While it's easy to maintain environmentally friendly practices at home, eco-conscious citizens usually find this task daunting when they're on a family vacation. But now, with the booming ecotourism industry and ecolodges popping up all over the world, there are more family-accommodating resorts that remain earth-friendly.  Those just mildly interested in more sustainable travel may find the idea of wilderness and insects discouraging. Don't worry about 'roughing it,' think outside the box and try something new, something green.

The ecolodges I've investigated -- a few in the Americas, mostly in rural settings, but some even in the big cities -- help guests understand their methods of sustainability, offer trips throughout the local region, and encourage guests to interact with the local community, oftentimes allowing families to have more of an authentic experience.Take a look at a few of these ecolodges and environmentally responsible accommodations that offer families luxury and comfort in the most exciting places, while still pampering Mother Earth.

Lapa Rios
Puerto Jimenez
Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
506/2735-5130
Set between the rainforest and the beach, Lapa Rios offers excursions into the jungle, like the rainforest ridge walk or the wild waterfalls tour, and water activities, such as surf lessons and ocean kayaking. Besides the jungle wildlife sightings, there are a few tours to spot marine life such as the sea turtle tour and the ‘Gulfo Dulce’ Dolphin tour. Lapa Rios encourages guests to become familiar with every aspect of the region through interaction with the local community. There is also a tour to a nearby farm, so guests can experience a typical rural farm and witness the local culture firsthand. All meals are prepared by locals, exposing guests to Costa Rican cuisine while still serving a few classics on the menu. There are weekly soccer games with Ticos (as Costa Ricans call themselves) and tours to the local school, where your little ones have the opportunity to play with kids from another country and culture. Some tours even have a special kids version. Also, families usually enjoy the volunteer rainforest at Lapa Rios, where guests are able to plant a tree and contribute to the reforestation efforts.

The 6 o'clock coffee delivery each morning is just one way that Lapa Rios makes its guests feel at home. From the bare-foot friendly warm wooden floors to the private decks complete with hammocks, the thatch roofed bungalows at Lapa Rios offer extreme comfort for all guests. The bungalows come in singles, doubles, triples, and quads, with children at a discounted rate. Lapa Rios is connected to the Corcovado National Park and is closest to the Puerto Jimenez airport, but domestic flights to and from San Jose can be arranged by the staff.

Hotel Eco Paraiso Xixim
Celestun
Yucatan, Mexico
58/ 988/916-2100
Located on a secluded natural beach and within a coconut grove, Hotel Eco Paraiso Xixim offers a tropical ecotourism destination for families seeking a beach vacation with plenty of nearby sites and wild, but friendly, animal encounters. Eco Paraiso offers several tours, both within the property and throughout the area; such as to Uxmal and Coba, two ancient Mayan ruins, or the Celestún Inlet, home to the world’s largest population of flamingoes. The resort's 62 acres are left virtually untouched, since the built accommodations are limited to 1% of the property. The natural inhabitants have plenty of space to roam, allowing guests to witness various species of birds or endangered sea turtles in their natural environment. The lighting system uses low-watt bulbs, both for energy conservation and to ensure that the young turtles do not lose their way to the sea. Along with the tours, Eco Paraiso maintains an on-site museum, interpretive trails, a swimming pool, heated by solar energy, and complimentary bikes and kayaks. Eco Pariso has several recycling systems, such as biological filters for recycling water.

Children under 6 stay for free and kids between 6-12 are half price when staying in the same room with parents. Located along the Yucatan’s west coast, Eco Paraiso can be reached easily from Merida airport or, most conveniently, by flying into Cancun and driving across the peninsula, but be sure to stop off at Chichen Itza and other renowned historical sites en route.

Blue Horizons Garden Resort
Grand Anse, St. George's
Grenada, West Indies
473/444-4316
The bustling ecotourism industry in Grenada has shifted away from high-end luxury resorts toward more family-run and sustainable lodges, such as this one on the southwest coast. Blue Horizons has cottage-style accommodations that are self catering with solar powered heating, water saving facilities, and energy-saving air conditioners and light bulbs. Like most Caribbean resorts, beach time is encouraged and lounge chairs and scuba gear are available, along with other non-motorized watersports gear. There is also an on-site swimming pool and small playground. The restaurant, La Belle Creole, features gourmet meals with a West Indian influence in an elegant patio setting with nice sunset views. The biggest attractions are the tropical gardens and the famous Grand Anse Beach, both located within walking distance from the cottages.

During the off-season, from May through December, Blue Horizons offers a special family package, with no extra fee for children under 16 that stay in the same room as parents and free meals for kids under 11. For larger families, a second suite is available for half the original rate. Excursions, private tours of Grenada, and offshore expeditions can be arranged at the front desk. Blue Horizons is located just five miles from the Port Salines International Airport.

Sacha Lodge
Puerto Francisco de Orellana
Amazonia, Ecuador
800/706-2215
Ever wanted to view the jungle from the angle of the tropical birds that get to fly over the tops of the trees? The canopy walkway, raised by three sturdy towers, puts Sacha Lodge guests 94-feet off the ground for bird’s eye view of the jungle. Along the 940-feet walkway, guests have an opportunity to see thousands of colorful birds and various species of animals in the jungle below. When tired from excursions into the jungle, or just in need of some down time, guests can visit the swimming pool or try their luck at piranha fishing.

The lodge was built with sustainable materials, and each guest room takes the form of a log cabin with jungle views. Rooms sleep singles, doubles, or triples and there are other special rooms for families upon request. Children under 4 stay for free and children between 4-12 are given a 30% discount. Some excursions may be too difficult for little ones, but Sacha Lodge also has combined programs and day tours to the Galapagos Islands or local mountain ranges, cloud forests and waterfalls. Getting to the lodge is an adventure; it is reached by a 25-minute flight over the Andes Mountains from Quito (Ecuador’s capital), then a covered, motorized canoe ride through the Amazon and, finally, by dugout canoe across the Pilchicocha Lake. The journey, escorted by a bilingual guide, is all arranged for guests by Sacha staff and includes bathroom and snack breaks.

Inkaterra Machu Picchu
Aguas Caliente, Peru
800/442-5042
There are six Inkaterra locations throughout Peru, each specializing in involving guests with the local community and environment, ensuring that each experience is authentic. At my favorite Machu Picchu location, guests not only visit the Ancient Lost City of the Incas, but are able to stay in one of 85 luxurious and intimate cottages among a cloud forest. Inkaterra caters to families by offering 14 excursions of different intensities, such as an adventurous hike through the Andes or exploring the beautiful varieties of orchids around the property. Besides being carbon neutral, Inkaterra has also preserved 30,000 acres of cloud forest. Interpretive tours through the cloud forest involve the enchanted waterfall, an ancient and sacred Peruvian site, an active tea plantation, and plenty of orchids and butterflies.

After a long hike, the Andean Eucalyptus Sauna is a great place to unwind. Alternatively, villas boast a plunge pool that overlooks a lush landscape and jungle views. The two-room villas also have a private deck and garden along with VIP service: on-call butlers and private meals. The smaller casitas offer elegant bedrooms with fireplaces and spa-style bathrooms. Each room comes with genuine Alpacha wool blankets and is decorated with furniture designed by local artisans. For families, there are six special cottages with connecting rooms, stocked with children's menus, high chairs, and cribs. Upon arrival, each child receives an Explorer Pack that contains a flashlight, cap, postcards, and colored pencils as part of the resort's special Family Expedition to the Lost City (3 days/2 nights). Inkaterra Machu Picchu is easily reached by train just four hours from Cusco, but the trip by car offers more freedom to explore the various sacred sites along the way.

Fairmont Washington D.C.
2401 M Street NW
Washington D.C. 20037
202/429-2400
Fairmont Hotels have recently been in the news for their shift towards being eco-savvy.  Since March of last year, the Fairmont Washington D.C. has switched energy suppliers to incorporate more recycled and renewable electricity sources, including at least 10% from a local wind farm.  The D.C. location, along with the Fairmont San Francisco, has teamed up with Lexus to create new specialty suites for green conscious guests.  These Lexus Hybrid Living Suites raise the eco-friendly bar by using mostly organic materials in their interior decor. For instance, the coffee tables are custom designed with leather from recycled Lexus vehicles. Even the mattress and bedding of these Earthy suites are made from organic materials so guests stay green in their sleep!

Along with Family Packages, Fairmont hotels now offer special green packages at most locations, and in Washington, families can take advantage of a "Panda Package." Since the birth of Tai Shan in 2005, the National Zoo has been buzzing with visitors trying to take a peek at the panda family.  This package includes admission to the Panda Habitat as part of a kids' Zoo Welcome Kit, overnight accommodations for two adults and two kids and, for every room booked, the Fairmont donates $10 to the Giant Panda Conservation Fund.  The Zoo Welcome Kit includes Activity Books, Giant Panda facts, a Panda toy, and a disposable camera for your kids to document their adventure.

Orchard Garden Hotel
466 Bush Street
San Francisco, California 94108
888/717-2881
Within the bustling city, families still have green options, such as this hotel  just steps from the gates of Chinatown. The rooms are decorated with natural tones and all linens are specially made from recycled fabrics. The well-insulated walls not only block out any urban noise, but also aim to maintain room temperature, avoiding heating and air-conditioning energy use. Besides the chemical-free cleaning products and in-room recycling, the Orchard Garden introduces a key card energy control system similar to hotels in Europe and Asia. The Roots restaurant menu reflects seasonally available products with a constantly changing “Farmer’s Market Vegetable Soup.” The rooftop garden offers a tranquil view of San Francisco, especially views of the nightlife. Or for a more low-key evening, borrow a DVD from the complimentary guest film library.

Built to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, the Orchard Garden was the third hotel within the United States and the fourth hotel in the world to earn LEED certification. The hotel’s owner, Mrs. S.C. Huang felt the need to “go green” for personal reasons including losing three family members to cancer, but by creating an establishment that is environmentally safe and sustainable, she extends her passion for a cleaner environment to guests.

Other Family- & Earth-Friendly Hotels

To get a closer look at more other earth-friendly resorts, check out these previously reviewed locations:

• Now you can ski happier knowing that the the Fairmont Chateau at Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada has resorted to eco-friendly electricity, now obtaining almost half of the hotel’s electricity from clean-energy sources. Click here to view another FTF member’s experience at the Chateau.
  
• The Big Island’s Mauna Lani Resort now generates the most solar electricity of all resorts in the world. They also raise green turtles! Maun Lani Resort is featured as one of FTF’s Top Golf Resorts.
  
• Sadie Cove in Alaska features cabins that run on hydro and solar energy systems. Another treat is that the water source is a nearby mountain spring. Click here to view a previous FTF round up of ecotourism resorts, including Sadie Cove.