Go Green Travel Green

I posted about a name change on my airline ticket.. In the end, I was able to travel on that ticket without paying a fee — but it wasn’t easy. Read on to learn how to fly with your current ticket, without paying any fees, plus 5 tips for tips for flying without changing your ticket.

I’m still not quite sure what to make of the world’s first religious theme park, but it was worth the trip for me. Where else can you pose with a life-size statue of a prostitute, dine on falafel, watch a dance show, and see a gigantic Jesus rise out of a mountain to the soundtrack of the Hallelujah Chorus?

She picked me up in Portland and we saw some of the finest sights in The Beaver State (yes, that really is Oregon’s state nickname) on our way down the North Coast. Next time you’re in Oregon, I would definitely recommend a leisurely trip down the coast. It has it all: pop culture, wildlife, natural beauty, and cheese. What more could you ask for?

I was browsing the internet recently in search of an article for my Spanish class assignment when I came across this article (it’s in Spanish) from Clarin.com, an Argentine news agency, about the “ingenious” plan hatched by Chinese supermarket owners…. It turns out there’s a huge black market for coins in Argentina, which I was blissfully unaware of during my travels, that store owners are currently forced to turn to in order to have adequate change.

Rather than being the one day a year when everyone does something to reduce their impact, then forgets about it until next year, Earth Day should be a time for resolutions and new beginnings…. I’ve been focusing my energies on seeking green ways to furnish and repair our new (to us - it was built in 1925) house and helping nonprofits navigate the world of social media and online marketing by launching a new division of a direct mail company.

I think green travel has reached a tipping point. In preparation for Earth Day, I decided to poke around online to see who’s talking about eco travel this year. It turns out the answer is: everyone, and print newspapers are leading the pack.

Two questions came to mind when I saw this sign on the side of Hummingbird Highway near Hopkins, Belize: $3.00 Belizian Dollars or $3.00 American Dollars? ($1 American = $2 Belize) And $3.00 for each beer and girls, or $3.00 total?

We went from a divine Belizean beach on Saturday morning to the heart of a shockingly cold Minnesota winter on Saturday night…. But we hope to get back on track as soon as possible, and we still have lots of travel stories and tips for you from Argentina, Guatemala, and Belize.

Elizabeth captured this moonlit photo with her fancy camera last night, our final night in Hopkins, Belize. The moon was full so we knew it would be bright in the photo, but we were both surprised that picture practically looked like daylight.

One of my favorite ways to get to know a destination is by sampling its foods. Argentina is a huge country and it has remarkably good steak, stellar ice cream, mouth-watering pastas, and dozens of other savory items I’d never tried before. It’s been a delicious, belt-busting ride. Here’s what I’ve found.

From spider monkeys and toucans to jaguars and parrots, Tikal National Park (Parque Nacional Tikal) in the rainforests of Guatemala’s Petén region has it all… We watched the sunset from a Mayan temple and woke up with the animals at dawn. Here are photos of the animals we were lucky enough to spot.

After flying from Buenos Aires to Minneapolis for four days, then to Texas for a week, we’ve stopped in Belize (a small Central American country) for Elizabeth’s brother’s wedding.
Our original plan was to stay here until early January, then spend a few weeks traveling around Guatemala. But, as travel plans do, ours have changed. The [...]

Earlier this month we told you about Passports with Purpose, the awesome travel blogger fundraiser for Heifer International.
It ends today, at 11:59 pm PST so make sure you get your raffle tickets now. Click here to get started. There are lots of great prizes, including our recycled Mounstainsmith Tour pack.
Tickets are only $10, it’s a [...]

Walk down any street in any town in Argentina at about 3:00 in the afternoon and you’ll see someone pouring hot water from a thermos into a gourd, drinking it through a straw, then passing it to a friend who repeats the process…. You drink it through a metal straw-like utensil (called a bombillo ) that has a filter on the end so the mate leaves can’t get through.

Eva gives money to the poor, chats it up with commoners, and scoffs in the faces of traditional women who tell her she can’t hold an office because she’s a woman and too young…. If you’ve still got a hankering for hearing “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” in Spanish (I know I did) here’s Nacha Guevara, the star of Eva: el gran musical argentino , singing it — “No llores por mí Argentina.”

Alas, to my disappointment, a typical breakfast in Argentina is a cup of coffee with milk ( cafe con leche ), a few croissants ( medialunas ), and a shot glass of carbonated water…. After two months in Argentina, I’ve gotten used to supplementing my hostel breakfast with fruit or yogurt to satiate my American desire for something more substantial.

Passports with Purpose is a travel blog fundraiser that benefits Heifer International, an awesome nonprofit dedicated to eradicating world hunger… Go Green Travel Green is thrilled to take part in Passports with Purpose by contributing a recycled Tour pack, courtesy of our friends at Mountainsmith… Get your raffle ticket today.

We’ve searched far and wide to create this list of 21 gifts for eco-conscious travelers. Whether you’re shopping for presents for Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, or just for fun, celebrate Cyber Monday the green way with our 2008 Holiday Shopping List.

Peninsula Valdes is the only place on the planet where Orcas beach themselves to catch seals. Of course, that only happens at certain times of year and even then it’s rare… We didn’t see any Orcas, but the elephant seals, penguins, ostrich-like rheas, llama-esque guanacos, seals, and seal lions more than made up for it.

We took a public bus from nearby El Bolson to the tiny town of El Hoyo, then taxied out to Chacra Millalen, a small organic farm in Patagonia, Argentina where we’d spend the next 4 days volunteering.

…It’s also possible to bring a tent and camp on the land, but we don’t have a tent with us. Then Josephine showed us the three showers and encouraged us to use one of the two that was heated by wood-burning stoves (instead of gas).

And because it’s the low season we’ve really lucked out on our accommodations; we’ve stayed in comfortable cabins for less than hostel dorm beds cost in Buenos Aires…. Check out these views from the windows of our cabins in Bariloche and El Bolsón — with no zoom.

Shimmering lakes, snow-capped mountains, and dozens of cows provided the stunning scenery for our bus ride along the Ruta de los Siete Lagos (Route of the Seven Lakes). We weren’t sure the weather would hold out, but aside from some clouds and a few sprinkles of rain, it did.

With all the misinformation floating around out there about voting — like skeezy people telling Virginia Democrats to vote on Wednesday — we want to do our part by spreading the word…. We won’t tell you who to vote for — though you can probably guess who we (progressive, feminist, gay environmentalists) support.

I did some research into greener options and was surprised by the lack of backpacks made of eco-friendly materials… So I was psyched when I found Mountainsmith’s line of recycled packs… All in all, the recycled Lily is a great pack for anyone who’s looking for a small pack for extended travel, or a large daypack, and I applaud Mountainsmith for leading the way with eco-friendly backpacks.

We’re leaving Mendoza tonight on another 20+ hour bus ride. In less than a day we’ll be in Patagonia, where we’re hoping for some great scenery and good hiking. To tide you over, here are some of our favorite Mendoza moments and sights.

The wine route turned out to be a run-down major road, with cement trucks whizzing by at 70 mph, barely swerving to avoid us and kicking up dust and spewing exhaust in our faces…. We tagged along for 15 minutes during which I learned 1) you should always store wine on the first floor of your house and the bottle should be kept horizontal and 2) when you buy wine at the store, take a bottle from the back of the shelf because it’s been exposed to less light.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not easy to learn a language just by being in a country where it’s spoken. If you want your language skills to grow, you have to make an effort after you arrive. These tips will take you from timid beginner to confident pro.

Six months ago I watched a PBS documentary about animals in South America. It featured the capybra, which — at 140 pounds — is the world’s largest rodent… Luck was on my side and a capybra did come out to pose for a photo, along with lots of other exotic animals — from toucans and kites to coatis and lizards.

After a 19 hour bus ride, we spent the night in Rosario, a medium sized town we’ll explore today. Tonight we’ll hop on another bus and head to Mendoza, the heart of Argentina’s wine region.

It took us a while to realize the simple problem: in our pre-departure packing fervor, we’d taken no time to mentally prepare for our travels… Learn from our mistake. Take these steps to get ready for your extended trip so you can start enjoying your destination as soon as you arrive.

Elizabeth’s words when she saw this bird flying around right outside of the Jardín Japonés (Japanese Gardens) a few days ago in Buenos Aires…. Today we’re on a bus destined for Iguazú Falls (awesome waterfalls in northeast Argentina), where hopefully we’ll see many more colorful birds — though probably not any green cardinals.

So we hopped on a Buquebus ferry near Puerto Madero in BA for the one hour journey to Colonia, a small town on the Rio de la Plata. There’s not a lot to do in Colonia but enjoy the view and wander the cobbled streets, so that’s just what we did.

It was a cold, rainy morning, but the sun came out in the afternoon and the crowds rushed to trendy (but still cool) San Telmo Market in Plaza Dorrego, where you can buy everything from antique keys and original paintings to hand-knit scarves and glass necklaces. Some vendors were out in the morning, but many more came to enjoy the sun — and the tourists it brought with it.

Running on 4.5 hours of plane-quality sleep (we got sucked into Baby Mama on the flight so we didn’t rest as much as we’d hoped), we stumbled through customs, acquired pesos from a bank, and found our way to the bus stop for collectivo 86, the bus to Hostel Arrabal — all in just 30 minutes…. I sat by the window and, had it been open, I could have easily reached out and touched the people in the bus next to us. Fortunately, I was too exhausted to be afraid.

We’re in the final 24 hour countdown to Argentina and our bags are officially packed. I’m proud to say, after much pruning of our packing list, we stuffed all of our travel gear into two carry-on size recycled packs — so it’s better for the environment and for our backs. We’ll be spending the next 4 months traveling through Central and South America, getting to know the region, and practicing our Spanish. Since Argentina is a huge, geographically diverse country, we’re bringing clothes for every climate. The only things I’d add to this packing list for a longer round-the-world trip would be a scarf and a pair of long underwear.

I’m determined not to let that happen to me, and I’m a bit nervous because I need to pass a “knowledge test” about Minnesota driving laws in order to get a new license…. I even correctly answer the question about how to pass a snow plow (hint: you don’t flash your brights and honk to let the snow plow know you’re coming, nor do you floor it and speed blindly through the snow cloud).

Mendoza Wine Region photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55898059@N00/2552365774/ 2…. Los Glaciares National Park http://www.flickr.com/photos/60627558@N00/178918885/ 5.

American Airlines and I have had a rocky relationship.
Their lack of communication with their alliance partner Aer Lingus meant my Ireland trip was cut short. Their refusal to hold a plane for me for 5 minutes (because my connecting American Airlines flight was 2.5 hours late due to mechanical problems) meant that Elizabeth and I [...]

Very sick dog = blogging hiatus until next week.
=

Learn six easy ways to make your travels more eco-friendly, and why we like each of them. Check out our guest post up at Allie’s Answers.

In preparation for our upcoming travels in Central and South America, I’ve taken up studying Spanish.

…Luckily for me, there are tons of free resources out there to aid me on my mission. Here are 10 of my favorites.

We’re moving to Argentina in early October and staying there through mid-December. That’s where you come in. If you’ve been to Argentina and/or Central America, where do you think we should go?

To celebrate Labor Day, we went for a hike in Shenandoah National Park near Front Royal, Virginia. It’s an easy day trip from DC — about an hour and a half drive. It was pretty and peaceful in the summer, and I imagine it’s gorgeous in the fall.

What I Learned at the Most Eco-Friendly Wedding Ever The food was grown by the bride and groom, the toilets were composting, and the tableware was borrowed from friends…. Registry: At a Local Shop or Donation to Non-Profit We learned the hard way that if you register at a national store (like Crate & Barrel), you’ll receive an obscene amount of packaging with your gifts.

Then my environmentalist side kicked in. Considering the sheer amount of plastic that comes with a single airline meal — from the Saran wrapped plastic containers and water bottles to the disposable plastic silverware and individual-size butters — maybe this isn’t such a bad thing, environmentally speaking…. Then reality set in. Are travelers more likely to pack a homemade peanut butter and jelly sandwich and bottle of water, or grab a burger, fries, and soda on their way to the gate?

“I have wandered all my life, and I have traveled; the difference between the two is this — we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.”
- Hilaire Belloc

photo: Moraine Lake, Banff National Park, Canada

After exploring the extensive beer section at the local grocery store in search a local bottle of wine and turning up only an aqua blue bottle of Boone’s Farm, we gave up and decided to seek assistance…. She was slightly less puzzled by our request for wine than Bud had been, and pointed out a huge bottle of $9.99 Sweedish Hill “Doobie Blues” and another of “Jack Ass Red, local wines named after the vineyard’s pet donkey.

In our rush to get Search Green Travel launch-ready, we’ve fallen behind on getting weekly links up. So, without further ado, here’s what the green travel blogosphere has been talking about in the past few weeks.
Fake Plastic Fish has a look at plastic in Barcelona.
No Impact Man sheds light on countries that may drown if [...]

Then walk down Robson Street and find a spot where you can observe consumerism at its best as passersby shop at stores like Armani Exchange and Tommy Hilfiger If you have a sweet tooth, get in touch with the terroir side of your traveling locavore diet , and pick up some mint truffles or maple chocolates from Daniel Le Chocolat Belge …. Day 2: Yaletown, Chinatown, Gastown, and Granville Island Munch on a vegetarian breakfast tortilla wrap while you sip artistically-designed organic espresso at Caffe Artigiano on Hornby St., then cross the street to Vancouver Art Gallery , and browse the collection of nearly 10,000 artworks by Canadian and international artists.

Elizabeth and I had arrived in Hurghada, Egypt after a nightmarish plane ride from Moscow on which 1) I got sick from the fumes, and 2) a drunk Russian man in the seat next to mine repeatedly passed out, resting his head on my shoulder, while his friends across the aisle looked on a laughed…. Our “three star” hotel — where the shower, on full force, dribbled water like a leaky pipe — was staffed by young Egyptian men who were practically fluent in Russian, though they’d never formally studied it, and their English was good.

I struggle to be a vegetarian (and often fail) when I travel because I believe that to fully experience a culture or destination, you should try local foods — even foods you might not ever eat at home…. Plus, you can interact with the people — farmers and craftsmen alike — whose goods you’re buying, which is an interaction that can be harder to come by in the U.S. People.

There are lots of diagonal streets in DC, and when you combine those with the one-way streets, driving from point A to point B can be a time-consuming challenge…. I tried directions in a few different parts of DC and was unimpressed when I was told just about every time to go up a diagonal street that angled away from my final destination — even when there was another street that went straight there.

Are you tweeting? We are.
We took the plunge this month into the world of Twitter, and I’m slowly becoming addicted. I dig the casual, off-the-cuff tone of tweets.
Check us out on Twitter, and follow us to keep up with our rants, ramblings, and the travel deals we find.

At first it felt a little weird to [...]

I went to two this weekend and you just can’t trade the experience of chatting with the people who grow your food - especially when the alternative is the bored teenage checker at the local Safeway. My favorite part of my weekend farmers market excursions was at the H Street Farmers Market when, upon seeing my reusable bag, a lettuce vendor told me how happy she is that everyone is bringing their own bags these days.

We’ve done some remodeling here at Go Green Travel Green, and added some features we hope you’ll like. If you haven’t already, check out the new site and let us know what you think. We’re still tweaking a bit.
Is there anything else you want to see?

Confused about the ever-changing baggage fees airlines are tacking on? The Washington Post has you covered, with an up-to-date (for now) guide on the latest fees. Remember, always check fees with your airline of choice before booking and traveling, since fees can change over night.
Guide to Airline Baggage Fees

Airline
Baggage Charges
Overweight Bag Fees
Oversize Bag Fees
Carry-on Limit

AirTran
First: [...]

I have to admit, when I first read about major U.S. airlines putting ads on boarding passes when passengers print them at home, my first thought was not, “Will they stop short of nothing to convince me to buy more stuff?”… If anything, the result will be a positive one — the airlines will generate more revenue this way, and have to rely less on luggage fees and hiking ticket prices.

The Irish Times has tips on keeping travel stress free.
Looking for an eco-friendly bug spray? Allie’s Answers has the skinny.
Vagabonding reports on new UNESCO World Heritage sites in countries like Yemen, Iran, and Papua New Guinea.
Thought about taking an eco-tour of the Middle East? Huffington Post has you covered.
The Telegraph reports George Bush’s parting words [...]

When I read about Zheleznovodsk, Russia’s bronze enema statue in News of the Weird, I knew I had to see a photo. Well, here it is, for your viewing pleasure. My favorite part? The fact that the giant enema is held up by cupids.

Photo credit: AP
Read the full story on MSN. Ever since I lived [...]

But I did manage to get away with some real winners: homemade vodka sauce, couscous, white clam sauce, pesto, two bottles of wine, and two cheeses…. It’s a bit crowded, but the people are friendly and there’s a real sense of community, which is hard to come by in this wonky, career-obsessed city.

Tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers and citizens are removing algae from the sea where Olympic sailors will compete, according to an AP article. The algae is getting stuck in the boats’ rudders.
Is it just me, or does this sounds like an awful idea? Apparently the algae covers 1/3 of the sea. I’m not an [...]

Elizabeth and I headed to the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC in mid-May for a day-long retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. Even though the Arboretum is in DC, it’s quiet and peaceful. And we were lucky enough to catch some of the azaleas in bloom. The weather was perfect - [...]

It’s hard to know for sure when you’ll get the best deal on a plane ticket, even with sites like FareCompare and Farecast, which help out by showing you flight price histories.
But Price Assurance from Orbitz, announced last week, makes booking with confidence much easier. After you book your flight, Price Assurance guarantees that if [...]

“Every once in awhile it hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they’ve been told to.”
- Alan Keightley

photo credit: KM Photography

One minute I was walking my bike across busy West Georgia Street, the next I was cruising past totem poles with the ocean breeze in my hair. With its 1,000 acres of luscious grass, giant trees, goose-filled lakes, and gorgeous ocean views, Stanley Park is a green haven in a metropolitan city.
And if you’re lucky [...]

We’re traveling around Alaska and Western Canada, so our posts for the next few weeks will focus on environmentally-friendly travel, food, and activities in those areas.
I had high expectations for Vancouver. I’d never been to British Columbia, but I had heard great things about it; it’s green (literally - tons of trees), the people are [...]

You’ve dined on native food, sampled local wine, and explored more museums and parks that you can count. Now your trip is over and it’s time to head home, but your job as a green traveler isn’t quite finished.
As you pack your bags and map your route, here are 6 things to remember to make [...]

Ecobunga is a really cool site with green giveaways and coupons for everything from organic coffee to eco-friendly accommodations.
Eco-worrier gives you 9 things to think about to green your holiday.
Intelligent Travel reviews Fodor’s new Green Travel book.
Just in time for Memorial Day weekend in the U.S., Allie’s Answers gives us home remedies for sunburn.
Oprah goes [...]

Now we’re moving into the homestretch of our 25 Days to Green Travel series with tips for traveling green on the way home.
At the end of my study abroad trip to Russia, I found myself scrambling to find souvenirs for family and friends back home. Fortunately, I stumbled upon a market and found awesome locally-made [...]

Thanks to our friends at Intelligent Travel for selecting my entry as a winner of their Indy Adventure Contest. I wrote about one of Elizabeth’s and my many (mis)adventures - this one in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Head over to IT and check it out.
As a prize I’ll get a box set of Indiana Jones DVDs, which [...]

Yesterday, in Volunteering Abroad: 10 Things to Know Before You Go we discussed everything you should think about before you sign up. Today we’ll cover why you should volunteer abroad and 21 resources for finding a good program.
5 Reasons to Volunteer Abroad
Help Others. Whether you’re cleaning up a polluted river or volunteering in a [...]

Volunteering abroad can be an incredibly rewarding experience. You get to spend a few weeks or months saving the rain forest or building houses for people who can’t afford them. Every program is not a good fit for everyone. But there are so many different places and types of work to choose from, you’ll definitely [...]

Gadling tells us how to get one of a million free seats on flights in Southeast Asia this summer through the winter.
Intelligent Travel launches their Indiana Jones DVD Giveaway Contest and hashes out paperless phrasebook options.
Brave New Traveler grapples with facing one’s own nationality abroad.
Ecorazzi tells us that environmentalist Beatle Paul McCartney was not happy [...]

[A] person who rides public transportation instead of driving reduces his or her carbon dioxide output, a harmful greenhouse gas, by more than 20 lbs a day and 4,800 lbs annually. That saves more than weatherizing a home, adjusting a thermostat, switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs and replacing older appliances with higher efficiency models, [...]

[A] person who rides public transportation instead of driving reduces his or her carbon dioxide output, a harmful greenhouse gas, by more than 20 lbs a day and 4,800 lbs annually. That saves more than weatherizing a home, adjusting a thermostat, switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs and replacing older appliances with higher efficiency models, [...]

I didn’t want to get married. They would find a husband, throw a party and send me away. I ran away many times. I refused to go back, but my father kept beating me. I was about 10 or 11 years old. I kept running away until I finally stayed with the fourth one because [...]

Don’t worry - I’m not going to get all PETA on you and condemn you for torturing baby cows by eating meat. I’ve been an on-again off-again vegan/vegetarian (currently in an on-again phase) for the past 8 years, so I’m obviously not one to talk about permanently committing to being meat and dairy-free.
That said, with [...]

Bottled water destroys the earth, but I might be drinking someone else’s leftover Viagra in my tap water? If recent news of hormone disrupting BPA in water bottles, pharmaceuticals in U.S. tap water, and the environmental impact of bottled water has got you down, you’re not alone.
In the U.S., drinking filtered tap water is the [...]

Remember that when you comment on any of this week’s posts, you’ll be eligible to for our BPA-free water bottle giveaway.
Here’s what’s happening this week in the world of green travel:
Do your products contain bisphenol A? Find out with the BPA texting service and check out the Green Guide’s Purging Your Pantry of Bisphenol [...]

We’ve concluded the Before You Go section of 25 Days to Green Travel so now we can get into the really fun stuff: When You’re There. Whether you’re currently traveling, planning a trip, or just day-dreaming at your desk, the rest posts in the series will be about how to be a green traveler once [...]

The key to traveling green is consuming less. But when you’re packing for your next trip, there are some things you should buy new - either because they’re hard to find used (safe water bottles) or you wouldn’t want to buy them used (underwear). In the end the investment will pay off.
Microfiber Towel
If you’ve ever [...]

We hopped on the bus to Tallinn, Estonia with nothing but our passports, wallets, and nearly-empty backpacks. We had planned to buy tickets for the next day, but they were sold out. It was either go now or don’t go. We opted for the former.
Europe on a Shoestring didn’t do us much good sitting in [...]

Traveling green isn’t just about packing light, shopping local, or sticking to direct flights. It’s also about choosing destinations that are already taking steps to be more sustainable, and supporting the economy in those communities. And it’s about giving back to the community (and the earth) by volunteering.
There’s a green travel destination on every continent [...]

Every green traveler has those days where she just wants to give up. Pollution, global warming, bad environmental policy decisions - how much of a difference can one person really make?
We’re launching our 25 Days to Green Travel series with photos that remind us why traveling green - and living green - matters. We’re going [...]

Ever since I moved to DC three years ago, I’ve wanted a bike. I thought it would be a fun way to commute to work. Plus, driving around here is intolerable and public transportation can be unreliable.
So I finally did it. I got an 80s blue Fuji road bike with a headlight and quick release [...]

The New York Times reported yesterday that American Airlines canceled nearly 1100 flights due to technical problems with a fleet of its planes.
As a traveler, I empathize with everyone whose flights got called off, but as an environmentalist I can’t help but think it’s not all bad.

photo credit: Cubbie_n_Vegas
According to the Carbon Footprint calculator, a [...]

Studying abroad is a life-changing experience. (And, no, I’m not talking about the record amounts of alcohol consumed by students on their semesters abroad.) You meet new people, try new foods, and experience a new culture. Best of all, you’re completely independent.
As a temporary resident of your new country, you have a responsibility to leave [...]

Global warming got you down? Stressed out because the only plane ticket you can find has four layovers?
Relax. It’s Friday so sit back and start your weekend early. Take these green travel quizzes to discover your travel personality, your eco anxiety, your celebrity travel IQ, and even whether or not you’re an Eco Warrior.
How [...]

If you already make efforts to be a “green” traveler, what does it take to be even greener? This Shades of Green Series explores various ways to step up your green travel efforts using our shades of green travel spectrum. If you’re not familiar with the spectrum, it ranges from “pea green” travelers [...]

If you already make efforts to be a “green” traveler, what does it take to be even greener? This Shades of Green Series explores various ways to step up your green travel efforts using our shades of green travel spectrum. If you’re not familiar with the spectrum, it ranges from “pea green” travelers [...]

When I got back from my four-month trip across Eastern Europe, my jeans were shot, I’d lost a sweater, and I left my towel behind. That’s when I realized I should have bought my travel gear used. Now when I’m shopping for an upcoming trip, I head to my favorite store - Goodwill. Intimidated by [...]

You don’t have to travel to Ireland to find good beer on St. Patrick’s Day. No matter where you are, just head to a local grocery store or favorite bar and look for an organic brew. I love beer, so I don’t hesitate to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by sipping on a few quality brews. [...]

Travelers, it’s 10 am. Do you know where your organic food is?
Possibly on its way to your local grocery store from a corporate food processor.
You might have been concerned when Clorox acquired Burt’s Bees last October. I know I was - somehow bleach and personal care products just don’t mix in my mind. But did [...]

Two weeks ago, we flew to West Palm Beach to visit Elizabeth’s grandfather. It wasn’t the greenest trip, but we’re of the mindset that little things make a big difference.
Here are five simple things we did to reduce our environmental impact.

Getting there: Took a direct flight to the closest airport. We’re frugal travelers so we [...]

A red object among the blue jellyfish caught my eye as I walked down the Del Ray, Florida beach last weekend - a Heinz ketchup bottle covered in barnacles. It seemed to make a statement about consumerism and a lack of regard for the environment, so I ran back up the beach and grabbed my [...]

Have you always wanted a bamboo bike, but just didn’t know where to get one? Probably not, but if you have you’re in luck - a new line will be on the market soon. I’d never even heard of a bamboo bike until someone mentioned one on my bike co-op listserv last week.
My research brought [...]

Nausea, headaches, memory loss, neurological illness, paralysis… from flying?
Indeed. When you’re on a plane, you’re likely breathing in toxic fumes from the cabin air.
According to the Daily Mail, half of the air in your plane “comes from the blisteringly hot heart of its engines… [and] once it has been cooled down, that air, together with [...]

Meeting fellow travelers can be intimidating, especially when you first start traveling. But it doesn’t have to be. These tips and tricks will help you find fellow green travelers to join you on the next leg of your journey - whether it be a day in a nearby village or a month in Costa Rica.
Become [...]

The locavore movement, defined as trying to eat only food grown or harvested within a 100-mile radius of your home, started in San Francisco in 2005 as a challenge for people in the Bay Area. The movement grew quickly and in November of last year, Oxford University Press named “locavore” its word of the year.
I’ve [...]

Nothing says romance like a corporate-created holiday about love. But I have to admit, I enjoy getting gifts and eating nice meals and part of me appreciates this mid-February excuse to do it. This year, rebel against the commercialism of Valentine’s Day by getting one of these sustainable (and practical, mostly) green travel gifts.
ecoSNEAKS [...]