When you’re a parent who loves the planet and cares about how you and your family impact it, then family vacation takes on a whole new meaning. You want to see the world and the wonders of our planet with your kids, but you also want to do it in a way that is safe for them and the environment. Here are some tips to help you decide on the best way to have an eco-friendly family vacation:
Spend time outside
When it comes to going on a family vacation with your little ones, there’s nothing better than showing your children why you want to practice sustainable habits and care about the environment, and then showing them the beauty and wonders of this world that we live in.
From hikes to camping and exploring national parks, with the right outdoor gear and a little bit of patience, a family vacation spent outside is a great way to both respect the planet and raise children who care about the planet. While it does take a lot of planning for a successful outdoor vacation with kids, you can be sure it will be one that they will never forget.
Look into the best way to travel
Here’s the thing: travel is something that we all enjoy, and it’s a great way to see outside of our cities and communities, but unfortunately, many methods of travel are leaving a large carbon footprint on the planet. As an eco-friendly parent, you want to show your children how to travel in ways that leave a smaller impact on the environment. This may mean road-tripping in an electric car, or it could mean choosing to travel closer so that you aren’t taking numerous flights to get to your vacation destination.
Eliminate waste whenever possible
It happens at home, and it happens on the road. You and your family have trash. And while it may be hard to avoid this when you are traveling with kids, there are ways to minimize your waste. Instead of picking up bottled water at the gas station every time you pass by one, invest in some Hydro Flask tumblers for the whole family so that everybody can stay hydrated, but you can do it with less trash while on your road trip.
While it’s not easy to wash cloth diapers on the road, you can look for diapers made from recycled materials for an eco-friendly trip.
Look for eco-friendly lodging
Some hotels and boutique lodging spaces around the world are designed with the environment in mind, so as you go to book lodging, keep this in mind. Look for eco-friendly hotels where you and your family can stay safely or if you’re doing a camping trip, prepare for a ‘no trace left’ kind of trip so that you and yours are not impacting the local environment. Respect for nature is always a good thing to instill in your little ones.
Respect and keep wildlife safe
Something that many tourists and travelers do that is not good for the environment or wildlife is choosing to go on tours with animals that belong in the wild, untouched by human hands. In some places, things like dolphin tours or elephant riding are not in common and can be an attraction that draws travelers in. While we love seeing nature and wild animals, there are more ethical ways of doing so.
If you have a desire to swim with sea life, make sure to do it only with a company that practices the most eco-friendly methods and that in no way harms wildlife. Animals in captivity are a big no-no.
In Conclusion
We all want to see the world that we live in, but we’re not all committed to taking care of it. As a family, do your best to think about the planet as you enjoy your next vacation.