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25 Eco-Woke Hotels, Restaurants & Cities Around the World
photo: Frauke Hagen
Tom Robbins said it best when he wrote; “I've sucked way too much cement for this year. Bad juju rising off them city sidewalks. I need to babble with a brook or two, inhale starlight, make friends with some trees.” Most days, we couldn’t agree more, but Earth Day makes that desire even more palpable.
What to do? Explore, of course. We must get outdoors and soak up the feeling of dirt between our toes. Here are a few of our favorite spots around the world that are eco-woke. From hotels made with sustainable building practices to restaurants serving hyper-local foods to cities that are setting a new standard in what it means to go green, we’ve got the Earth on our inquisitive minds.
Reporter: Alyssa Brown
What to do? Explore, of course. We must get outdoors and soak up the feeling of dirt between our toes. Here are a few of our favorite spots around the world that are eco-woke. From hotels made with sustainable building practices to restaurants serving hyper-local foods to cities that are setting a new standard in what it means to go green, we’ve got the Earth on our inquisitive minds.
Reporter: Alyssa Brown
Photo: The Cult Collective
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Stay: The Palmwood learn more
Nestled away on Kauai’s North Shore, The Palmwood guesthouse sits in the rolling hills of Moloa’a. This family owned and operated getaway places a big emphasis on sustainability, organic foods and supporting the local community.
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Photo: Emmy Hagen
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Celebrate: Brooklyn Grange learn more
An epic farm dwells on a Brooklyn Navy yard rooftop at Brooklyn Grange. The city's largest rooftop farm can be used for events, and the socially responsible company builds green spaces and promotes sustainable living throughout the city.
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Photo: Lauren Smithson
Stay: Big Island Treehouse
Hawaii
This tropical treehouse sits in the jungles of Hawaii and is completely off-grid. The only one of its kind, Big Island Treehouse is bookable for those looking to be completely immersed in Hawaiian wilderness.
Photo: ammiel_j
Visit: Singapore
Green building has been mandatory in Singapore since 2008 and rapid urban development has meant that when green spaces on the ground get taken over, they’re recreated sky-high via rooftop gardens and parks. Energy use and carbon emissions are a major priority citywide.
Photo: Local Wanderer
Stay: Free Spirit Spheres
Vancouver, BC, Canada
You can hang in the trees on Vancouver Island and experience the forest from a whole other level at Free Spirit Spheres. Forest preservation is a big part of what these guys do and their bubble treehouse pods are sure to impress the eco-architect in you.
Photo: 1 Hotels
Stay & Dine: 1 Hotel South Beach
Miami Beach, Florida
Arguably one of South Beach’s most eco-chic properties, 1 Hotel South Beach was designed using reclaimed materials. Snuggle in the organic cotton sheets on an organic cotton mattress and gaze out to the beaches below.
Photo: Gina & Ryan
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Stay & Dine: Acre Hotel learn more
A farm stay that’s just a quick drive from Cabo, Acre Hotel offers guests 12 treehouse rooms and a restaurant that grows every bit of produce off the land.
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Photo: Jaquory Lunsford
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Stay: Playa Viva learn more
Playa Viva sits on a private nature reserve in Petatlan that includes a turtle sanctuary, an archaeological site, a permaculture farm, beachfront and much more. Operating entirely on solar, sustainability and self-sufficiency is a cornerstone for this luxury boutique hotel.
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Photo: Jessica Wright
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Stay: Rolling Huts learn more
Though these cabins are impeccably designed, Rolling Huts fancies itself more a luxe camping spot than design hotel. Located in Washington’s Methow Valley, the landscape surrounding these eco-huts is the real showstopper.
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Photo: Dan Freeman
Visit: Sydney
Australia
The Australian city of Sydney has grand plans of being sustainable by 2030, emphasizing the need for a low carbon, water sensitive, climate resilient, zero waste community. As part of this plan, they’re also building a new town center, Green Square, that’s to be known for its parks, green spaces and warehouses-turned-high-rises.
Photo: Karl Mackie
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Stay: Kudhva learn more
One hundred percent off-grid, the fully sustainable cabins at Kudhva sit suspended above the ground in North Cornwall. Think glamping-meets-treehouse digs, hidden away just near the sea.
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Photo: Timothy Dhalleine
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Stay: Ecocamp Patagonia learn more
Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park is an epic place to spend your time trekking Patagonia. Check out EcoCamp’s fully sustainable geodesic domes for a stay that’s totally relaxing.
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Photo: Visit Copenhagen
Visit: Copenhagen
Denmark
Copenhagen relies largely on cyclists to keep traffic moving rather than big, oil guzzling cars and that reason alone is enough to call this Danish destination eco-friendly. Denmark is also considered a leader in renewable energy, with a goal to reach 100 percent renewable energy use by 2050 (they’re already over 20 percent).
Photo:Singita
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Stay: Singita Sweni Lodge learn more
A small safari experience property with just seven suites, Singita Sweni Lodge has conservation and environmentally friendly practices at the core of everything they do. These luxury getaway specialists have a 100-year goal to preserve and protect vast areas of African wilderness.
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Photo: Tealily Photography
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Dine: The Grounds of Alexandria learn more
The paddock to plate concept behind Sydney’s The Grounds of Alexandria make it a locavore’s delight. Expect ingredients grown right in the organic gardens and served in a stunning garden sanctuary setting.
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Visit: The Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve
Chile
Located in Southern Chile, just below the Andes Mountain Range, the Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve is dedicated to sustainable tourism and various flora and fauna conservation projects. On site, you’ll find majestic treehouses and volcanoes-turned-accommodation.
Photo:Hacienda Vira Vira - Relais & Châteaux
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Stay: Hacienda Vira Vira - Relais & Châteaux learn more
This Chilean luxury resort sits along the banks of the Liucura River in Patagonia, on a hundred acres of farmland. Hacienda Hotel Vira Vira focuses not only on providing a lavish stay in an adventurer’s paradise, but utilizes the bounty of the farm to provide food and wine for guests.
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Photo: Jesse Cobb
Visit: Portland
Oregon
Portland’s known as one of America’s greenest cities, boasting 14,000 acres of parks and green spaces. Add to that a large portion of the population commuting on bikes and championing recycling practices, renewable energy and sustainable design practices, and you’ve got yourself a great city to celebrate Earth Day in.
Photo: Yvette Bax
Stay: Patio del Mundo
Medellín, Colombia
This charming guesthouse in Medellín boasts a large, peaceful garden that thrives year-round in the mild climate. Patio del Mundo offers a stay that’s conscious of energy and water consumption and encourages guests to be mindful of waste.
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Photo: melissa
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Stay: ION Luxury Adventure Hotel learn more
Built to the highest sustainability standards, ION Luxury Adventure Hotel is built with natural materials ranging from driftwood to rubber tires. With giant glass walls and a geothermal outdoor spa, this getaway maximizes views of the mountainous lava fields surrounding it.
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Photo: Jack Finnigan
Visit: San Francisco
California
San Francisco loves a good party and Earth Day is one of city's best excuses to get people together. Many of the city’s museums and public spaces celebrate the holiday, including a big street festival in Civic Center Plaza.
Photo:Plant Food + Wine
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Dine: Plant Food + Wine learn more
Romantic and overgrown, the courtyard at Plant Food + Wine in Venice makes just as great a date-night spot as gathering space. Here you’ll find plant based cuisine matched with organic and biodynamic wines.
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Photo:Querencia Getaways
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Stay: Villa Wild Indigo learn more
Costa Rica’s Peninsula Papagayo sets the scene for this beautiful eco-friendly vacation home. With five suites, Villa Wild Indigo is a tropical paradise that's easy to take over with a group of friends or fam.
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Photo: therusticlife
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Dine: Terrain Westport learn more
A Westport gem, this quaint Connecticut garden café and venue embraces living off the local land. Their hyper-local approach to cooking makes Terrain an easy go-to for great food and an eco-conscious mindset.
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Photo:Casa Jaguar Tulum
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Dine: Casa Jaguar Tulum learn more
Jungle side dining in the heart of Tulum doesn’t get much more off-grid than Casa Jaguar. This gorgeous restaurant runs without electricity and manages to deliver one of the most delicious, authentic meals you can have in this town.
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