A visit to Key West is worthwhile any time of year, but ladies may want to consider booking trips just after Labor Day. That's when the island hosts Womenfest Key West, an annual weekend-long party for lesbians.
Womenfest is similar to Dinah Shore in Palm Springs, but Key West's version is a bit more laid-back and draws a diverse crowd of older lesbians and young gay girls, couples, singles and groups of friends. The action-packed weekend includes pool parties; all-women snorkeling and dolphin-watching adventures; a golf tournament; and a flag-football game to keep you entertained during the day. After sundown, look for live music, stand-up comedy shows, dance parties and a very popular sexy mechanical bull-riding contest.
You can do Womenfest at your own pace. Drop in on a pool party for the afternoon, and then duck out for a romantic dinner with your lady that evening. Or, you can indulge in an all-day parties of bikini contests, trolley tours, all-women sunset cruises and late-night dance parties.
Highlights from Womenfest 2011 included performances by Sister Funk, a night of comedy with lesbian comics Jackie Monahan, Gloria Bigelow and Julie Goldman, and a group commitment ceremony and champagne brunch. Womenfest 2012 is scheduled for Sept. 4-9. Visit www.womenfest.com/ for more information.