Green Vacation Ideas and Planning is part of our Back to School: Green Travel Basics Series.

Are you looking for ideas for your next vacation? Perhaps this time you want it to be a green vacation?Here are some of the best green vacation ideas we’ve come across.

Camp

Camping, provided you practice leave-no-trace camping, is a one of the best green vacations. It’s fun by yourself or with friends and family. Be sure to stay on trails and in designated camp sites. Look for signs and obey rules and regulations the camp area has.

Rent an RV

I’ve never done this (yet) but, renting an RV and driving across the country makes for a great green vacation. While RVs may get terrible gas mileage, your vacation will make up for this because you’re not flying nor are you using resources such as electricity at a hotel. Just make sure it’s a small RV.

photo credit: Piutus

Read and Relax Vacation

Go somewhere closer to home (via car, train, or bus) and spend your entire trip reading and relaxing. Not only is this rejuvenating but it has a low impact on the environment.

Visit State and National Parks

There are state/national parks across the world. Visit them to support their conservation efforts.

Visit Family and Friends

When you visit family and friends on vacation you’re sharing resources and thus more likely to be green. Plus, you’ll get the insider’s scoop on the destination you’re visiting.

Train to Anywhere

Taking an overnight train is an incredible experience and it makes for a very green vacation. Amtrak (in the US) has more options than you might think. Looking for an ultimate train ride? Check out the Trans-Siberian. Fair warning: 7 days on a train is a very very long time.

What other green vacation ideas do you have?