Vail Emerging as a Top Gay-Friendly Ski Destination

I had the pleasure earlier this week to spend a few days exploring Vail, one of the world's most impressive ski destinations - as much for its sheer variety of ski terrain and resort amenities as for its scenic yet convenient location just off I-70 in Colorado's Rocky Mountains. Vail isn't secluded or cozy - it's an unabashedly larger-than-life ski community, and in recent years, as Aspen and Telluride have attained an increasing share of the GLBT ski travel market, Vail has steadily boosted its image as a gay-friendly getaway. The town's Vail Gay & Lesbian Ski Week, held January 27 through January 31 in 2010, continues to gain traction, and although there are not specific gay bars or accommodations in town, you'll generally find that hotels, condos, restaurants, and bars in these parts are quite progressive, sophisticated, and welcoming of GLBT visitors.

Here's my guide and photo gallery to gay-friendly Vail, including tips on approaching this mammoth - and incredibly beautiful - mountain. I'm an intermediate skier, so I've generally written about the ski terrain with a mid-level skier or snowboarder in mind. I'll be adding several more images and recommendations to this gallery in the coming weeks, including a number of additional hotels and restaurants.