Down To Earth Vacationing

Whether camping, staycationing, or traveling afar, here are some ideas, tips, and suggestions for how you can be more environmentally friendly this summer while vacationing:

• To keep the carbon footprint low, stay close to home! Check out hellobc.com or travel.bc.ca for some great home grown holidays.
• Look for eco friendly hotels that support the local economies. (greenglobetourism.com, environmentallyfriendlyhotels.com, istaygreen.org, greenhotels.com)

• Eat locally. Reduce your carbon footprint by eating food grown and caught close to home. Get some tips from: 100milediet.org and 100mile.foodtv.ca.
• Shut down your house while you’re away – turn down thermostats, unplug any appliances with power adaptors (to reduce “vampire energy”), unplug your TV, shut down computers, etc.
• Choose travel providers such as airlines that purchase carbon offsets so that your transportation can be “carbon neutral”.
• Whenever possible, walk or take transit instead of cabs or driving. For green “staycations”
• Try using reusable containers or biodegradable disposable goods such as bamboo cutlery and plates when packing to a local picnic.
• Relax at your pool, visit the local beach, or try some hiking or trailing activities at the national parks, hiking trails and forests.
• Check for eco spots of your community like a botanical garden or dine at an eco-friendly restaurant.
• Use mass transit if your staycation involves traveling for few hours from your place as this might help you lower the carbon footprint.
• Spend time in your backyard and learn what can be done to treasure your green spaces.