Five Great Ideas For Eco-Traveling With Kids

Travelling with family is always exciting, but it should also be sustainable. Taking care of the planet while spending quality time with children is the best way to relax and unwind. When you decide to visit new parts of the country, it’s essential that you choose your transportation options wisely and make sure all of your activities are good for the planet. This is how you can stay eco-friendly even during trips with kids.

1. Choose Transportation Wisely

From a carbon footprint perspective, driving is better than flying.  But if we want to be 100% environmentally conscious, walking and biking are the best options. If you can’t help but hop on a plane, consider offsetting your emissions. Sharing a car with others or getting an electric or hybrid car is a very sustainable option too. When visiting larger cities, choose a combination of walking, biking, and public transport. Not only will you be eco-savvy but also offer a more interesting and affordable trip for the entire family.

2. Reusable Water Bottles Are Your Friends

Recycling and repurposing are some of the basic principles of eco-friendly living. Kids will especially be thrilled by the fact that they’ll have their own bottle to drink from. Look for those with their favourite cartoon characters and refill them instead of buying water or other beverages all the time.  Stainless steel is a good example of a bottle that doesn’t break, and it keeps the water cool. Not only will you avoid standing in line waiting to buy expensive water in tourist spots, but you will also say no to carbonated drinks and contribute to decreased manufacturing and waste management of superfluous plastic bottles.

3. Do Bicycle Touring

Travelling green always comes down to bicycling. This time, we suggest you go bicycle touring. You will be able to reach all those trails where cars can’t go and reduce your carbon footprint while you’re at it. You can easily take them on many trains and buses and never stop your adventure. Many cities have affordable bike rentals, and you may even come across locations where borrowing can be an option. Bicycle touring with kids will be less tiring than checking all the sites out on foot.

4. Become Closer to Nature

Connecting to nature, seeing sights, getting physical exercise and unplugging from technology will be very refreshing and healing. Becoming closer to nature means you’ll get out of your home and spend some time camping and enjoying the wildlife. On top of that, it concerns less energy and material use including electricity, water, and gas, especially if you’re traveling in a custom sprinter camper van equipped for eco-friendly camping. You will enjoy a holiday or break with minimal financial investment. Look for local rivers and lakes. If you’re lucky enough to live close to the ocean, you don’t even have to travel hundreds of miles just to spend time outside close to natural jewels. Don’t forget to pack food and toiletries into reusable bags such as shoe bags or pillowcases. Use containers and wrap-in paper so you will take only what you need, and have less plastic to manage on the way out. Take your reusable cups, plates and cutlery and a camp teapot and pan. You can shop for them at local second-hand stores. Invest in a quality tent and pack your family for an unforgettable outdoor adventure that will be thrilling and eco-friendly.

5. Visit Food Markets

For those who enjoy buying new unique produce, going to local food markets will let you access local and seasonal produce. Those foods tend to have high nutritional value and will be an eco-friendlier way to consume food. Ask around with the locals and allow them t recommend the best places to have food at. Pack reusable cutlery and a plate and put together a little picnic before heading to a nearby park.

Staying eco-friendly is of the essence nowadays. Everything we do affects our planet deeply and leaves terrible consequences. There’s so much we can and need to do if we want to have a safe place for ourselves and our kids to live in. That’s why you should make sure you’re living in the most sustainable way possible. When planning a vacation, do it eco-consciously and look for transportation, accommodation and activity options that won’t leave a big carbon footprint.

By Diana Smith