BIZ Online NGLCC

Want to get away for Thanksgiving weekend? Whether you're looking for sandy beaches, downhill skiing or big city fun, you can find it in our recommendations for a perfect out-of-town Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving has become the most popular time of the year to travel for Americans, and that usually translates into travel headaches and airport nightmares. But with these delicious getaways it might be a good idea to go early and leave late, avoiding the holiday rush and turning Thanksgiving into a peaceful and easy celebration.

Whistler Village, Canada

Whistler is a year-round ski resort less than two hours from Vancouver, British Columbia, offering a host of dining, shopping and nightlife options and an open, friendly atmosphere Canada is known for.

Whistler has built its international reputation on incredible downhill and cross-country skiing as well as heli-skiing, ice skating, snowmobiling, sleigh riding and dogsledding. If it's fun and involves snow, chances are you can do it in Whistler.

The town's pedestrian village is situated at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains and is designed in classic mountain resort architecture. Here you can find fine restaurants and shopping while the neighboring valley is home to hiking trails and boat launches. It also boasts many lakes, creeks and rivers with biking trails that parallel the water. This beautiful valley is an ideal vacation spot for singles as well as those looking for a romantic mountain getaway.

Tourism Whistler operates a gay-welcoming Web site at http://www.tourismwhistler.com/www/about_whistler/gay_friendly.asp.

Austin, Texas

Austin is the cultural hub of Texas, and is one of the live music capitals of the world. The city also provides an incredibly welcoming atmosphere for the LGBT community. With its large, eclectic population of musicians, artists and high-tech professionals, the city has a lively party scene comparable to any metropolis in the country. Its never-ending music festivals are famous, and so are several of its bars, many of which offer special holiday meals. Charlie's Austin, the oldest gay bar in town, is known for its annual Thanksgiving dinner.

Austin's moderate climate and 300 days of sunshine every year make it ideal for those seeking a mild winter getaway. With 20 museums, dozens of galleries, a symphony, ballet and as many as 35 theater companies, the city is fast developing its cultural reputation. Many of Austin's cultural and historic records can also be found on the campus of the University of Texas, including the Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum, which is one of the most popular of the presidential libraries.

A great resource for more information about gay-friendly Austin is the Austin Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville is fast on its way to being a great LGBT getaway. The scenic, mountain-flanked town offers a surprisingly easygoing setting in the heart of North Carolina. Apart from hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains or driving around the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville offers an exciting nightlife and plenty of charming bed and breakfasts, many of which are gay-owned.

Most of Asheville's historic buildings are well preserved, and the downtown has plenty of fine dining and shopping options, art galleries and museums. A must-see is the Biltmore estate, which offers self-guided tours of the largest privately owned home in America, and a great collection of antiques and paintings.

The city prides itself on being a haven of divergent and eclectic views, with a well-established feminist and LGBT community. It's fun to stroll around downtown and check out the organic bakeries, food co-ops, and politically active cafes.

Asheville's gay-owned inns are especially recommended for their interesting and unique positioning. The 1889 WhiteGate Inn & Cottage is filled with antiques, collectibles, original works of art and a greenhouse containing 1,500 orchids and tropical plants. The downtown has many other charming and gay-friendly cottages and inns, many of which are set in historically preserved buildings.

Visit Asheville's official tourism Web site for more information.

Curaçao

Few in the LGBT community would give up a chance to celebrate Thanksgiving in a place known for its sun, sand and picture-perfect weather to stay in the winter's chill. For the beach-bums among you, Curaçao is the place to be.

Curaçao has been the most public of French and Dutch Caribbean Islands to embrace the LGBT community. Its tourism board proudly touts the island's "live and let live" atmosphere.

Curaçao is located less than three hours from Miami by air, and is a Dutch territory. Its geography positions it out of the way of hurricanes, and it's known for its eco-tourism. Traffic here is wellmanaged, unlike some other islands, so driving is recommended. Curaçao has more than 30 white sand beaches, an 18-hole championship golf course, a dolphin interaction program and several casinos. The island's dedicated Web site www.gaycuracao.com lists its many gay-friendly weekend hot spots and beaches.

Chicago

Chicago is one of the nation's great waterfront destinations thanks to Lake Michigan, despite being awfully far away from the ocean. But in the frigid winter months, Chicago's heat is generated from the shopping along its white-hot Michigan Avenue, known as the Magnificent Mile.

Bustling streets and stores greet shoppers rushing to get their Christmas shopping done. With some of the biggest names in retailing, the Mile is bursting with Christmas ideas and some of the nation's richest culture.

You can pay a leisurely visit to the Art Institute of Chicago to enjoy masterpieces of Impressionist art or stop by the new Millennium Park to see the amphitheater designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. Chicago also has one of the nation's best theater scenes and its own Broadway series, a must for any theatre aficionado.

Chicago is home to two well-known gay and lesbian neighborhoods. Lakeview is nicknamed "Boystown" as it mainly caters to gay men, while the more diverse Andersonville has a more artsy, varied vibe and is more popular with lesbians. Of late, Wicker Park has also emerged as an LGBT-friendly area.

You can visit the city's official tourism Web site for more resources on LGBT Chicago.