Being green is something many of us take seriously at home. We rinse out our tin cans and stack paper inside our recycling bins, but when we go on vacation, it all goes out the window!
For example, there are a lot of fun activities and shows in Myrtle Beach that deserve your attention if you’re vacationing there, but you shouldn’t forget about the environment in the name of having fun.
Follow these tips the next time you and your family find yourself on vacation, and you can do your part to preserve every destination you visit for future generations.
Think Green on the Airplane
Going green on vacation starts with the airplane. Plane travel is very costly to the environment. In many cases, it’s actually greener to take a car, so hop in the driver’s seat if it’s possible to drive to your destination.
If you do have to hop on a plane, there are some things you can do to make your plane trip greener. Do things like:
- Offset your flight by donating money to an environmentally-friendly cause
- Fly coach to ensure you're making the most of the space on the plane
- Lower and raise your windows, per the flight attendants' instructions
- Choose an airline that boasts about using biofuels
- Skip the checked back and bring a light carry-on
Love direct flights? There’s another reason to love them—they reduce carbon emissions! Much of a plane’s carbon emissions occur during takeoff and landing, so reducing those times in the plane can reduce your carbon footprint.
Always Pick up After Yourself
Most of us were taught to pick up after ourselves as children, but when we grow into adults, it’s amazing how many people stop doing just that.
It’s always important to pick up after yourself, but it is especially important on vacation. Make sure the area remains in pristine condition by putting your garbage in the trash can, even if it means chasing down a piece of litter that has blown away.
Planning on attending an outdoor concert or event? Don’t assume someone will come by and pick up your empty paper plate. Put it in the garbage yourself.
Reduce or Eliminate Single Use Plastics
There’s a lot of buzz around reducing and eliminating single use plastics. At home, that means carrying reusable canvas bags and using a refillable water bottle, but many of these tips can be helpful on vacation as well. Check out this best glass water bottle article.
If you’re visiting a local farmer’s market, bring along a canvas bag or buy one while you’re there. Put a refillable water bottle in your bag for the day, and avoid plastic straws. Many areas are actually banning plastic straws, so if enjoying a beverage with a straw is important to you, make sure you pack a reusable one in your bag along with your water bottle.
Choose Earth-Friendly Activities
There is an endless array of activities to choose from when you’re on vacation. Some of them are eco-friendly, and some of them aren’t.
That doesn’t mean you have to avoid every activity that isn’t gentle on the environment! You can still go out on a boat and do a little fishing in the ocean or take a train ride, but you should also plan greener activities into your schedule.
Bike tours are a popular way to sightsee, but there are other ideas that include:
- Take a stroll on the beach
- Hike on a nature trail
- Do a little window shopping
- Do some snorkeling
- Take surf lessons
- Rent a kayak or a paddle board
Give Your Money to Green Companies While Vacationing
If you’re serious about making sure your vacation is as green as possible, look for ways to give your money to companies that support sustainability.
That might mean buying your snacks from an organic farm at the local farmer’s market instead of a convenience store, and it could mean booking a hotel that offsets their emissions through donations.
You can go even further by planning your vacation based on visiting some of the most sustainable places in the world. A few of the best include:
- Soneva Fushi, Maldives recycles 90-percent of their waste
- eXtreme Hotel, Kite Beach, Cabarete, Dominican Republic is 100-percent solar powered
- The Best of Myanmar Tour by Intrepid Travel is fully carbon offset
There’s no need to feel guilty the next time you go on vacation because you know your carbon footprint would be much smaller if you just stayed home. With a little planning and attention, you can enjoy a green vacation.
