Vermont is the Mecca for East Coast skiing. Vermont's long-standing liberalism opens itself to gay and lesbian travelers. Indeed, several slopes sponsor, for example, "women's weekends," and one even supports a "queer weekend." 

Stowe: Maria Von Trapp settled here after crossing the Alps with those drapery-clad children. She built a lodge, and the ski industry followed. So did tourism. And so has gay tourism. These slopes are arguably the most queer-friendly in the country -- gay couples are often spotted hand-in-hand, whether shopping in town or checking out the view. Stowe sponsors several women's weekends a year. It also has the most serious riding on the East Coast, with snowboarders flocking here for the Burton-sponsored facilities. Stowe is also the most challenging and the most serious of the Vermont ski resorts. People do not come here to party or to bar-hop. They come here to ski. 

Killington: The Grand Dame of Vermont ski resorts, Killington increasingly appeals to the twenty-something crowd. The central Vermont mountains offer trails good enough to keep the Olympic team coming back, and the three snowboard parks are stuffed with professional riders. On any given weekend, in fact, riders can outnumber skiers on the trails. Killington sponsors a women's weekend in March, as well as a Gay Pride weekend at about the same time.

Mount Snow is a family-oriented resort, with various weekends devoted to children and teenagers. Oddly, it also boasts the most college weekends and fraternity parties, perhaps because of its proximity to Vermont and Massachusetts schools. Nevertheless, the area around the mountains, including the town of West Dover, is awash in diners and family-style restaurants.

Sugar Bush: Here is where the locals go. If you are dedicated to that "hard to find" experience, that down-and-dirty hidden treasure, Sugar Bush is for you. While the past two years have seen almost $30 million in development, these trails retain their parochial feel. Vermont license plates predominate. Indeed, new snow-making equipment was vigorously protested, since many Vermonters felt it would unnaturally cover the rocky terrain of these slopes. Not to worry! A compromise has left the slopes mogul infested.

Courtesy of Planet Out

SKI REPORTS

Northern Vermont

JAY'S PEAK
     TRAILS: 74        LIFTS: 7        Vertical Drop: 2,153 feet

SMUGGLERS NOTCH
     TRAILS: 70        LIFTS: 9        Vertical Drop: 2,610 feet

STOWE
     TRAILS: 48        LIFTS: 11       Vertical Drop: 2,360 feet

BOLTON VALLEY
     TRAILS: 51        LIFTS: 6        Vertical Drop: 3,680 feet

MAD RIVER GLEN
     TRAILS: 44        LIFTS: 5        Vertical Drop: 2,000 feet

SUGARBUSH
     TRAILS: 115      LIFTS: 18       Vertical Drop: 2,650 feet

BURKE
     TRAILS: 43     LIFTS: 4       Vertical Drop: 2,000 feet

Central Vermont

KILLINGTON/PICO
    TRAILS: 200      LIFTS: 32       Vertical Drop: 3,150 feet

OKEMO
    TRAILS: 98        LIFTS: 14       Vertical Drop: 2,150 feet

ASCUTNEY
    TRAILS: 56        LIFTS: 6        Vertical Drop: 1,530 feet

Southern Vermont

BROMLEY
    TRAILS: 43        LIFTS: 9        Vertical Drop: 1,334 feet

STRATTON
    TRAILS: 90        LIFTS: 12       Vertical Drop: 2,003 feet

MOUNT SNOW/HAYSTACK
    TRAILS: 128       LIFTS: 23      Vertical Drop: 1,700 feet