Wilton Manors
Wilton Manors gayborhood in Florida has a lot to offer: walkability, waterways, and wildlife.
According to the 2010 Census, Wilton Manors is the country’s “Second Gayest City” – at least in terms of couples. It has about 140 per 1,000, putting it second only to Provincetown, Mass.
The city now is home to the Pride Center, a community center that hosts “safe-space” meeting groups, activities and support for the LGBTQ community in Florida; the annual Stonewall Pride Festival and Parade, which attracts some 30,000 people yearly; and the expanded Stonewall National Museum — Wilton Manors Gallery, an LGBTQ-focused cultural institution with historic artifacts, digital archives, and visual exhibits aimed at promoting understanding.
The curving sweep of Wilton Drive is lined with cleverly — some might say, suggestively — named establishments proudly displaying their rainbow flags, figuratively and literally.
But there’s more to Wilton Manors than food and shops. It’s home to nearly a dozen family-friendly parks, a weekend farmer’s market next to city hall, and a nature trail that winds through a mangrove-lined preserve on a raised boardwalk, offering a pristine view of primordial Florida.
The “Island City” is surrounded by forks in the Middle River, making it a true island, and home to a host of water- and wildlife.
Quick Facts
Wilton Drive is the epicenter of the gay community in south Florida.