Looking for ways to tread lightly on the earth when you travel? Try green-certified independent inns to start, and then ask the innkeepers for recommendations on locally owned shops and restaurants. Spring always seems like the ideal time to talk about eco-lodging, what with Mother Nature waking from winter slumber, delicate plants and edibles poking through the once ice-crackled earth, and travelers eager to inhale the fresh air and exhale wind-chill hangovers.     Here in Wisconsin, we have a voluntary certification program called “Travel Green Wisconsin,” and we’re proud to say the Wisconsin B&B Association was a pioneer in this movement to promote eco-friendly travel. Among the many inns that are certified are Lake Ripley Lodge B&B in Cambridge with their new rain gardens boasting Native Wisconsin wildflowers, and Crystal River Inn in Waupaca, who serve food from their garden, harvest local wild fruit, and make all their jellies and jams. [caption id="attachment_2315" align="alignleft" width="260"] Lake Ripley Lodge B&B[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2316" align="alignright" width="263"] View from Crystal River Inn[/caption]                 Going above and beyond what Travel Green Wisconsin requires are Pinehurst Inn B&B in Bayfield, which was named one of the “Top 10 Eco-friendly Inns” by BedandBreakfast.com and received the 2014 Wisconsin Governor’s Stewardship Award, and Artha Sustainable Living Center in Amherst, where guests appreciate local, organic food and are welcome to attend the yoga studio’s weekly classes. You can find a more complete list of travel green certified inns on our website. [caption id="attachment_1394" align="alignleft" width="300"] Pinehurst Inn[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1395" align="alignright" width="268"] Artha Sustainable Living Center[/caption]                 But the Wisconsin B&B Association’s commitment to the environment doesn’t stop there. We’re also proponents of “conscious travel,” with innkeepers always happy to suggest ideas for shopping local, dining at locally owned restaurants, and visiting attractions that preserve the history and culture of the community. We’re all in this together!

Are you ready to Seek the Unique?

Why not fill up fall with B&B getaways in Wisconsin to all the “est” inns. Here’s what we mean: Oldest Inns:

Structure:  Wisconsin House Stagecoach Inn - Hazel Green. Built in 1846, Wisconsin House is structurally our oldest member inn.

In Operation:  Old Rittenhouse Inn - Bayfield.  In 1974 Old Rittenhouse Inn was the first B&B to open in Wisconsin  when the idea of a Bed & Breakfast was just gaining acceptance in the Midwest.

[caption id="attachment_745" align="aligncenter" width="211"] Wisconsin House Stagecoach Inn, Hazel Green[/caption] Newest Inns:

Structure:   At the Lake House - Lake Geneva. Built as a B&B in 2010.

In Operation:   O’Neill Manor – Neillsville.  Opened May 2012

[caption id="attachment_748" align="aligncenter" width="240"] O'Neill Manor, Neillsville.[/caption] Largest Inn: Washington House Inn - Cedarburg with 34 rooms. [caption id="attachment_750" align="aligncenter" width="211"] Washington House Inn, Cedarburg.[/caption] Tallest Inn: Strawberry Lace Inn - Sparta with four floors. [caption id="attachment_751" align="aligncenter" width="240"] Strawberry Lace Inn, Sparta[/caption] Highest Inn: Inn at Wawanissee Point – Baraboo. Perched 800 feet above the Wisconsin River Valley, this 42-acre estate offers a 36-mile view of the Lake Wisconsin Valley. [caption id="attachment_752" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Inn at Wawanissee Point, Baraboo[/caption] Greenest Inn: The top four point-getters in the Travel Green Wisconsin certified program include Pinehurst Inn – Bayfield at 140 points, Artha Sustainable Living Center - Amherst at 125 points, Token Creek Eco-Inn - Madison at 112 points, and Crystal River Inn - Waupaca at 100 points. [caption id="attachment_753" align="aligncenter" width="246"] Innkeepers Steve and Nancy Sandstrom at Pinehurst Inn, Bayfield.[/caption] ...Stay tuned for part 2 of the "est" list released this Friday!

We have an especially soft spot for Earth Day (it’s April 22) here in Wisconsin.  Maybe it’s because the force behind the first Earth Day was Wisconsin’s own Senator Gaylord Nelson.  Or because of our state’s proud farming heritage (you can even  stay at a B&B on a working farm) and abundant natural resources.  Here at the Wisconsin B&B Association, we have another reason to support Earth Day in a big way – it’s because B&Bs were among the first tourism businesses in the state to step up and be Travel Green Wisconsin certified when the voluntary certification program launched some five years ago, and our lodging segment remains a pioneer yet today in the state’s green movement.  If you’re looking for a B&B getaway that will allow your eco-conscience to rest easy without giving up the amenities you love, then choose from any of our Travel Green Wisconsin certified inns.   You’ll have nearly 40 to choose from!  Happy Earth Day everyone. [caption id="attachment_538" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Rainbow Ridge Farm B&B, your country farmhouse getaway, is just a stones throw from La Crosse. The comfortable, serene atmosphere at Rainbow Ridge Farms will renew your spirit while you take a break from the hustle and bustle of your daily life. And, for a different kind of hustle, visit their 'baby animal due date' calendar!"][/caption]   [caption id="attachment_539" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="At Justin Trails Resort of Sparta, llamas Dusty and Rusty get a snack. Justin Trails' rolling fields are criss-crossed with hiking and X-C ski trails - great exercise for both 2 and 4-footed creatures!"][/caption]