While you’re checking off “fireplace in room” and “spa services” in your Web search for that perfect bed and breakfast, take time to remember the most important amenities of all: our natural resources. Many inns are energy efficient and designed to fit the surrounding landscape. Their proximity to national parks and wildlife sanctuaries remind us that traveling is neither decadent nor a luxury – it’s a reality check. A person who has spotted a whale breaching the surface of the ocean or looked at a bird’s nest from the foot of an ancient Redwood tree is more likely to be mindful of other habitats that go unseen from an office window.

Surrounded by more than 40 acres of wilderness, you will literally bask in the beauty of nature at Huckleberry Tent and Breakfast in Sandpoint, Idaho. You read it correctly, it’s a tent. But these tents won’t remind you of roughing it at scout camp. Think Ernest Hemingway or Theodore Roosevelt minus the big game hunting. The luxurious canvas tents have floors made of wooden planks and soft, comfortable beds. There is even a kitchen and wood stove. Each morning the innkeepers serve a hot breakfast, as well. You can pick wild berries, hike along nature trails or just relax and enjoy mountain views at your campsite. Lake Pend Oreille is nearby and offer swimming, boating and fishing.

Reduce, reuse, renew is the mantra of many eco-warriors and that is definitely the motto at Arbor House, An Environmental Inn in Madison, Wisconsin. The innkeepers preserved and restored the historic 1940s main house and added an annex that blends in with the architecture and surroundings. The architects designed this Wisconsin bed and breakfast to avoid disturbing the root system of the trees on the property and also used non-toxic woods from cut from sustainable forests. Recycled glass windows and solar panels are other green items, as well as the luxurious linens that were made from organic cotton and the organic bath products guests will find in the bathrooms. After a visit to Arbor House, you no doubt will be inspired to make your own home more eco-friendly.

The historic Mast Farm Inn is not only a great place for a romantic North Carolina getaway, you’ll also appreciate the innkeepers eco-friendly grounds. The acreage includes a beautifully restored farmhouse and several other outbuildings including a rustic log cabin. Most impressive are the vast organic gardens of flowers and vegetables. The bed and breakfast’s award-winning restaurant features much of the bounty from the organic gardens. You won’t find pesticides or chemicals here, just fresh air and the best of organic foods.

If you suffer from allergies, going away from home can mean days and nights of stuffed noses and scratchy throats. However, guests at Natural Bed & Breakfast Retreat in Tucson, Arizona, can breathe easy during their entire stay. The innkeeper bans smoking, pets, perfume and cologne. Air purifiers remove additional pollens and pollutants. The healthy breakfasts at this Arizona bed and breakfast feature organic foods and the innkeeper is happy to accommodate special diet needs.

Guests enjoy English country charm and green sensibilities at Melitta Station Inn & Spa in Santa Rose, California. This historic inn served as a 19th-century stagecoach stop and has been restored and decorated with antiques. Since 2006, it has run on solar power using a 6-kilowat solar array. The bed and breakfast also uses daylight pipes to reduce the amount of artificial lighting needed. Nearby hiking, biking and swimming will keep guests close to nature, and you can even take a tour of some of the Sonoma Valley’s organic wineries.

These eco-friendly inns provide warmth and hospitality, as well as the knowledge that your next vacation need not leave a huge environmental footprint. You’ll find that it is easy to be nature-minded both at home and at play.