Today’s Travel Tips come from Cliffe Barre, green global traveler.
Leaving a lighter footprint can be part of the enjoyment of vacationing; there are a few tips that will assure that your trip is fun and eco-friendly at the same time. Moreover, there are destinations that are great for those who enjoy cities that pay tribute to the “green” lifestyle. I recently visited two outstanding places for earth-friendly travel.
Getting ready to travel means becoming aware of a few things to do that will save both energy for the earth and money for yourself. Turn off all electronics, unplugging them. This includes music players, TVs, chargers, microwaves or anything else that has a standby feature or “instant-on.” Standby Power is now reduced, and the leaking of electricity is prevented. With an action such as this, you will be saving a bit on your electricity bill and are taking the first step to an eco-friendly vacation.
Pack smart by packing lightly. Instead of two jackets to a cooler destination, pack only one. By checking weather at your destination before you leave, you can know just how to pack and by packing lightly, you will help save airplane fuel.
During travel, try to buy locally, supporting the community as well as restaurants, businesses and markets. Eating, shopping and buying locally also gives you more of the experience of your destination. Another tip is car rental with an eco-friendly hybrid or gas efficient model. While saving on gas expenses, you will benefit the environment.
One exciting green destination you can enjoy on the East Coast is located in Upstate New York. The beautiful Finger Lakes are the location of wineries, fabulous scenery, pristine waters and the recently opened Destiny USA shopping mall. With a location close to Syracuse, the mall holds the distinction of being the largest “green” shopping mall and is LEED certified. I recently combined this trip with a stop in exciting New York City and had a great vacation.
The Green Mountain State of Vermont offers panoramic postcard scenery and is terrific in the fall season for the vibrant colors of turning leaves. Any time of year, you can see Killington Peak, the Ben and Jerry Ice Cream Factory and the most photographed farm in the northeast, Jenne Farm. Moreover, you can make a trip to Lake Champlain and enjoy the beauty that surrounds it.
Traveling “green” and enjoying scenery, wine and dining, while benefiting the earth, is easy and extremely FUN to do.
