We’ve always believed the best parts of any trip aren’t on the itinerary. We didn’t start SideQuests to tick boxes, we started it for the stuff you can’t plan: the people you meet, the shared meals, the “holy sh*t—I didn’t know I needed this” kind of moments…

Let’s face it, we’re in a loneliness pandemic. People spend more time on computers now than they do with friends. We struggle to make connections, to feel seen, to have a sense of true-belonging within the our communities (especially within the LGBTQ+ community). Many of us may feel like we don’t know where we fit… I’ve felt that way for much of my life, but I’ve also found that when I take the opportunity to travel—I’m surprised by not only the people that are brought into my life, but how I open up as well. My walls come down. My biggest life-altering moments and ‘epiphanies’ have all happened while traveling and due to conversations with other travelers.

This is how SideQuests was born, by asking the simple question: what if LGBTQ+ folks had a safe space to travel that’s centered around building community and connecting with others?

So now, we lead small-group trips for LGBTQ+ people and the allies who love us. We curate experiences that bring us together in ways you can’t plan for but will remember for years. Many folks come solo, many come as couples. You don’t need to be “good at travel,” you just need to be up for an adventure and willing to say yes.

This is the friends’ trip you didn’t have to plan. Boutique stays, thoughtful experiences, and space to be yourself without hesitation. We’ll see the headline sights and linger where good conversation shows up. Come as you are, and leave with new friends and a bigger sense of community.

Travel for your character arc.