It’s not a secret that the need for environmental conservation has become imminent. Thus, all of us must make efforts to preserve instead of cause damage to Mother Nature, and the best way to help is to start making changes in our lifestyles. So, for this article, we’ve chosen to teach you how to organize eco-conscious trips with children. Trust us – it’s much easier than you think, especially as there are plenty of special offers that make planning a green holiday that much simpler.
Organizing eco-conscious trips with children
Organizing a green vacation is an excellent way for you and your family to lower your environmental footprint. On top of it, you’ll help local communities by ensuring you’re keeping their beloved home safe and clean. And most importantly, you’ll teach your kids the importance of having respect for their planet.
Without further ado, we’ve prepared tips below that will help you be a more responsible traveler. From booking sustainable accommodation to ways to reduce your waste, you’ll become a pro by the end of this article!
Choose transport wisely
If you want to make your family trips greener, one of the first things to consider is transport. Here are just some of the ideas to lower your carbon footprint when traveling:
- Reduce the number of flights you take and instead use trains or buses, especially if you take a short-distance trip. Even if you are traveling somewhere far, a train ride could be a fun family adventure!
- Sometimes, flying to a specific destination is inevitable. In those cases, make sure to take direct flights and choose economy over business class. Also, do a little research and opt for fuel-efficient airlines.
- When you get to your destination, using public transport is a great way to lower your environmental footprint. You can also share rides or perhaps book a hotel with shuttle services.
- A great way to get to know a new place is to take long walks. It’s also the greenest and the healthiest way to go! Also, most tourist destinations have bicycles available – ecologically responsible and an enjoyable way to get to know your destination.
- Lastly, if you take a lot of family trips and your budget allows you to, consider investing in a green vehicle such as an eco-friendly RV.
Research accommodation
The next step in booking your green holiday is to choose eco-friendly accommodation. The greenest way is to choose the accommodation that uses existing resources—for instance, camping or renting apartments. You can also look into house swapping or consider listing your place and offering a stay to other nature-loving travelers.
Also, there are plenty of green hotels to choose from. However, always make sure to do thorough research first. For example, check if the lodging has efficient waste treatment systems, promotes solar energy, or even recycles. If you don’t study all the details in advance, you might end up staying at a place that does completely the opposite of protecting the environment.
Buy and eat local
One of the best ways to go green, not only on your family trips but in your everyday life, is to buy and eat local food. Even though it’s nice to be able to eat watermelon in the middle of January, moving food from one part of the world to another leaves an enormous carbon footprint.
So, from your next family trip, make sure to contribute to the local economy and buy from local artisans. Choose restaurants that use local ingredients or purchase fresh produce from local markets. These seemingly small things can help you go a long way in making your lifestyle greener.
Limit the use of energy
To ensure smooth functioning and high customer satisfaction levels, hotels tend to consume a lot of electricity. However, the fact that you paid for your room doesn’t mean you should wastewater or misuse electricity. If you want to have a greener holiday, you should do precisely the opposite.
Try to minimize your use of AC and make sure to turn off the lights and taps before your leave. Ensure all the appliances and chargers are unplugged when you’re outside your room. Not only do they waste energy, but they’re also a fire hazard.
Go for reusable, recyclable, eco-friendly products
One of the best ways to help the environment is to look for ways to reduce your waste. You probably already know that plastic can be disastrous for delicate ecologies because plastic is not biodegradable. Thus, a great way to start your first green family adventure is to avoid plastic.
There are plenty of simple ways to do this. For example, instead of buying bottled water, start carrying your own. Bring your food and take it in reusable containers instead of buying food wrapped in plastic. When packing for your trip, choose eco-friendly packing solutions. Bring reusable plates, glasses, and cutlery if you’re taking your children for a picnic. Remember – it’s the little things that make the biggest difference.
Take only eco-conscious trips with children!
We hope our tips help you organize eco-conscious trips with children. They will not only help you lower your environmental footprint, but they’ll also help you teach your kids valuable lessons about preserving the environment. You’ll create life-long memories that your kids will cherish and pass on to your family’s future generation. Therefore, for your next family vacation, “take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time”. And, most importantly, make sure to have lots of fun!
Cover image: photo via Canva PRO
Author’s bio: Mark Preston is a photographer and a freelance content writer currently working as a consultant at Helix Transfer & Storage. Being a true green living enthusiast, Marks dedicates most of his spare time to promoting sustainability and eco-friendly ways of living. He is currently on a path of becoming zero-waste, and he is sharing this experience in his blog.
