Tread Lightly — Eco Travel
with your kids!
Here are some ideas to consider when making
your sustainable travel plans:
Think local
Your vacant home still consumes resources
even while you’re away. One way to avoid
excess consumption is to plan a vacation at
home or “staycation”. Many people get so
caught up in their daily lives that they never
take the time to discover and enjoy the wonders that surround them. Chances are you
have a week’s worth of attractions just a short
drive or bike ride away from your home. Why
not use your vacation time to visit them? Visit your local tourist center or talk to friends
for ideas. If you are blessed with sensitive or
high-need children who get overstimulated
easily, this can be a wonderful option. You can
even plan a rest day in the middle of the week
where you don’t go anywhere, just to help
them recharge.
like Servas or Couchsurfing. Our kids (born
in 1987 and 1992) grew up with it. As adults,
both of them have stayed members of Servas.”
Homestays can, and often do, result in deep
mutual appreciation and even lifelong friendships between members of diverse cultures.
How you get there counts
Eight times out of ten, Americans jump in the
car when they get the urge for leisure travel.
But car travel may not be the most sustainable
choice for your trip. According to research by
the Sightline Institute, even air travel trumps
the average car for fuel emissions per passenger, when driving solo. Adding passengers
improves your stats (as does driving a fuel-efficient car), but it does make sense to explore
alternatives.
Even if you decide to travel away from home,
you can still think local. Locally owned, boutique hotels and local restaurants and markets offer unique tastes and experiences you
will never experience elsewhere. Patronizing
them also helps support the communities you
visit in a big way. “With most hotels, only 4%
of their profits go local,” explains adventure
travel consultant Dana Johnson of Open Leaf
Excursions. “When you stay in a boutique
hotel, an average of 70% of the profits stay in
the local economy.” Supporting these smaller
businesses helps keep the communities you
visit vital and alive.
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If you are traveling to and within urban centers, consider taking the train or bus. These
forms of transportation typically consume
half the fuel of flying or driving. And as
Corinne McDermott of HaveBabyWillTravel.
com explains, riding them can add to the fun.
“Getting around a new city by public transit is
a green way to explore a destination that kids
absolutely love. Not only are you reducing
your carbon footprint, you’re saving money
too by not taking expensive cabs. Children
enjoy taking buses and trains, and you experience more of your destination this way as
well.” If you’re planning a long trip, consider
booking a sleeper compartment on the train.
Kids love the novelty, and it makes travel a lot
more comfortable.
As an alternative, consider arranging a home
stay. Green business consultant Shel Horowitz
says, “(Our family has) been doing that all the
way back to 1983, through homestay networks
If you really want to travel green, consider
bicycle touring. Bikes are amazingly versatile:
they can go places cars can’t, and you can even
take them on many trains and buses. Bicycle