Travellers with a conscience have in recent years had to find ways of squaring a very tricky circle. Loving the planet can mean simultaneously wanting to see as much of it as possible, while also being aware of the damage that travel can do to an ecosystem. Finding your way across the world means looking for ways to travel while limiting the imprint you make upon it. In America, where a love affair with the road and industry has seen a lot of resistance to greener measures, travelling can be even tougher for an environmentalist.
Nonetheless, there is so much to see and do Stateside that it would be a shame to turn down the opportunity. So it is worth looking for ways to see America without adding to the toll on our planet, and below there are a few ideas for how you can balance your wanderlust with your respect for our habitat.
Stay in ecolodges
The actual act of travelling is just one part of seeing the world, and the same is true of eco-travel. It’s not just how you go, but also how you stay that has an influence. Large hotel chains might well trumpet their green credentials, but you rarely have to look very far to find examples of greenwashing – where wealthy businesses make token concessions to environmentalism in order to win approval, while still acting in a profit-driven manner. Fortunately, the number of ecolodges is growing; these resorts take account of and work with the local environment rather than building over it, and use sustainable approaches to everything from cleaning to food. Prioritise green resorts and AirBnBs over hotel chains.
Pick a lower-emission way to travel
Americana prizes the car over and above almost everything else. Visit any classic American diner and you’ll see pictures of cars on every wall, hear songs about driving, and in all likelihood see stylised car features built into the very booths in which you sit. But it is possible to travel across America without a car. If speed is of the essence, it’s better to rent a motorbike than a car. However, traveling with a motorbike can be extremely dangerous. Especially when speed is involved. Therefore, it is essential to have your motorcycle accident attorney contact information saved and to practise responsible driving! – In addition, motorcycles give better gas mileage and lower emissions.
Aim for destinations with strong green credentials
Ecotourism is growing, and with the unavoidable message around the need to keep things greener, that trend is unlikely to reverse. In that respect, it’s a good idea to favour green destinations with your travelling choices. California, for example, is creating new green jobs every day and is working to encourage green travel, while Hawaii is an enduringly popular haunt for voyagers who want to experience an ecosystem that hasn’t been built over with skyscrapers and bulk hotels.
Nevada, Montana and the Dakotas, meanwhile, offer the chance to stay on tourist-friendly Native-run resorts – an important way of supporting a community that values the land and which has spent over a century seeking to resist erasure.
Holidaying is an often vexing process for those of us who are in touch with the needs of the planet, but knowing how to support the Earth while seeing more of it makes any holiday more meaningful.
This is a contributed post.