Green Lodgings

It’s not always easy being green, but that hasn’t stopped the sustainability and Earth-friendly efforts at Wild Trails Farm, a natural sanctuary for personal and group retreats and recreation in Vermont. The farm property, part of 472 acres of meadows, hills and forests, includes a modern, luxurious six-bedroom lodge that is solar- and geothermal-powered. Rooms look out over the valley, meadows and distant mountains. Its sprawling lawns--dotted with chairs, benches and hammocks--is maintained with electric equipment. Go hiking, biking or skiing with the aid of Wild Trails' exclusive mobile GPS app; practice yoga, mindfulness and meditation; relax with a massage; and eat fruit from the orchard and veggies from the garden, knowing you are staying at a place that honors the concept of being green.

At Vermont’s Lake Morey Resort, they are dedicated to the concept of reducing their impact on the environment. That’s why they were designated a green hotel by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and the Vermont Small Business Development Center. A few of the lakeside resort’s going-green efforts include solar generation at some of its private cottages; investing in a solar farm to offset electric usage; resort-wide recycling and composting; and the use of LED and CFL lighting in 90 percent of the buildings. From a towel re-use program and the use of Earth-friendly cleaning products to perfect flow shower heads and toilets, the resort is doing what it can to ensure a cleaner future for everyone.

The Sewall House Yoga Retreat is not only welcoming to those seeking a personalized, tranquil retreat – the historic, six-bedroom home is also friendly to the environment. The house, which has been holding personalized yoga and nature retreats since 1997, composts, uses bulk products including toiletries and serves locally sourced vegetarian meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The vegetarian menu is mostly organic and prepared on the premises and includes vegan and gluten-free offerings. The Sewall House provides an encouraging environment for beginning and experienced yoga practitioners as well as outdoor enthusiasts, It’s near swimming, canoeing, kayaking, biking, golfing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and, of course, excellent porch sitting! Come see why Seawall House earned a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award in 2022.

Green is more than just the color that surrounds the Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa: It’s a commitment to a way of life that ensures future generations can enjoy the beauty of nature. Sustainability initiatives at the historic, AAA 4-Diamond resort include an integrated recycling program to manage cardboard, aluminum, plastic, vegetable oil and organic waste; a towel and linen reuse program; a composting system in the herb and vegetable garden; energy-saving lighting and insulation; and a green-meetings program. The resort has been honored by the Environmental Protection Agency for being a 100 percent green power purchaser, with all of its electricity provided through an on-site 121-foot wind turbine and from purchasing renewable energy certificates.