{"id":2773,"date":"2020-04-25T22:05:56","date_gmt":"2020-04-25T22:05:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travellifestylemagazine.com\/?p=2773"},"modified":"2020-04-25T22:05:56","modified_gmt":"2020-04-25T22:05:56","slug":"eco-friendly-family-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travellifestylemagazine.com\/eco-friendly-family-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainable Travel: 5 Ideas for Eco-Friendly Family Trips"},"content":{"rendered":"
Planning any family trip can feel like a big task. Deciding what type of holiday you need, where to go, how much you have to spend on your holiday, and how long you want your trip to last can all take a lot of planning and forethought. And then you’ve got to think about what to pack, which can be quite an extensive list when you have children. You’ll need to pack a whole range of items, from clothes, to toys, to the best umbrella stroller<\/a>, and plenty of sun creams.<\/p>\n And if the environment is at the heart of your family’s values, planning an eco-friendly family trip can feel like an even bigger task.<\/p>\n Let’s face it, many types of family trips involve activities that are a real blow to our environment. There’s no such thing as an eco-friendly flight, so flying to destinations as a family has a huge impact on the environment, as does visiting areas where overcrowding of tourists has a negative impact on the environment or local people.<\/p>\n Visiting places like all-inclusive resorts, amusement and animal parks can also have a negative environmental impact — these places are often responsible for millions of\u00a0disposable, plastic items like cups and toys entering the environment. Even family trips in the wild can involve bringing items that are potentially harmful to the environment, such as nappies, plastic toys, and litter to natural and protected areas.<\/p>\n But don’t panic, eco-friendly family travel is possible!<\/p>\n There are many different types of holidays that will allow you to spend quality time with your children while minimising your carbon footprint, protecting the environment and enjoying the beauty of nature. Here are some ideas and top tips for planning an eco-friendly family trip that your whole family will love.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Okay so this isn’t exactly a travel idea, but this is a great way to spend quality time with your loved ones like you would on a vacation, only you’ll be doing so without harming the planet. Rather than jetting off to a far-off destination, or packing up the car and hitting the road, why not do your bit for the planet by staying home instead?<\/p>\n You can make your staycation feel like a vacation by becoming a tourist in your hometown and exploring local sights. You can also plan fun activities for your family to complete together at home. For example, you could have a family bake-off, you could set up tents in the garden and camp under the stars, or you could have quiz or movie evenings.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If the idea of a staycation doesn’t tickle your fancy, and you want to book a trip through a travel agency, try and choose a carbon offset adventure. It’s not possible to travel without being responsible for at least some carbon emissions, but some travel companies will offer itineraries with minimal impact on the environment, and any carbon emissions are offset.<\/p>\n Carbon offsetting schemes fund and initiate environmentally friendly projects to ‘cancel out’ any emissions created through travel. For example, travel companies who provide carbon offset adventures may plant trees, invest in reforestation or renewable energy projects to cancel out the emissions of your trip.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Environmental volunteering can be the perfect way to plan an eco-friendly family trip. There are thousands of volunteer programs that are suitable for little ones as well as adults. Volunteer vacations can involve cleaning up beaches, supporting conservation efforts, caring for animals in sanctuaries or rescue facilities, or supporting local community organisations. You can volunteer in a local area, or you could volunteer abroad and explore a new destination at the same time.<\/p>\n You could give your children a say in which type of volunteering scheme you look for, this way they’re more likely to engage in the experience and enjoy this type of vacation. If children have a say in how they do their bit for the environment, they’re more likely to research different aspects of environmental sustainability and discover causes that they’re passionate about.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nTop 7 Eco-Friendly Travel Ideas for Families<\/h2>\n
1: Swap Your Vacation for a Staycation<\/h3>\n
2: Pick a Carbon Offset Adventure<\/h3>\n
3: Consider Environmental Volunteering<\/h3>\n
4: Set Off on a Cyclo-Tourism Adventure<\/h3>\n