Tis the Ski-son to Be Jolly!

Dec 19, 2022

Hold onto your ski hats Gay Travelers; we're going for a ride and counting down the best gay-friendly Ski Destinations!

With the 2023 winter season soon upon us, we're getting into the snow spirit now! So kick off your ski boots, grab a hot toddy, and join us as we take a run through some of our favorite places to hit the slopes!

Aspen, Colorado

Banff & Lake Louise, Alberta Canada

Lake Tahoe, California

Stowe, Vermont

Telluride, Colorado

Zermatt, Switzerland

Aspen, Colorado

For a small town, Aspen sure is a big draw! But it's not just for the reasons you may think. Sure the skiing, scenery, shopping, restaurants, and arts scene are top shelf, but so too is the focus on the environment. The eco-friendly place is owned by a family business called Aspen Skiing Company, aka "Aspen Ski." With pioneering initiatives that cover sustainability, green energy, and more, this tiny place is making a massive impact on the rest of the industry.

There are four mountains, which have something for every ski level, from extreme expert to the novice (mountains below are listed in that order):

Aspen Highlands (home of the Highland Bowl - get ready for a wild ride)
Aspen (celebrity crowd)
Snowmass (larger than the other three mountains combined)
Buttermilk ("it's like butter" for the newbies and site of the ESPN X Games)

If you haven't attended Aspen Gay Ski Week yet, it's a must for Gay Travelers. Aspen Gay Ski Week is January 15 - 22, 2023, and will be celebrating 46 years of progress!

Photo Credit: Matt Power

Even if skiing isn't your thing, there's more than enough to keep you entertained in this buzzy town. You can "shop till you drop" at famous fashion boutiques such as Brunello Cucinelli, Chanel, Loro Piana, and Prada. Your well-coiffed, four-legged friends will sniff out the very finest shopping, too, at C.P. Paws!

Foodies take note - the restaurants rival the heights of the mountains! You'll have everything to suit your palate, from fine dining to casual, al fresco fare.

GayTravel Approved^® Accommodations in Aspen

Aspen Square Condominium Hotel

Aspen Square is unique in that it combines the best hotel amenities -- like having your own concierge service -- with your own cozy condo in Aspen. Located at the base of Aspen Mountain and right downtown, you're steps away from everything, making it incredibly convenient and easy.

© Aspen Square Condominium Hotel

W Aspen & The Sky Residences Aspen

As last year's Gay Travel Awards^SM Winner in the "Mountain Category," - they run the gamut of glamorous style (think Swiss Chalet with a wink)! Whether you want to stay in one of their guestrooms, a WOW suite, an extreme WOW suite, or a W-branded residential pad, there are plenty of options to delight you and your little dog too.

You'll find quad-queen bunk beds, firepits, hot tubs, 360-degree views -- talk about a Colorado Rocky Mountain high!

Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection

GayTravel Approved Luxury^® and a classic! The hotel serves as THE heart of the social scene in Aspen, dating back to 1889. The stories of old silver mining days are carried down to new generations of "Aspenites" writing their own history and storied tales.

© Hotel Jerome

P.S. If you think Aspen is amazing during the winter months - wait till you experience it during the summer. The phrase, "I came for the winter but stayed for the summer," says it all (see "Under the Gaydar | Summer Series: Aspen" below).