Located on a cobblestone street in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood is the eco contemporary Crosby Street Hotel.

In a city that’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S., as well as home to many eco inventors, we’re excited that there’s an eco-hotel that’s leading the way in the industry. We are, of course, talking about New York City and tucked smack in the middle of SoHo sits the Crosby Street Hotel.

Featuring floor-to-ceiling warehouse style windows to take in the natural light, each of the 86 rooms are individually designed, some with private terraces planted with native plants. But what’s impressive is that the Crosby Street Hotel is one of the first LEED Gold certified hotels in New York City and is one of the most environmentally responsible in the U.S.

In addition to a slew of green features like green power, use of recycled materials during construction, and usage of regional materials, the Crosby Street Hotel also maximizes their open space. A whopping 61% of the hotel’s site is considered as such, “open,” and on the rooftop is a kitchen garden with a seasonal vegetable patch. Managed by head chef Anthony Paris, also in the formerly unused space on the roof is a Tudor style chicken coop in which the Araucana chickens produce eggs used in the kitchen as well.

Guests are encouraged to visit the Sculpture Garden and the Crosby Bar, both of which are outdoor spaces filled with green space and cool décor, perfect for relaxing with friends.

If you go: Check out the state-of-the-art screening room with 99 seats featuring different films every Sunday. Rates start at $525 per night.

Places & Spaces is a travel guide that will inspire you to carve out a vacation on your calendar. All of the gorgeous locations and accommodations in our guide share our concern for the environment. From tent glamping to lavish built environments, fair warning, you’ll feel compelled to pack your suitcase.

I grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles when phones were rotary and the coolest video game going was Atari Pong. Or maybe it was Pac Man. My point being that there wasn’t a lot to do indoors after school, so we headed outside.

After a quick snack, it was out the door on our bikes or roller skates or skate boards, not to return until the sun was setting. We built forts, climbed trees, played tether ball; we enjoyed the fresh air and freedom for the three hours between school and dusk when our mothers had to drag us inside by our shirt sleeves.

Our fun was finagled out of nothing other than ourselves and, well, dirt and trees.

Climbing trees wasn’t just a boy thing, or maybe it was but I didn’t notice. I liked hanging out up high and watching the world go by below.

Tree houses are iconic. They hold memories of a time gone by, of our childhoods and our children. And nostalgia is intoxicating.

Up, above and away from it all, the tree house offers a natural, peaceful, secluded and special-like-no-other place to relax and contemplate nothing. So when I heard about a hotel of tree houses in Sweden, I needed to know more.

Located 60 km (approx 37 miles) south of the Arctic Circle and just outside the Swedish town of Harads, Treehotel opened this past July to rave reviews. At the time, only four structures were completed, but as of October 2010, there are seven uniquely themed structures – six “rooms” and one Tree Sauna (drawing above).

The project was inspired by the 2008 documentary “Tree Lover” (Trädälskaren):

“…the story of three men from the urban environment who look to get back to their roots by building a tree house together. It is a philosophical film about what “the tree” means to us humans, both historically and culturally.”

Each structure is completely distinct and designed by a different Swedish architect. Each sleeps 2-4 and the sauna holds up to 12 comfortably. Powered by sustainable electricity and equipped with freezer or “incinerator” toilets, they’re attached to the pine trees via an adjustable metal clamp that won’t harm the trees as they grow. I love that part!

The concept and construction are intended to allow for expansion and increased innovations in sustainability. It’s truly an inspired and inspiring spot that I’d love to visit. The Swedish should be proud of this forest retreat.

I could go on for days about each individual house but the gist is this – hip, slick, cool, green, peaceful, respectful, secluded. Now let’s have a closer look at a few of the finest…

The Blue Cone (image above) is a simple, wood constructed two-story cabin colored in red that looks lego-like in its structure and texture.

The Bird’s Nest (image above) is a more complex 3-legged structure that is accessed via a retractable staircase (I really want to walk that staircase!). Its twiggy exterior contrasts distinctly with the modern, minimal design on the interior.

There aren’t words for The Mirrorcube (image above). It’s a lightweight aluminum structure covered with mirrored glass. Kind of unbelievable if you ask me.

And especially remarkable when the interior (image below) is pure plywood with views that go on forever. Dwellers reach the Mirrorcube via a rope bridge.

The Cabin (image above) is another odd looking creature that seems to jut out from the middle of nowhere and sit comfortably amongst the trees. The room is accessed via a footbridge that opens onto a large deck at roof level.

Would you believe me if I told you there were spaceship sightings in Sweden? The UFO (image above) is a newer structure that the creators envisioned would “…have a huge appeal for people with fertile imagination.” You think?

I’m wondering what they’ll come up with next. Clearly, the sky (or tree) is the limit.

The price per night varies depending on which structure you decide to inhabit, but the range is around $600 per night, which includes breakfast. Not your Euro Youth Hostel situation.

But worth its weight in sustainability and 360 degree views, for sure. The Swedish countryside and forest is so spectacular and austere; pure and still. Imagine resting inside one of these rooms and looking out at the trees and water and vastness. Wow.

And of course, the peace of mind, tranquility, silence and relaxation are all free of charge.

Top Images: emdot, Design Squish

As many of you know, here at EcoSalon, we often emphasize the point that sustainable travel is not just about carbon offsets and packing lighter. Sustainable travel is about conscious travel, and thinking about your next adventure with a holistic approach; everything from where you go and who you stay with, to what tour operators you use and how you get around town. Ultimately, sustainable travel is also about making sure that as travelers we’re doing our best to ensure that the places we want to explore stick around for other people to enjoy them as well, and that means traveling in a manner that’s environmentally, humanly and culturally conscious.

There are a lot of great resources out there on sustainable travel and eco tourism to help guide you in your quest to be a more conscious traveler, with everything from general travel guides to specific listings of sustainable destinations. We’ve rounded up our favorite top 10.

1. Sustainable Travel International – This is the eco traveler’s go-to resource for all things related to sustainable travel. They run an excellent and informative blog that keeps you up to speed on the latest developments in the eco tourism world, and their Eco Directory lets you search travel and tourism providers that have been vetted for their commitment to sustainable practices.

2. Matador – The world’s largest independent magazine, Matador offers a wealth of information to those looking to travel off the beaten path. The articles here are succinct, savvy and are all focused on travel that benefits both the traveler and the local communities. Check out Matador Change which boasts a variety of green travel tips as well as voluntourism organization profiles.

3. Intelligent Travel – National Geographic’s Intelligent Travel blog isn’t specifically green focused, but with the traditional National Geographic attitude it features articles, profiles and tips that all fall under the category of conscious travel, with travel dispatches everywhere from New York City’s High Line to ancient rainforests in Australia.

4. Why Go EcoTourism – Part of the Bootsnall consortium of travel blogs, Why Go EcoTourism is a great place to start your eco travel research. You can easily navigate through various modes of accommodation, including eco lodges and farm stays, and get tips on other eco travel resources like books and guides.

5. Green Traveller – A UK-based site, Green Traveller offers advice on everything from cargo ship travel to staying in treehouses. It’s a well-respected site that’s been mentioned by other travel media like Conde Nast and Rough Guides.

6. Go Green Travel Green – Co-founded by travel savvy ladies Kimberly and Elizabeth Sanberg, Go Green Travel Green features the latest and greatest in green travel gear and tips. They’ve also got a great section on Green Travel 101 for those still a little unsure on the Who, What, Where and Why of it all.

7. HelpEx – If you’re looking to add a stay at an organic farm, or do some volunteer work on your next trip, HelpEx provides a great community of farms, B&Bs, and even sailboats that invites volunteer helpers to stay with them short-term in exchange for food and accommodation. An excellent way to experience a new place if you’re a fan of slow travel and truly taking part in a local community.

8. The Guardian Green Travel – The Guardian’s section committed to green travel offers a wealth of advice, and includes features on up and coming destinations along with highlighting those spots you just thought couldn’t get any more interesting.

9. Seat 61 – If taking the train enters into any of your travel plans, make sure to consult Seat 61. In the online travel community, this is the one and only site to go to when it comes to researching train travel in other countries. The site covers in detail train travel in almost every country that trains exist, including links to train travel companies, tourism boards and tips on buying tickets.

10. Traveling Greener – Traveling Greener is a blog inspired by green travel news and trends, so it’s jam packed with the latest and greatest in green travel information. Check out Traveling Greener’s Twitter feed too which always has links to interesting articles and tidbits.

Image: Gianni D