Whether you are looking for something hot or cold in your next trip, here are some cool events you might want to keep in mind.
Just as the Winter Party Festival in South Beach, Miami, is billed as the “hottest winter in the world,” a series of gay ski weeks are planned in February to get you to the slopes and enjoy the very best that cold crisp gay getaways can offer.
Fun in the sun
This year’s Winter Party will again feature top DJs and events for both men and ladies. Men will find DJs Chris Cox, Brett Richsen and Paulo, while women can check out dance parties, mix-n-mingle events and cocktail parties celebrating women’s artistic achievements.
The host hotel, the Shelborne, is centrally located and hosts the Saturday afternoon pool party. Don’t forget to check out the Lords South Beach — a gay owned-hotel close by. The Winter Party Festival benefits the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and Miami nonprofit organizations that serve the community.
The festival’s sleek website at www.winterparty.com is chock full of information, ticket packages, social-media groups and contests.
Fun in the snow
For the rest of you still holding on to the promise of snow, here is a list of the top gay ski weeks where you can show off your best winter outfits.
Killington Winter Pride
The Killington resort in Central Vermont will host its first gay ski event Jan. 31-Feb. 3. With more than 3,000 acres of land on the Green Mountains, this resort is ready to welcome you. You can also connect with other Facebookers attending the event. www.gnarwinterpride.com
Whistler, British Columbia
Every February, Whistler hosts the now-famous gay ski week full of events and culinary delights. GayWhistler’s WinterPRIDE Gay Ski Week is celebrating its 21st year Feb. 3-10. To make your trip just a bit easier, download the Whistler Blackcomb mobile app, which allows you to track your days using the program’s GPS and get powder alerts and other slope-related information that’s sure to come in handy. www.whistlerblackcomb.com/app/index.aspx
Telluride Gay Ski Week
Held Feb. 22-March 3, this week of parties and events redefines Telluride, the Colorado village well-known for its film and music festivals and home to a vibrant gay ski week. Telluride offers gay-friendly amenities, accommodations and dining options, plus some of the more-challenging ski runs on the West Coast. www.telluridegayskiweek.com
Sun Valley, Idaho
Held at America’s first ski resort in Sun Valley which is home to the old Hollywood of the ’50s, where Marilyn Monroe once played and the classic film “Sun Valley Serenade” was filmed. Stay at The Sun Valley Lodge — built in 1936 and almost as historic as the resort itself — the perfect place to end up after a long, hard day of skiing.
Elevation: Park City, Utah
Now in its third year, this newer ski event takes place Feb. 21-24, just a few weeks after the Sundance Film Festival. Organizers say it is a draw for West Coast gays looking for a week of skiing and celebration.
Jeff Guaracino is the vice chair of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association and the author of “Gay and Lesbian Tourism: The Essential Guide for Marketing.”