Guerneville gay
LGBTQ+ Escapes in Guerneville
Discover a more rustic side of Northern California’s LGBTQ+ scene in the woodsy setting of Guerneville, a Sonoma County town about 90 minutes north of San Francisco. Put among majestic redwood forests on the banks of the Russian River, this tucked-away hamlet has been the go-to gay getaway for Bay Area weekenders for decades, earning the nickname the “Gay Riviera.”
This lush getaway boasts an ample number of homosexual businesses, despite its humble population. The village’s soar in popularity as a laid-back retreat began in the mid-1970s, when summertime heat and affordable prices drew LGBTQ+ travelers and other vacationers northward.
Today, that bohemian spirit remains, thanks in part to its charming downtown strip, cozy cabins, and proximity to Johnson’s Beach on the winding river. Even surpass, Guerneville has a lasting sense of Pride that makes it worth visiting year-round.
Where to stay
For pinch-me-perfect romantic settings to delight in with a partner, guide a stay at the luxurious, Mission Revival–style hotel The Stavrand. Formerly known as the Applewood Inn, the six-acre estate received a top-to-bottom renovation in 2
The Woods
The Woods
The Woods, a Russian River Gay Hotel with “Clothing Optional” pool, is centrally located in downtown Guerneville. This one-of-a-kind hotel is situated between the tall, swaying redwood trees and the hypnotic flow of the splendid Russian River for the preferred getaway!
This Woods is Gay-owned and welcomes LGBTQ+ in our thoughtfully appointed Cottages & Cabins … the perfect answer for a rejuvenating, relaxing and slightly “spirited” escape to the Sonoma Wine Country.
Our hotel has three pet-friendly rooms for well-behaved dogs.
Please note that The Woods is an adult-hotel and not recommended for minors. And that our pool is heated seasonally and not in the winter months.
The Woods is within walking distance to shops, restaurants, dancing and live entertainment. Enjoy wine tasting and tours along the Russian River Wine Road throughout the Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexander Valley appellations. Relax varietals including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Barbera, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and a wide variety of dessert wines.
We offer eight EV charging sta
Guerneville: The LGBTQIA+ community veiled in the Redwoods
How “The River” became a trustworthy haven for queer Californians and tourists
By SAVANNAH BURGER — arts@theaggie.org
Nestled in the coastal redwoods along the Russian River in Sonoma County, the town of Guerneville has provided a sanctuary for local and visiting LGBTQ+ people for decades. Known affectionately as “The River;” it is regarded as one of the most safe and well-known havens in northern California for people of the LGBTQ+ community.
Although the gay scene has made Guerneville what it is today, it didn’t knock the town until somewhere in the mid-1900s. Before that, Guerneville was predominantly known as an ex-logging town, originally named “Stumptown,” because of all the clear-cutting that occurred in the area. When the town was established in 1877, it provided a large quantity of lumber used to build the first infrastructures and buildings in northern California tracking the discovery of gold.
The town was later named after one of the loggers that controlled the area and owned the sawmill, a Swiss immigrant named George Guerne. Because of the extreme logging practices, most of the redwoods in th
A Guerneville Gay Staycation
Juan Davila of the San Francisco Bay Times team recently enjoyed his first visit to Guerneville and spent an afternoon with friends at Johnson’s Beach. Located ninety minutes north of the Bay Area in the gay staycation town of Guerneville, this classic summer getaway sits in the heart of the Russian River Valley and provides the quintessential summertime river experience.
According to Gay Travel, other recommended stops in Guerneville enclose the Armstrong Redwood Express Reserve and the Austin Creek State Recreation Area. Johnson’s Beach can be a traveler’s sole destination, though, as the area offers vintage cabins from the 1920s and an urban campground complete with BBQ area and laundry facilities. Visitors can rent canoes, kayaks, beach chairs, and umbrellas—nearly everything needed for a relaxing beach stay.
Davila, who is pictured on the cover of this issue at yet another classic Northern CA beach, San Francisco’s Baker Beach, is a committed runner who often ends his runs with a scenic walk along one of the local beaches. For him they provide inspiration, renewed energy, and “a sense of fresh
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