Vacation with purpose and give back to the Earth at Florida’s best eco-friendly destinations
World Earth Day is April 22, but Florida residents and visitors don’t need a special day to be good environmental stewards of the Earth. Florida’s extreme natural beauty is worth celebrating and saving, and you can couple a vacation with do-good-for-the-Earth activities. From a free boat ride in the Florida Keys that targets the trash in treasured waters, to hotels with sustainability at their core, to thrilling eco-friendly experiences, make your trip to Florida both fun and impactful.
Top Florida hotels for a green getaway
Isla Bella Beach Resort, Marathon
Want a free boat ride through the clear waters of the Florida Keys, while turning it into a do-gooding adventure? Isla Bella Beach Resort is a high-end resort located in Marathon, a two-hour drive from Miami, that caters to eco-conscious travelers. The resort now partners with the Conch Republic Marine Army, offering guests the chance to zip off on their vessels to clean up the surrounding waterways. You’ll help remove debris from the all-important mangroves — you won’t believe what kind of trash you’ll find — and at the same time, enjoy a scenic boat ride.
The cleanup excursions take place every Wednesday and Saturday and are free to resort guests. There’s even a special clean-up excursion planned for Earth Day.
The resort is also 95% plastic free, offering reusable aluminum bottles to be used at water stations and there’s also sustainable service ware.
Property highlights: Sandy beach on a one-mile waterfront, stunning guest rooms, five oceanfront pools, marina with water sports like kayaking and snorkeling
Mr. C Miami – Coconut Grove
If a hotel’s eco-friendly practices are important to you, check-in at Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove, where they’re committed to zero food waste and rid their property of single-use plastics. This hotel that’s nestled in the lush neighborhood gem of Coconut Grove is now recognized as a Green Key Global hotel, earning a Three Green Keys rating. The efforts begin at the paperless check-in, where guests are given environmentally smart wooden keys instead of plastic keys. Kids are also offered an educational coloring book on composting, and instead of magazines in rooms, guests can scan a QR code to access mobile books and magazines.
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The hotel has numerous eco-friendly partners, but one of their top partnerships is with Compost For Life Miami, where all food waste from the on-property restaurants are sent to a local plant to be transformed into plant fertilizer. Guests benefit from that partnership, as they’re treated to locally sourced fresh produce. Mr. C will plant a tree for every guest staying on property on Earth Day — and outside of Earth Day, they’ll also plant a tree for every guest who opts out of housekeeping.
Property highlights: Rooftop pool and restaurant that flaunts panoramic views of Biscayne Bay, on-site Bellini restaurant by the lauded Cipriani family, walking distance to Coconut Grove’s restaurants and shops.
The Elser Hotel & Residences, Downtown Miami
Located in Downtown Miami, The Elser Hotel & Residences embraces both luxury and sustainability, offering guests a stay that feels like home (if your home was a posh pad in the sky). Guest rooms feature WaterSense-certified toilets to promote water conservation, and every room offers full kitchens fitted with energy-efficient appliances, LED lighting, and energy-efficient washers and dryers. Guests are also treated to refillable PATH water containers and bamboo toothbrushes.
The hotel’s environmentally-conscious efforts even extend to the pool, where guests will find reef-friendly sunscreen. If you’re staying at The Elser on Earth Day (or you live in the community), join them on a cleanup trip to Pace Picnic Island — which is an island in Biscayne Bay that’s beloved by South Florida boaters — in partnership with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Property highlights: Luxury in the sky, residential-style stay with full kitchens, rooftop pool deck, epicenter of Downtown Miami
Sandpearl Resort, Clearwater Beach
Situated on the scallop-white sands of Clearwater Beach, Sandpearl Resort boasts a Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, the state’s first resort to snag that esteemed designation. It’s the perfect green getaway thanks to details such as a huge geothermally heated pool ( families love it), rooms that are stocked with eco-friendly products, windows that reflect heat and water-efficient shower heads. They even have a full-time Recycling Steward who makes sure that everything is recycled. If you want to adventure off property, they encourage guests to use their bikes or to hop on the local trolley.
Property highlights: eachfront oasis, large zero-entry pool, spacious suites, strong family programming
Eco-friendly adventures that showcase Florida’s natural beauty
Need a reminder on why we should preserve Florida’s glorious coastal landscapes? Connect with nature on a tranquil paddle through The Great Calusa Blueway, a 190-mile paddling trail in southwest Florida. The trail weaves through the coastal waters of Lee County from the Pine Island Sound to Estero Bay, up the Caloosahatchee River and through its tributaries.
It’s primely marked with signage for easy navigation and caters to kayakers and canoeists of all skill levels. You’re here for the breathtaking scenery and the wildlife — from bald eagles and wading birds to dolphins, sea turtles, huge manatees and even river otters. You can also download a free map of the trail before you go.
A new eco-adventure offers a unique opportunity for locals and visitors to see and experience the environmental conservation efforts of North Palm Beach County. The WILD in the Palm Beaches Tour is a half-day adventure with stops at three of the area’s standout wildlife sanctuaries, including Manatee Lagoon, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary and Loggerhead Marinelife Center.
During this trip trio, you’ll hear informative talks about these organization’s important roles in protecting and rehabbing animals, explore the grounds, experience encounters with animal ambassadors, and hopefully, spot marine life like manatees in their natural habitats. The tour includes transportation and lunch and starts at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays through April 27.
If you want a picturesque boat ride that’s focused on natural beauty, book an eco-friendly tour with Riverfront Gondola Tours in Fort Lauderdale. Hop aboard one of their quiet electric powered boats — which generate zero emissions, so the boat ride is less likely to pollute the water or harm wildlife.
The boats leave from a dock on Las Olas Boulevard and the 90-minute tour winds through Fort Lauderdale’s beautiful canals and waterways. You’ll peep at waterfront mansions and look for wildlife, and if you book a sunset cruise, you’ll be gifted with beautiful colors and a romantic atmosphere. The boat company partners with Pan-Asian Casa Sensei restaurant (where they dock), so guests can call ahead and put in their order for dinner on the boat.
Join these fun Florida Earth-Day celebrations
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida in Naples is celebrating Earth Day on Saturday, April 12, with a family-friendly Earth Day Festival that includes immersions in nature like a guided tree walk, animal encounters, and science shows. If you want to see the area’s natural beauty and understand why it’s worth saving, hop on a pontoon boat ride through Rookery Bay with a Conservancy naturalist — these mid-morning or sunset boat tours run from mid-November through April.
Another long-running Earth Day event is the 20th annual Central Florida Earth Day in Orlando hosted by Vegetarians of Central Florida. This popular family-friendly and dog-friendly event takes place at beautiful Lake Eola Park on Saturday, April 19 and features earth-friendly food demos, environmental education sessions and fun activities for kids.
In Fort Myers, head to Lake Park to celebrate both the annual “Ding” Darling Day and Earth Day at the Conservation Carnival in Fort Myers’ Lakes Park on April 26. Activities include nature photography, serene nature strolls coupled with journaling and art sketching, archery, yoga and nature-themed carnival games.
