Badlands Dance Club, Sacramento, California

With its four bars, lushly landscaped patio, huge dance floor, rocking sound system, and expansive layout, it's easy to see why gay and lesbian locals love Badlands Dance Club (2003 K St., 916-448-8790) and why visitors are often surprised to find such a stellar gay bar in Sacramento. Indeed, California's capital city only has about a half-dozen gay nightspots, but they're all quite appealing, and Badlands is the standout among them, in the heart of the gay-popular Midtown neighborhood known as "Lavender Heights." Several other gay bars are within a few steps of Badlands, including The Depot, Faces, and Headhunters.