I have traveled a lot and love to go out in public en-femme. Below are:
My Top "venues"/cities for living (or vacationing) like a real "female" queen!
1. London, England (UK) - 10 Points
1A. Montreal, Quebec, (Canada) - 10 Points
3. Las Vegas, NV (USA) - 8 Points
T3. San Francisco CA (USA) - 8 Points
4. Vancouver, BC (Canada) - 7.5 Points
5. Boston, MA (USA) - 7 Points
T5. New York, NY (USA) 7 Points
6. Atlanta, GA (USA) - 6.75 Points
T6. Kansas City, KS (USA) - 6.75 Points
7. Toronto, ON (Canada) - 6.5 Points
8. Key West, FL(USA) - 6.25 Points
9. Chicago IL (USA) - 6 Points
T9. New Orleans LA (USA) 5.75 Points
T10. Quebec City, Quebec & Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 5.5 Points
OK - How can a girl rationalize a lot of "missing" places (on the list)? What do the first 5 places on the list ALL have in common? Open "friendly" trans communities... to start. They are safer and they are more accepting of gals like us.... LA is like "the TV show Lost" - you get a good night on occasion. Since the Queen Mary in LA closed - it has never been the same. (The locals agree!) There is a decent place in Hollywood (6969) - but only a couple of nights a week! Dallas TX, and Miami have good venues but are not as safe... San Diego also lacks a consistent venue. San Francisco is THE place for transgender (in my humble opinion) on the west coast and - Seattle WA has a refined TG community.
Philly, Baltimore and DC "feel" dangerous - as does Miami, FL. - Fort Lauderdale has potential - as does Orlando / Ft. Meyers - but like most southern and Florida cities - they lack that "feeling" and environment of acceptance and safety. Key West is the lone exception! In the "Lands of the French" - Paris, France was a disappointment (to me) - Yet Montreal has it ALL. Montreal has every sensual and sexual venue and erotic opportunity known to man and woman! In Montreal I can go to the pool, the beach or the park as a "gal" and no one bothers me - unless they want to take me out! It is the sexiest and most cosmopolitain city in North America. I could tell you stories beyond belief and I have told some on this site! Quebec City is small, very French but very good and Vancouver, BC, CA is excellent.
Calgary and Ottawa, Canada, Providence RI, and even Provincetown, MA, are smaller places that can be lots of fun. London has EVERYTHING under the sun for T-Girls and their admirers. A full time Trannie Hotel, (The Philbeach) The Wayout Club and a half dozen Quality T venues - plus many other places to go EVERY NIGHT! The best dressing services in the world (Pandora Depledge Imageworks) with escorted dress up evenings for the inexperienced. I made dozens of friends in one week in London - so I have returned in spite of the distance. New York is safer than in the past and is exciting and dynamic - but keep up on local news as venues change constantly. I unknowingly took a taxi to a NYC venue that went "straight" two weeks before I showed up! Awkward and potentially dangerous!
Vegas is for real.- It is wild and it "stays there!" (The Las Vegas Lounge! WOW! - so unique!) Boston is "MY" town and has gotten more gay friendly and has helped the environment become the best in the eastern US! My advice - Vacation carefully, choose your local visiting spot carefully - and don't drink and drive. The ultimate humiliation awaits those so foolish. I've been lucky (smart!). Not always though! I went out once in a "straight" hotel bar in New Jersey dressed elegantly and almost got raped. I once walked by a hundred parked bikers on Avenue St. Laurent in Montreal in a shamelessly teensy, revealing, mini dress wearing whorey five inch high heels and got whistles and applause! WHERE (and when) IS SO VERY IMPORTANT! Don't be foolish! We make our own odds! Enjoy but be careful out there! "Scout" areas and venues first (before you dress) if you have time. E-Mail me with your opinions and thoughts. urnotalone.com has specific listings of T-Friendly venues in places all around the world.
Cari's Top 5 "Quality" criteria for choosing venues / cities:
1. Trans community friendly 2. Gay / Alternative / Friendly 3. Safety - venue / city immediate areas - especially at night 4. Quality and Number of "accepting" clubs, bars, venues 5. Overall livability / Visitor Quality / quality of life / attitude of people
My sexy black special occasion dress!