Environmentally Friendly Bed and Breakfast Travel

By Jane Leisteiner

Maybe you're longing to "go green," but don't really where to start or perhaps you already are committed to environmental preservation. Either way, book a stay at an eco-friendly bed and breakfast. Many innkeepers incorporate green amenities, from offering organic foods to running completely on solar power. Many bed and breakfasts are located in the some of the world's best natural settings, next to protected parks or just steps away from the ocean. At these special places, we are ever reminded to care for the Earth, and you can rest easy knowing that your bed and breakfast experience helped preserve the planet a little.

You'll see it all from the Huckleberry Tent and Breakfast in Sandpoint, Idaho, which has only three tent sites within 42 acres of forest. This low-maintenance lodging option offers easy access to hiking trails and a view of the stars. Standing between you and nature is your simple canvas structure built on wooden planks with a Queen size bed and a kitchen with cooking utensils and a wood stove. The hot breakfast served every morning makes roughing it is a little less rough.

Reduce, reuse, renew is the mantra of many eco-warriors and that is definitely the motto at Arbor House, An Environmental Inn in Madison, Wisconsin. The innkeepers preserved and restored the historic 1940s main house and added an annex that blends in with the architecture and surroundings. The architects designed this Wisconsin bed and breakfast to avoid disturbing the root system of the trees on the property and also used non-toxic woods from cut from sustainable forests. Recycled glass windows and solar panels are other green items, as well as the luxurious linens that were made from organic cotton and the organic bath products guests will find in the bathrooms. After a visit to Arbor House, you no doubt will be inspired to make your own home more eco-friendly.

The historic Mast Farm Inn is not only a great place for a romantic North Carolina getaway, you'll also appreciate the innkeepers eco-friendly grounds. The acreage includes a beautifully restored farmhouse and several other outbuildings including a rustic log cabin. Most impressive are the vast organic gardens of flowers and vegetables. The bed and breakfast's award-winning restaurant features much of the bounty from the organic gardens. You won't find pesticides or chemicals here, just fresh air and the best of organic foods.

If you suffer from allergies, going away from home can mean days and nights of stuffed noses and scratchy throats. However, guests at Natural Bed & Breakfast Retreat in Tucson, Arizona, can breathe easy during their entire stay. The innkeeper bans smoking, pets, perfume and cologne. Air purifiers remove additional pollens and pollutants. The healthy breakfasts at this Arizona bed and breakfast feature organic foods and the innkeeper is happy to accommodate special diet needs.

Guests enjoy English country charm and green sensibilities at Melitta Station Inn & Spa in Santa Rose, California. This historic inn served as a 19th-century stagecoach stop and has been restored and decorated with antiques. Since 2006, it has run on solar power using a 6-kilowat solar array. The bed and breakfast also uses daylight pipes to reduce the amount of artificial lighting needed. Nearby hiking, biking and swimming will keep guests close to nature, and you can even take a tour of some of the Sonoma Valley's organic wineries.

These eco-friendly inns provide warmth and hospitality, as well as the knowledge that your next vacation need not leave a huge environmental footprint. You'll find that it is easy to be nature-minded both at home and at play.

About the Author:

Jane Leisteiner enjoys writing and likes visiting B&Bs. To find additional information on Wisconsin bed and breakfast inns or Arizona bed and breakfasts, search the American Historic Inns website.