With the onset of the holiday season, some see shopping opportunities and others find themselves staring into the gaping maw of a miserable winter. Which means? Vacation, of course! The kaleidoscope of queer travel options makes gay getaways even more tempting than a mere trip to somewhere warm. Check out these companies who specialize in sending homos away from home.

Atlantis Events claims to be the largest gay and lesbian tour operator in the world, sending 12,000 queers on vacation every year. Their Viva Las Vegas package looks like it'll be the biggest party weekend in the west, turning Sin City into one enormous circuit party. The party will feature DJs Brett Henrichsen, Phil B., Jason G, Warren Gluck and Manny Lehman to name a few at all the best venues in Vegas. Your one-price pass gets you into discos, waterparks, and strip shows of all kinds. Don't forget that side trip to the Liberace museum!

Who could've predicted that the birthplace of the straightest of rituals, Spring Break, would become one of America's gayest destinations? Gay Fort Lauderdale Resorts has had a hand in transforming Fort Lauderdale into an international gay travel Mecca. Where there were once only Tiki bars and frat hangouts, you'll now find several hundred gay-owned and operated B&Bs, bars, clubs, resorts and restaurants. With a 23-mile-long white sandy beach and warm ocean water, Fort Lauderdale is a conveniently accessible vacation spot. And it's only a quick drive down A1A to the even gayer Key West!

Gay Australia asks you if you've ever let your inner sequin sparkle. Now we know you have, but the real question is, has it sparkled down under? (Heh, just can't get enough of those down under jokes, can ya, mate?) They offer all sorts of packages, but their Mardi Gras Budget Buster sounds the most irresistible. Five delicious days dancing with 20,000 sexy Aussies? G'damn!

The most cleverly named gay travel biz has to be NaviGaytion. They refer to themselves as "the new gay and lesbian online travel community," and the site both looks and feels poppin' fresh. Their home page is so packed with information you'll need two cups of coffee to get through it. They're hooked up with all sorts of partners, web zines and shopping sites. You'll find your standard options, but why not send yourself on a vacation with a conscience? Supporters of Laughter 4 Life will enjoy a sand-and-sea excursion scheduled for spring 2004. This first-time ever fun-filled charity event to support breast cancer awareness within the lesbian community will set sail aboard Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas. If you don't want to travel alone there's the NaviGaytion Match, allowing you to cyber-search for that perfect vacation companion. NaviGaytion Founder Matthew Skallerud began his career in the gay and lesbian marketplace with Gay Wired, Inc. in 1995, and his current corporate entity, H.I.M., focuses on developing niche-oriented web sites, so your vacation will be in historically caring community-based hands.

Alyson Adventures specializes in hiking, biking and getting back to nature, which might not be the first things that come to mind when one hears "gay vacation." It'd be pretty tough to slurp a daiquiri while rocketing down the rapids on a raft. But not everyone wants to show off their pecs on a sandy beach. This is the company to contact if your travel preferences lean more toward getting back to mother earth. Founder Sasha Alyson started one of the country's first gay publishing companies, Alyson Publications, in 1980 and has had a long history of involvement in the queer community. After selling his publishing company in 1995, Sasha delved into the world of gay and lesbian travel and hasn't looked back since.

Oddly enough, when Gay Travel is Googled, Gay Day at Disneyland doesn't show up among the first 100 links. Could be that the conservative corporation prefers to let word of mouth lead queer travelers to the Magic Kingdom. Sure, there are all the obvious gay destinations —San Francisco, Rio, Key West—but don't let the clichéd options limit your globe trotting. Bon voyage!