 The Vermont Gay Tourism Association (VGTA) is pleased to announce that it has
contracted Jo Sabel Courtney of Sabel PR, LLC to provide membership development and event planning services. Sabel PR will be in charge of membership retention and recruitment, as well as planning the Northern Decadence Food & Travel Expo, which will take place at the the Pride Vermont Festival on September 22nd in Burlington’s Battery Park. As a contractor, she serves as the Festival Director for the Music Festival of the Americas at Stowe; Consumer Trade Show Representative for Vermont Tourism, and now Program Coordinator Consultant with VGTA. As PR and International Marketing Manager at Stowe Area Association, she co-founded the award-winning Stowe Weekend of Hope cancer-survivor event and traveled the world, “selling Stowe”. She is an accomplished singer, actor, and voice-over artist and has performed in many venues throughout Vermont. Jo is also the co-founder of the Stowe Theatre Guild, and board member of both the Center for America's First Horse and the Stowe Free Library. “With more and more destinations worldwide competing for the LGBT traveler, it’s important for Vermont to send a strong message of being a welcoming, safe and beautiful state. We’re excited to have Jo Sabel Courtney bring her many years of tourism marketing experience to help us continue to grow this niche market,” said VGTA President Willie Docto. The Vermont Gay Tourism Association is a statewide membership organization of more than 60 businesses with the mission of promoting Vermont to the LGBT traveler, weddings and conventions. The VGTA hosts familiarization tours for travel writers, buys co-operative advertising, organizes events, exhibits at travel shows and maintains a popular tourism website. More information is available at www.vermontgaytourism.com and www.northerndecadence.com.
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 Once again, the famous Ice Cream Corporation of Ben & Jerry's is advocating for equal rights! This 34 year old company has a history of standing up for human rights. In 1993, the company was legendary for being one of the first of major corporations to recognize unmarried domestic partnerships regardless of sexual orientation in their health and employment benefits plan. In 2009 their Chubby Hubby ice cream was re-named to 'Hubby Hubby' in honor of gay marriage legalisation in the state of Vermont, where the company is based. As stated by Ben & Jerry's: "This March as the UK government debates whether to legalize same sex marriage, we've partnered with gay rights organization, Stonewall, to raise awareness about the importance of marriage equality by renaming our Apple Pie flavour, Apple-y Ever After!" You can help support this campaign by "marrying" someone of the same sex through their UK Facebook App or by writing the MP using the template provided on the Ben & Jerry's website: click here. From all of us at Connextions Magazine, THANK YOU to Ben & Jerry's! We enjoyed our travels to your beautiful 'home-base' in Vermont and are looking forward to our return. Find Ben & Jerry's on the Net: http://www.benjerry.com twitter: @benandjerrys Facebook UK: https://www.facebook.com/benjerryuk?sk=app_314033415319938 Facebook USA: https://www.facebook.com/benjerry
 The popular Cider House BBQ & Pub on Route 2 in Waterbury, Vermont will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a special cider pairing dinner.
The event will take place on Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 6:00 PM. The four-course dinner will include traditional Irish offerings as well as southern comfort food. The courses will include a choice of appetizer, entree, salad and dessert. Each course will be paired with a different hard cider, made in Vermont and the U.K. A raffle and door prizes will be part of the festivities. The cost is $55 per person or $100 per couple. Proceeds from the dinner will benefit the Pride Vermont Festival (pridevt.com) taking place on September 22nd at Burlington’s Battery Park. Reservations for the cider pairing dinner are required by calling Willie at 802-244-6828. The full cider pairing menu can be found at www.ciderhousevt.com. This event is sponsored in part by the Woodchuck Cidery.  photo courtesy: L Camarda Crossing into Vermont, take note of the moose crossing signs. These beautiful animals are much larger than deer, harder to spot, and offer a twinge of excitement at the thought of a rare appearance. With so many things this state has to offer, there is something for everyone all year round.
Autumn foliage and winter skiing are not the only highlights that attract the largest crowds to the beautiful state of Vermont. Spring, at the beginning, is when they start making the “world famous” Vermont Maple Sugar. Summer is a great time for hiking, camping, and shopping for antiques & pottery. Two of the largest hiking trails are “The Appalachian” and “The Long Trail.” If you are a lover of the ‘fresh air’ and outdoor activities, their clean lakes and ponds are perfect for swimming, fishing, canoeing and rafting down the white water rapids. And best of all, most accommodations during the summer season tend to have reduced rates. Fall Foliage in Vermont is heavenly. The array of vibrant colors is brief but brilliant in the Green Mountains. In early September, this transformation begins and lasts only about a week. Book your hotel room early; finding a place to stay at the last minute can be very difficult, since leaf peepers come from around the globe. Ski resorts such as Sugarbush and Killington run the chair and gondola lifts specifically for sight seers and Killington has been offering special packages for over half a century now during this season. Winter is the most popular of all seasons in Vermont! Whether it is a romantic getaway or a winter family vacation, Vermont’s rugged hills are legendary to skiers, riders, skaters, kiteboarders and winter enthusiasts. As a haven and historical focal point of Nordic skiing in North America, it’s no wonder why they call Vermont “The ski capital of the East”. After a full day of action packed adventure, try a serene romantic horse drawn carriage ride through the white snow amidst a glistening sunset. Vermont notables: • The 114 covered bridges of Vermont are among its most historic sites and certainly worth viewing! • 120 miles of freshwater - Lake Champlain stretches from the VT and NY border to the Canadian border. • World-famous Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory is located in Waterbury, VT and open for public viewing every day, ending the tour with a free sample of their famous delicious treat. In 2000, Vermont became the first US state to legalize same-sex civil unions and then in April 2009, the Vermont legislation enacted marriage equality into the Vermont Statues. The state officially recognizes and issues marriage licenses for gay and lesbian couples without a waiting period and there is no residency requirement. Several of the Vermont Inns offer all-inclusive wedding packages. For all those out-of-towners, many allow you to reserve the entire Inn for your weekend wedding with family and friends. It does not matter if you are a thrill seeker, a romantic, a health enthusiast, or just looking for breathe taking beauty while hiking, relaxing or traveling, Vermont welcomes you! As featured in Connextions Magazine, Issue 3.  Walking into Top Notch Resort in Stowe, Vermont, feels like being enveloped in a long, deep hug. From the constantly burning fire in the cozy and rustic lodge to the plush, enormous beds in the guest rooms to the way the staff smiles, big and genuine, the message is clear: you are welcome here.
It’s not just your imagination. The Top Notch Resort is a smart choice for anyone, but it also happens to be the only TAG Approved gay-friendly hotel in the entire ski town of Stowe. Better still: Top Notch offers an elopement package for just $1,500. Where better to tie the knot than Vermont - one of only six states in which gay marriage is legal - and what better way to celebrate than with champagne, dinner for two, cake, flowers, luxurious robes to take home and a Justice of the peace to officiate? Forgo the limo in favor of a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride over the grounds; it’s all included in the package. If you’re not ready to exchange vows, Top Notch can offer you whatever type of getaway you’re in the market for. Those in search of relaxation and pampering will find solace in the spa, which offers everything from a wealth of massages, facial care, full salon services and even a wink at local fare with a maple sugar body scrub. The spa, which spans 35,000 generous square feet and includes 30 treatment rooms, a sauna and steam room, three pools, a Jacuzzi and a hot tub with a cascading waterfall, is open year-round. With six outdoor and four indoor tennis courts and a pro shop on the grounds, those who crave athletic adventure are sure to be satisfied. The Grand Slam tennis package, available from Mid-May through Mid-October includes nightly accommodations, morning small group workshops, racquet tune-up and a discount on pro-shop merchandise. And don’t forget about the mountains! The Stowe ski area is minutes away from Top Notch. Dine on the grounds at Norma’s, a beautiful restaurant with mountain views that features creative, Vermont-inspired cuisine with dishes like a local cheese tasting and roasted beet carpaccio with Vermont feta and endive. Or just order in 24-hour room service and share a meal in your guest room. With stunning views of the natural landscape and resort, as well as decor fit for a king - or a queen - one thing is for certain. Staying at Top Notch Resort is like coming home. Top Notch Resort 1 (800) 451-8686 www.topnotchresort.com 4000 Mountain Road Stowe, VT 05672 |
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