Great Women-Owned Inns of the West
By Andrew Collins

From contemporary, clothing-optional women's resorts to tranquil farmhouse B&Bs in the country, the western United States has a number of exceptional women-owned accommodations. Some of these properties are lesbian-exclusive, while others welcome a mixed gay/straight crowd. There are women-owned inns and resorts out there to suit virtually every taste. Here are 10 of the most impressive such properties west of Mississippi.

Casitas Laquita, Palm Springs, California
Arguably the most luxurious of the two clothing-optional women's resorts in the desert playground of Palm Springs, Casitas Laquitas comprises 15 units in a variety of shapes and sizes. The most lavish suite, which the owners built in 2004, has its own private yard, but even smaller rooms are quite spacious, with colorful artwork and handsome tile floors; some rooms have small kitchens and fireplaces. The staff couldn't be friendlier, welcoming guests with snack baskets and dispensing advice on where to eat and have fun in this vibrant resort town. There's also a basement-level space called the Wine Cellar that features live bands and entertainment. Clientele: lesbian.

Holly's Place, Lake Tahoe, California
Outside of Palm Springs, Holly's Place is probably the most popular women's resort in California. This evergreen-shrouded compound of luxurious cabins of all different configurations is within walking distance of sparkling Lake Tahoe. It's a very social place (with pets allowed), but guests can opt to mingle or keep to themselves as they please. Rooms are named for lesbian icons, from the Melissa to the Martina, and all have VCRs, stereos, small kitchens, and rustic wood-paneled walls; many have working fireplaces. Romantics should ask for a cabin with a cozy sleeping loft. Some meals are available by arrangement. Holly's also hosts local events and parties from time to time, some of them lesbian-oriented, while others welcoming women and men. Clientele: lesbian.

Ice Palace Inn B&B, Leadville, Colorado
High in the Rocky Mountains, the old mining town of Leadville is situated at about 10,000 feet elevation, meaning it enjoys cool and crisp-aired summers and snowy winters. Here you'll find this dramatic "painted lady" Victorian mansion, built in 1899 and stunningly restored in 1994. The five rooms are decked in over-the-top antiques and comfy feather beds with handmade quilts. The most popular room is set inside the house's distinctive turret, its tall windows affording panoramic mountain views; it also has a deep hydro-massage tub for two. Leadville is just a 45-minute drive from the ski towns of Vail and Breckenridge, and in summer, you can take the scenic mountain road over Independence Pass to Aspen, 60 miles away. Clientele: Mixed gay-straight.

Morris Farmhouse, Coupeville, Washington
Set on Washington's famously beautiful Whidbey Island, which is within striking distance of sophisticated Seattle and rugged Olympic National Park, this inviting inn occupies a 1908 colonial-style farmhouse set on 10 densely wooded acres. The six-room inn is acclaimed for its fragrant gardens, which you can enjoy while relaxing on one of several patio decks. The inn is welcoming of kids (there's a family suite that's perfect for young ones) and pets, but it's also a romantic retreat perfect for getting away from it all. There's excellent hiking nearby, and the town of Coupeville, just 2.5 miles south, has numerous art galleries, shops, and cafes, plus a popular Sunday farmers market. Clientele: Mixed gay-straight.

Mt. Peale Resort, Old La Sal, Utah
Nestled in the La Sal Mountains just 25 miles south of Moab and its spectacular Arches and Canyonlands national parks, the Mt. Peale Resort and Country Inn is run by two women who know a tremendous amount about the region and how best to explore it - plus, they're happy to help organize tours of the many nearby parks and intriguing towns. And there's a hot tub here in which you can rest your muscles after a day of biking, climbing, or river-rafting. The warmly furnished rooms are in a log house at the base of the mountains, and there are also modern cabins that sleep up to six guests. Staying here is a perfect way to experience the magnificent scenery of southern Utah, but with plenty of seclusion and privacy. Clientele: mixed gay-straight.
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