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Sustainable Stays & Green Getaways in Illinois

Feb 27, 2023 Activities

a house with chairs and fire-pit outside

Stressed out? Maybe it’s time for a break from the daily 21st century-grind.

For many, we’re working longer hours, spending more time sitting, and staring blankly into screens for much of our days. This means it’s even more important to take time to return to your roots and unwind in a simpler setting — without distraction. And what better place to do that other than right here in Illinois? Make your Earth Day special with an unforgettable sustainable stay.

Hotel Felix — Chicago

Chicago’s first Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Design) certified hotel, Hotel Felix is constantly looking for new ways to reduce its carbon footprint year round. With low energy-use lighting, motion sensor heating, ventilation and air conditioning in all guest rooms, a water waste reduction valve, eco-friendly cleaning products and natural southern exposure to aid heating, Hotel Felix goes above and beyond to provide guests with sustainable lodging. Other features include preserved building structure to prevent non-biodegradable materials going into landfills, and even a paperless front desk. Starting on April 2, the first five guests who reserve a stay for Earth Day on April 22 using promo code EARTH will receive a discounted room rate of just $20.19 per night (exclusive of the Chicago hotel tax).

Hotel Felix is located just steps from Water Tower Place, with world-class shopping and 875 North Michigan (formerly known as the John Hancock Center) where you can see the city from new heights at 360 Observatory and TiLT experience.

Hotel reception area

Element Hotel — Moline (Quad Cities)

A century-old warehouse turned eco-conscious, extended stay hotel, Element Moline offers visitors green and wellness-focused amenities to embrace the hotel’s sustainable design philosophy. The hotel features artwork and decor made from recycled and repurposed materials, LED lighting, a filtered water systems along with environmentally-conscious bath products containing organic ingredients. To top it off, guests can maintain a healthy lifestyle in the an indoor saline lap pool and relax with a complimentary organic beer or wine during the signature reception hour. Quad Cities has over 100 miles of bike trails to enjoy and guests can explore them utilizing the hotel’s Bikes to Borrow program. Book a room for less than $130 per night.

Makanda Inn & Cottages – Makanda (Southern Illinois)

Natural building materials such as straw bales for the walls, recycled plastic roofing and reclaimed wood are used throughout the Inn and cottages for energy conservation . The stone fireplace in the common area is fashioned after a Russian Stove to create a high efficiency, low emission heating unit for the inn. The nearby Shawnee National Forest offers the incredible Garden of the Gods overlook with breathtaking views of towering sandstone bluffs formed millions of years ago - one of the most scenic spots to spend Earth Day in Illinois! Suites can be booked for less than $100 per night.

Interior of a house The exterior of a house

Hotel Arista — Naperville

Hotel Arista is the first LEED certified hotel in Illinois recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council. Hotel Arista is known for conserving resources in order to remain an environmentally responsible hotel. The hotel uses 30% less water and 21% less energy than most hotels. The nearby Main Street Promenade in Naperville features a variety of boutique shopping, restaurants and even Centennial Beach for families to cool off in the summer. Rooms start at $117 per night.

Interior of a bathroom The interior of a hotel room

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