Three New Ways for Gay and Lesbian Travelers to Explore Welcoming Hot Spots in Philly

Photo: Jamonera/M. Edlow for GPTMC

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) recently debuted content on Foursquare, Foodspotting and Pinterest for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) travelers planning a trip to Philadelphia or residents who want to get to know their city better. On the various social media apps, those with an interest in Philadelphia’s gay-friendly offerings can get the scoop on must-try restaurants, popular bars, top shops and more.

Foursquare Lists: These new curated guides give LGBT visitors the scoop on how to eat and drink their way through Philly:

• Gayborhood Grub: Though small, the Gayborhood contains a burgeoning food scene full of delicious options. Readers will get the mouth-watering details about the prosciutto pizza at Terra and learn why the salted caramel budino at Barbuzzo is a must.
• Gayborhood Bars: Philadelphia’s always-buzzing Gayborhood is home to many of the city’s LGBT bars and nightclubs. Is it a draft beer at Woody’s kind of night or a dance party at Voyeur type of evening? Readers can decide after reading this sure-to-be-popular guide. 
• Gay-owned Shops: Offering everything from eye-popping art and organic soaps to trendy housewares and statement jewels, the gay-owned stores of Philadelphia’s Gayborhood offer a special shopping experience.

Foodspotting Guides: GPTMC recently added a Gayborhood Grub guide to Foodspotting to help LGBT residents and visitors find and share good food in the city. A Foodpotting pioneer, GPTMC made Philadelphia the first destination to launch a major program on the social media site, and with 1,500 followers, the Visit Philly account surpasses all other destinations, including Ireland and Hawaii, and is on par with other branded pages such as Travel + Leisure.

Pinterest Boards: Pinterest is the newest online sensation, and again, GPTMC showed its social media savvy by getting Philadelphia on the site early. Through various boards—essentially, these pin boards act like the ones people use in their homes and offices, except they’re online—GPTMC highlights content from Visit Philly and other gay happenings throughout Philadelphia on the Visit Philly’s “Visit Gay Philly” board.

The GPTMC makes Philadelphia and The Countrysidea premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region’s vitality.

For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit www.visitphilly.com or www.uwishunu.com, where you can build itineraries; search event calendars; see photos and videos; view interactive maps; sign up for newsletters; listen to HearPhilly, an online radio station about what to see and do in the region; book hotel reservations and more. Or, call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Historic Philadelphia, at (800) 537-7676.