Crowne Plaza La Concha
The historic Crowne Plaza La Concha, built in 1926, features a fitness center with free weights and cardio equipment to get you in shape for hiking and other outdoor activities in and around Key West. Bahia Honda State Park, which has a 1.5 mile loop trail, is about a 30-minute drive from this eco-friendly resort that has received a Palm One designation (the first of three levels) from the Florida Green Lodging Program. To achieve this designation, the resort practices recycling of bottles, cans and cardboard; and offers a towel and linen reuse program, according to General Manager Charles Young. "A lot of the guests want to participate, which is fantastic," says Young. A renovation is expected in late 2011 and Young says the next step to achieving a Palm Two designation will be making capital improvements to the HVAC system and "going with environmentally-friendly machinery."
Crowne Plaza LaConcha
430 Duval St
Key West, Florida 33040
(800) 745-2191
laconchakeywest.com
The Banyan Resort
"The Banyan Resort is the first lodging establishment in the Florida Keys and the first condominium association in the State of Florida to earn this prestigious designation," states the hotel's website. This innovative 1800s-era resort, nestled in the heart of Old Town Key West, features solar-powered swimming pools, decks of recycled lumber and a biodegradable tiki bar. Other initiatives the hotel has taken to protect the environment and conserve energy include landscaping with native plants that require less water; using timers and photo sensors on outdoor lighting fixtures; and instituting a towel and linen reuse program. You can access the Key West Loop Trail from the resort (at the corner of Eaton and Whitehead streets) and follow it to Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, a National Historic Landmark, about three blocks away.
The Banyan Resort
323 Whitehead St.
Key West, Florida 33040
(866) 371-9222
thebanyanresort.com
Casa Marina Resort and Beach Club
The Casa Marina Resort and Beach Club located at the south end of the island boasts 1,100 feet of private beach and two tropical oceanfront swimming pools. Casa Marina has a One Palm designation from Florida's Green Lodging Program. "As one of the few Green Power Partners in Key West, Casa Marina is dedicated to preserving the remarkable habitats and surroundings of the Florida Keys, reducing our carbon footprint, and implementing green policies throughout all areas of the resort, from guest recycling programs to energy management, water conservation, advanced technology air filters, and much more," states the resort's website. Casa Marina is a two-minute drive from Duval Street and the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. It is also on the Key West Loop Biking and Hiking Trail.
Casa Marina Resort and Beach Club
1500 Reynolds St
Kwy West, Florida 33040
(888) 303-5717
casamarinaresort.com
