Green is Great: Eco-Friendly Businesses around Virginia

With Earth Day on April 22 and Arbor Day on April 24, April is viewed as the official “Earth month” in Virginia, but you can support green practices in Virginia’s tourism industry all year long.

Whether you're visiting a certified Virginia Green attraction or just exploring the ways businesses around Virginia operate sustainably, there's plenty of ways to go green on your trip to Virginia. 
 

EXPLORE ECO-FRIENDLY:

Attractions | Spas | Places to Stay
Restaurants | Wineries & Breweries | Events
 

What is Virginia Green?

Virginia Green helps tourism businesses make voluntary commitments to be good environmental stewards while also helping them grow their business. Green-minded consumers are encouraged to support these Virginia businesses that are official “Virginia Green” participants.  

• Virginia Green Travel partners have certified their environmental commitments through the Virginia Green program.
• Virginia Green provides certification programs for all types of tourism businesses and activities in Virginia.
• The Virginia Green certification is supported and promoted through a partnership between Virginia Tourism, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Restaurant Lodging and Travel Association.
• The program requirements include commitments to recycling and waste reduction, energy and water conservation, sustainable purchasing, and the support of green events and meetings.
• Wherever you travel in Virginia, you can find tourism businesses that are committed to protecting the environment
• The program involves green-minded consumers as we ask them to support these businesses and provide customer feedback!

Green Attractions in Virginia

Certified Virginia Green Attractions include museums, state, local, and national parks, sports arenas, amusement parks, farmer’s markets, resorts, and even shopping can be Virginia Green certified.

One of these attractions is Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond. These gorgeous gardens span more than 50 acres and include 12+ themed gardens that showcase brilliant seasonal blooms throughout the year. The gardens get creative in their eco-friendly efforts, utilizing the best practices for energy and water conservation, such as using only low-energy LEDs for their annual Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights and using ponds that collect rainwater for their irrigation system. 

More Virginia Green Attractions:

• The Omni Homestead Resort—Hot Springs
• Kings Dominion—Doswell
• American Revolution Museum—Yorktown
• National Museum of the Marine Corps—Triangle
• Williamsburg Botanical Garden—Williamsburg

See all Virginia Green Attractions

Eco-Friendly Spotlight: Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace

Want to support art and artisans working their craft in ways that help the environment by repurposing materials and turning them into works of beauty? Come to Abingdon and explore the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center and Marketplace.

Admire locally handcrafted fineries such as glass works, pottery, jewelry and clothing. Check ahead for live artisan demonstrations. The center also sustains area farms by selling homegrown products and hosting agritourism events such as grape stomping and apple butter making. And when in Abingdon, a bicycle ride on the gorgeous Virginia Creeper Trail – a repurposed rail trail running through lovely terrain – is a must.

Green Spas in Virginia

Certified Virginia Green Spas offer services and amenities sourced locally or work to conserve through eco-friendly energy and water sources. The spa at Salamander Middleburg

More Virginia Green Spas: 

• Lotus Day Spa—Norfolk
• The Retreat Salon and Spa—Petersburg
• Mango Salon—Richmond
• Fountains Day Spa—Alexandria
• The Vintage Spa—Rocky Mount
• Healing Waters Day Spa and Salon—Abingdon
• Salamander Spa—Middleburg
• Spa Minerale at Lansdowne Resort—Leesburg

See More Spas in Virginia

Green Lodging in Virginia

Certified Virginia Green Lodging partners include hotels, bed and breakfasts, inns, cabins and camping.

More Virginia Green Lodging:

• Airlie Center—Warrenton
• The Jefferson Hotel—Richmond
• Kingsmill—Williamsburg
• Inn at Tabbs Creek—Port Haywood
• Fig Street Inn—Cape Charles
• Renaissance Capital View—Arlington
• Fieldstone Farm Bed & Breakfast—Hillsboro
• Boar’s Head Resort—Charlottesville
• The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center—Roanoke
• The Peaks of Otter Lodge—Bedford
• Mountain Lake Lodge—Pembroke
• B&B At Llewellyn Lodge—Lexington

See all Virginia Green Lodging

Eco-Friendly Spotlight: Mountain Lake Lodge

The historic Mountain Lake Lodge – where the iconic movie "Dirty Dancing" was filmed – is part of the non-profit Mountain Lake Conservancy, protecting 2,600 acres of picturesque Appalachian highlands. The untamed forest ecosystem safeguards stream water quality while protecting lesser seen flora and fauna, including the wide lip orchid and sought-for bird species like the Northern saw-whet owl and yellow-bellied sapsucker. The land, laced with enticing hiking trails leading to overlooks such as Bald Knob and Butt Mountain, is also used for scientific research.

After a rewarding hike on the conservancy property, enjoy locally sourced farm-to-table dining at the on-site restaurant, Harvest. Then you can overnight at the Main Stone Lodge, a rustic cabin or modern mountain home, all set at 4,000 feet on Virginia’s highest lake.

Green Restaurants in Virginia

Restaurants, cafes, and even food carts can be certified Virginia Green with commitments to recycling, eco-friendly disposables, and sustainable foods. These are some great examples:

• Goatocado—Richmond
• Grilled Cheese Mania—Harrisonburg
• Lemaire—Richmond
• Petals Wine Bar—Wytheville
• Sticks Kebob Shop—Charlottesville

​Explore More Restaurants in Virginia  

Green Wineries & Breweries in Virginia

Virginia Green certified Wineries & Breweries are committed to sustainable practices.

More Virginia Green Wineries & Breweries:

• CrossKeys Vineyard—Mt. Crawford
• Delaplane Cellars—Delaplane
• Old Bust Head Brewing Company—Flint Hill
• Lexington Valley Vineyard—Rockbridge Baths
• Philip Carter Winery—Hume
• West Wind Farm Vineyard & Winery—Max Meadows
• Blue Mountain Barrel House—Arrington
• Caboose Brewing Company—Vienna
• Hardywood Brewery—Richmond
• Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery—Goochland
• Port City Brewing Company—Alexandria

Keep Exploring Virginia Wineries and Breweries

Eco-Friendly Spotlight: DuCard Vineyards 

Want to pair a waterfall hike with a visit to a winery? DuCard Vineyards is located in the shadow of Shenandoah National Park near the wild waterfalls of Shenandoah’s Whiteoak Canyon. DuCard Vineyards sets the standard for green wineries. This leading producer of organic wine uses cutting edge biodynamic procedures (utilizing the land’s natural qualities with minimal inputs and a long-term  approach to conserving the land and environment).

DuCard Vineyards simply wants to be a good steward of the land when they compost grape waste byproducts and filter wastewater through a wetland of their own creation, among other practices. Be sure to visit the tasting bar, enjoying vineyard samples plus new release wines. Up your game with a wine flight combined with tasty platters of locally made gourmet cheese or a homemade dessert.

Find more eco-friendly wineries in Virginia. 

Green Events in Virginia

Virginia Green certified festivals & events have made commitments to recycle and reduce the wastefulness of major events., and 400+ of these events, including Norfolk Harborfest, have been certified as Virginia Green.

• Floydfest—Floyd
• Marine Corps Marathon—Quantico
• Richmond Folk Festival—Richmond
• Virginia Wine Expo—Richmond
• Hampton Bay Days—Hampton
• Neptune Festival—Virginia Beach

…..and dozens of Earth Day festivals across the Commonwealth!

See all Virginia Green Events to discover what eco-friendly Virginia destinations are near you.