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Jenn Savedge

Greening the family road trip

Go ahead ... pile in the car and relax with a clear conscience with these eco-savvy road trip tips.

Tue, Jun 16 2009 at 2:00 PM EST
 4

Photo: Faddoush/Flickr
Ahh! Nothing says summer like the family road trip! Last summer, skyrocketing gas prices kept most families close to home. Of course, this was a boon for the planet, but lower gasoline prices this summer means that road trips are once again an American reality. Don't feel guilty. A road trip with your family doesn't have to be an eco-disaster. Try these tips to make your next excursion a green one.
 
Monitor your miles: The biggest factor in greening your family road trip is to limit the number of miles you will drive. Why drive across the country when you can look closer to home for fun destinations? Chances are there are nearby attractions that you have not seen or visited in years. Instead of stressing out about long stretches in the car (and endless stops at the pump), plan a more relaxed road trip with stops at your local art and children’s museums, aquariums, zoos, parks or botanical gardens. Mark your calendar for special events like children’s theater, art shows, food-and-music festivals, book readings and more.
 
Line up green lodging: Check out The Green Hotels Association or Environmentally Friendly Hotels to find eco-savvy hotels, motels or B&B's along your route. Planning to camp? Check out this campground directory to find a campsite that meets your needs.
 
Minimize waste: Make sure you bring your own garbage bag for the car and keep a close eye on the amount of waste you create each day. Pack reusable drink bottles, sandwich containers, tableware and toiletries to minimize your trash. At pit stops, look for meals and snacks that don't create a lot of waste, and use your own containers instead of disposables whenever possible.  
 
Buy sustainable souvenirs: Steer clear of the tacky T-shirts and shot glasses and look for something that will help your whole family remember the trip. Locally produced foods, crafts or art support the community and reduce the pollution and transportation costs associated with importing goods. 
 
Offset it: There is no denying the fact that you will need to do some driving to make this road trip authentic. So plan some carbon offsets into your vacation budget to try to negate the carbon emissions of your vacation. The money you spend on carbon offsets will be used to plant trees or support a renewable energy project, thereby “offsetting” the carbon emissions generated during your travel. Check out Carbon Neutral or Green Tags USA to calculate carbon emissions and purchase greentags.
 
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Related Topics: Green Kids, Green Travel

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anonymous
Barnali 06/19/2009 18:50 PM

Driving can be a lot better than flying especially on family road trips. And renting a hybrid car can make it even greener. To know how much the exact difference in your carbon emissions is compared to a typical car or SUV and compared to flying go to

http://www.tripfootprint.com/

This is a free public information website that we have been working on...Hope it's helpful

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anonymous
Anonymous 06/19/2009 11:36 AM

Hello everyone,

I think it is great that so many people are wanting to become greener and more eco friendly. I am trying really hard to change my ways and become greener. I think we should also try and help the environment, the amount of cards which are not recycled on special occasions is shocking! Wrapping paper is also another item which many people just throw away which quite often can be recycled. In order to do my bit I have now decided to send eCards instead of traditional.... More

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anonymous
Eric Taub 06/17/2009 08:27 AM

As an offsetting company, who is a member of the Chicago Climate Exchange, I am always surprised when bloggers reference a high priced offset provider. Why not do some research on www.carboncatalogue.org and offer the best priced alternative to your readers. Of course, this happens to be us.

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anonymous
fyjirhtdyj8rthr7 06/17/2009 05:38 AM

Family is always consist of father, mother and child. There is Mothers day, Fathers Day.. June 15th is National Man Day. As far as some were concerned, EVERY day was National Man Day, and as a Man, I will be manly when I so choose and anyone who tries to tell me where or when is getting punched in the face. (Ok, not really – a real man can settle a dispute with mockery and superior intellect.) The idea began on Facebook, where two brothers, Joel and Aaron Longanecker decided that.... More

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