Girdwood, Alaska

About 40 miles southeast of Anchorage on the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, the small, outdoorsy village of Girdwood is home to one of the state's most luxury ski and sports resorts, the Alyeska Resort, along with a number of vacation rentals and a few B&Bs. It's a tiny town, perfect for a weekend getaway from Anchorage, or as a stopover en route to the Kenai Peninsula and towns like Whittier or Seward. The nearest gay scene of any kind is back up in Anchorage (which also hosts a well-attended Alaska PrideFest Gay Pride celebration each June), but this is a welcoming, laid-back community, and the Alyeska Resort is quite gay-friendly - it's the best spot in town for dining as well as a great ski area and a popular spot for mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, and other summertime adventures.