CopyKatz Showroom & Backstage Bistro
200 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, 760-864-9293; COPYKATZPS.COM

While not technically gay-owned-and-operated, CopyKatz is definitely a great place to check out if you have a deep-seated love for impressionists and divas. Michael Jackson, Carol Channing, Cher, Judy Garland, Reba McEntire, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Janet Jackson, Barbra Streisand and Madonna are just a few of the many "faces you can bump into at this location, so ready your autograph book and get lost in this wonderful two-story mirage. Every Friday and Saturday night the Showroom transforms into the Kit Kat Nightclub, a jazz-and-blues wonderland of smoky satisfaction.

Toucan's Tiki Bar & Lounge
2100 Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, 760-416-7584; TOUCANSTIKILOUNGE.COM

Palm Springs has a lot of great gay bars, as one might imagine, but many cater to individual segments of the population. The Tool Shed (toolshed-ps.com) in Palm Springs and the Barracks (thebarracksbarps.com) in Cathedral City are both excellent spots to cruise if you are into the leather, fetish and Levis crowd, while Sidewinders (sidewindersbar.com) in Cathedral City is a wonderful cowboy hangout for all the men who like bare-chested, hat-wearin' cowpoke action. If you are looking for the younger set in a bar setting, however, Toucan's Tiki Bar and Lounge in Palm Springs is the place to be seen at. Cute bartenders, kicking beats and lively bois are trés du jour as you man a barstool or kick it on the huge outside patio. There is always some entertainment to be had at this light-aired joint, however one might be wary of their delicious margaritas if one doesn't want to become entertainment themselves.

Thorny Theater
2500 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Suite A4, Palm Springs, 760-325-0853; THORNYTHEATER.COM

For a small town, Palm Springs has its share of fantastic theater productions and troupes that put on everything from traditional musicals to truly experimental plays. The gay-owned-and-operated Thorny Theater is perhaps the most adventurous of them all, regularly putting on plays that challenge taste and the bounds of the stage itself, usually with a heavily queer-centric bend to the material. To leave you with an image, these are the plays Dali, Warhol and Tom of Finland would want to "go out to see, complete with piss, drugs, incest, leather, time travel and, of course, plenty of laughter.

Cathedral City Boys Club (CCBC)
68-369 Sunair Rd., Cathedral City, 760-324-1350; CCBC-GAY-RESORT.COM

If you asked any local where they would go to get some action on the fly, they would probably tell you CCBC. While Helios offers each individual the chance to shake things up together, CCBC serves everything up on its 3.5 acres with rooms for just about every taste and price scale. While visitors can and do take advantage of that selection of integrated lodging, what keeps CCBC's day pass ($20) business booming is its amenities and plethora of play areas. The enterprising soul can always find a ready playmate at the huge saltwater pool, the nude "beach, the Maze, the Dungeon, the Walk, the Waterfalls, the Sauna, the Steam Room and more. With a plethora of events constantly underway, both the gay tourist in search of a little R&R and the day guest in search of some XXX are in for a real treat (or 2 or 3).

Helios Resort
280 East Mel Ave., Palm Springs, 760-323-2868

Run by a "tribal group of four lovers, Helios could be described as equal parts men's resort and outdoor nightclub (sans booze). The owners seem dedicated to giving everyone what they want in a fantastically lush environment, so it is of little wonder that the porn set regularly hits them up for the hot, nude men to be found everywhere. With a huge swing set, a great spa, a multi-person shower, and a real air of openness, this is the joint to hit if you want some close quarters fun.

All Worlds Resorts
526 Warm Sands Dr., Palm Springs, 800-798-8781; ALLWORLDSRESORT.COM

Much like the other mentioned resorts, All Worlds offers a great playground for everyone to enjoy, but it also offers something the others don't: individual thematic locations suited to different tastes across a sprawling compound. Bears, Chubs, Bois, Leathermen and Matures all have an individual villa within the hotel's property footage - separated by various lush walkways and walls - while the whole structure remains open to every guest on the grounds. This presents the opportunity for the resortgoer to enjoy both intimacy and commonality in a way few other resorts of any stripe can offer. If there is one image that best describes All Worlds, it is one of a hotel that is its own queer village.

Vista Grande Resorts
574 Warm Sands Dr., Palm Springs, 800-669-1069; MIRAGE4MEN.COM

Visiting the Vista Grande, you may feel a bit of déjà vu, especially if you watch porn. It has been the site for 30 movies. Vista Grande is actually four resorts in one, each with its own flavor and ambiance. Three (Avalon, Mirage, and Vista Grande) are connected by walkways. Atrium, the fourth, is located up the street and is for those seeking a bit more privacy for their Palm Springs frolic.

Forty rooms, from studios to suites, sit on what can only be described as botanical gardens featuring many varieties of plants and trees. On site is also a waterfall, four pools, ponds, fountains, a Jacuzzi that is the largest the city would permit, a state-of-the-art steam room, saunas and a large open sun lawn where guests can mingle with locals.

Everything is clothing optional and the option is often taken.

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