PALM SPRINGS

Sometimes you just want to get away and relax. One of my favorite places to do that is Palm Springs. Located in the desert about 90 miles west of Los Angeles, Palm Springs is a city built on relaxation. From the many golf courses to the clothing-optional resorts, Palm Springs has a wide variety of options.

One thing I like about Palm Springs is the setting. Sitting in the middle of the desert, the city itself is flat; but rising from the sides of the city are towering mountains. The view is picturesque. Another cool thing about Palm Springs is the drive into the city. Right as you are about to enter the city, you come across a HUGE windmill farm (pictured above). Hundreds of windmills line the valley and mountainside and it is a really cool site to see.

When I visit Palm Springs, I usually stay in one of the many gay clothing-optional resorts. The city has a bunch of them and in my opinion they are the best places to stay. For me, there is nothing better than relaxing naked in a hot tub at midnight before I head to bed. In the past, I have always stayed at Inn Exile. Although this resort is very relaxing, it is also a pretty quiet place.....great if you are visiting with a boyfriend. This past trip I stayed at All Worlds Resort. Since All Worlds sells day and night passes, there are always a new mix of people hanging out at the resort. Since there is not a ton of stuff to do in Palm Springs, this new mix of people keeps it from getting boring. My advice is to choose your resort wisely before going to Palm Springs. Decide what is most important to you and stay at the resort that best fits your needs.

If you decide to hit the gym while in Palm Springs, World Gym is the place to go. The equipment is great and the guys that run the gym are first rate. The crowd is older (much like the city itself) and I have been told the wet area is very cruisy.....but since I have never showered there I can not independently confirm that. I like the gym because the equipment is first rate.

Downtown Palm Springs has a quaint village-like feel to it. The main downtown street is lined with cool local shops and restaurants. On my last trip I found a neat local chocolate shop. Since I am addicted to chocolate I was in heaven!! Probably not the healthiest thing you can eat....but chocolate is my vice (although I guess it is better than most vices).

SAN DIEGO

When anyone asks me to name my top 10 cities I would consider moving to, San Diego is always on that list. The weather is amazing, the city is very liveable, and the guys are HOT! The only negative I see about San Diego is the cost of living. San Diego is not cheap. But it is worth every penny in my book.

The scenery in San Diego is hard to beat. Sitting right on the Pacific Ocean, the views are amazing. The city is hilly, so there are numerous places to look out over the ocean. One of my favorite places in San Diego is Black's Beach. This world famous nude beach is just north of the city. On the back side of the beach are towering hills; so getting down to the beach is a workout. But once you make it down the side of the hill, you will see what makes this place famous. Not only is it secluded, but it is beautiful as well. If you are a beach bum, then a visit to Black's Beach is a must!

San Diego is also a military city. It hosts one of the largest naval fleets in the world. And navy ships mean hot HORNY navy boys! Look online sometime in San Diego, and you will find a number of hot military boys in San Diego (although most hide the fact that they are in the military when they are online).

San Diego has a very walkable gay area known as Hillcrest. The picture above is of the sign that hangs over the main street in the Hillcrest area. This is where most of the gay bars are located and also where the "gay" gym is as well. The 24-Hour Fitness in Hillcrest is not large, but it is heavily gay. They used to have a wet area in this gym, but they have removed it (probably because of cruising). They only have shower now; but since the showers face the sink area, you can get a glimpse of guys cruising while you are at the sink.

If you want a fun place to eat, then Urban Mo's is a must. Formerly a Hamburger Mary's, this restaurant is teaming with homos. The food is great and the atmosphere is even better. A great place to eat and drink.