The Claremont Hotel on Mount Desert Island, Maine

Summering on the waterfront in Maine is a dream for most of us, but for a weekend — or a few weeks if you are rich or lucky — you can live the dream at the Claremont hotel in Southwest Harbor on Mount Desert Island.

On the opposite side of the island from Bar Harbor, the Claremont is a classic hotel built in 1884. The quietly stunning setting on the Somes Sound, where you can see the only fjord in North America, is a dramatic backdrop for the historic main hotel and several guest cottages.

There are 24 recently renovated guest rooms in the main hotel building, six private rooms in the Phillips House, and 14 cottages, spread across the six acre property.

The main house boasts a porch with rocking chairs where you can relax with a book or your computer — yes, wifi has reached Maine!

Relax in a rocking chair on the open deck at the Claremont hotel in Maine

The more intimate Phillips House also has a veranda that tempts the tired traveler to sit and contemplate the water, as well as a large common room with a fieldstone fireplace.

Each of the 14 housekeeping cottages has a wood or gas burning fireplace, deck and kitchenette, for a classic “cottage on the water” vacation. The cottages has loads of character, from charming log cabins to more contemporary styles, and range in occupancy from two to seven.

The view from the Claremont hotel restaurant

There are a couple of options for meals on the property, including fine dining at Xanthus Restaurant. The menu is impressive, with local and organic offerings like Niman Ranch pork loin with fava bean risotto, and pan roasted red snapper with stewed fennel and tomatoes on a porcini risotto cake. But I have to admit I was disappointed not to see lobster on the menu. For me that’s a vital element of every trip back to Maine!

You can also enjoy a light lunch and evening cocktails at the Boathouse, and there is a new hotel bar for pre-dinner cocktails. “In season” between July 1st and September 2nd the hotel also serves afternoon tea, and in the summer has weekly lectures and music recitals.

For entertainment, the hotel offers boating, tennis, a library and two croquet courts, as well as close proximity to Acadia National Park, where you are practically guaranteed a moose sighting. The hotel is a quick 20 minute drive from the shops, restaurants and attractions of Bar Harbor.

The Claremont hotel is open from late spring to early autumn, with rates in the neighborhood of $150 to $250 per night in the off season, and from $200 to $300 range in season. Check the website for exact dates and rates.

In 2008 they offered two special packages, “Summer in Acadia” and “The Colors of Fall”. The two day packages were based on double occupancy and included two nights lodging, two full buffet breakfasts and one dinner. It’s definitely worth a look when you’re planning a summer vacation on the coast, or a foliage trip through New England.

If you’re dreaming of your summer vacation while looking at mounds of snow out your window, or making plans with family members over the holidays, you may want to consider a rustic visit to Maine, (State Motto: “The Way Life Should Be”) and stay at the Claremont hotel.

The Claremont Hotel
PO Box 137
Southwest Harbor, Maine 04679
phone: 1-800-244-5036
email: clmhotel@roadrunner.com

San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco is a town with a well known reputation for being “green” — from fleets of Prius taxis to every kind of organic, natural and free-range fare –  the eco-traveler is right at home in the City by the Bay.

This extends to the selection of hotels as well. There are so many that it’s almost impossible to pick just five, so for each of the hotels here I included a “Green Claim to Fame” that earned them a place on this top picks list.

The Orchard Garden Hotel
466 Bush Street, San Francisco, California 94108
Toll Free: 888-717-2881, Phone: 415-399-9807, Fax: 415-393-9917
The Orchard Hotel
665 Bush Street, San Francisco, California 94108
Toll Free: 1-888-717-2881,  Phone: 415-362-8878,  Fax: 415-362-8088

Green Claim to Fame
The Orchard Hotel and sister-property the Orchard Garden Hotel set the standard for green hotels – literally. The Orchard properties were the first in California to receive LEED certification, and just the fourth in the world.

One of the many environmentally friendly innovations you’ll find these hotels is a guest room key card system that reduces electricity consumption by an estimated 20%. When a guest enters the room, he or she activate the light and heating systems by inserting the key card into a wall unit. When the key is removed, the systems automatically shut off.

In addition to deluxe green accommodations, guests at the hotel can arrange for eco-friendly services like airport transfers in Toyota Prius Hybrids, receive discounts on rental bikes and eco-tours, and peruse copies of the Greenopia Guide, “the urban dweller’s guide to ‘green’ living.”

Hotel Triton
342 Grant Avenue at Bush Street, San Francisco, CA  94104
Reservations: 800-800-1299, Hotel: 415-394-0500, Fax: 415-394-0555

Green Claim to Fame
The Hotel Triton is a member of the Kimpton Family of Hotels, all of which adhere to the strict “EarthCare“   environmental practices. Additionally, the Triton was one of the earliest green hotels, opening the “Eco 7th Floor” in 1994. All of the room on this floor have water saving devices, water filtration systems, and air filtration/purifiers. The hotel recycles 60% of its waste, has recycling receptacles in all guest rooms, and all of their cleaning products are non-toxic and environmentally safe. They also offer 25% off valet parking for hybrid certified vehicles.

W San Francisco
181 3rd Street · San Francisco, California 94103
Phone: 415-777-5300

Green Claim to Fame
Although the W Hotel doesn’t do a lot of eco-promotion on their website, the San Francisco property is leading the way for the Starwood Chain to become greener. They are piloting in-room recycling bins on 6 floors, recycling 71% of waste, and exploring the installation of six wind turbines on the roof.

Hotel Carlton
1075 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94109
Reservations: 1-800-922-7586, Phone: 415-673-0242, Fax: 415-673-4904

Green Claim to Fame
The Hotel Carlton is the only hotel in San Francisco that can boast of having 105 solar panels on the roof. The property was recently certified as a Green Business by the City of San Francisco. It is also an environmentally responsible and carbon neutral hotel, partnering with Carbonfund.org. Their Green Environmental Policy Statement is posted on the website, and it highlights their extensive efforts to recycle, conserve and reduce toxic materials.

Best Western Tuscan Inn
425 N Point Street US San Francisco, California, 94133-1405, United States
Phone: 415-561-1100

Green Claim to Fame
You might not think the world’s largest hotel chain would be all that green, and admittedly the Best Western Tuscan Inn is not the greenest hotel in the city, but the combination of a fabulous location on Fisherman’s Wharf and environmentally friendly practices like in room recycling, organic food, composting, water conservation protocols, and their efforts to educate guests and staff earn them a place on this list.

A Guide to Green Hotels in San Francisco
Even if you don’t pick one of the hotels on this list for your next visit, you can be reasonably sure that almost every hotel in San Francisco is relatively green.

The city follows an aggressive recycling program, has a ban on plastic bags, and you won’t find Styrofoam take out containers anywhere — they’ve been banned too. Most hotels have water saving practices like only changing sheets and towels when you request them. And even if you don’t see a recycling bin in your room, it’s a pretty safe bet that the cleaning staff will get your cans to a blue bin.

Enjoy your trip, and remember that you bring your environmental citizenship with you when you travel, so make your choices wisely!

Photo credit: Lucky Cat Photography