Visit these five unique places that have put social impact or the environment at the center of their business. Proof that you can have fun and be socially responsible at the same time.

1. Norway. The Most Fun South of The Arctic Circle.

There are more than 6,500 reasons to visit the Vega archipelago in Norway – the number of islands, islets and reefs waiting to be explored. The UNESCO-protected islands of Vega, just south of the Arctic Circle, is a World Natural and Cultural Heritage site and has Sustainable Tourism certification. Locals claim that spending time in Vega means “living your life slowly.” Replace the rat race with a dog sled race for something different.  www.visitnorway.com

 

2. Dublin. A River Runs Through it.

When designing The Iveagh Garden Hotel the owners set out to create the lowest carbon footprint possible when compared to other hotels in Europe. What they didn’t count on was the discovery of a massive energy reserve – an underground river – that has been harnessed for all their geothermal heating and cooling needs. Nature has become their greatest asset. www.iveaghgardenhotel.ie

 

3. Costa Rica. The World’s Best EcoCountry.

One of the world’s most successful eco-tourism destinations, Costa Rica is home to the largest percentage of protected areas in the world. Known for its array of wildlife, plants, pristine beaches, rainforests, volcanoes and incredible natural beauty – the Central American country is a fitting destination for one of the most sustainable on the planet. It hosts 5% of the world’s biodiversity with 20 natural parks, 8 biological reserves, 800 miles of beautiful coastline and an incredible 98% of its electricity generated from renewable sources. Not surprisingly, it’s also one of the happiest countries in the world, and spends nothing on its military. Situated on the edge of the Manuel Antonio National Park, the Costa Verde Resort (pictured) features an incredible hotel suite set inside a 1965 Boeing 727. We can think of no better place to unwind after a long flight.  www.VisitCostaRica.com

 

4. Canada. Turn Dining Out in Helping Out.

The next time you notice a fork symbol alongside a menu item in Canada, you’ll know that a young person will get a meal. MealShare provides needy youth with a free meal every time a customer chooses that meal. They have partnered with restaurants across the country and have served 1.8 million free meals to date. www.mealshare.ca

 

5. United Kingdom. Prison Food Goes Upmarket.

The Clink is a restaurant in the U.K. entirely staffed by prisoners, offering an innovative approach to rehabilitation. It trains former offenders to get them back into the community. More than 800 prisoners have graduated from The Clink’s four training restaurants and the organization is now able to train up to 160 prisoners a day. Each prisoner works and trains for 40 hours a week, so by the time they graduate, they have all the skills needed to get back on their feet. www.TheClinkCharity.org

Red Bull Air Force Team member Miles Daisher chose Petra, one of the Wonders of the World, as the stunning location to celebrate his 4,300rd BASE jump and make history.

The American legend, who has completed a staggering 7,200 skydives in his career as well, travelled to Jordan intent on becoming the first to BASE jump Petra with amazing scenery at the UNESCO World Heritage site. Thankfully for the Georgia native, the weather obliged to help make his BASE jump from the top of The Treasury in the depth of the Lost City that extra bit special.

The iconic Treasury dates back to first century BC and is perfectly hidden beneath high reaching mountains in the South of the Jordanian desert, positioned at the end of a main narrow route that no cars can access. Carved deep into a rose rock face and concealed in a high-walled ellipse of a valley, both the Bedouins and the mountains of Petra have protected it from wind and rain.

 

Setting up his early morning gear inside an opening of the mountain over The Treasury, Miles waited for the right blow and speed of wind to let go with the help of his teammate Andy Farrington. With no tourists in sight and the light yet to reach the top, Andy leaned over the edge on a rope and held Miles’ parachute to secure a static line for him to jump. Once they were happy with the conditions at 7am, Miles then said “See ya” to Andy and BASE jumped – a leap of faith that Indiana Jones would have been proud of. Thankfully, after going 32 kilometres per hour in a circular motion across the 100-feet wide space between the valley and The Treasury, he landed perfectly right in front of the doorway in less than 15 seconds.

The extreme challenge for Miles was in the short length and altitude of the jump along with the incredibly tight space that left him with little room to escape the walls of the limestone mountains.

Afterwards, Miles enthused: “My heart is coming out of my chest. The lowest I’ve ever BASE jumped over land! It took all of those jumps that I have done since the beginning to prepare me for this one.”

 

You’re in a forest. Through the trees up ahead a dim orange glow tells you it’s almost dawn. Except, the sun is rising in the opposite direction. You move closer to have a look. A shiny, metallic flying saucer is wedged between some pines about 20 ft. off the ground. With horror you watch as a trapdoor at the base opens and a retractable staircase unfolds to the ground. Something is coming out. “God morgon!” Shouts a familiar figure, still in his pajamas, holding a cup of coffee and straightening his back after a good night’s rest. It’s Kent Lindvall, the originator of one of the world’s most unique weekend getaways.

Not satisfied to start just any old B&B, Kent and his wife Britta decided that some fun, mixed with luxury and breathtaking views of nature was the way to go and have created a series of themed tree houses that are delighting discerning guests from around the world. Situated 630 miles north of Stockholm near the village of Harads, population 600, you’ll find Treehotel.

The idea began seven years ago when a joint friend of the couple, Jonas Selberg Augustsen, made a documentary film in the area called The Tree Lover. Part of the documentary involved building a simple tree house to illustrate the philosophical meaning of what a tree stands for. The tree house stood empty after filming and the couple, who already ran a guesthouse nearby, asked if they could start renting it out. After a couple of years they realized that everyone who stayed in it had a really good experience – high off the ground, great views, nature at its best and a nostalgic connection to their childhood.

However, while guests were enthralled, Kent found it tough going. “We had to drive five miles every day to serve breakfast, 40 feet up a tree, it was hard work for a single tree house.” They decided to build their our own tree houses closer to the guest house. A chance meeting with three well-known architects on a fishing trip to Russia in 2008 saw all three joining the project. With nothing more than an idea and their personal motto: “It’s going to work out, do it!” the couple bought some land and got to work. Britta had 20 years experience in the nursing and healthcare industry and Kent was a former educator and part-time fireman.

Britta was big on design from the outset and insisted that the tree houses not resemble anything seen before. Each architect was given the freedom to create their dream tree house, resulting in the unique designs now floating among the Swedish pines, with spectacular views over the Lule River.

Some of Scandinavia’s leading architects became involved and now a total of five rooms, each with its own theme, are suspended up in the air. A sense of fun and playfulness prevails in the design. You’ll find The Mirrorcube covered with reflective glass measuring exactly 4x4x4 meters, The UFO, complete with underbelly landing light and The Cabin, offering a giant flatscreen-like window onto the surrounding forest. Northern Sweden, while beautiful, is known for its harsh winter. Has this put discerning guests off from trekking into the middle of nowhere and climbing a tree? “Not at all,” says Kent.

“We’ve made sure the tree houses have toilets, a heating system and quality furnishings, all the comforts you’d expect from a luxury establishment. Some guests come and stay when it’s minus 35 degrees so we’ve had to install triple glazing on the windows. In fact, winter is high season for our guests from abroad, who love the extreme experience.” Situated 200-400 ft. apart, neighboring guests have their privacy and can also order in when the snow gets too deep outside. In fact, for those guests who want a regressive “back to the nest” experience, Kent and Britta have created just that: a gigantic bird’s nest made from hundreds of sticks, completely camouflaging you from your surroundings. Inside, of course, is a spacious wood paneled environment where a family with two children can comfortably spread out.

While most hotels are graded with stars according to their quality, Kent chooses to define luxury as something beyond the norm. “We’re not luxury in the traditional sense of a luxury hotel,” he explains,  “It’s more about a new kind of luxury experience. To be in nature, high up in the trees surrounded by peace and quiet in beautifully well-designed rooms – it’s a luxury experience that people take away with them.” While the couple complied with strict eco friendly guidelines for the construction, the irony is that no trees were cut down to clear the land or to be used for building. In fact, the trees in their original glory are crucial to the whole concept of a tree house.

Tree Hotel took less than one year to get off the ground, helped along by a local community, government and finance institution that recognized the value of what the couple wanted to achieve. “It was rather easy,” says Kent, “because our community was really positive and found a solution together with us. The bank was interested in our project and government departments pushed the zoning regulations through.”

Northern Sweden is also home to another spectacular hotel concept, the Ice Hotel, which has been rebuilt from ice every winter for the last 25 years. Perhaps a country that recognizes wacky innovation makes it easier for new pioneers to follow at an accelerated pace.  [pullquote]“It was rather open-minded of the people who live here to embrace this crazy idea,” he says.[/pullquote] You’d assume a rural village of 600 people would be conservative by nature, but Kent discovered quite the opposite.“It was rather open-minded of the people who live here to embrace this crazy idea,” he says.

Already, 70 percent of guests come from all over the world, most of them never having been to Sweden before. The village of Harads has now become the main reason an American or Australian tourist might discover Sweden, adding to the broader tourism industry. “Most guests are interested in nature and sustainable accommodation,” explains Kent.

“Britta and myself wanted to build a sustainable hotel among living trees.  We don’t touch or interfere with nature. Untouched nature and quietness is what most of our guests are looking for. We hope our guests appreciate our sustainability work, even if it does make their accommodation a bit simpler. While we want to have our hotel in the middle of nature, we want to do it on nature’s terms,” he asserts.

The couple want to build their ideas elsewhere and are currently in discussions with other countries. Franchising the trees, now there’s a new concept: coming to a tree near you.