Eco-Uplift Articles


 

Green Travel Tips for the Positive Environmentalist
By Amy Phillips-Gary

Do you love to travel but are concerned about negatively impacting the planet by leaving too many "footprints?"

I know that I enjoy traveling-- seeing historical and natural sights
and meeting people whose lives are different from mine.

But I do not enjoy eating my complimentary hotel breakfast off Styrofoam plates and cups which get tossed into a huge pile in the trash.

I also do not enjoy visiting an historic site that has been so visited and commercialized that I mainly see the vendors and leftover pamphlets and soda cans left behind.

I want to learn more and experience cultures and time periods that are beyond my own. I want this for myself and my children.

I want to travel in ways that enhance rather than detract from the monuments, landmarks, natural wonders and people I am seeing.

There are green ways to thoroughly enjoy traveling to new places
whether you seek an active adventure or a kick-back relaxing
experience. You can do so with a little creativity, research and
openness-- and an affirming, uplifted attitude.

With a positive approach to traveling and an affirmation of the planet's abundance, keep these specific suggestions in mind:

*Great creative with transportation.
During a recent visit my family took to an island in Lake Erie, we
were able to rent bikes to explore and travel around. It was fun and
great exercise too!

See if you can rent bikes on your trip to get from place to place once you and your luggage are settled. You can also check out the mass transit systems available in most larger cities. And when renting a car, ask if any hybrid vehicles are offered.

*Look for eco-friendly lodging.
When planning your trip, seek out websites that list green lodging.

During a trip we took a few years ago, for example, we noticed that
the national park lodge at Mammoth Cave in Kentucky had an extensive plan to be more eco-friendly. This involved not only encouraging guests to re-use towels and sheets, but also included their pledge to use non-toxic cleaners and recycled paper products.

Feel free to call and ask the hotel, bed and breakfast or lodge for
more information about their practices. They might be encouraged to try more green cleaning and other practices if enough people request them. You might also find that eco-friendly costs less or is
comparable to traditional lodging.

*Consider a "volunteer vacation."
Many people are taking what's becoming known as "volunteer vacations." These are trips that involve taking part in service activities for a portion (or all) of the time away.

This might involve lending your area of expertise to a community that could use it-- such as nursing or teaching, for example. It could
include physical work like helping to clean a natural area or
participate in building a structure.

While you might not delight in working as part of your vacation, you
could actually benefit from a closer interaction with the people and
culture you are visiting rather than the cursory "tourist" experience
that would otherwise be available to you.

There are always those wonderful local restaurants that only the
locals know about, for example. Perhaps you might discover these
delicious "secrets" easier as you get to know the community by working with them.

If you are open to including service-oriented activities into your
travel, you might come away feeling more enriched than you expected-- even though you are the one doing the "giving."

Your attitude and approach can make all the difference so...

*Do it with relish.
Take the time to plan a trip that you can savor. Include activities
that you've always wanted to try. Keep your mind open and willing.

*Do it without the guilt.
A trip tinged with guilt because you are spending money and treating yourself to a vacation while others cannot afford to do this is a total waste of time, energy and finances.

Don't step aboard a plane, train, boat or car until you are in an emotional place that is guilt-free! Know that you are going to add to a local economy and maybe even help out a community in need.

*Celebrate and appreciate as you go.
There is an abundance of wonders and wonderful peoples in this world. Explore and appreciate the differences and similarities in the beauties you find.

Share and connect with those you meet and
celebrate along the way!
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Amy Phillips-Gary is a freelance writer, homeschool mom and personal growth adventurer.


 

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