Traveling the Green Way

Are you planning a green holiday in 2009?  How about Hidden Valley Cabins, a fully carbon neutral ecolodge in Queensland, Australia?
Ecolodge tours showcase the stunning, pristine natural environment north of Townsville.  The Interpretative Centre explains more about the solar technology used to power the resort.

“Hidden Valley is not on grid power and, over the years, we have developed ways to decrease our reliance on generator power while making sure our guests enjoy all the comfort and facilities they need,” says operations manager Ross McLennan.
“Now, we are generating all of our own renewable energy and have saved 78 tonnes of …read more

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MSNBC writes San Francisco airport feeling green
The Japan Times reports Project gives points for green steps
Scotsman.com writes about How the Botanics does its bit on green front
Miramichi Leader asks Is there a way to make the skies green?
Long Beach Press-Telegram writes $55M port complex to be ‘green’
Earth911.com asks Looking for a last-minute Green Holiday Vacation?

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Wishing you and yours a holly, jolly holiday season from Traveling the Green Way!

Image courtesy of www.freephoto1.com.

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Are you last minute Christmas shopping?  For the eco-traveler/music lover in your life, there’s the Protect the Places We Play album from CLIF GreenNotes.   The album is music from critically acclaimed, environmentally responsible musicians.

Protect the Places We Play features 12 tracks from artists and groups including the John Butler Trio, Martin Sexton, Gomez and Xavier Rudd.
All artists donated music to the album and the proceeds benefit organizations that protect the environment like Leave No Trace, Sierra Club, Surfrider Foundation and the National Environmental Education Foundation.
The album is available on iTunes.
Check out the album at CLIF GreenNotes.
Image courtesy of Clif Bar …read more

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MSNBC: Tread lightly! How to book a green getaway
The Province: Awed by Australia’s wonders
World Hum: Ethical Travel for the Mindful Tourist
Houston Press: High-speed Rail Coming To Texas, Once Again
The Deland-Deltona Beacon: Eco-tourism pedals into West Volusia

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Fancy an unusual Australian eco-adventure?  On the eve of the release of the epic film Australia, responsibletravel.com is showcasing some of its best trips and accommodations there.
Based in Brighton, England, responsibletravel.com is a leading online ethical travel company, selling 3,000+ holidays from over 270+ specialist operators and 550 accommodations.
All the company’s holidays meet specific responsible tourism guidelines. Their aim is to create better places for people to live and to visit.   The website is for “travelers who want more real and authentic holidays that also benefit the environment and local people”.
Here are a few …read more

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Will you be driving this holiday season?  Canadian Automobile Association offers excellent tips on how to be an environmentally conscious driver.
CAA suggests:

“Plan Your Route – Combine errands and try to avoid heavy traffic areas, road construction and hilly terrain to save fuel and time.”

“Use Your Air Conditioner Sparingly – In ‘stop-and-go’ traffic, air conditioner use can increase your fuel consumption by up to 20 per cent.”

“Use the Cruise Control Feature – When driving on highways, using the cruise control feature will save fuel by keeping speed at a constant level.”

“Check Tire Pressure Regularly – Check tire …read more

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Do you have friends or family who love Thailand?   Then they might fancy a funky Monkey Pod Stool from Toronto-based Grassroots Environmental Products.  Monkey pod wood is hard, durable and sustainably harvested wood from Thailand, similar to bamboo.
“The modern design of this twisted stool is hand carved from monkey pod wood..,” says Grassroots Environmental Products.  “Stunning as a side table, stool, or simply as a piece of art.”
Check out the stool and other green Christmas gifts at Grassroots online.
Image courtesy of Grassroots Environmental Products

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The West Australian: Costa Rica leads the way in ecotourism
Globe & Mail: Blue skies, green ambitions
The Coloradoan: Travel, give in a ‘green’ manner
The Jakarta Post: Communities, the new force in town
The Dallas Morning News: Texas birding center among 10 green landmarks

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Wild, lush Vancouver Island, BC, is one of Canada’s most beautiful destinations.

Recently, I asked the brilliant minds at Tourism Vancouver Island for green travel inspiration there.   Christina Maynard, Media Relations Coordinator, suggested many green travel sources.  Here are a few:

ECO-ATTRACTIONS/ACTIVITIES:
Harbour Air – “The world’s largest, all-seaplane airline, Harbour Air Ltd., has pledged to become carbon neutral as of 2008.”
Seacoast Expeditions – “Zodiacs are powered by environmentally friendly Yamaha 4-stroke outboards with low emissions and quiet operating levels.”
Tofino Botanical Gardens – “The mission of Tofino Botanical Gardens is to inspire conservation of the world’s Temperate Coastal Rainforests. They offer sustainability workshops …read more

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