I’m riding in a tiny two-seat Military-grade airplane over a barren desert valley outside of Las Vegas when I hear the most terrifying four words I can imagine:

“You’ve got the stick.”

I’ve never had any training as a pilot. The closest I’ve ever come to a cockpit is sitting in the first row of coach. But when I grab the control between my legs and veer right, the plane turns.

I feel a little sick.

Atlanta may be one of the most misunderstood cities in America. Yes, it’s an urban sprawl with more than its fair share of strip malls, traffic and streets named Peachtree. But if navigated properly, a trip to the South is just about as sweet as any tea served below the Mason-Dixon Line. Like Los Angeles, Atlanta encompasses many eclectic, funky and diverse neighborhoods populated with natives, Yankee transplants and many other ethnicities from all over the globe. Our favorite neighborhoods include Reynoldstown, Grant Park and the Old Fourth Ward. This amalgamation makes for a unique mix of cultural resources, exceptional dining and lively nightlife. Serve that up with a heaping helping of hospitality and you’ve got yourself a mighty fine vacation.

With our trusty backpacks and camping gear stowed on dusty garage shelves, we seek the chic adventures. We bring you three more exemplary travel destinations that are gentle on the earth but are filled with unending luxury. If you’re looking for eco-friendly travel destinations, but you like you eco-luxury lifestyle to be filled with adventure, we’ve got what you’re looking for. We review a staple in the high-end travel world that is dedicated to their eco-conscious establishment, a marine biology buff’s dream, and also a refreshing destination within our US shores, on the gorgeous coast of California.

This is not your Mom’s eco travel. Gone are the days of thatch roof huts with no electricity and going back to the land, suffering through simplicity. The hospitality industry has full-scale adopted practices of sustainability, energy reduction, waste management, and going local. While there is still no easy way to know for sure if a resort or hotel is completely eco-minded as there are a handful of dubious green awards and certifications out there, the truth you’re looking for is still in the research and dialogue with each individual hotel or resort. The luxury destinations below have all shown dedication to sustainable practices and a commitment to engaging in their local communities on a deeper level while providing exemplary hospitality and service. Responsible travel takes some dedication and time, but here are a few of the luxurious getaways we reviewed that will keep your indulgent guilt to a minimum.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain