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Top winter eco destinations

By Lori Brown
Provided by Earth911.com

If your trip to visit the extended family didn't qualify as a "vacation," we've got the solution to the post-holiday-deflated-and-jaded feeling.

Whether you're escaping the 9 to 5 grind or the stifling snowstorms that keep you locked inside, these destinations are sure to perk up your mood and kick off the New Year in ultimate eco-style.

Embrace the Cold

Vancouver, British Columbia – While the temp is hovering around the freezing mark, Vancouver is the hottest place to be this winter. Beginning Feb. 12, the Winter Olympics will attract visitors from all over the world, meaning the hotels, restaurants and shops will be packed, but the festivities will be endless. 

The Listel Hotel in downtown Vancouver is one of the city's most eco-friendly hotels, awarded four keys through the Hotel Association of Canada's Green Key Eco-Rating Program. The hotel utilizes unique geothermal heat capture technology along with solar panels for hot water heating, dramatically minimizing its natural gas consumption.

It also purchases power from a wind and low-impact hydro power energy company and composts all post-consumer food products, including meat. While its Web site says it's booked for the Olympics, we did a little digging and found that there are still some rooms left.

Sundance, Utah- If you're just looking for some downtime in a pristine setting, we recommend the Sundance Resort in the mountains of Utah. Owned by Robert Redford, an active environmentalist, Sundance is the way to enjoy your winter vacation without the guilt often associated with ski resorts. Ranked in the top ten for environmental stewardship by the Ski Area Citizens' Coalition, the resort touts that "every day is green at Sundance Resort."

And we're still reeling from the accolades: Sundance has implemented a green purchasing policy, offsets 100 percent of its power usage through the purchase of wind-generated power, utilizes organic and recycled products and produce, offers carpooling for ski guests, employees a full-time naturalist for guest education and has a winter Ski Ecology program. Whew!

Escape the Cold 

If your idea of a great winter vacation involves leaving the winter weather behind and heading for tropical climates, you're not alone. Millions of travelers flee the cold each year, creating the busiest travel season for many warmer regions.

Blancaneaux Lodge, Belize- A Francis Ford Coppola resort, Blancaneaux Lodge in San Ignacio, Belize is a shining example of how green travel and luxury can marry for the perfect getaway. Winner of Travel + Leisure's 2009 No. 1 Resort in Central and South America, Blancaneaux Lodge is truly self-sustaining.

It utilizes hydro-electric power, produces all vegetables for the lodge in its own organic garden,recycles waste water using aerobic biological treatment, composts all organic waste, purchases only recycled paper and locally produced organic hygiene products, and supports two major conservation research products.

Inkaterra, Peru- Inkaterra is a Peruvian travel organization with more than 30 years experience in sustainable tourism initiatives. One of the first Peruvian organizations to be declared 100 percent carbon neutral, Inkaterra uses tourism to fund local ecological research and conservation projects.

A stay at one of Inkaterra's three main hotels, including The Reserva Amazonica Lodge, The Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel and La Casona, is guaranteed 100 percent carbon neutral for each guest through use of clean technology, eco-friendly operational practices and protection of more than 42,000 acres of forest. 

Centro Ecologico Sian Ka'an, Mexico- This small lodge located near the Mayan ruins of Tulum in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is truly an industry leader for its environmental initiatives.

Operating completely on solar and wind energy, the non-governmental organization center has developed a wetland waste treatment system to recycle greywater and treat blackwater and uses a rainwater collection system for all non-drinking water needs.

The modestly priced cabins are perfect for the eco-minded traveler looking for an environmental education experience without all the unnecessary bells and whistles.

Closer to Home

Napa Valley, California- Whether you're a self-proclaimed wine-o or just love the Napa Valley area, Gaia Napa Valley Hotel is a must for the environmentally minded traveler. Dubbed as "Napa Valley's First Fully Environmentally-Sustainable Hotel and Spa," Gaia was the first property in America to be awarded LEED gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Located an hour from San Francisco in the heart of wine country, the hotel features recycled construction materials, low-VOC paints and sealants, bulk toiletries to minimize packaging associated waste, and even GreenTouchscreen kiosks, allowing guests and visitors to track CO2 emissions and energy and water savings. And Gaia proves you don't have to spend a lot of green to travel green. Rooms start at just $89 per night.