Out of Town

by Victor Zorn

AUTUMN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

Celebrate the season at the lesbian-owned Highlands Inn

Perched in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Highlands Inn marks 20 years in operation this year. On Thanksgiving Day every year, the 13-room, lesbian-owned guesthouse features the traditional feast—turkey with homemade stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash, innkeeper Grace Newman’s cranberry relish, and an array of holiday desserts. The day after means turkey soup.

Particularly for Texans not accustomed to fall foliage and early snows (or any snow, for that matter), the Highlands Inn qualifies as an exotic getaway. The trees in Northern New Hampshire put on a spectacular show. For skiers, two major resorts, Bretton Woods and Cannon Mountain, are 15 minutes away. There are 15 miles of cross-country and snowshoe trails on the inn’s 100 acres. Vermont—with its civil-union ceremonies—is a short drive from the inn, which offers honeymoon packages.

Most of the guests at Highlands Inn (877-LES-B-INN, 603/869-3978) are women, but men are welcome. Rates range from $99 to $125 per night. During November (excluding the holiday), guests who book three midweek nights will get a third at half price. Details: www.highlandsinn-nh.com.

Victor Zorn reported on Dave Kopay’s Houston visit in the October OutSmart.

GETTING THERE

The Highlands Inn is located in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, two miles east of Interstate 93N. Continental Airlines serves the nearest airport, in Manchester. Boston’s Logan Airport is about a 2 1/2-hour drive from the inn.

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