Some Tips for Greening Up Your Summer Vacation

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Well, Summer feels like it’s coming in fast. I don’t know about where you live, but around here it’s already beginning to heat up.  I’m sure many people are busy planning, if they haven’t already planned, for their summer vacations. Well, here are a few simple tips to help you green up your summer vacation plans:

1) A vacation doesn’t have to mean traveling long distances or staying in expensive hotels (although I’m sure some people would disagree). A vacation is a time for you to unplug, relax, enjoy family and/or friends and kind of re-charge the batteries.

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Camping is a great way to do this. Some of my favorite vacations while I was growing up were when my mom took my sister and I camping. We’d load up the car, stop at a road-side fruit/vegetable along the way to “stock up” and head out towards the beach or some other great camping location my mom had picked out.

What great family camping experiences do you have? If you are looking for a green, fun, classic vacation…try camping!

2) If you do have a vacation planned that takes you far away from home, try and line up green transportation options when you can. If you plan to rent a car, find a rental car company where you can rent a hybrid vehicle. Call ahead though to ensure they have one available.

Also, if you are driving as part of your vacation, keep these green driving trips in mind. They can help you save time, money, lower your emissions, etc. An effective fuel additive can also help lower your vehicle’s harmful emissions.

3)  Spend some time connecting back with nature. Whether or not you decide to go camping, you can still spend a good portion of your summer vacation outside. And no, I’m not talking about going to an outlet mall. I’m talking about going hiking, bike riding, horseback riding, swimming, rafting, etc.

Try finding activities in and around your area, such as these places where you can enjoy outdoor activities in the Los Angeles area.

4) Protect yourself from the sun. I don’t know about you, but I have relatively fair skin and tend to burn easily. If I go out in the sun without some kind of protection, I end up as red as a lobster.

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Personally I recommend covering up a bit in order to protect yourself from the sun or limiting your direct sun exposure, especially during times when the sun is at its peak. If you do need or want to get out in the sun, here are some tips about what to look for in protective clothing.

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If you are looking for a safer and more effective sunscreen, you’ll probably want to familiarize yourself with the 2010 Guide to Safe Sunscreen. But if you have kids, check out what one mom has to say about the “sunscreen mess“, before you run out and buy your sunscreen.

There are many other ways you can green up your summer vacation, but keep in mind that a vacation is a time to relax, to be free from work and to enjoy the world around you. Besides….”No matter what happens, travel gives you a story to tell.” — Jewish Proverb. So, what story are you planning to tell?