All of these concerns are very contemporary of course. Even ten years ago, families didn’t consider the cleaning products, recycling policies, or earth sustainability in hotel or resort choices. Renting hybrid vehicles instead of gas-guzzling mini-vans wasn’t really part of the vacation planning process. But now such considerations are there. Parental awareness of safety hazards for their children simply have to include cleaning chemicals and potentially toxic furnishings. And, as a parent, speaking personally, I know that the environment I leave behind will belong to my children and their children. So whenever possible, we try to support environmentally conscious hotels, when our budget and travel locations allow.

There’s a sea of green-certification policies out there, indicating just how safe and earth friendly hotels, restaurants, and destinations actually are. It can be confusing, daunting, and expensive to negotiate these policies. So we always look at basic sustainable design and with chain hotels, policy commitments to the environment.

We love staying in boutique properties like this Ojai, CA hotel - and appreciate chemical free cleaning and organic food sourcing.

Eco Friendly Kimpton Hotels

On our recent summer East Coast trip, we discovered some wonderful in-roads have been made in a variety of chains and locations. We were particularly delighted with the Kimpton Hotels properties we visited in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., both of which utilized the kind of general green-guidelines we like our family to follow, and which will keep you and your little ones safe, healthy, and happy when traveling.  Read about our stay at the Kimpton helix in Washington D.C.

One thing we always look for that these properties made possible is a wealth of natural light. We dislike old-style chain hotels with enclosed court yards and no access to sunlight and fresh air, or very limited access through one small back window. Kimpton’s feature a direct sight-line to the outdoors through large, light-giving windows, and make a pledge that ninety percent of the spaces on their properties have this light access. Offering this really brightens a room and your child’s day; it also means that fifteen percent of lighting power has been easily reduced – and the chain stresses that it utilizes high efficiency flourescent lighting to reduce electricity waste still further. This also means less of those high-heat bulbs that can burn curious toddler fingers. Best of all, for us, Kimpton has used paint, sealants and furniture coatings that are designed to meet volatile organic compound standards – meaning no residual toxic odors in their decorating. For us, using eco-friendly non-toxic housekeeping chemicals was a key bonus as well. It’s nice to know that the hotel dresser your child is running his or her tiny hands over has not been just hosed down with a toxic chemical compound. We also liked the chain’s decision to support organic food growers and whenever possible, locally sourced food items.

Recycling bin at the Kimpton Hotel in Philly.

Eco Friendly Sheraton Hotels

Like Kimpton, Sheraton Hotels offers recycling bins in the rooms, stresses linen and towel re-use during a stay, and has made a concerted effort to switch to Energy Star energy saving appliances in its hotels. On our recent trip to Raleigh North Carolina, we stayed at the Raleigh Sheraton in downtown which fully used green housekeeping methods and had big, bright windows letting in natural light and air.  Room service breakfast included organic, stone-ground oatmeal and local free-range eggs. Sheraton Tampa Westshore did not feature impressive natural lighting however, and we could not find that particular property’s policy on housekeeping products or food sourcing, which at least at their breakfast buffet did not have a farm-fresh feel to the offerings. You may want to check with individual properties yourself, if a hotel chain does not have complete or inclusive policy statements on its website.

Boutique Properties

Aside from chain hotels, you’ll want to contact individual hotels to find out their specific policies on the independent accommodation scene. The boutique hotel The Lennox, in Boston, featured in-room recycling and provided information on the environmentally and child friendly cleaning products used in plain sight; they were clearly working hard to live up to current green standards. The older boutique property of the Roger Smith Hotel in New York did not offer any indication as to cleaning products, energy saving, or recyling; we had to ask and found out that they are working to provide energy-reducing lighting, and do actively practice water saving techniques. There was no information about cleaning chemicals available, however.  You can read more about our stay at this hotel and our off the beaten track family visit in New York City. Many bed and breakfast options now feature information about their belief in local sourced, organic foods and organic cleaning products; older properties will not be likely to have updated wall paint or carpeting however, so bear that in mind if this is important to you.

In short: read websites, call ahead, and stay green and clean in your family travels. And when you are about to offer your child a bite of one of those shiny apples so many hotel desks offer at check-in? Consider asking if that apple is organic, and a healthy choice – if not, you might want to peel the skin before offering that tasty bite.

This family friendly and eco friendly resort offered great sunset views!

A sister property to the Bellasera Resort in Naples, the Marina Village Resort caught our eye on line when we considered a return to the spacious Bellasera Resort. The Marina Village is located waterfront in Cape Coral, about ninety minutes north of Naples, and closer to attractions such as the JN Darling Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island, Pine Island Sound, a barrier island; and Gaspiralla Island State Park with its beautifully restored Boca Grande Lighthouse originally built in 1890. This barrier island offers excellent snorkling and a lovely, calm beach for small swimmers. We loved the shady picnic spots and the uncrowded, soft, long beaches perfect for sand castle building.

And we found the perfect stay for enjoying these barrier islands at the Marina Village. The towering resort has a great pool with marina views, and from the rooms, all with excellent ample balconies, you can see vast views of the Caloosahatchee River, the placid San Carlos Bay and the alluring Gulf of Mexico. There’s a strong boating community here, and one can rent kayaks, take fishing trips, or simply stroll the docks, which our kids truly enjoyed. We also liked lunching outdoors at the casual Nauti Mermaid after a return from an early morning shell gathering trip to the barrier islands.

From a green standpoint, sensors regulate the air conditioning and automatically shut it off if you leave the sliding glass doors open on your lanai. The crisp towels and sheets are kept that way in an on site laundry equipped with an ozone generator that keeps the linens white without using very much hot water – and without using bleaching chemicals. With energy star appliances in the commodious suites and photo-cells regulating exterior lighting, an easy-to-use recycling program for guests and staff, and grounds planted with native plants and minimal irrigation, the hotel has an excellent green pedigree and a persuasive social conscious.

Water activities and nature exploration available right outside the resort.

Best of all, another sort of green – spending money – stayed in our pockets. The one bedroom suite gave us a beautiful river view at a moderate price, and plenty of space for our family to spread out. And to cook – it’s difficult at times to find accommodations that allow us to do our laundry, make our meals, and experience a resort atmosphere. Too often the resort luxuries of pool and spa come with both a higher price tag and a smaller room. It’s the rare spot that allows me to make a vegan tofu scramble for breakfast on a state of the art range I wish I had at home, and offer me towel service and a comfortable lounger pool side with a marina view. Right on site, the Silver King Market and Deli offered pre-made sandwiches that appealed to both the carnivores and vegans in our tribe, and supplied plenty of stock for our fridge and in-suite meals.

And if you’re bringing the family pet along with the family – this is also one of the few resorts that welcomes Fido and Fluffy in elegant style.

Our favorite beach trip in this part of Florida took us to a perfect mile of smooth white sand enjoyed by fishermen and shell gathers alike. This completely undeveloped piece of Florida beach front property is a state park known as Stump Pass Beach on the corner of Manasota Key barrier island. The beach is quiet and family oriented, and an easy hiking trail fascinated our kids as it led through five different eco systems. We took a pause for lunch at a blissfully shady picnic spot along the trail — the very white sand here and Florida’s sun glare can send you hunting for shade – do be sure your tots are carefully slathered with sun screen.  We were delighted with our state Ranger led nature walk. Our ranger pointed out least terns and egrets. Turtle walks are also available when the gopher tortoises that frequent this beach are around, and we were told that manatees are also viewable in summer months.

Heading inside for a bit, we trekked further north by forty minutes for a docent led tour of a former sugar plantation. This stop took us to Gamble Plantation Historic State, once the residence of Major Robert Gamble and the refuge of the Confederate Secretary of State after the Civil War.  It’s the only plantation house in South Florida, furnished elegantly in the style of  mid-19th century era plantation.

As interesting as we found this historical tour, we were eager to return to our own luxurious suite, throw open the lanai door, watch the twilight fall over the river, and cook up some veggie burgers on our energy-saving range.

The pool at the Bellasara resort in Naples is great for families

Bellasera embraces the whole Neopolitan theme of this relaxed beach front community with elegant fountains, Italian architectural flourishes, and a dining menu that offers many Italian dishes. As elegant as the hotel is, it was the accommodating staff that won our hearts. Need a tour to the Everglades? No problem, we’ll give you options and set you up with your choice. Where’s the nearest grocery store? We’ll give you directions, or a ride if you don’t have a car. Need a computer? No problem, free access, take your time. We felt cosseted but not constrained; the atmosphere isn’t stuffy. We loved the fresh flowers in the lobby and the quality bath products. We also loved having our own in-unit washer dryer. No more bathing suits washed out in a bathroom sink.

The pool offers plenty of shallow space for the kids, and it’s pristine. Add in the proffered big umbrellas and comfortable loungers and you’ll have a great, relaxing afternoon. If the gulf waters are more to you’re liking but you don’t have a car or don’t feel like driving yourself the five minutes it takes to cross the street, park and hit the sea, Bellasera offers a pick up and drop off service that’s free, plus towels and umbrella set up. If you want a picnic, that too can be arranged.

Great in-suite dining for the family using Bellasara's large kitchen

And yes, there’s a spa, luxury cabanas, and a fitness center…and the “rooms” – well, they’re not rooms, which is why we extended our stay by two extra days. They’re ample suites with granite counter topped kitchen, two bathrooms, two bedrooms, a full living and dining area and a screened in porch. Bellasera has one, two, and three bedroom suites, and they are all commodious.

Oh, and it’s reasonably priced, too. The practical price – the resort offers many excellent packages and special offers throughout the year was what led us to select Naples over any other Gulf destination. And we were glad we made this choice.  What we got for our dollar was much more than expected: the size, modernity and spotlessness of the suite made our family really kick back and relax, which isn’t something we always get to do on a vacation – even though technically that’s the whole point of one!

But the icing on the cake for our ecologically driven family was the fact that Bellasera is a member of the Florida Green Lodging Program. So you’re helping the environment by making this luxurious choice, while you’re extending and enjoying your vacation dollars. The resort follows voluntary guidelines that Florida set up to assist in conserving natural resources and prevent air pollution. The resort practices recycling, energy and water conservation; it utilizes low flow plumbing fixtures, as well as energy-saving programmable thermostats and air filters; and uses green cleaning products and laundry detergents. So we could feel good not only about our wallets but our support for the environment, too.

We had one meal at the resort’s Zizi restaurant, a late dinner. Though technically we’d arrived just after closing, they still served us, and accommodated both our vegan and our low sodium diners with a smile. We had pasta dishes all around on the patio, with a view of the pool area and courtyard, while outside the last of a summer thunder storm lit up the sky. The rest of our time at the hotel we cooked – the well appointed kitchen led us to a very well provisioned upscale grocery chain a few minutes away.
When we finally tore ourselves away from the resort, we did explore sea island beaches and did take a thrilling air boat tour through the Everglades, which are very easy expeditions less than ninety minutes drive from the hotel. Downtown Naples, less than five minutes away, offers eclectic shops – our kids enjoyed the free ‘tastings’ of bread and oil at an olive oil store with flavors ranging from orange to garlic – and a range of moderate priced restaurants, many with pizza on the menu. There’s also the nearby Conservancy of Southwest Florida which offers up an excellent exhibit on the area’s natural history. The kids could touch snakes and alligator’s teeth. The museum also offers guided trails walks and boat tours in the Everglades.

The kids also really enjoyed the Bailey–Matthews Shell Museum in nearby Sanibel, FL. There’s a massive collection of gorgeous shells collected from the shores of both Sanibel and Captiva Island near by and those gathered from far away. We loved the massive globe pointing out the shells gathered from beaches around the world.
But our favorite destination was the beach just across the road from Bellasera, late in the afternoon, with dusky pink clouds hovering, the ocean still bath-water warm, and so many of our own shells to pick. The ocean’s detritus was our treasure. Our kids spent the late afternoon hours until full, moonlit dark called us back to the hotel, finding the lovely shells and stones, building castles in the powdery white sand, and bobbing in the delicious, nearly wave-less gulf waters.