stellar farm-to-table mod cuisine is served at the trendy storefront eatery Fig, from Wagyu beef tartare to slow-baked black bass with baby clams.
An emerging restaurant row close to the city’s two main gay bars, upper King Street, has several excellent dinner spots, including the swanky pan-Asian restaurant Chai’s Lounge & Tapas and the cozy, romantic French bistro La Fourchette - an enjoyable place to feast steamed mussels in garlic and white wine with frites double-fried in duck fat.
With as strong a GLBT following as anywhere in town, Vickery’s serves such tasty and affordable Caribbean-meets-Cuban victuals as fried-green-tomato turnovers, black bean soup, and grilled jerk chicken salads. Stop by the cozy coffeehouse Baked, the only place in the Southeast serving Portland, Oregon’s famed Stumptown Coffee, plus tasty cakes and deliriously good sweet-and-salty brownies (filled with caramel and topped with sea salt).
Although Charleston isn’t a major gay nightlife hub, you will find a couple of great hangouts near upper King Street. Convivial Dudley’s Pub is a prime spot to chat with locals, shoot pool, sing karaoke, or watch videos, while just down the block and open only on weekends, Pantheon is the city’s hottest gay dance club, with go-go boys, top DJs, and drag shows. You’ll also find a couple of less touristy neighborhood bars in the region: Patrick’s Pub & Grill, a 15-minute west of downtown, Déjà vu II, which is the same distance to the north.
Upscale and popular year-round, Charleston has fairly high hotel rates, but you will find some of the snazziest and most romantic accommodations in the country. If you’d rather not blow your whole budget on your room, consider a couple of the excellent — and gay-friendly — mid-priced chain properties in town, including the Hampton Inn Charleston Historic District (which is close to Dudley’s and Pantheon gay bars) and the attractive Courtyard by Marriott Charleston Waterfront, which overlooks the riverfront and is a 10-minute walk west of the Historic District.
Among high-end lodgings, the sumptuous and centrally located Market Pavilion Hotel contains 70 beautifully appointed rooms filled with museum-quality furnishings and artwork. There’s also a rooftop bar and pool affording panoramic views, and one of the best restaurants downtown, Grill 225, serving decadent steaks and Lowcountry seafood.
Around the corner, the five-story Harbourview Inn is another stunner — inside you’ll find soaring ceilings, exposed-brick walls, and four-poster beds. The complimentary perks are many: Continental breakfast delivered to your room, afternoon wine and cheese, evening milk and cookies, local walking tours, and Wi-Fi. The Harbourview is part of a local hotel group that includes several other excellent properties, among them the 41-room Andrew Pinckney Inn, which occupies a beautifully restored 1840s building.
Another exceptional choice is the meticulously maintained Planters Inn, many of whose luxurious rooms have whirlpool tubs. This courtly property overlooks City Market and is close to many galleries and shops — it’s also home to the stellar Peninsula Grill restaurant. One of the city’s most historic options is the John Rutledge House Inn, which has rooms in the main 1763 mansion as well as in two adjacent carriage houses. The romantic, Italianate-style main building was built by a signer of the U.S. Constitution — its rooms, with 13-foot ceilings and elaborate plaster moldings, are supremely opulent, but those in the adjoining carriage houses offer a bit more privacy.
The city has a few gay-owned B & B, including 4 Unity Alley, is a gem hidden down a tiny alley off historic Bay Street. This 18th-century former colonial warehouse, in which George Washington is said to have housed his horse for a night, contains airy, light-filled rooms with fine antiques. Keep in mind that the four guest rooms here often book up quickly — it’s wise to make your reservations well in advance. Guests can relax in a sunny garden, and off-street parking and a full breakfast are included in the rates.
The Little Black Book
Andrew Pinckney Inn www.andrewpinckneyinn.com
Baked www.bakedcharleston.com
Blossom www.magnolias-blossom-cypress.com
Chai’s Lounge & Tapas www.chaislounge.com
Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau www.charlestoncvb.com
Courtyard by Marriott Charleston Waterfront www.marriott.com/chscy
Déjà vu II www.dejavuii.com
Dudley’s Pub www.myspace.com/clubpantheon
Fig www.eatatfig.com
4 Unity Alley www.unitybb.com
Hampton Inn Charleston Historic District www.hamptoninn.com
/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=CHSHDHX
Harbourview Inn www.harbourviewcharleston.com
John Rutledge House Inn www.johnrutledgehouseinn.com La
Fourchette www.lafourchettecharleston.com
Market Pavilion Hotel and Grill 225 www.marketpavilion.com
Pantheon www.myspace.com/clubpantheon
Planters Inn www.plantersinn.com
Poe’s Tavern www.poestavern.com
Slightly North of Broad www.mavericksouthernkitchens.com/snob
Social Wine Bar www.socialwinebar.com
Vickery’s www.vickerysbarandgrill.com
Andrew Collins covers gay travel for the New York Times-owned website About.com and is the author of Fodor’s Gay Guide to the USA. He can be reached at OutofTown@qsyndicate.com.
WhistlePig and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Wind Tunnel-Trialed Whiskey Is a Ryed You Don’t Want to Miss
SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.
The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.
Like Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s signature C43 racing vehicles, trial barrels were tested in the team’s wind tunnel in Switzerland before hitting the track. Select barrels then endured varying levels of G-Forces at the WhistlePig farm and distillery for the finishing touch, accelerating the interaction between the whiskey and the wood, staying true to the physical nature of Formula 1.
“Partnering with WhistlePig has been a very exciting experience. Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake is dedicated to being the best on the track, and the crew at WhistlePig is fearless in their pursuit to create the best whiskey out there,” said Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “We’re really looking forward to fans tasting our custom Rye Whiskey and raising a glass to the rookies, veterans, legends and the exhilarating sport of F1.”
"Joining forces with WhistlePig to release a Single Barrel Rye Whiskey that represents my culture and team has been an honor,” said Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “Formula 1 brings together fearless, thrill-seeking motorsports professionals, and WhistlePig has a shared passion for boundary-pushing innovation. Together, we’ve selected something alarmingly good for fans to enjoy this season when the cars are not on track.”
The Limited Edition Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel will be available for purchase online starting around September 13 for $49.99 MSRP per 750ml bottle and sold in select stores across the U.S. Consumers can win VIP merchandise by scanning the QR code on the back of each bottle.
"We're taking our third Legends Series release on a ryed like never before,” said Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig Head Blender. "Our experiments with dynamic aging went full throttle during finishing trials at the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake wind tunnel, in turn inspiring new ways to expose barrels to G-forces back at the WhistlePig Farm. The herbal and floral notes of the lychee and tea barrel selected with the team create a new, podium-topping experience for PiggyBack Rye."
Fans and collectors have followed WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series, celebrating those who give 100% in the name of greatness, since its launch in March 2022 with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, David Ortiz (“Big Papi”), followed by Country Music Duo Brothers Osborne in November 2022.
To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About WhistlePig Whiskey
Located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm, WhistlePig Whiskey is crafted by a new generation of whiskey distillers and blenders driven to reinvent and unlock the flavor of Rye whiskey. Through their rebellious pursuit of experimenting and pushing boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand for innovation. WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey on and for the planet, starting with its locally sourced ingredients and sustainable supply chain and distilling process. For more information, head to whistlepigwhiskey.com.
Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz
When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.
I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.
If you don’t have a primary care physician who specializes in LGBTQ+ care in your community, you may need to educate yourself (and your provider). But, before you seek such therapy, here are five things you should know!
- Monitor closely. At Spectrum Medical Care Center, we screen patients for certain risks before starting anyone on hormones. We frequently monitor patients in the first year to ensure there are no adverse reactions and lab results are within safe ranges. Follow-up care is also important to assess your comfort with the transition as well as the social impact and social support you’re experiencing.
- Some changes are permanent, some temporary. For transmasculine individuals going on testosterone, they’ll experience these permanent changes: deepened voice, clitoral enlargement (also known as bottom growth), more body, facial hair, and male pattern baldness. Reversible changes include cessation of menses, increased muscle mass and strength, body fat redistribution, and skin oiliness or acne. For those going on estrogen therapy, the most permanent change is breast growth. Feminizing hormone therapy can also cause atrophy (shrinkage) of the genitals and loss of erectile function that may not be reversible. Estrogen will thin body hair, soften the skin, can increase scalp hair, and decrease muscle mass and strength, all of which are reversible.
- You can’t pick and choose results. Unfortunately, you can’t pick and choose the physical changes you want, which may feel challenging. Some of my patients will say, ‘Okay, ‘I’ve seen the permanent changes I want, and I don’t want it to go any further,’ and so at that point, we stop therapy. Low-dose hormone therapy can slow down the rate of changes, allowing for a more gradual physical transition. We counsel patients in advance about the common changes, and it’s up to the individual as to when they’d like to scale back and determine whether some benefits are worth the potential risks.
- Be aware of risks. Like any medical treatment, there are potential risks involved. Some risks with testosterone therapy include increased red blood cell mass, acne, hypertension, sleep apnea, weight gain, and dyslipidemia (increases the chance of clogged arteries). Cardiovascular disease is likely increased with additional risk factors for testosterone and estrogen therapy. Transfeminine patients going on estrogen therapy may experience weight gain, thromboembolic disease (when a blood clot breaks off and blocks another blood vessel), and a high level of triglycerides in the blood.
Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area
Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!
Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.
"Our entire team is honored to be named Best of the Best. To be the only gay men's resort recognized in the Top 1% is incredibly humbling," said Kent Taylor, General Manager at Descanso. "We appreciate Tripadvisor and we're grateful to all our guests who gave us such high marks and reviews to help us reach this achievement."
“Ranking among the Best of the Best demonstrates that you have provided exemplary experiences to those who maZer most: your guests,” said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor. “With changing expectations, continued labor shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am con6nually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt.”
Santiago Resort was once again honored by Tripadvisor with a 2023 Travelers’ Choice award, placing it among the top 10% of travelers’ top reviewed des6na6ons. Twin Palms will become eligible for ranking in 2024.
Check out all the reviews, and discover more about Descanso Resort on Tripadvisor here. We have an excellent library of resort imagery available to accompany editorial and additional resources on our press page. Please contact Descanso Resort’s General Manager, Kent Taylor, at kent@descansoresort.com for further information.
About Descanso Resort
Inspired by Palm Springs’ history as a des6na6on for Hollywood stars to unwind in privacy, Descanso offers guests a casual yet modern take on the legendary style of that 6me. Created by the same hospitality team that revitalized Palm Springs’ much-loved San6ago Resort and recently launched the all-new Twin Palms Resort, the Descanso property opened in 2022 featuring 15 spacious guest rooms with custom-designed furniture, dreamy King-size beds, and luxe details. Ameni6es include continental breakfast, poolside lunch, welcome snack basket, and lots of special touches. For guests who need to stay connected, the entire property is equipped with blazing-fast Wi-Fi. Mul6-speed bikes are available for exploring the surrounding midcentury neighborhoods and public art installations. Like the Hollywood stars before them, guests at Descanso are encouraged to unwind, relax, and rest in style.
About Tripadvisor
Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.