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Some of us city folk want to take summer trips to help out the environment, but really aren't into "roughing it" per se. Creepy crawlers, the quills of four feet long porcupines scratching against the tent in the middle of the night (yes, this is true), not showering for days. Yikes! For all of you, we have great suggestions to cut down on your carbon footprint while on vacation.
When selecting sleeping accommodations, think about choosing a bed and breakfast. Why? Many bed and breakfasts now offer green hospitality for their guests. For example, many b&bs will give you the option of not changing towels and bed linen everyday, thus counting down on water usage. Usually, there is a sign in the room to inform you of this option. Also, many b&bs offer organic breakfast, which is included in your bill. If in a more rural area, they tend to use local farmers or farmers' markets to buy their food i.e. that omelet you love originated from organically-fed chickens.
For day activities, hiking is the best way to go. It will cause the least amount of damage to the environment if you just hike - that means the kids not throwing plastic sandwich wrappers up in the mountains. When a group hikes, there is no reason to harm the Earth. Pick up after yourself. Do not throw away waste on the trail - if you finish a bottle of water, put it in your bag and recycle later. What you come in with should be what you come out with.
Hiking is a great way to see beautiful views and get exercise without hurting the environment. Pack a healthy picnic lunch and enjoy a rest on the trail. Hike at your own pace, stopping for photo opportunities and to check out the scenery. Also, if you love to bike, biking is another great vacation activity. With no carbon emissions, such as from cars or recreational vehicles, biking along a path brings no harm to nature.
