Courtesy of the Lodge at Sun Ranch
A luxury camp—sleeping just 18—on 26,000 acres in the Madison River valley.
Green Cred: Guests have the run of a “holistic” cattle ranch that crosses a major migration route: up to 1,500 elk winter here, and a resident wolf pack is carefully monitored. High-style-homesteader digs (rooms, suites, cabins, and tents) are fitted with fair-trade, organic-cotton linens and offer stunning views of the mountains and creeks. Once or twice weekly, guest speakers lead discussions about Montana topics and travelers’ philanthropy. And all ranch activities—from fishing to horseback riding—have sustainability as a focus.
Who’s Behind It: Silicon Valley entrepreneur Roger Lang owns the hotel, runs a green construction company, and oversees the Sun Ranch Institute, a nonprofit that works with concerned citizens and other organizations to maintain healthy land. Doubles from $300.
Courtesy of Stowe Mountain Lodge
The state’s newest slopeside hotel is about as eco-friendly as ski resorts get.
Green Cred: There’s not much here that doesn’t originate within a 200-mile radius. In the 5,000-square-foot lobby, the granite came from a quarry in the Adirondacks and potted birch trees were salvaged in Quebec, less than three hours north; the bar pours Hourglass Ale, a regional microbrew; and Solstice, the restaurant, serves maple-braised short ribs from Wood Creek Farm, in Bridport, Vermont. All 139 rooms have olive-oil–based Mario Russo bath products, and some hotel areas make use of light- and climate-control sensors. Outside, the 6,400-yard golf course is an Audubon sanctuary that’s home to nesting kestrels, hawks, and peregrine falcons.
Who’s Behind It: Financial company AIG put $400 million into this Stowe Mountain development. The final phase will be completed in five years. Doubles from $435.
Courtesy of Starwood Hotels
Starwood’s first LEED-certified extended-stay hotel, in the quiet Boston suburb of Lexington.
Green Cred: From the outside, this 123-room property may look like your average business traveler’s hotel, but the difference is in the details: oversize windows make use of natural light; the pantry is stocked with treats from the Lexington Farmers Market; hybrid cars get prime spots in the parking lot; and the gym overlooks a solar-heated indoor pool. Rooms are Ikea-style minimalist, with smart space-saving touches such as a recycled-quartz kitchen table that doubles as a desk, and faux-leather stools. Free bikes are available for guests, but the hotel’s splashiest achievement is the inclusion of low-flow waterfall showerheads.
Who’s Behind It: Starwood. Next month, Element Hotels will open in Summerlin, Nevada; Irving, Texas; and Houston’s Vintage Park. Doubles from $159.
Courtesy of the Starwood Collection
Portland, Oregon, is already known for its heavyweight green hotels, but the recently opened Nines (as in “dressed to the…”) promises to raise the bar: it’s set to be the country’s most luxurious urban eco-property. The 331-room soon-to-be LEED Silver–certified hotel, on the top floors of the Meier & Frank building (a former department store), recycled 90 percent of its construction debris; the on-site steak house uses local ingredients; and the lobby art, including a wooden stiletto shoe, is by Portland sculptors. Doubles from $279.
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