Gay Battle: Palm Springs or Fort Lauderdale (places, populations, people)

[Bluefox]

There are plenty of gay vacation towns in the US outside of the big city. Fire Island, Provincetown, Eureka Springs, Saugatuck, Moab, Guerneville, etc.

But Fort Lauderdale and Palm Springs are by far the two that rise above the rest in terms of tourism.

So which of these two is the preeminent gay destination in the continental US? (Restricting it to US because we all know Puerto Vallarta beats both so it’s excluded)

[manitopiaaa]

In the continental US, the answer is Key West (or maybe West Hollywood). Of the cities you listed, I only consider Fire Island and Provincetown to be "gay bastions." The others are just very progressive cities with large gay populations (but also large straight populations).

Between Palm Springs, I prefer Fort Lauderdale/Wilton Manors but think Palm Springs is more 'iconic' in the community.

[Champ le monstre du lac]

Originally Posted by Bluefox

There are plenty of gay vacation towns in the US outside of the big city. Fire Island, Provincetown, Eureka Springs, Saugatuck, Moab, Guerneville, etc.)

Curious to know just how much of a gay destination Eureka Spring, AR actually is. I've heard this before and assumed it had a moderate level of gay tourism, it looks like a very cute town.

I never cared for Palm Springs, just doesn't click for me. I do really like Fort Lauderdale a lot, it has my favorite beach in south Florida. Planning to get back there again.

[RonnieinDallas]

Fort Lauderdale.

I prefer the weather and the scenery. There’s a lot more to do in South Florida in general.

[carolinablue]

I feel like Key West should be in the poll.

[P Larsen]

I guess the poll is aimed at folks above 35 or 40. Neither if you go by location mentions among Instagays trending younger

[Adamson865]

Having lived in Palm Springs, I would vote for Ft Lauderdale (if those are the only two choices).

FTL is part of a megalopolis of millions of people and tons to see and do. Palm Springs, although quite lovely, is isolated and 100 miles from LA.

[ccm123]

Fort Lauderdale

[Bluefox]

Originally Posted by P Larsen

I guess the poll is aimed at folks above 35 or 40. Neither if you go by location mentions among Instagays trending younger

They’re more gay resort type places which do trend older. Obviously there are many more “trendy” places with the younger crowd but afaik mostly in the big cities unless you know something I don’t.

[Bluefox]

Originally Posted by carolinablue

I feel like Key West should be in the poll.

I did consider it, but it seems like Palm Springs and Fort Lauderdale are the big juggernauts in terms of gay visitors. I think Fort Lauderdale is like 1.1M gay visitors a year while Key West is more like 250k.