Washington, DC Gay and Lesbian Travel Guide

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Philadelphia, PA
(124 mi.)
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Night view of the Washington Monument from the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC

View of the Washington Monument from the Jefferson Memorial (Adam Jones/Digital Vision/Getty)

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Washington, DC Gay and Lesbian Travel Tips

By Matt Link

Consider the train. Amtrak's high-speed train, the Acela, travels from D.C. to New York in under three hours (when it’s not delayed). It can be a lot less of a hassle than flying.
Visit during the quieter congressional recesses. Lawmakers break for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, July 4th, and the entire month of August. Mid-March through June is the busiest time in D.C., with things generally kicking off as the cherry blossoms bloom around the city's Tidal Basin each spring. August can have cheaper hotel rates as well.
D.C. has a very gay-positive tourism board—go to www.washington.org for LGBT highlights, neigborhoods, and events.

Gay and Lesbian Travel Overview: Washington, D.C.

By Matt Link

If you are ever going to feel a sense of patriotism, it will be in magnificently planned Washington, D.C., where there seems to be a breathtaking monument around every corner. You can also be proud of your gay history here, too: Nob Hill, the nation’s oldest gay bar still in operation, was founded in 1957 and remains a favorite with students from Howard University. In 1965, America's first gay civil-rights demonstration took place in front of the White House, with picketers dressed in business suits. The city’s Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance is the nation’s oldest continuously active LGBT organization. And in 1991, the nation’s first Black Gay and Lesbian Pride Day happened here. Read More

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6 Questions | 9 Answers

How do I get tickets to go to the top of the Washington Monument
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My family plans on going to DC for the Easter holiday, are all of the museums and tourist sites open Easter Sunday?
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With a family of three kids, 14,10 and 4, people have told me Washington will not hit the spot for the kids. Is this true? If not true, where should we stay? I would like to be able to stay in an area where we don't need to drive to get a coffee o take a stroll w the kids at the end of the day. On a budget of course! It's hard to get into 1 hotel room, but we like to try!
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