In fact, gay travelers began making it their summer retreat as early as the 1920s and 30s. Provincetown is not new on the gay scene. Photos via Byelikova Oksana/Shutterstock and Mararie/Flickr Then on November 1, Greater Palm Springs Pride Festival takes over the Coachella Valley. Mark your calendar: Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festivals kicks off on September 19, 2019. Though not considered a retirement community, the complex features bungalow-style units. It’s Southern California’s first assisted-living village for gay seniors. Stay: Stonewall Gardens Assisted Living welcomes LGBT retirees. Hike Coachella Valley Preserve and don’t miss the shops along Palm Canyon Drive. For a more tropical vibe, sip on cocktails at Toucans Tiki Lounge. RetroRoom Lounge, which hosts drag shows, features throw-back Hollywood décor. Play: Get ready for a Palm Springs vacation! Soak up the sun at pool parties by day, and then venture to the gay bars at night. Today, it’s perhaps most famous for its pool parties, drag shows, and mid-century shopping. The city has since become an iconic LGBT playground in the desert. Celebrities were free to be themselves, away from paparazzi and strict social laws. Palm Springs earned its place on the map as a private retreat for celebrities outside of Los Angeles. Photos via Aran Mtnez/Unsplash and Jay Stewart/Flickr
