Many bed and Breakfasts help preserve history through architecture and decor, providing guests a trip to the past. But now many innkeepers are helping to preserve the planet’s future by running eco-friendly bed and breakfasts. A few bed and breakfasts run completely “off the grid,” and many are located in beautiful natural settings, where the innkeepers are mindful to blend in with the environment. From simple items such as using organic cotton for the bedchambers to planning a hearty breakfast using items grown organically on the property, these bed and breakfasts owners do their best to respect and preserve Mother Nature.

You’ll see it all from the Huckleberry Tent and Breakfast in Sandpoint, Idaho, which has only three tent sites within 42 acres of forest. This low-maintenance lodging option offers easy access to hiking trails and a view of the stars. Standing between you and nature is your simple canvas structure built on wooden planks with a Queen size bed and a kitchen with cooking utensils and a wood stove. The hot breakfast served every morning makes roughing it is a little less rough.

The Arbor House, An Environmental Inn leaves no doubt that it is a respite for the eco-friendly. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, the bed and breakfast was built with nature in mind. The architects were careful not to disturb the root system of the ground’s many trees when they built an annex onto the historic portion of this 19th-century inn. The builders used non-toxic lumber that was cut from sustainable forests. The windows were made of recycled glass and the walls were specially insulated to keep out heat or cold without using extra energy. The roof of the Wisconsin bed and breakfast is lined with solar panels. Linens are organic and washed with biodegradable products.

For a different eco-friendly experience, try the Mast Farm Inn in Banner Elk, North Carolina, where fresh, organically grown vegetables find their way into the salads and seasonal dishes. The on-site organic gardens are designed to encourage animal and plant diversity and maintained without the use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides.

Taking non-toxic to personal level, the Natural Bed & Breakfast Retreat in Tucson, Arizona keeps it simple for guests with allergies by banning smoking, pets, cologne and perfume. Natural sounds filter through indoor speakers while air purifiers clear out the allergens. Feng Shui principles guide the layout of the dcor and breakfasts are organic and made from whole grains.

Saving energy is easy in California, where there’s no shortage of sunshine. The Melitta Station Inn, a Santa Rosa, California, bed and breakfast, has run on solar power since 2006 with the aid of a 6-kilowatt solar array and daylight pipes that reduce the need for artificial lighting. For eco-friendly fun, take an organic wine tram tour through Sonoma Valley wine country or a whale watching day cruise along the Sonoma Coast.

All of the eco-friendly inns have a warm atmosphere and a welcoming environment. Innkeepers are available to direct guests to nearby parks and healthy restaurants — but they won’t leave a light on.

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