It’s first property in the Pendry portfolio, an urban-style boutique brand that’s part of the ritzy and renowned Montage Hotels & Resorts, which has several hotels in California, including in Beverly Hills, Healdsburg, and nearby Laguna Beach. Where to Stay in San DiegoĪmong the many stylish, design-minded hotels that have made San Diego a hot spot with LGBTQ travelers, the 317-room Pendry San Diego occupies a dazzling 12-story building. This woman-centered gathering has become increasingly popular each year and is a vital part of San Diego Pride. The parade kicks off at the Hillcrest Pride Flag on University Avenue at 10 and proceeds for 1.5 miles, turning south down 6th Avenue and then curving into Balboa Park via Balboa Drive and ending at Quince Street.ĭon’t miss the Pride Festival on Saturday and Sunday, during which some 40,000 revelers of all ages and backgrounds dance and celebrate to performances by more than 100 musicians on four different stages.Īlso note that on Saturday, the week before Pride weekend, She Fest typically takes place at North Park Community Park. Highlights from recent Pride celebrations have included the Friday-night Spirit of Stonewall Rally, the Friday Pride Block Party in Hillcrest, and the always colorful San Diego Pride Parade on Saturday, and attracting some 250,000 spectators and participants. After not holding the in-person festival due to COVID-19 safety concerns in 2020, San Diego Pride resumed in July 2021 and is again planned for July 16–18, 2022. There’s truly not a bad time to visit San Diego, which averages about 265 days with sunshine annually, but LGBTQ visitors might want to mark their calendars for mid-July, the time for the annual-and well-attended- San Diego Pride Festival. Whether you’re here to celebrate a special occasion or simply to relax amid 70 miles of breezy beaches, explore leafy Balboa Park and its iconic zoo and museums, or partake of the hip and lively shopping, dining, and nightlife scenes around such diverse and trendy neighborhoods as Hillcrest, North Park, Little Italy, Barrio Logan, and the Gaslamp Quarter, here are some tips on making the most of your time in San Diego.Ĭheck out the website of San Diego Tourism Authority for more trip-planning advice and details, and also take a look at the organization’s extremely helpful LGBTQ Travel section. Because the weather is consistently warm and sunny, it’s also become hugely popular for gay weddings, from lavish celebrations to simple but sophisticated elopements and smaller destination weddings.
California’s second-largest city ranks among the most beloved seaside destinations in North America for year-round beach vacations, and with a large and vibrant LGBTQ community, San Diego also offers plenty to see and do for gay travelers.