Great College Town Getaways
By Andrew Collins

The next time you find yourself in need of some R&R, and you haven't the time or money for a big, week-long adventure or the inclination to visit either a fast-paced big city or a wild gay resort, consider heading to a smaller, perhaps less-visited, community that's anchored by a university or college. These kinds of towns typically possess many of the charms that appeal to gay travelers: a progressive political climate, a lively performing- and visual-arts scene, scads of hip and affordable eateries and coffeehouses, and, in many cases, appealing natural scenery. Hotel rates, outside of major school-related weekends, are often reasonable, and many of these places are within easy driving distance of one or several major metro areas.

Here's a mix of mostly small cities or large towns whose personalities tie in closely with the presence of a notable academic institution.

Bloomington, Indiana
This hilly, green, and utterly enchanting city of about 70,000 is home to the main branch of Indiana University - it makes for an easy weekend trip from several major Midwest cities. Bloomington is the quintessential all-American college town, yet with some big-city cultural attributes, from well-endowed museums to very good restaurants. Tall, three-story turreted Victorians mingle with Craftsman and Colonial-style houses in several attractive residential neighborhoods near campus. Downtown is anchored by glorious Courthouse Square, from which streets lined with shops, cafes, music clubs, and lounges emanate. Straights and gays mingle freely at many venues, and few people in Bloomington bat an eye at the sight of same-sex couples - after all, this is the home of the Kinsey Institute.

Burlington, Vermont
Rugged and open-minded Vermont has received considerable attention from gays and lesbians since it became the first state to legalize gay civil unions in 2000. Burlington, home to the University of Vermont, has the state's most visible queer scene, plus several gay-owned businesses and an active women's community. It's just 90 minutes south of Montreal and enjoys a spectacular setting on Lake Champlain - several major ski resorts are nearby. This can be a rowdy college town, and the university scene is rather frat/sorority-oriented. Still, there's a longstanding gay newspaper here, and blatant homophobia is rare. Visitors appreciate the vast opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, plus downtown's network of redbrick sidewalks, cozy coffeehouses, great music and bookstores, and cheap eateries.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
An idyllic, perhaps self-consciously quaint, university town prized for its delightfully pedestrian-friendly downtown, Chapel Hill - especially its lively West End - buzzes with great dining and shopping. The city has a population of 48,000, nearly half of whom are students at the prestigious University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which is notable for its many historic buildings and its beautiful grounds. On campus you could spend a day touring several key attractions, including the Morehead Planetarium, the first-rate Ackland Art Museum, and the North Carolina Botanical Garden. There are several bars in nearby Durham and Raleigh, cities also noted for their university scenes, which revolve around Duke and North Carolina State universities.
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