From Key West to FIRE ISLAND AND IBIZA TO Amsterdam, gay tourists have helped transform once obscure destinations into mainstream hotspots.

Gay travel is a vast industry with myriad destinations — including tropical islands, urban oases and cruise lines — now marketing directly to gays and lesbians. According to Community Marketing Inc., a gay travel market research and development company, 97 percent of gay men and lesbians surveyed went on a vacation within a 12-month period while the national average is 65 percent.

So where are gays headed this spring and summer?

Whatever your preference, there’s something new in each of our picks for the top 10 old school gay travel destinations and the top 10 newest hotspots.

Old school favorites

Key West: Known for individually owned guesthouses like the Island House and Big Ruby’s, Key West’s pop-and-pop places are expanding their luxuries, including gyms, full service bars and restaurants to compete with the chain hotels. For single — or just open-minded— travelers, don’t miss Tropical Heat weekend, starting May 4, an adult party, celebrating the islands’ hottest bars.

Provincetown: Along with regular gay cultural events like the Annual Family Pride Week, the Annual Bear Week, and the Provincetown International Film Festival, the city has procured a special exhibit for book lovers.

"The most exciting thing [this year] is the Out at the Library exhibit," says Bill Schneider, administrative director of tourism for the city. Included in the literary installation is Harvey Milk’s final diary and a set of memoirs from a turn-of-the-century lesbian surgeon. The event runs May 10-June 8.

Rehoboth Beach, Del.: D.C. gay folks flee every summer to the beaches of Rehoboth. This year, don’t miss the new country music festival, June 2-4, The inaugural Blues Fest starts on June 5 and features B.B. King.

South Beach, Fla.: South Beach has long been a gay destination for those seeking to display rippled bodies in the Florida sunshine.

This year gay tourists can finally take a peak inside slain gay fashion designer Gianni Versace’s palazzo, Casa Casuarina. It used to be a members-only kind of place, but now tourists can actually stay at the estate. For only $4,000 a night, you can sleep in the room Madonna occupied when visiting her designer friend.

Fire Island, N.Y.: If you weren’t of age in the ‘70s or hadn’t gone to Fire Island during that time, rent "Gay Sex in the ‘70s" to see what this little getaway was like in its orgiastic heyday. Today, it’s not as hot a spot as it might have once been, but there’s still plenty to do.

Wine tastings, an annual boat-decorating contest and weekly community barbecues all help to create a friendly and relaxing atmosphere.

Palm Springs, Calif.: The town is home to more than 30 gay hotels, so comfortable accommodations are not a problem.

Be rugged on one of the many hiking trails, including the Tahquitz Canyon, featured in a famed 1937 flick "Lost Horizons." Then ease those aching muscles with massages and a facial at the gay patron’s dream, the East Canyon Hotel & Spa. Top it off with a cocktail from one of the many gay bars.

Ibiza: Technically part of Spain, Ibiza is full of gorgeous people, lovely restaurants and sandy beaches.

Parasailing, day cruises and, of course, shopping are all part of the scene. After partying hard at the big gay club Anfora, make sure to relax by renting a car and taking a picnic into the surrounding countryside’s groves of olive trees.

Amsterdam: The capital of the Netherlands is a dream for those into the club scene. No matter how many times you go, you’ll always be able to experience something new, from fetish worship to mega-disco nights. Amsterdam is known for its sensual intensity, so check your prudery at the door.

New Orleans, La.: Although the wingnuts love to say that God struck down New Orleans because of its sinful gay ways, many gay bars were spared the wrath of Katrina. Since the hurricane, accommodations have been a bit tricky, but after doing some hotel-hunting homework, head down to the Big Easy and support reopened gay bars like the Bourbon Pub & Parade and Oz.

Mykonos, Greece: Super Paradise beach is the sunbathing destination for gay travelers, although gay people can feel comfortable just about anywhere on the island. Mykonos might not have a lot of new options, but then again, its eternal beauty is part of its charm.

New gay hotspots

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: Once the poor stepchild to South Beach and Key West, Fort Lauderdale has come on strong in recent years, shedding its Spring Break image in exchange for what locals call, "Sodom by the Sea."

With dozens of gay guesthouses catering to gay men, many of them clothing optional, Fort Lauderdale offers a unique mix of party-determined travelers and a large and rapidly growing local gay population.

Phoenix: Rope yourself a cowboy or cowgirl and enjoy Phoenix’s innumerable spas and resorts. The city boasts more than 30 gay bars and clubs, plus a number of gay-owned and operated businesses.

Don’t forget Pride events in other Arizona towns: Flagstaff’s Pride in the Pines, and the gorgeous Lake Powell’s Pride events.

The Dalmatian Coast: Touring the coast of Croatia along the Adriatic Sea offers the gay traveler something unique, says Nicholas Sempetti, owner of gay travel resource, Postcard Destinations.

"Gays being such great travelers they’ve been to a lot of places," he says.

Many people cruise down the picturesque coastal towns, full of historic architecture and art, making their way to the city of Dubrovnik and the country of Slovenia.

Sitges, Spain: Located southwest of Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast, the town is a well-known gay tourist destination. Spanish families tend to rule the town in July and August but the early summer and fall months are primarily gay.

The town has a rich arts and culture scene, plus beautiful beaches—nude and otherwise. Gay hotels, clubs, restaurants and shopping all lie within minutes of each other.

Vancouver, British Columbia: Vancouver is a stunning city with a rich cross-cultural heritage ranging from indigenous American Indians to Chinese and standard Western cultures.

In July, the city holds the Celebration of Light and fireworks artists from all over the world dazzle the crowds with pyrotechnic conjurations. Luckily, this coincides with the city’s Pride festival, which is held on the last Sunday of July.

Nude beaches, cafés and clubs are all part of the city’s gay scene. And you might see some of the cast of "The L Word," which tapes in town.

Costa Rica: Full of diverse landscapes and relaxing scenes, Costa Rica can meet everyone’s demands. Greenway Tours, owned by two gay men, Mario León and Jerry Ruiz, has been operating gay and straight tours of the country for 14 years. Aside from standardized packages including aerial trips into the rainforest canopy, the company can custom design your vacation.

Philadelphia, Pa.: In 2003, the City of Brotherly Love launched a gay tourism campaign, and the city’s aggressive courting of gay travelers has continued.

May is now the month for both the Blue Ball, the city’s annual circuit party, and Equality Forum, a week of events celebrating and promoting gay culture and civil rights. The city holds a gay and lesbian theater festival in June and an international gay and lesbian film festival in July.

Woody’s and Shampoo are two of the larger dance clubs with Shampoo going gay on Fridays. Sisters is a lesbian hangout that’s a bar, restaurant and dance club rolled into one.

Canary Islands: Located off the coast of Morocco, this seven-island chain is the big destination for European gays.

Gran Canaria, the main island, is blessed with sunshine, rolling beaches—including gay nude spots—and numerous seaside caves. The gay nightlife scene is hopping with countless bars packed into the Yumbo Centre district.

Las Vegas, Nev.: Sin City isn’t just for gamblers. Entertainment of all varieties is Vegas’ other commodity that gay travelers adore. Whatever you do, stop by to see Cirque du Soleil’s sexy show, "Zumanity," featuring drag queen legend Joey Arias as the production’s emcee. Sir Elton John will be performing at Caesar’s Palace through 2008, and there are always male strippers in town.

There are numerous fantasy hotels on the strip, but the Blue Moon Resort is an all-male, clothing optional spot that features a pool with waterfalls and large Jacuzzi and steam room facilities.

Cruise ships: Gay and lesbian cruises are expanding with RSVP Vacations and Olivia Cruises leading the charge.

The mostly male RSVP features varying packages exploring the world. Large 2,000 person ships coast along the Mediterranean and Alaska, but for a more intimate setting, cruise from Prague to Budapest on a luxury riverboat. Now part of PlanetOut Inc., RSVP also operates land tours in Peru and Ireland for the water wary.

Olivia is the all-female favorite, chartering an entire ship for each vacation, and the entertainment lineup is impressive: Melissa Etheridge, the Indigo Girls, k.d. lang and Whoopi Goldberg. Cruising destinations include the Galapagos Islands, a trip from Barcelona to Rome, the Caribbean and Antarctica.

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