With April being Earth Month and April 22 being Earth Day, sustainability is more important than ever in the travel realm.
In Arizona, these hotels and attractions are leading the way.
Read on for the best in eco-friendly sites and things to do, you’ll love what Arizona offers.
Hotels
Ambiente
Continue to be immersed in Sedona’s breathtaking nature when staying at Ambiente, A Landscape hotel. As the first landscape hotel in North America, Ambiente’s cubed-shaped, glass-encased Atriums are designed to harmonize with Sedona’s geography as part of the hotel’s effort to respect the land and have a minimal impact on the natural environment. Ambiente’s onsite restaurant, Forty1, has an ever-evolving menu of dishes centered around locally grown and seasonal ingredients sourced from the surrounding region such as nearby Blue Bird Farms. Along with receiving fresh ingredients, Forty1 works with Blue Bird to eliminate its food waste utilizing the farm’s composting service to support the restaurant’s farm-to-fork experience. As a hotel where guests must be over 21 years old, guests can reconnect with nature and find tranquility.
Castle Hot Springs
Castle Hot Springs is a desert oasis that protects the environment and makes for a perfect getaway. The resort has earned a Sustainability Certification from the Arizona Sustainability Alliance for the resort’s efforts to have a low impact on the environment including the hot springs guests can experience during their stay. The hot springs contribute to the resort’s sustainable efforts by using all the water used onsite coming from the hot springs and the heat from the springs warming the greenhouse that is part of the onsite farm. Learn about the 3-acre farm that grows more than 150 different crops each season for the resort’s restaurant, Harvest, by embarking on the guided daily farm tour. While on the tour guests can taste the fresh produce while learning about the farm’s sustainable growing practices within the desert and ongoing composting efforts of nearly all of the resort’s green waste. Before enjoying dinner, visit the new flower garden where the resort grows flowers for spa products and arrangements.
TERRA Farm + Manor
Embrace the farmer lifestyle when staying at the luxurious TERRA Farm + Manor in Prescott, a working farm where guests can learn about sustainable agriculture, explore the Prescott National Forest, cook fine cuisine with seasoned chiefs, and find tranquility with wellness services. With each visit custom-made for each guest, each trip is one-of-a-kind. Those interested in agriculture can explore the 100-acre farm on an interactive farm tour to see where the vegetables and herbs are grown to later be used within the manor’s cooking classes. Those who love critters will appreciate the farm’s partnership with nearby ranches to see cows, sheep and chickens. After exploring the farm, participate in the manor’s cooking classes that utilize fresh produce to make farm-to-table cuisine. With the help of a chief, farmer, or winemaker, guests will learn to make a new dish that will delight their taste buds. Spend time outdoors hiking in the forest or enroll in a yoga class to feel refreshed. With days filled with endless activities, rest in the rustic, but elegant manner that has a library game room and eight rooms for guests to sleep in.
Clear Sky Resort’s Sky Domes
The spherical structure of the Clear Sky Resort’s Sky Domes north of Williams creates a one-of-a-kind resort experience that allows guests to comfortably stay among nature near the Grand Canyon in a sustainable manner. The Sky Domes design does more than offer guest privacy and stunning views, it is energy efficient as domes require less building material to enclose more space and require less energy to maintain even temperatures. Heating and cooling the domes requires 30% less energy than a typical building allowing guests to have a pleasant night’s sleep knowing they are reducing their energy consumption. Only 20 minutes south of the south entrance to the Grand Canyon, this unconventional resort offers a memorable trip in making the environment a priority. Open seasonally: April to November.
Arizona Grand Resort & Spa
Arizona Grand Resort & Spa in Phoenix remains “Naturally Grand” thanks to the multiple ongoing green practices the hotel created to establish environmental responsibility. Along with its recycling, energy, and water-saving initiatives, the Grand offers shuttle services, spa slippers made from recycled PVC, purchases locally-grown food and has charging stations for electric vehicles all in an effort to remain sustainable. As part of the Classic Hotels & Resort brand, the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa is a member of the 1% for the Planet, a globally-recognized alliance of businesses that work toward protecting the environment. All members of the 1% for the Planet donate one percent of their annual sales to any of the approved nonprofit environmental organizations in the network, giving guests at the Arizona Grand Resort the satisfaction of knowing their stay contributes to helping the environment.
Elden Trail Bed & Breakfast
Stay at the foot of Mt Elden at the Elden Trail Bed & Breakfast, a sustainable B&B that gives guests the chance to be secluded in nature without being too far away from bustling downtown Flagstaff. At the inn, enjoy walking up to a freshly made breakfast every day from the onsite mountain micro-farm and four-season greenhouse, with the inn growing most of its own food. Following breakfast, guests can take advantage of the B&B location with some of Flagstaff’s best hiking trails being accessible from the inn’s back gate or simply sit on the patio to enjoy views of Mt Elden and ponderosa pine forest. Only five miles away from downtown Flagstaff, visitors can utilize the nearby public transportation to spend a day shopping at boutiques and visiting the numerous breweries downtown. The inn’s owners, a husband and wife duo, are dedicated to ensuring their B&B serves as an example of sustainable living and provides guests with the best experience. Those who want to stay here will need to book in advance with the B&B only offering two rooms.
Hotel Congress
Hotel Congress has been a leader in sustainability within Tucson for years and continues to strive to lead the movement of sustainable hospitality. Throughout the years, the hotel has adopted multiple eco-friendly methods like transitioning from a single thermostat that heats and cools all the rooms within the hotel, even if the room was not occupied, to mini split thermostats so no energy will be wasted heating or cooling an empty room. The hotel works with the University of Arizona Compost Cats, a composting group that collects food waste around the city, to dispose of the hotel food waste from its fine dining restaurant that the hotel uses with the ingredients grown at the hotel or locally sourced. The hotel gets its staff involved in the mission with its green team when staff directors meet with their peers once a month to discuss sustainability with their staff. Earning multiple sustainable awards throughout the year like the TripAdvisor Gold Level Green Level, Hotel Congress proves sustainability and great hospitality delivers a great guest experience.
Hotel McCoy in Tucson
Repurposing an old building into a midcentury hotel is the principal Hotel McCoy was founded with and the Hotel McCoy in Tucson is continuing the brand’s no teardown tradition. The hotel’s sustainable initiatives extend beyond the building by utilizing environmentally friendly cleaning products and upcycled furniture. Hotel McCoy’s passion for sustainability is matched by its dedication to helping local artists and companies. A patron for the arts, the hotel’s walls are adorned with local artist work that guests can purchase with all the proceeds going back to the arts. During their stay, guests can quench their thirst with wines, beers and coffee that all comes from local business. The distinct experience that Hotel McCoy offers its guests earned the hotel the 2022 Tripadvisor Traveler Choice Award making it a travel destination all guests will enjoy.
Lodge on the Desert in Tucson
What began as a private family residence in the middle of the Tucson Desert has evolved into a premier resort destination, Lodge on the Desert — with all its iconic allure intact. Old-Western movie stars dating from the late 1930s frequented the Lodge, a private getaway from the high-profile film sets nearby. Film stars and crews relaxed in the same suites and public spaces available today. While completing extensive contemporary renovations over time, we’ve carefully preserved the vintage features of the hotel’s Southwest legacy. Many of the rooms showcase original tile work, fixtures, and décor for a revealing throwback to another era. This 103-room boutique hotel, situated on five acres in mid-town Tucson, is an Arizona landmark and local tradition…renowned for its intimate residential setting and genial hospitality. Here guests discover pathways meandering among regal palms, native cacti and manicured lawns wrapped in ribbons of seasonal flowers. Charming hacienda-style accommodations afford guests a sanctuary in which to retreat and relax. It is a Tucson urban oasis and an Old Pueblo historic masterpiece.
Environmental conservation is an important element of Lodge On The Desert’s mission and vision. The hotel embraces green practices across all departments, acknowledging that sustainability initiatives are responsible as well as environmentally beneficial.
Attractions
Biosphere 2
Walk through five completely different environments without ever leaving the building when visiting Biosphere 2, the world’s largest controlled environment dedicated to understanding the impacts of climate change. Located near Tucson, this U of A research facility conducts advanced research to develop intervention programs that will increase the sustainability of Earth systems and combat climate change. Discover the research being conducted through the Biosphere 2 Experience, App Guided Audio Tour, a 75-minute tour through the Biosphere that informs visitors of the current reach initiatives occurring within different environments like the rainforest, ocean and arid desert scrub ecosystems. Those curious about the technology that runs this facility can go on the Guided Lung Tour which explores the “lung” that established the air pressure within the Biosphere.
Arcosanti
An experimental town in central Arizona, Arcosanti, is known to be an early example of sustainable architecture that utilizes progressive urban planning concepts. Arcosanti is a prototype of arcology, designing architecture with respect to ecology, that was designed by Paolo Soleri in the 1970s to combat urban sprawl and overuse of natural resources. For half a century, thousands of volunteers have helped The Cosanti Foundation build Arcosanti by participating in its six-week-long workshops where volunteers get hands-on experience and develop specialized skills. While never occupied by more than 100 people, this urban laboratory has earned praise for being a working alternative that helps the environment and its residents. Explore Arcosanti while on its sustainability tour and for an enhanced experience stay overnight inside the arcology and enjoy its guestroom, pool and hiking trails.
Arizona Raft Adventures
Raft the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon on Arizona Raft Adventures to explore the Grand Canyon up close without harming the natural wonder. Arizona Raft Adventures acknowledges the responsibility the company has to protect the Grand Canyon and respects the Native American tribe’s land by consulting with the Native tribes and implementing environmentally safe practices like composting and recycling waste from a rafting trip. The company works closely with the Navajo Nation and Havasupai Tribe to remain respectful of their wishes for their land, especially listening to the Havasupai’s request for no rafting visits to Havasu Creek during the COVID pandemic. As a member of the 1% for the Planet, a globally-recognized alliance of businesses that work toward protecting the environment, Arizona Raft Adventures donates one percent of its annual sales to a nonprofit organization to help further protect the environment.
Lake Powell
Page’s Lake Powell proudly offers visitors eco-conscious Colorado River and Glen Canyon experiences through waste minimization, fuel emission reduction, water conservation, and more. Travelers can participate in the attraction’s commitment to the local environment.
Museum of Northern Arizona
A museum where the architecture is as intriguing as the exhibits inside, the East Collection Center at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff was built with advanced environmental design. The museum has a living roof, with native plants covering approximately the entire roof, designed to reduce the temperature of the roof’s surface, hence decreasing energy consumption. Earning recognition from Engineering News-Record as the Greenest Building in the country in 2009, the building was created using recycled materials from old buildings and recycled newspapers for the cellulose wall insulations. Many of the building features were chosen due to their ability to reduce greenhouse gasses like the UV-filtered skylights and photovoltaic solar panels.
Willow Bend Environmental Education Center
The Willow Bend Environmental Education Center located within Coconino County’s Sawmill Park in Flagstaff helps build environmental awareness within the city through its many different workshops, tours, school programs and gardens. As a certified sustainable building, tour the center to learn about its rainwater harvesting process, solar panels, composting system, straw and trombe walls that remove the need for heaters and its ability to only use natural light. Embark on a workshop to learn beekeeping or wildlife tracking before touring the gardens that consist of native medicinal plants, wildflowers surrounded by hummingbirds and wetland plants displaying the diverse habitat of the area.
Lowell Observatory
The Lowell Observatory is Flagstaff’s esteemed leader of dark-sky education. The Observatory plays
a critical role in local outdoor lighting policy and education while also providing visitors the opportunity to appreciate the star-studded skies firsthand.
Desert Botanical Garden
The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix allows guests to observe more than 50,000 accessioned plants throughout its five thematic trails, which illustrate topics such as conservation, desert living, plants, people of the Sonoran Desert and desert wildflowers. While helping the public learn about Sonoran Desert plants, the Garden’s conservation initiatives work to protect endangered plant species from emerging threats. The Garden has a collection of approximately 400 threatened or endangered species and maintains 52 rare species. In an effort to help endangered species, the garden has frozen seeds of rare plants in its seed bank with the goal of preventing endangered species extinction, allowing generations of future visitors to continue admiring these rare and stunning plants.
Grand Canyon Railroad
Take a heritage train ride on the Grand Canyon Railway, truly a trip through time from Williams to the Grand Canyon Village. The Railway strives to reduce waste, provide environmental stewardship education to guests and employees, and weave sustainable practices into the mission of each ride.
OdySea Aquarium
Scottsdale’s OdySea Aquarium is a multi-level, state-of-the-art facility that holds more than 2 million
gallons of water and offers educational, interactive, and entertaining experiences for guests of all ages.
Through strategic partnerships, OdySea raises sustainable seafood awareness and maximizes energy
efficiency.
Queen Creek Olive Mill
An agritourism experience in Queen Creek where guests can learn how olives are grown and turned into extra virgin olive oil at the sustainable-focused Queen Creek Olive Mill. Through the use of eco-friendly farming methods like solar power and drip irrigation, the Mill produces olives to create an olive oil that visitors can sample and purchase. The Mill uses composting to help reduce its waste composing the leftover pomace, tree clipping, and flowers into rich soil. While at the Mill sign-up for Oil Oil 101 classes to learn how to make their own extra virgin before eating at an onsite farm-to-table restaurant.
