Alternative Lifestyle Vacations: 1001 Vacation Ideas

In fact, the Key West beaches and tourists areas are known for their laid-back anything goes attitude. Just be yourself and have fun. The beaches themselves are not the greatest around.

Smathers Beach and Fort Taylor Beach are two of the more popular. The local mangroves attract a lot of visitors for fishing, diving and canoeing.

There’s the Key West historic area which includes the house where Hemingway lived. But perhaps the most common activity is the fun pastime of people-watching.

The water at Orient Beach is calm and safe due to the barrier reef that protects Orient Bay. Swimming, windsurfing, sailing and snorkeling are all popular here. Beachgoers often make their way out to the three uninhabited islands in the middle of the bay.

Fire Island has quaint wooden walks, sandy trails, uninhabited parkland, fine dining and an exciting nightlife along with an open attitude towards all alternative lifestyle choices.

Gays, lesbians, bisexual, heterosexual and transgendered people from around the world come to Fire Island to enjoy the best gay beach community anywhere.

The Provincetown Business Guild is dedicated to promoting local gay and lesbian tourism. The town is a working fishing village, an artists’ colony as well as the vacation destination for many alternative lifestyle vacationers.

Provincetown won the 2006 PlanetOut Travel Award: Best Gay Resort Town. Besides the beach there are antique shops to explore, nature trails for hiking and biking, galleries, clubs and lots of other entertainment.

Today it’s a rather cosmopolitan town that goes out of its way to welcome gay and lesbian vacationers. Many consider it to be one of the best gay vacation spots in Europe. Of the 17 beaches in Sitges, Playa del Muerto is the gay beach.

Between February and March the town is in full carnival mode with parades, music, folk dancing and general celebration. It's an annual tradition that has been going on for over one hundred years.

Unlike many out-of-the-way nude beaches, Haulover Beach is officially sanctioned and well patrolled with life guards and police.

This mile-and-one-half beach is one of the world's finest nude beaches. Just across the street is Haulover Park, a full service marina, family nine-hole golf course and tennis courts.

Alternative Vacation Idea #7:One of the most spectacular of the Greek islands is Mykonos. It’s an island with beautiful golden sandy beaches and transparent waters as well as picturesque villages and historical ruins.

Mykonos is also very alternative-lifestyle-friendly. A top nightlife stop is Pierros, arguably the most famous gay club in the world.

Three popular gay and nude beaches are Paradise Beach, Super Paradise Beach and Elia Beach. They are the farthest beaches from the town and can be reached by bus or boat.

Alternative Lifestyle Vacations Idea #8:In southern Delaware, Rehoboth Beach has been drawing gay and lesbian beach-lovers for decades. Generally the central part of the beach is used by straight couples and families.

The North Shores beach is where the lesbians gather. The gay men head toward Poodle Beach at the southern end of the boardwalk. There are numerous gay-owned businesses in the beach area.

The boardwalk at Rehoboth Beach is alive with activity at all hours. It is a busy place with shops, restaurant, arcades and boutiques.

Alternative Lifestyle Vacations Idea #9:Venice Beach in southern California has always had a carnival-like atmosphere. The boardwalk is a unique interesting mix of everything from roller skaters and bodybuilders to musicians and jugglers.

Since the early 1920s counterculture and alternative lifestyles are a part of the spirit of Venice Beach. It’s a unique place unlike anywhere else on the planet.