Camping to commune with Mother Nature for a week or so is one of the best ways to really appreciate our precious garden planet. But for those who are not keen on the potential for mosquitoes as travel mates there are several options to make your summer vacation a green experience that is pleasurable and adventurous without having to rough it in a tent.
Changing to Trains
To start with, a greener trip can be simply a change of transportation method. Many people tend to forget the train in "planes, trains and automobiles". Trains are much more environmentally friendly as a travel option, and they are also an enjoyable way to see the countryside without the burden of traffic or flight delays.
Amtrak is available throughout the United States, and there are some particularly beautiful rides on both coasts and in between. The Pacific Surfliner links Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego along the California coast and has extra room reserved for your surf board.
East coast travelers can take the Palmetto Line which connects Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston and goes all the way north to New York. The Palmetto Silver Service trains offer dining cars so it is possible to recapture some of the former glamour of train travel of decades past. Imagine gazing out onto the bayou while savoring your Sunday dinner.
International Train Travel
Europe has even more to offer in the way of train travel, including high speed trains like the TGV in France that span an amazingly wide territory. There is a whole variety of Eurail passes that can be purchased and used for one day or several throughout the continent, covering up to twenty-one countries. The best part of train travel in Europe is the stunning scenery, which ranges from fields of sunflowers in the South of France to mountain streams in the Pyrenees.
For a truly awesome train trip you can choose to travel 40,000 leagues beneath the sea. Well, at least one hundred and fifty feet beneath the sea. The Channel Tunnel, more affectionately known as the Chunnel, spans thirty one miles and travels underwater between England and France during a twenty minute trip. Options include space for your vehicle.
If airplanes are unavoidable for your trip and you still want to do something positive for the environment it is possible to make up for your time in the sky by purchasing carbon offset credits. There are several websites that allow you to make informed donations. Carbonfund.org offers two methods of determining your contribution, including a preset amount they determine and a mileage calculator for each individual trip. The money donated to Carbonfund.org is used for reforestation and renewable energy projects.
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