In the past year, I’ve traveled around the country, everywhere from Fort Lauderdale to Seattle, Chicago to St. Louis, but the one thing I’ve never done before is go on a road trip.  Well folks, it’s time.  Pack your bags, fuel up your tank and get ready to head out on the most exciting gay adventures you can imagine...well kinda!

I decided to take a ride on Interstate 40 from Nashville to Las Vegas and stop of a variety of cities along the way.  Driving through Memphis, I recalled my time at the Peabody Hotel and sipping cocktails on Beale Street as I crossed the mighty Mississippi River into Arkansas.

I wasn’t planning on stopping in Arkansas, but as I was Googling and driving (no, I do not encourage that), I discovered that Fort Smith, Arkansas had a small gay scene so I decided to check it out.  It’s not Fort Lauderdale or San Francisco, but there were a few gay bars, most notably, Club Kinkead’s.  I actually met a really cool guy who was willing to show me the highlights of the city which included a lookout point, owned by the military set high upon a hilltop overlooking Fort Smith.

Not too far away are the towns of Fayetteville and Hot Springs, two destinations better known for vibrant gay nightlife, but unfortunately they were located too far off I-40, so I didn’t have the chance to visit them.

The next day, I packed up my suitcase and headed back out on the open road, next stop, Oklahoma City.  OKC as the locals call it, is not a destination one would initially think would be very gay friendly, however after doing a bit of research, I actually found a gay resort fairly close to the interstate.

Habana Inn is the largest gay resort in the Southwest and offers visitors 170 hotel rooms, two swimming pools, two nightclubs, a restaurant, piano bar, and gift shop, all conveniently located within the same complex.  After checking into my room, I decided to go for dinner at Gushers, the hotel’s restaurant.  I opted for a soup and salad combo, however the restaurant is known for their prime rib dinner, which has been called the best in the city.

After speaking with some members of the staff and other patrons, I was pleasantly surprised by the array of bars, clubs and other attractions within Oklahoma City, including a gay-owned and operated coffee house and community center.

The nightlife options in and around Habana Inn are plentiful, from the venues on property to nearly half-dozen other establishments located within walking distance.  My first stop was a small neighborhood bar called The Boom, which served up inexpensive cocktails and provided a welcoming environment.  Directly across the street are Angles, Tramps and Phoenix Rising. But if you choose to stay at the hotel, I suggest visiting The Copa for dancing and great drag performances or Finishline if you are looking to kick off your boots and enjoy some beers and country music.

Further on up the road is Amarillo, located in the heart of the Texas Panhandle.  Since I did a little too much partying in OKC the night before, I decided to visit some cultural attractions in Amarillo.  Cadillac Ranch is a public art installation and sculpture park which was created in 1974 by Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez and Doug Michels, and consists of junk Cadillac automobiles, representing a number of evolutions of the car line most notably the birth and death of the defining feature of mid twentieth century Cadillac’s, the tailfins.  The automobiles, which were produced between 1949 and 1963, are all half-buried nose-first in the ground, at an angle corresponding to that of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.

Everything is bigger in Texas and visitors to Amarillo must stop at The Big Texan. The iconic restaurant, located along the historic Route 66, is a legend within its own right.  The restaurant and lodging complex has been featured on major cable television networks and has even been the target of Adam Richman’s "Man vs. Food" for its 72-ounce steak challenge.

A few hours further west is Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The Nob Hill neighborhood, located on the old Route 66 site, is the local gayborhood. There you will find a strip of gay clubs and bars, perfect for dancing, bar-hopping or people watching.

Although listed as a private club, the Albuquerque Social Club is a fun, friendly venue with live DJ's and regularly scheduled drag shows. Guests can enjoy a game of pool, while sipping on some of the cheapest cocktails in town.

Not too far away is Sidewinders, Albuquerque’s best dance bar.  Serving the LGBT community for two decades, Sidewinders features one of the state’s largest dance floors. The venue also offers nightly entertainment including karaoke, pool tournaments and dance lessons.

Last stop on my road trip is Las Vegas.  On previous visits, I stayed a luxurious hotels on the strip, however this time I wanted to experience something different, so I chose the wonderful Blue Moon Hotel.  The boutique property boasts 45 rooms and suites and is a clothing optional hotel complete with a Jacuzzi grotto, perfect for the cool Vegas nights.

My two-room suite was beautifully appointed with luxurious linens, a modern seating area, walk-in closet and unobstructed views of the pool and sun deck.

Blue Moon also features a full steam room, video room, complimentary continental breakfast and Wi-Fi in addition to a spa which offers a variety of skin care and waxing treatments.

The atmosphere at Blue Moon is vibrant and fun, however if you are looking to hit up a show on the strip, I recommend Cirque du Soleil’s Zarkana, performing at the Aria Resort & Casino.  Zarkana has been described as an "acrobatic rock experience that blends circus arts with the surreal to create a world where physical virtuosity rubs shoulders with the strange."

The show was the perfect way to end a fabulous trip across America, one which I will surely never forget. Be sure to keep a look out for a new all-male revue show named "Men of the Strip", opening in Vegas, later this year.