The editors of Out and About, a gay and lesbian newsletter, have described Miami's South Beach as the "hippest, hottest, most happening gay travel destination in the world." Today, however, Fort Lauderdale -- where gays own more than 20 motels, 40 bars, and numerous other businesses -- steals its rainbow-colored crown. For many years, that could also be said of Key West, which still is one of the country's most popular destinations for gays.

You can contact the Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Community Services of Central Florida, 946 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, FL 32803 (tel. 407/228-8272; www.glbcc.org), whose welcome packets usually include the latest issue of the Triangle, a quarterly newsletter, and a calendar of events pertaining to the gay and lesbian community. Although not a tourist-specific packet, it includes information and ads for the area's gay and lesbian clubs.

Watermark, P.O. Box 533655, Orlando, FL 32853 (tel. 407/481-2243; fax 407/481-2246; www.watermarkonline.com), is a biweekly tabloid newspaper covering the gay and lesbian scene, including dining and entertainment options, in Orlando, the Tampa Bay area, and Daytona Beach.

The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA; tel. 800/448-8550 or 954/776-2626; www.iglta.org) is the trade association for the gay and lesbian travel industry, and offers an online directory of gay- and lesbian-friendly travel businesses and tour operators.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.