Ah, Sun Diego, everything a gay man could ask for: warm weather, great dining, culture, tanned bodies, great clubs and, of course, plenty o’ sex! But for a guy whose job revolves around the bar and club nightlife, every now and then I need to spread my seed in new and uncharted territory. This past weekend, I gathered my buds and took a road trip up the coast from Long Beach all the way to San Francisco. 

We all agreed that the first stop on our coastal cruise would be Long Beach. We’ve all heard that their Pride event is legendary, and that this beach community is filled with sex appeal. As we made our way around town, we decided to check out The Brit, a dive bar with good energy that was filled with hot locals. The place was a fairly small venue, and had lots of locals that were eager to please – and not afraid to flirt, either. The jukebox could have been better, but the feel was good and the crowd was attractive. With another local bar not 20 feet down the road, we decided to stay the rest of the night and see just how much trouble we could get into. When it came right down to it, we left the bar tipsy and in good spirits. With a few numbers in my pocket and my mind fixed on L.A., we left Long Beach behind and continued on to bigger and better things.

If you ever find yourself in L.A. and aren’t feeling the whole West Hollywood vibe, there are other options. M.J.’s is a bar in Silverlake that is sure to whet your appetite. With a huge bar, an outdoor patio, sexy-as-hell bartenders and go-go boys that actually look like men, this club doesn’t disappoint. First off, the music was very fitting for the atmosphere – edgy, flirty and fun. The drinks were double-fisted and the dance floor was packed. Saving it up for our last stop, we kept things pretty low-key, and somehow managed to stay out of too much trouble.

When the boys and I finally arrived in Gay City, we were exhausted and due for a little R&R. After a short disco nap, we were ready to pound some drinks (and hopefully a little more than that, if you know what I’m saying). We decided to check out the club Badlands just to see what the fuss was all about. For starters, the two-for-one drink specials had me happily hydrated all night long, and the music kept me movin’ and shakin’.

The bar’s set-up is good, with bars and servers all over. You didn’t have to stumble far for your next round. 

We grabbed a few boys and continued our party in our hotel room, where the liquor kept flowing and the laughs kept rolling.

It was our last night in the big city, and I knew that I wanted to make it one to remember. When I heard that it was Trannyshack at a bar called the Stud, I was a bit skeptical. I was told that although there is a tranny show – which is known to push the limits of morality – the crowd is comprised of a huge melting pot of trannies, queens, muscle boys, bears and cubs. From the moment the show started until last call, I was fixated on the energy of this bar! The music was unlike anything I had ever heard, the crowd had me literally drooling, and people actually got along! They danced, they drank, they kissed – they were free, gay and without limits. I knew that I had quite possibly found one of the best bars on the West Coast. 

I love San Diego – love it. It is one of the few cities that I’ve lived where I feel like I can actually breathe, where I can truly live and let live. But everyone needs a break, a little vacation from the norm to break the routine and get a little crazy. I left a little bit of myself in San Francisco, but what I took with me was more than I ever could have expected.