We’re back in OKC at the moment, but this week we’re recapping our recent road trip to New Mexico and Colorado.

Some of our favorite destinations any time of year, we turned Matt’s birthday into our first trip to Pagosa Springs, a quaint Colorado mountain town lined with a river, antique shops, and geothermal hot springs — including Nathan’s Hippy Dip! The town is so charming, and super LGBTQ+-friendly, from 84 Ranch to Riff Raff Brewing Co.

To and fro, we stopped at some of our favorite hotels in New Mexico, including El Rey Court in Santa Fe, and El Monte Sagrado in Taos, where we’re keeping tradition alive with pool time, tub time, and of course, Anaconda.

Where we ate/drank: La Reina, Esquina, Dolina Cafe & Bakery, The Peak, Riff Raff Brewing Co., Meander Eatery, East Side Market, Alley House Grille, Neon Mallard, Root House Coffee + Shop, Anaconda Bar

Where we stayed: El Rey Court, Fireside Cabins, El Monte Sagrado

Where we visited: The Springs Resort, 84 Ranch, Chimney Rock National Monument, Williams Creek Reservoir

Thank you for reading, following, and listening!

With Pride,

Matt and Nathan

Thank you for following The Gay Lane. To support independent queer creators, please consider subscribing or making a donation. We take great Pride in authenticity and originality, and that means going the extra mile — or thousands of miles — to celebrate queer culture in unexpected places. This may sound simple, but it takes a great deal of intentional effort, time, and resources to bring this to life with the quality and care that we believe it deserves. Your support makes all the difference.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegaylane.substack.com/subscribe

Hi from the Granite State!

This week, we’re reflecting on nostalgia in New Hampshire. Matt’s home state may is a place we’ve gone back to several times — to visit family, revisit places from his youth, and make our own memories. For Matt, and for a lot of queer people, that sense of “going back home” can be fraught with triggers and traumas, but there’s a lot that he loves there too. Especially now.

After our most recent trip to New Hampshire in July, and our podcast episode on Boston, we’re looking back at some of our must-visit destinations, lakes, and restaurants, as well as negotiating with the highs and lows of youth-gone-by nostalgia.

Tune in for vintage arcades, heart-shaped jacuzzis, eggplant parmesan subs, Hocus Pocus drag, late-night meltdowns, and so much more!

Where we eat/drink: Pizza by George, Puritan Backroom, Cello’s Farm House, Copper Door, Horsefeathers

Where we visited: The Palace Theatre, Lake Massasecum, Lake Winnipesaukee

Thank you for reading, following, and listening!

With Pride,

Matt and Nathan

Thank you for following The Gay Lane. To support independent queer creators, please consider subscribing or making a donation. We take great Pride in authenticity and originality, and that means going the extra mile — or thousands of miles — to celebrate queer culture in unexpected places. This may sound simple, but it takes a great deal of intentional effort, time, and resources to bring this to life with the quality and care that we believe it deserves. Your support makes all the difference.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegaylane.substack.com/subscribe

Oh hi!

Following an egregious delay, we’re finally back with part two of our Australia podcast series. Check out our first episode on Sydney, where we attended a Pride gala and visited the largest queer cultural center on Earth. This week, we’re venturing north to Byron Bay.

In the “Rainbow Region” of Australia, we stayed at one of the dreamiest hotels we’ve ever been to, ate beach-chic cuisine, kayaked with non-dolphins, and discovered local Aboriginal history on an Indigenous hike.

And at long last, we FINALLY saw a koala in the wild.

Where we ate/drank: Belongil Bistro, Top Shop Byron Bay, Ember

Where we stayed: Hotel Marvell

Where we visited: Mr. Vintage, Arakwal National Park, Cape Byron Kayaks, Explore Byron Bay

Thank you for reading, following, and listening!

With Pride,

Matt and Nathan

Thank you for following The Gay Lane. To support independent queer creators, please consider subscribing or making a donation. We take great Pride in authenticity and originality, and that means going the extra mile — or thousands of miles — to celebrate queer culture in unexpected places. This may sound simple, but it takes a great deal of intentional effort, time, and resources to bring this to life with the quality and care that we believe it deserves. Your support makes all the difference.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegaylane.substack.com/subscribe

Hi from Boston!

I’m currently working on a comprehensive Boston travel guide, but in the meantime — in the midst of a vacation to visit family in New England — we wanted to chime in on our lifelong loves of one of America’s most LGBTQ+-friendly cities.

We’ve both spent lots of time here, individually and together. And as we visit once more, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to dig into our experiences here. For Nathan, that means summer trips with his kids. For Matt, that means family time while growing up nearby.

Today, though, its Boston’s revolutionary queerness that keeps us coming back, time and again.

Thank you for reading, following, and listening!

With Pride,

Matt and Nathan

Thank you for following The Gay Lane. To support independent queer creators, please consider subscribing or making a donation. We take great Pride in authenticity and originality, and that means going the extra mile — or thousands of miles — to celebrate queer culture in unexpected places. This may sound simple, but it takes a great deal of intentional effort, time, and resources to bring this to life with the quality and care that we believe it deserves. Your support makes all the difference.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegaylane.substack.com/subscribe

Hello from the land down under!

This week, we’re recapping the first part of our recent trip to Australia, where we spent several days in Sydney and Byron Bay, both in New South Wales. For the Sydney portion, we witnessed Vivid Sydney, a ravishing annual lights festival, and toured Qtopia, the largest queer cultural center and museum in the world.

We had some of the best meals — and views — of the year, and partook in more queer culture on a gay walking tour, in gay bars, and at the Pride Fest Gala.

Where we ate/drank: The Oriana, The Rusty Rabbit, Bills Bondhi, The Palomar, The Oxford Hotel

Where we stayed: Shangri-La Sydney, 25Hours Hotel Sydney The Olympia

Where we visited: Vivid Sydney, Soak Bathhouse, Sequined Steps, Qtopia

Thank you for reading, following, and listening!

With Pride,

Matt and Nathan

Thank you for following The Gay Lane. To support independent queer creators, please consider subscribing or making a donation. We take great Pride in authenticity and originality, and that means going the extra mile — or thousands of miles — to celebrate queer culture in unexpected places. This may sound simple, but it takes a great deal of intentional effort, time, and resources to bring this to life with the quality and care that we believe it deserves. Your support makes all the difference.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegaylane.substack.com/subscribe

We’re back!

After a brief podcast pause to catch up on work and life (and travel to Australia!), we’re chatting about our favorite Colorado mining town on this week’s podcast! Located in SW Colorado, Durango is a place that has been a thread through Nathan’s life, from his first visit as a toddler, to later returns as a father, a solo traveler going through divorce, and a husband on his honeymoon.

It’s a story he wrote all about here, and it’s beautiful. On this episode, we’re talking about the famous Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train, our beloved Strater Hotel, and the Durango Hot Springs — and Beanie Babies! — from Matt’s recent solo trip.

Where we ate/drink: The Bookcase and Barber speakeasy, Animas Chocolate Co., El Moro Spirits & Tavern, Diamond Belle Saloon

Where we stayed: Strater Hotel

Where we played: Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango Hot Springs, Durango Antique Market

Thank you for reading, following, and listening!

With Pride,

Matt and Nathan

Thank you for following The Gay Lane. To support independent queer creators, please consider subscribing or making a donation. We take great Pride in authenticity and originality, and that means going the extra mile — or thousands of miles — to celebrate queer culture in unexpected places. This may sound simple, but it takes a great deal of intentional effort, time, and resources to bring this to life with the quality and care that we believe it deserves. Your support makes all the difference.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegaylane.substack.com/subscribe

Hello and welcome to The Gay Land Podcast, where we’re celebrating queer culture in… expected places?!

This week, we’re wrapping up our three-part Norwegian cruise series with a recap of our days in Rotterdam and Amsterdam — two iconic global queer destinations, known for their queer culture. And boutique condom emporiums.

We dig into the seaport and architectural history of Rotterdam, discuss our love of Porn Star Martinis (and our disdain for nightclubs), and embark on a gay bar whirlwind in Amsterdam. Including our first naked bar!

You can read a SFW version of our surprisingly wholesome naked bar experience here.

You can listen to our previous Norwegian cruise episodes on Norway here, and the cruise itself here.

Where we stayed:

Where we drank:

Thank you for reading, following, and listening!

With Pride,

Matt and Nathan

Thank you for following The Gay Lane. To support independent queer creators, please consider subscribing or making a donation. We take great Pride in authenticity and originality, and that means going the extra mile — or thousands of miles — to celebrate queer culture in unexpected places. This may sound simple, but it takes a great deal of intentional effort, time, and resources to bring this to life with the quality and care that we believe it deserves. Your support makes all the difference.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegaylane.substack.com/subscribe

After our last episode on our Holland America cruise on the North Sea, we’re sailing along with a deep dive into our four stops in Norway.

We shopped for trolls in Nordfjordeid…

Celebrated our anniversary with viking swords and petroleum in Stavanger…

Road a boat by the dreamiest island homes in Lillesand…

And went from the Munch Museum to butter-fried cod in Oslo.

It was a week we’ll remember forever, and we’re already itching to go back!

Thank you for reading, following, and listening!

With Pride,

Matt and Nathan

Thank you for following The Gay Lane. To support independent queer creators, please consider subscribing or making a donation. We take great Pride in authenticity and originality, and that means going the extra mile — or thousands of miles — to celebrate queer culture in unexpected places. This may sound simple, but it takes a great deal of intentional effort, time, and resources to bring this to life with the quality and care that we believe it deserves. Your support makes all the difference.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegaylane.substack.com/subscribe

Freshly back from a week-long Norwegian dream cruise with Holland America Line, we’re reflecting on the journey itself, and the onboard moments we loved the most.

The tagline for Holland America is “Savour the Journey,” and we did precisely that. Save for a little seasickness on the first day (the North Sea is no joke!), we had a great time aboard the MS Rotterdam.

On this episode, we’re focusing on the ship itself, including its restaurants, live music, art, and amenities. We also recall some of our standout memories from our first Holland America cruise together, a few years ago on the Mediterranean.

Thank you for reading, following, and listening!

With Pride,

Matt and Nathan

Thank you for following The Gay Lane. To support independent queer creators, please consider subscribing or making a donation. We take great Pride in authenticity and originality, and that means going the extra mile — or thousands of miles — to celebrate queer culture in unexpected places. This may sound simple, but it takes a great deal of intentional effort, time, and resources to bring this to life with the quality and care that we believe it deserves. Your support makes all the difference.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegaylane.substack.com/subscribe

Hello and welcome to The Gay Lane Podcast!

After a short break, we’re back with a catchup episode about some of our recent travels, including Matt’s trip to the second annual Adirondack Winter Pride in Lake Placid, and Nathan’s vacation with friends in Belize (which he wrote about, quite beautifully, here).

Oh and in between, we got another dog! Cooper is a 1-year-old dachshund/border terrier mix, and he’s been the perfect addition to our little fam. Because of course a gay couple would wind up with two wiener dogs.

Thank you for reading, following, and listening!

With Pride,

Matt and Nathan

Thank you for following The Gay Lane. To support independent queer creators, please consider subscribing or making a donation. We take great Pride in authenticity and originality, and that means going the extra mile — or thousands of miles — to celebrate queer culture in unexpected places. This may sound simple, but it takes a great deal of intentional effort, time, and resources to bring this to life with the quality and care that we believe it deserves. Your support makes all the difference.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thegaylane.substack.com/subscribe