Green Travels

Green Travels moves to new URL

2009-11-29T16:05:00.003-05:00

Green Travels has moved.

You'll find the same eco-friendly information, in a new format.

You can get to my new website via either EcoTraveller.info or Car-and-Travel.com

I hope you visit. I hope you approve.

Cordially,

Evelyn Kanter

Four Star Hotels Become Luxury Green Travel Choices

2009-08-17T19:21:00.004-04:00

Who says the words green luxury hotels can't be used in the in the same sentence? Not me, and not the four-star hotel group RockResorts.

Their green lodging program extends the same top green environmental standard to all rooms in upscale hotels such as the Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colorado, and the Snake River Lodge & Spa in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

RockResorts calls it the "Green Room". Yes, yes, of course it starts with energy efficient lighting and electronics, a towel and linen reuse program, low flow bath fixtures and a recycling bin under the desk. That is now the absolute minimum standard across the hotel industry worldwide. Little bits of green that are great for starters. RockResorts does more. Lots more.

Bath amenities -- These are custom formulated, all natural, essential oils, free from preservatives and other artificial ingredients such as parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate derivates and artificial or synthetic colors and fragrances, in recyclable bottles.

Cleaning products -- Housekeeping staff uses Green Seal and EPA certified products. That means they are formulated without chemicals such as chlorine bleach and are less toxic to you and to the environment.

Paints and finishes -- These are low or no VOC (volatile organic compounds), also less toxic to you and to the environment. Plus, all rooms and facilities are entirely smoke free.

There's also a voluntary guest program for guests to donate $1 a night to the National Forest Foundation in Colorado, or other non-profit environmental group. For every dollar contributed by guests, the NFF will match at $.50. Since 2006, this program has raised more than $1.2 million for conservation efforts in the national forests that surround RockResorts hotels.

RockResorts has a long history of concern for the environment. Company founder Laurance Rockefeller started the company in 1956 based on the premise that all his hotels and resorts would embrace and nurture their locations.

The luxury hotel group also has its own Director of Environmental Affairs, Julie Klein, who describes these Green Room standards as minimum requirements. "We plan to continue to grow this program to further demonstrate our commitment to the iconic locations in which we operate our resort hotels, and to the overall guest experience."

RockResorts is owned by Vail Resorts, which has a corporate wide mandate to reduce the overall energy use by 10 percent at the end of 2010.

Hotels include --
The Arrabelle at Vail Square
The Lodge at Vail in Vail, Colorado
Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colorado
The Osprey at Beaver Creek The Pines Lodge in Beaver Creek, Colorado
La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Snake River Lodge & Spa in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
The Landings St. Lucia, Rodney Bay, St. Lucia

New hotels are Tempo Miami in Miami, Fla. (scheduled to open in 2009); One Ski Hill Place in Breckenridge, Colo. (2010); The Mansfield Inn at Stowe in Stowe, Vt. (winter 2010/2011); Rum Cay Resort Marina, The Bahamas (2011); and the Third Turtle Club & Spa, Turks and Caicos (2011).

So, absolutely yes, luxury travel can be green travel.

Read more green hotel news and reviews from Green Travel guru Evelyn Kanter.

A Moving Experience

2009-01-03T15:46:00.002-05:00

In case you've been noticing there aren't many posts lately, it's because I'm moving.

All the content from GreenTravels is being moved to my new website, www.EcoTraveller.info. Go take a look. It's not finished yet. We're still tinkering.

Cheers, and best wishes for 2009!

Evelyn

Make Your Holiday Gifts Count

2008-12-16T17:33:00.009-05:00

Sure, you could give everybody on your gift list a pair of gloves, a scarf or a box of chocolates they don't need and might not even like. Or, you could make your gift really count and give a donation to an international charity in the name of your friend, relative or boss.

Here are some suggestions for giving green to legitimate charities which help the poor and the sick around the world --

Doctors Without Borders -- There's an urgent need for funds to help in Zimbabwe, which is suffering a killing outbreak of cholera. This group's doctors and nurses have treated more than 11,000 victims since August. Thousands have died, including entire families.

Heifer International -- As little as $20 will buy a flock of baby chicks, ducklings or geese that can lay eggs to feed a family, grow up and breed more chickens, ducks or geese that can be sold to support the family -- and the eggs those animals produce start expand the cycle to the next family. Heifer International has programs in South America and Asia.

Red Cross -- No explanation needed.

Taj Hotel, Mumbai, India -- The terrorist attack in November killed more than 100 people and injured hundreds more, at the historic Taj Hotel and other locations in the city that used to be called Bombay. The owners of the Taj -- which suffered millions of dollars in damage -- have started a Trust Fund for victims. There is no website for donations -- email tpswtrust@tajhotels.com for instructions on how to donate.

Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation -- You can search the database for free, and find the name of your grandparent or great-grandparent, and the name of the boat he or she arrived on to the United States. Or, donate something to help keep those records free, by adding a name to the Wall of Honor -- buy your relative's name to be inscribed on that wall.

Any of these gifts are more valuable than another pair of gloves, don't you think?

And if you wonder about how good a charity is, check Charity Navigator, which rates charities based on how much of your donation goes to the people or service -- and how much the fund-raiser keeps. You will be surprised. Even shocked.

Top Travel Deals for Holidays and New Year

2008-12-07T17:31:00.007-05:00

As bad as the economic headlines are, just one-quarter of us are dropping holiday travel plans -- according more than 1,400 people surveyed by the the travel planning website Kayak. And those people might be tempted by all the deals and bargains to help you save green -- as in green dollars.

Hotels, resorts and destination cities are getting pretty creative, too, with their travel deals. And some of them extend into the new year:

Virginia -- Ooh, baby, it's cold outside, and the colder it is, the less you'll pay for a room. Participaing hotels in Fairfax County -- just outside Washington, D. C. -- are freezing their room rates on weekends through December 27, 2008, to match the temperature outside. A room rate of $27 will certainly warm my heart, even if 27 degrees is freezing my body parts. Or whatever the temperature is at noon on Saturday at Dulles International Airport. Make your reservation at least 72 hours in advance, and no, the deal does not extend to January and the inauguration celebration events for Barack Obama.

Las Vegas -- Through January 30, 2009, you can get 30 percent off your bill at the MGM Grand or the Signature at MGM Grand just by paying with your MasterCard®. The discount applies to dining, entertainment and spa purchases at both resorts when they are charged to your hotel bill. Room rates start at $89 at MGM Grand and $149 for suites at The Signature. Just don't gamble away your savings in the casinos!

Delta and Hilton -- Are you a member of either -- or both -- of their frequent flyer, frequent guest programs? Delta SkyMiles and Hilton HHonors? If not, hurry up and join so you can get six times the miles with the airline program with each stay of two nights or more at a participating Hilton hotel worldwide, through February 28, 2009. Act fast, because this 6x bonus won't last long.

Intercontinental Hotels -- Sometimes, souvenir shopping is the difference between carry-on that' s still free and checking a bag for the flight home for whatever your airline is charging this week, anywhere from $20 to $50. If you are staying at a participating InterContinental Hotel through January 2, 2009, they'll ship home -- free -- one box per room, up to 30 pounds, via standard shipping service, to anywhere within the continental U.S. Just show up with your loot at the hotel's business center with the goodies and proof of purchase and leave the rest to them. Of course, if you want to ship home holiday gifts from that family visit, you'll have to ask Aunt Sylvia for the receipt, which could be dicey, if your Aunt Sylvia is like mine.

Ah, yes, many ways to save green when you travel this holiday season.

Travel Insurance -- Why You Need It

2008-11-26T12:35:00.012-05:00

The question is not whether you should have travel insurance when you travel, the question is which kind you should have.

This week, the India terror attack devastated the city of Mumbai, and the Bangkok Airport was shut down by political demonstrations, stranding more than 200,000 tourists for more than a week. Last year, a baggage snafu at London's Heahtrow Airport delayed flights for days and baggage for longer.

Missed connections, misplaced or damaged luggage, an unexpected accident or illness in the family before or during a trip, the unrest after a disputed election, such as occurred in Kenya recently, a strike or work stoppage by airline or train workers, even forgetting your passport for departure or losing it en route -- these are all reasons you should not leave home without travel insurance, travel medical insurance, or both.

So, which kind to get? Start with travel insurance that covers trip cancellation.

Without trip cancellation insurance, you are at the mercy of airlines, which can charge as much as ten times the price of your original, discounted, advance-purchase ticket for a replacement. Without trip cancellation insurance, your hotel might charge you a 'no-show' fee that's half the cost of the room, even if they rent it to somebody else.

Basic policies also cover delayed baggage, so you can buy yourself a toothbrush and a clean t-shirt and be re-imbursed.

And many travel insurance policies cover medical care away from home that is not covered by your regular health insurance policy. So, it is especially important for U. S. travellers over 65 to have travel insurance with a medical component, since Medicare does not cover medical care outside the United States.

Generally, travel insurance policies have a medical cap at $5,000 or $10,000, which -- generally -- is enough for a family reunion with grandma in Scotland, or the first ski trip with the grandchildren in Lake Tahoe. And, generally, travel insurance policies cover everybody travelling together on a family trip. But you have to read the fine print to be sure.

If you are going on that once-in-a-lifetime trip -- travel to see the penguins in Patagonia, or the blue boobies in the Galapagos, or hiking the rugged trails of the Caucusus -- you should consider a travel insurance policy that includes helicipter evacuation from even the most remote area. Such as what is offered by MedJet Assist, which will even fly you home in a special med-evac aircraft. Expensive? If you had to pay for it out-of-pocket, it could cost $15,000, or more. But your entire family is covered for $350 a year. Now that's green travel -- saving green!

Here are other travel insurance companies I recommend --

Access America
Insure My Trip
TravelGuard International
I Travel Insured
Programs offered by American Express, Visa, MasterCard

You can compare them by checking Travel Insurance Review, a non-biased industry organization. And be sure to check your homeowner's policy, even your auto insurance policy for hidden gems of coverage.

Another advantage of insurance is that it gives you one place to call to arrange all the details, including re-imbursement.

Historic Santa Monica Hotel Re-Opens With Green Features

2008-11-25T19:55:00.000-05:00

It's not unusual for the beautiful ladies of Santa Monica to get a facelift when they reach that 'certain age'. When the legendary grande dame is the historic Hotel Shangri-La, that body-re-building costs $30 million. The result is a sleek new look with equally modern green amenities and practices.

The Hotel Shangri-La sits on Ocean Avenue, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, a spot where you can't help being aware of the environment. There are ocean views from nearly every room.

Hotelier Tehmina Adaya says, "Hotels are notoriously one of the biggest offenders to the environment, and we wanted to challenge this idea by incorporating easy elements to eliminate excessive and unnecessary waste." What this Art Deco gem is doing to be sustainable and eco-friendly includes --

bath amenities from Natura Green. Packaging is made recycled paper and bottles are bio-degradable (made from a cornstarch based product), and all products are non-animal tested.

$5.00 off Overnight Valet Parking for guests driving a hybrid vehicle.

Bottled Water provided from Natura Waters. All carbonization and filtration will be done on-site and glass bottles are sanitized and re-used.

Non-toxic, organic cleaning products used for housekeeping.

An Electric Cart for hotel staff to use for running local errands.

All paper products and stationary printed on recycled paper.

Rooms furnished with Dual Flush low flow toilets.

Newspapers will be delivered to guest rooms upon request, not as a standard, to save thousands of copies that are never read.

The restaurant is being supplied by local vendors and purveyors, and the wine list features primarily American wines to help lower carbon impact.

There are double layered the windows to prevent loss of heat and air conditioning, and compact fluorescent lighting is used throughout the hotel.

Even the pool is eco-friendly -- it is solar heated.

Hotel Shangri-La also has partnered with a recycling agency to pick up all bottles and cardboard, since recycling bins are not a standard city service in Santa Monica.

They've also partnered with Midway Car Rental agency, which offers the largest selection of hybrid cars and is located blocks from hotel. Their fleet includes the Toyota Prius, Lexus RX400 SUV and LS600 sedan, Chevy Tahoe and Toyota Camry.

Hotel Shangri-La is an architectural gem and historic landmark. Built in 1939, it is an Art Deco beauty combined with Hollywood allure and Los Angeles history.

Taos Combines White Snow and Green Policies

2008-11-24T09:45:00.000-05:00

There are two major changes for New Mexico's legendary Taos Ski Valley this winter season. First, it is the first full season in which snowboarders are able to share the slopes with skiers. Taos was one of the last ski-only hold-outs in the U.S., allowing boards for the first time only at the end of last season.

The other biggest change will be that 100 percent of Taos Ski Valley’s electricity will now come from renewable sources. In a partnership with Kit Carson Electric, Taos Ski Valley will purchase approximately 3,000,000 kilowatt hours of wind power and will no longer rely on traditional coal-produced electricity.

The resort is the region's largest energy consumer, and the switch to wind power is expected to encourage other large energy consumers and ski resorts in New Mexico to consider switching to renewable energy to run chairlifts and other amenities. Other green practices include replacing older two-stroke snowmobiles with new, cleaner-burning four-stroke snowmobiles, and more modern, more efficient snow-making compressors.

Taos Ski Valley also offers guests a unique "SkiGreen" program, which lets you offset 150 miles of the carbon produced from your travel. Add the SkiGreen tag to a lift ticket for just $2 or to a season pass for $20. SkiGreen is a partnership between the Bonneville Environmental Foundation and other leaders in the winter sports industry.

Employees also contribute to keeping the valley green. Instead of each employee driving an average of 30 miles round-trip every day for work, they will now park their cars at a central location and carpool in a company vehicle. The resort estimates this new program will eliminate more than 150 miles of driving each week, and help reduce carbon emissions in the ski valley

It's not just a winter thing. The resort works with the National Forest Service every summer to plant grass to keep soil from eroding on the ski and snowboard trails. Also, as the area grows, more runs are being thinned into glades instead of clear-cutting them into open trails.

Taos joins a growing list of winter resorts switching to wind power. Most definitely, these travel destinations are the green leaders.

Holiday Travel Deals for Tough Times

2008-11-22T21:08:00.002-05:00

The economy is the bad news. The good news is that the bad news is causing hotels and airlines to drop prices for the holidays, so there are plenty of travel bargains -- if you know where to look and move quickly, before the deals disappear.

For the entire month of January through February 16, 2009, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is offering 20 percent off the best available rate for all hotel suites at more than 30 participating Kimpton hotels, most of which are downtown in cities like Boston, Salt Lake City, Denver, and Chicago. Often, Kimpton hotels go under the name Hotel Monaco, so it's best to check the website to find a participating hotel in the city you want to visit. Additionally, Kimpton, is offering breakfast for $1 for guests who book a best-available-rate stay at participating hotels between now and March 1, 2009. Suite deal!

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide also has a discount offer, from now until March 31, 2009. For every night you stay with Starwood, the next night can be 50 percent off. The promotion is valid at the company's nearly 500 hotels in the U. S., Canada and the Caribbean, including the W brand, Westin, Le Meridien, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, AloftSM, ElementSM. The promotion is called Better Tomorrows -- and don't we all hope things will be better tomorrow than they are today.

Under the Starwood discount program, a two-day NYC weekend escape at the W New York averages $598 instead of $798, and a four-day fall family getaway to the Westin San Francisco will average $507 instead of $676. If you book a six-night winter vacation at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa in Hawaii could save $308, more than enough for a hula lesson.

Alaska Airlines Vacations is giving away three nights and tickets to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Just book a four-night package by Dec. 20, 2008, for travel Jan. 4 through June 27, 2009, and get three additional nights free including theme park tickets. If you book a seven-night package and travel by March 29th, the deal includes a $200 gift card. There are some restrictions -- seats are limited and there are blackout dates -- so don't delay.

The US dollar has gained 15% against the Euro and 20% against the British pound in recent weeks, so the combination of the stronger dollar, lack of crowds and deals and discounts just increases the appeal for a winter escape. American Airlines is offering a free companion ticket for future travel to Britain if you book a round-trip ticket between now and December 31, 2008. Remember to use the promotion code UKCMP.

Hyatt Hotels Switches to Filtered Water

2008-11-19T20:39:00.000-05:00

No more bottled water at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. The company is switching from all those plastic throwaway bottles to filtered water -- which saves two kinds of green -- money and the environment.

According to the Container Recycling Institute, Americans buy an estimated 35.8 billion plastic water bottles each year, and fewer than 20% of those bottles are recycled. Additionally, the Pacific Institute in Oakland, California, estimates that the energy required to produce each water bottle is equivalent, on average, to filling a quarter of a plastic bottle with crude oil.

So, providing filtered water to hotel guests makes sense. So does filtering your own water at home and refilling a re-usable bottle to take to the gym, work, and other daily travel errands.

Hyatt has contracted with Natura Water Inc. to provide guests in its restaurants with a healthy, safe, environmentally responsible alternative to bottled water. It's the first hotel company to work with Natura on a nationwide basis.

The Natura water system removes impurities from the local water source while retaining healthy minerals – thus eliminating the need for bottled water and the waste associated with its use. The system dispenses the water – still or sparkling – into specially designed re-usable glass bottles with sealed caps.

Right now, the filtered water is available at restaurants at Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago, Hyatt Regency Phoenix, Hyatt Regency Reston in Virginia, Grand Hyatt Dallas Fort Worth and Grand Hyatt New York. Hyatt is planning to add more hotels to the filtered water over the next several months.

So, a giant green kiss to Hyatt for this eco-friendly decision. Perhaps it will be copied by Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Hilton, Ramada, Embassy Suites, and other hotel chains not mentioned.

Enjoy New York City for the Holidays

2008-11-15T22:18:00.005-05:00

New York City shines year-round, but especially during the holidays, when it is truly a winter wonderland. The official start of the season is Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The best place to watch is anywhere along Central Park West, since the crowds get thicker the closer you get to Macy's and all those television cameras.

My own favorite family adventure always has been the night before the parade, when the balloons are inflated in the streets around the American Museum of Natural History. Take the kids and watch as a beloved character's’s arm or leg comes to life, whether it's Kermit the Frog, Barney, or Horton the Elephant. Be sure to visit the museum, too, during daytime hours, of course. The dinosaurs and life-size whale suspended from a ceiling are there year-round, but the glittering origami Christmas tree is only for the holidays.

The World’s Largest Menorah shines for eight nights at the corner of 59th Street and Fifth Avenue, right in front of the Apple Store, already a landmark for its see-through glass-like cube design, and the FAO Schwarz toy store. The New York State Theater in Lincoln Center is where Sugarplum Fairies dance nightly in the annual The Nutcracker ballet, another city tradition, as are the high-stepping Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall.

Grab your skates, or rent them, and take a spin on the world's most famous ice skating rink, in Rockefeller Center, in front of the world-famous tree. Or, avoid the tourist crowds and head to Central Park's Kate Wollman Rink, a favorite of locals. This is where I learned to skate, and taught my kids. The rink offers amazing views of surrounding skyscrapers.

Some of the best things in my hometown are free, and I’m not just talking about the people watching. Department stores Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s and Lord and Taylor are famous for their spectacular animated holiday windows. There's a different theme each year. It might be old-fashioned Victorian holidays one year, futuristic Space Age holidays the next. Also free is the laser light show that turns the high, vaulted ceiling of Grand Central Station into a magical extravaganza.

The same people who sponsor the New York City Marathon, held the first weekend of November, also sponsor the Midnight Run through Central Park. It's a great way to get away from the crowds in Times Square, where it's just you and a million or so of your closest friends watching the ball drop on New Year's Eve.

For more ideas about what to see and do in NYC at the holidays, check the NYC Convention & Visitors Bureau website. Or, just ask me.

Largest Eco-Tourism Project in Israel's History

2008-11-12T17:04:00.011-05:00

Simply, it's one of the world's most dramatic environmental initiatives, transforming the unsightly 2,000-acre Hiriya garbage dump on the outskirts of Tel Aviv into a magnificent park and 24-hour recreational hotspot. Since the dump was created decades ago, it has been both an eyesore and an ecological mess, complete with a terrible stench and swarming herds of scavenger birds and other varmints.

But that was then. Now, this mess is close to be reborn as Ayalon Park, one of the world's largest urban parks, dotted with trees, tropical gardens, and hiking, horseback riding and bicycling trails. The total transformation of this dump into an oasis of green is an engineering and environmental masterpiece, worthy of visiting.

The 230-foot Hiriya Mountain, a waste-mound in the park's center, has been transformed into an eco-friendly attraction of terraces, shaded foot paths and areas with benches and tables for rest or picnics. Atop Hiriya Mountain, there's a spectacular panoramic views of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

But it's not just pretty trees and picnic areas. There's an enormous Recycling Center, 75 acres large, at the base of the "healed" mountain, which uses state-of-the-art technologies for recycling waste -- the very same plastic, paper, dead cell phones and other junk that once simply was dumed on top of the growing piled.

Arie Sommer, Comissioner of Tourism, North and South America, said, "The park will be a hotspot for nature-seeking tourists and a "front door" to Tel Aviv's amazing natural landscape."

Congrtatulations to Tel Aviv and Israel for this astounding green initiative. It's something I hope will be copied with other cities with similar unsightly and eco-dangerous dumps.

Chicago Cashes in on Obama Connection

2008-11-09T11:30:00.011-05:00

The hometown of President-Elect Obama and his family is suddenly the most popular city in the country. Or, at least its website is.

So many people want to know more about the Windy City, and perhaps travel there to visit favorite places of the future First Family that the city's tourism agency Choose Chicago has just added a new section called Presidential Chicago.

The website includes obvious must-see attractions, including the Art Institute of Chicago -- where I was lucky enough to see a special exhibit of Monet's Water Lillies paintings a few years ago -- and shopping along the Miracle Mile, the Chicago version of Fifth Avenue in my own hometown, New York City.

And, you'll learn that one of Mr. Obama's haunts is one of the city's the outdoor basketball courts, at Hayes Drive and South Lake Shore Drive, where he likes to shoot hoops — often with his brother-in-law Craig Robinson, who is head basketball coach at Oregon State University.

My favorite hotel in Chicago is the InterContinental Chicago , one of just a handful of hotels in North America that are certified environmentally-friendly. And, it is in the final stages of receiving LEED and Green Seal certification, two other hard-to-get ratings. What makes this especially important is that this isn't a brand new hotel, designed and built from the ground up to be eco-friendly, like the ones Marriott is building near the Obama's new address in Washington, D.C.

The InterContinental is one of the most historic hotels of America, retro-fitted to be a modern energy star. Originally built in 1929 as the Medinah Athletic Club, an exclusive luxury men's club, the InterContinental Chicago is one of Chicago's most elegant landmarks. It includes a historic, junior Olympic size pool, is recognized as one of the best indoor pools in the U.S. and is included in Chicago's major architectural tours.

All the attention surrounding the Obama family's connection to Chicago also is helping raise the city's profile for its bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games.

As the song says -- Chicago, my kind of town, Chicago is.

Two Certified Green Hotels Planned for Washington, DC Area

2008-11-07T09:17:00.010-05:00

The best way for a hotel to go green is to build it eco-friendly from the ground up. And that's exactly the plan for two hotels just across the Potomac from Washington, D. C., easy travel distance visits to the city's attractions.

One will be an upscale Renaissance hotel, the other a budget Residence Inn. Both hotels will be managed by Marriott International, and both are expected to be LEED® certified “green” buildings when complete – the first such hotels in Arlington County, Virginia. The Renaissance Crystal City Potomac Yards and adjacent Residence Inn Crystal City Potomac Yards will cost around $130 million to build, and should open in two years. The 600-plus rooms in the two hotels will add 500 jobs to the area -- good news in tough economic times.

The green hotels will feature an energy saving “green roof’ with plants and trees. Since their location provides a picture postcard view overlooking the U.S. Capitol and Potomac River, my prediction is these roof gardens will become a new favorite hotspot for sunset gatherings. When the weather cooperates, of course.

LEED® is the benchmark standard for environmentally responsible buildings set by the U.S. Green Building Council, and there are some stringent requirements. By the end of 2009, all new Marriott hotels -- including the other brands it owns such as Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott -- will be designed and built according to LEED standards. The company also is working towards getting LEED status for its international headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland.

So thank you, Marriott, for helping us travel green.

Vote for These Ski Vacation Bargains and Deals

2008-11-01T16:15:00.012-04:00

Times are tough right now, but hotels, airlines and some destinations are offering ways to help you save green this ski and snowboard season. And let's face it, more of us are likely to give up buying new furniture right now than to give up the winter holiday vacation getaway. Here's a selection of deals to help stretch your snow budget:

Crested Butte Mountain Resort and Delta Airlines have teamed up to offer free skiing for anyone flying to Gunnison/Crested Butte via Salt Lake City this season. The ski free deal must be booked through Crested Butte Vacations, and you'll get one free lift ticket for each person in your party who flies in on a Delta jet. Just book by November 14, for anytime this ski season. I have skied this Colorado resort often, and love the place, especially the well-named Paradise bowl. It's great to ski in Paradise!

Another one of my absolute favorite places to ski is Jackson Hole, and this year when you purchase three airline tickets through Jackson Hole Central Reservations, the resort will throw in the fourth ticket for free. Even better -- this is the year the legendary moutain opens its new aerial Tram, that will whisk skiers and snowboarders 4,139 vertical feet in 9 minutes to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain. Even if you aren't a skier, take the ride for the incredible 360 views of the Tetons from the top. Or, follow me down Laramie Bowl, my favorite run here. The resort opens for the season on November 29. The Tram debuts December 20th.

It's less than one hour from the Salt Lake City airport to the nearest chairlift, so it's easy to get a couple of runs in the same day you arrive in town. And if you do -- it's free. Just show your boarding pass and ski free in the day of arrival at any of Park City's three resorts, Park City, Deer Valley and The Canyons. It's called the Park City Quick Start program, and you have to register online. And don't ask me which one of these three resorts is my favorite -- I have experienced both adrenalin rushes and humiliating splats at all of them.

The new High Peaks Resort in Lake Placid, New York, is pegging its room rate to whatever the Dow Jones' closing number is each Friday. If you book a room through December 19, you'll pay the closing bell price in dollars and cents. For example, if the Dow Jones average closes the week at 8,387, the room rate for the following week will be $83.87 -- a savings of more than $160 off the hotel’s $250 average nightly rate.

See you on the slopes!

Top Green Rating for Greensboro, North Carolina Hotel

2008-10-24T10:17:00.000-04:00

How appropriate -- the hotel with the top green rating in the world is in the city of Greensboro. It's the Proximity Hotel, one of the few hotels anywhere to achieve the top LEED Platinum rating. And don't think you have to give up luxury to travel green -- this hotel has an AAA Four Diamond rating. Platinum and diamond -- that's a great combination.

The hotel was built to use 40% less energy and 30% less water than a comparable hotel, and

features such innovative technologies as the first installation in North America of the regenerative drive for Otis' Gen2 elevator, which reduces net energy usage by capturing the system’s energy and feeds it back into the building’s internal electrical grid. It's the same idea as regenerative braking in hybrid-electric cars like the Prius.

There are 100 solar panels on the roof -- they cover some 4,000 square feet of roofop and produce enough hot water for one hundred homes. The hotel's solar panels provide more than half of the hot water needed for guests to shower and the restaurant to wash the dishes. And the hotel saved two million gallons of water the first year it was open thanks to high-efficiency plumbing fixtures.

So, all you hotels names Marriott, Hilton, W, Westin, Ramada, Hyatt, Holiday Inn -- get on board and go green. Proximity did it. So can you.

Sushi at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

2008-10-20T17:08:00.001-04:00

Somehow, I can't picture having sushi dinner at an aquarium. But, California's Monterey Bay Aquarium thinks this is a good way to teach us all about selecting what they call 'ocean-friendly sushi' -- avoiding eating fish, raw or cooked, from threatened species.

The dinner on October 22 is part of Sustainable Sushi Week, sponsored by Seafood Watch. And you can support the program without leaving home, without eating at the aquarium. Sushi lovers who sign up online to become Seafood Watch advocates will get a tool kit to help spread the word about the many ways to enjoy fish and seafood without harming ocean habitats.

Each kit includes printed copies of the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s new Seafood Watch Sushi pocket guide, a set of reusable, biodegradable chopsticks and colorful cards to leave behind at a favorite sushi restaurant. Use the cards to thank chefs who serve sustainable seafood, or to alert them when they’re serving something on the “red list,” which is seafood that was caught or farmed in ways that harm the ocean.

The pocket guides incorporate human health recommendations from the Environmental Defense Fund, and flags seafood items that could contain levels of mercury or PCBs that may pose a health risk to adults or children. Fisheries researchers from the Blue Ocean Institute and Monterey Bay Aquarium evaluated the seafood species included on the guides.

Ten Tips to Save Money on Travel

2008-10-15T10:36:00.008-04:00

American Express knows a thing or two about travel, and not just because the one of the Amex cards you should never leave home without is a green card. These top ten tips for saving green -- dollars -- are from Amex Business Travel for business travelers, but they work for leisure travellers as well.

Plan Twice, Book Once - Airlines are charging $150 or more if you change your ticket after it's been booked, and many hotels now charge "no show" fees of $50 or more -- as much more as the cost of your entire reservation. So, double-checking appointments before booking can help you save on these potential added charges.

Pack Light - Minimize checked baggage fees by packing and checking less. For longer trips, the cost of dry cleaning may be cheaper than checking extra luggage for additional shirts and pants. Also look into overnight delivery and luggage forwarding services -- for materials or samples to bring on a business trip, or your skis, snowboard or golf clubs for a leisure trip.

Check Your Paperwork - Make sure your passport is current and that you have any necessary visas for your trip in advance. Expired or missing paperwork can delay your trip and add expensive charges for expedited applications. Most travel management companies can provide visa/passport support before you travel.

Be Flexible To Find Savings - For travel to or from an area with multiple airports, search alternate airports or use this option in your online booking tool. For example, in New York City, fares may be less expensive enough at JFK to offset the incremental taxi fare difference for a trip to LaGuardia.

Watch for Waste - Millions of tickets go unused, even though most non-refundable fares are valid for travel for up to a year. While there may be change fees, you can still save money by not letting these unused tickets go to waste.

Stay Together, Save Together - If you are arriving on different flights than your co-workers, friends or family, plan ahead to arrive around the same time and meet at an airport lounge. That way you can travel to the hotel together and save the cost of multiple taxis or shuttle services.

Big Ticket Items Can Mean Big Savings - If you are planning a complex international or multi-city US itinerary, use a travel agent. It will save you planning time better spent on your family and/or your business, a travel professional is better equipped to find the best airfare deals to ensure you get the lowest fare, with or without a land package.

Plan Ahead, Stay In Touch - The earlier you book air tickets and hotel rooms, the more likely you’ll find a lower rate. Ask for price guarantees -- many airlines and hotels offer you a lower rate if the price for your trip drops after you’ve booked it.

Stretch Your Stay to Stretch Your Dollar - Some airlines are bringing back "minimum stay requirements," so you can safe money by postponing your return trip from a Friday until a Sunday or Monday. Or, take the overnight red-eye flight home -- that's usually the least expensive flight of the day for an airline.

Oldies But Goodies - If you are bumped, be sure to get a free voucher, and try to travel in the so-called "off-season" or "shoulder season" for lower travel costs.

And a final tip from me -- Evelyn Kanter -- buy travel insurance to protect you if you have to cancel a trip.

Golf Courses in Mexico's Riviera Maya

2008-10-13T10:56:00.008-04:00

There are lots of golf courses surrounded by white sand and the turquoise Caribbean sea. But only links in the Riviera Maya also offer golfers views -- and perhaps the distraction -- of teeing up within sight of an ancient Mayan pyramid temple. Here are some great greens in Mexico that will keep you swinging happily, and since most are attached to their own resort hotels, you won't have to travel far from your room to the 18th hole.

The Executive Golf Course of Mayan Group of Riviera Maya Golf is designed by the Jack Nicklaus company, Nicklaus Design. It's an 18-hole Par 54 course, 2,923 yards, with white sand traps, lakes surrounded by natural rock, and jungle vegetation

Playacar Spa & Golf Club was designed and built under the supervision of famous architect Robert Von Hagge. It's a Par 72 in a field of 7,144 yards in the Mayan jungle, dotted lakes and lush vegetation.

Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club, designed by the world-famous P.B. Dye, incorporates the native Mayan jungle into the layout. The course features narrow fairways, undulating greens and deep bunkers. There's also a lighted driving range, the first one in the Riviera Maya, for those of you who like to practice your putts after sundown.

El Camaleón Mayakoba golf course was designed by Greg Norman. This 7,000 yard field bends through tropical jungles, dense mangroves and oceanfront stretches of sand with holes bordered by massive limestone canals. An amazing feature is the resort's one-of-a-kind canal system, where golfers can step from their rooms to a thatch-roofed boat, which will whisk them to the first tee.

The Moon Spa & Golf Club is another golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. It’s composed of three distinctive fields with 9 holes each, surrounded by mangroves and exotic wildlife. An unusual “all-inclusive” golf plan includes transportation from anywhere in the Riviera Maya, plus food & drinks at the club house.

Riviera Cancún Golf & Resorts is a new course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, with a difficulty of 76.2/ Slope of 146. Playing on this course is being a part of a dynamic game, rolling through fairways and greens, wooden bridges, and the couple of holes along the ocean shore. The club was built in accordance with the local wildlife preservation law.

If that's not enough for you, there are more golf courses scheduled to open this winter in Riviera Maya and neighboring areas of Cancún and Cozumel. For information on those new courses, check the Riviera Maya golf course website.

Travel Websites to Help you Save Money

2008-10-10T14:29:00.010-04:00

With stock prices falling like acorns, budget-centric websites are rising to the top of more vacationers' bookmark lists. That's the opening sentence of an article in today's USA Today to help us save green when we travel.

Budget Travel Sites to Keep you Out of the Red lists 25 websites to help you find cheap airfares, hotel bargains and more. Some, of course, you've heard of already and probably even have used -- like Kayak and Hotwire. But there's also some great new dollar stretchers to check out as well.

A new one I was glad to find out about is CarRentalExpress.com, which lists car rental companies that sit outside expensive airport real estate, and are usually cheaper than the 'brand name' on-airport companies.

Another is Liftopia.com, which offers discounted lift tickets for major ski and snowboard resorts in North America.

So thank you Laura Bly who compiled this list for USA Today, for giving us all some ways to save green when we travel.

Boo! Haunting Happy Halloween Events

2008-10-07T16:53:00.015-04:00

Halloween is an excuse to get dressed up in a costume that's either scary or funny, green or some other color, and go have fun. It doesn't matter what age you are, although that can determine whether you trick or treat, and how. So here are some family-friendly ways to say Boo!, and others that are best reserved for grown-ups.

San Francisco - Spend a spine-tingling evening touring Alcatraz, which once housed some of the world's scariest criminals. The Alcatraz Night Tour travels from Pier 33 at 4:20 p.m., and returns after taking you through some of the darkest corners of the island prison. Only a few hundred people an evening can be accommodated, and since Oct. 31 will be especially popular, I suggest you make reservations.

Disneyland - Spook-tacular entertainment includes the traditional giant "Mickey Mouse" jack-o'-lantern in Disneyland Town Square, Haunted Mansion Holiday in New Orleans Square and Candy Corn Acres in Disney's California Adventure, plus the Disney characters who wander the theme park year-round will be dressed in goofy Halloween costumes. Including Goofy. There's also a daily Happiest Haunt Tour, a three-hour extravaganza that includes the stories behind some of Disney parks' spookiest attractions, told from the perspective of Disney villains, with stops at the super-spooky Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Haunted Mansion Holiday, Snow White's Scary Adventure, and other rides. The tour fee is $59 -- on top of the park admission fee.

New York City - This year is the 35th annual Village Halloween Parade, and it promises to be one of the biggest and best, since this year Halloween falls on a Friday, and that means the parading and the partying that follows can go into the wee hours. This year's festivities feature more than 50 bands, hundreds of dancers, thousands of costumed participants, and as many as two million onlookers. The theme of this year's parade is Ghosts. Scary fun, for sure. Or, choose
the Halloween “Boos Cruise” aboard the Circle Line Downtown. This 2½ hour Halloween Cruise on the 143-ft luxury yacht Zephyr incluees a tour of New York harbor and a costume contest. Again, I suggest you make reservations.

In case you're wondering about the image I've posted here -- it is a lithograph by Edvard Munch, one of a series of paintings and lithographs of this iconic nightmare scream. One of the originals is on display in Munch's hometown, Oslo, Norway -- where I just will happen to be visiting a few days before Halloween.

Boo!

Green Guide to Victoria, British Columbia

2008-10-06T19:35:00.007-04:00

Victoria, B.C. just may be the most environmentally sensitive city in North America, which makes it a great green travel destination. It is home to Dockside Green, the world's greenest building, which boasts the highest LEED score possible -- Platinum -- and to Harbour Air Seaplanes, the first airline in North America to go carbon neutral airline.

Now, city is adding a green shopping guide for visitors that lists small, locally owned and operated businesses showcasing environmentally responsible products with a goal of fostering a greener, more sustainable economy. This green guide is called The Green Collective, and incudes stores featuring fashions and accessories, spa and body care, and food products as well as six eateries featuring organic and local products. One of these eateries is called -- appropriately -- Green Cuisine.

The Green Collective also hosts an annual Earth Day fashion show. The success of the collective recently sent green ripples all the way to Australia, and inspired the creation of a similar Green Precinct guide.

Victoria's British heritage is evident in its formal and popular afternoon tea at the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel. The Fairmont chain, by the way, is one of my favorites, for its commitment to the environment, long before it was fashionable and headline-making.

The influences of Canada's Native Peoples also are evident in the hand-carved totem poles in Thunderbird Park. Be sure to check out the city's Fan Tan Alley, which once was a seedy gambling and opium center, but has been gentrified now with boutiques and art galleries. Victoria also is the gateway to some of the world's best salmon fishing, and the sea kayaking isn't bad, either.

Fort Worth Hotel Buys Hybrid SUV for Guest Use

2008-10-03T08:56:00.009-04:00

Even luxury hotels are giving the green light to green travel.

The all-new Omni Fort Worth Hotel will be driving guests around in the all-new Cadillac Escalade Hybrid SUV when the hotel opens in January 2009. The SUV will be a 2009 model, manufactured at the nearby General Motors plant in Arlington, Texas. It will be available to taxi guests to meetings, shopping or attractions such as the Fort Worth Opera, the world-class Amon Carter Museum of art, or one of the world's best honky tonks, Billy Bob's Texas.

Yes, the Escalade Hybrid is Texas-big. But it also has an EPA-estimated 50 percent improved city fuel economy over the traditional model. And it's just one of many environmental efforts built into the the hotel design. These include --

motion-sensor lighting system to conserve energy during non-peak hours

revolving doors to help reduce heating and cooling consumption.

more than 20,000 square feet of landscaped rooftops that conserve energy, filter rainwater and help mitigate the Texas summer heat.

So, I'm giving a hats off salute -- my cowboy hat, of course -- to the Fort Worth Omni for going green without compromising luxury.

More Skiing Vacation Bargains for Your Winter Vacation

2008-09-30T14:41:00.011-04:00

We all love the word free, especially when used in connection with travel. Here's how to save green this ski season with these great vacation package deals from top resorts --

Crested Butte, Colorado is famous for its early season packages that give away free lift tickets. Ski for free. The freebie is good from opening day Nov. 26 -- that's the day before Thanksgiving -- throuugh Dec. 15, 2008. Find a choice of "Stay and Ski Free" packages starting at $63 per night, on the Crested Butte website. One choice is Elk Mountain Lodge in downtown Crested Butte, a great old-fashioned Western town. You'll get a room with king bed, full bath, mountain view, breakfast and lift tickets for two for $125 plus tax per night. Room, breakfast and lift ticket for less than the price of a lift ticket alone. Now that's a great green travel deal! And you get to ski one of the best mountains in Colorado. Some of my favorite runs are off the Paradise chairlift. I've said more than once I want to ski another day in Paradise.

Waterville Valley, New Hampshire offers a $30 gas voucher for guests staying three nights or longer. And packages start at $77 per person per night, though Dec. 21. Add a semi-private ski lesson for just $35 per person. Waterville Valley is about two-hours drive from Boston, six from New York City, in the scenic White Mountains. It also boasts one of the most diverse -- and picturesque -- cross-country ski trail systems in the Northeast.

Are you currently on active duty or a retiree? Diamond Peak in North Lake Tahoe is giving away free lift tickets for people with an active military ID. The offer is good Mondays through Fridays in non-holiday periods, such as Xmas-New Year's week.

Best Early Season Ski Deals

2008-09-26T14:25:00.012-04:00

Hard to believe, but the green leaves are turning autumn colors -- and the snow is falling already on some mountaintops. Time to start planning your winter ski trip. Where to travel this season?

The question really is when to go skiing to get the best deals. And the answer to that is easy -- early season offers some of the best bargains, and, the slopes, restaurants and hotels are not yet over-flowing with holiday crowds. Here are some great deals that will save you green dollars --

Winter Park, Colorado -- Save 25% on stays of four nights or longer if you book by October 12, 2008. Packages start at $143 per person per night, including a lift ticket. There's an enormous variety of terrain here for any level of skier --novices and others who like long cruising runs will be happy on Vasquez Ridge. I, for one, like to challenge my knees and my self-confidence on the black diamond runs of Mary Jane mountain, where I skied myself into more than one embarrassing splat last season.

Beaver Creek, Colorado -- Technique Weeks are an intensive improvement program, with lots of personalized instruction. The program includes four days of lift tickets interchangeable for Vail and Beaver Creek, the ability to demo 2009 skis and boots, lots of meals and cocktail parties, four days of instruction and a DVD that shows how much you improved and how much fun you had. If you book by Nov. 15, 2008, you also get an Epic Season Pass -- this would cost you $579 if you bought it. The pass gives you an epic choice (okay, pardon the pun) of unlimited skiing at five memorable mountains -- Vail, Keystone, Beaver Creek and Breckenridge in Colorado and Heavenly in Lake Tahoe. Technique Week reservations can be made through the Hyatt Beaver Creek.

Lake Tahoe -- No more excuses. If you've ever wanted to learn to ski or snowboard, or wanted your significant other or best buddy to join you on the slopes, head for North Lake Tahoe the weekend of December 13 and 14 for the 9th Annual Learn to Ski and Board Weekend. For just $25, you get an all-day beginner lift ticket, group lesson and gear rental. Just $25. That's about what it would cost to stay home and do nothing except a movie with popcorn and soda. And you can choose any of nine resorts to learn at -- including Alpine Meadows, Boreal Mountain Resort, Diamond Peak, Granlibakken, Homewood Mountain Resort, Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, Northstar-at-Tahoe, Squaw Valley USA and Sugar Bowl. Reservations are not required, but plan to show up early. Buy tickets at the resort you choose to spend the day playing in the snow.

Top Cities to Run or Watch a Marathon

2008-09-19T11:01:00.013-04:00

One of the best ways to enjoy visiting a city is on foot -- and it's a great green way to travel, too -- an effective way to reduce your carbon footprint. Some of us, though, prefer to run. And others of us like to watch the runners. For both of you, welcome to Marathon Season.

The days are cooler, the summer tourist crowds have gone home, and the streets are being taken over by both elite athletes and us mere mortals who want to keep in shape or challenge their personal best. Here's a list of some upcoming marathons:

October -- The Bank of America Chicago Marathon takes place on Sunday, October 12, 2008, with runners from all 50 states and more than 100 countries will set out to accomplish a personal dream. It's known for its fast, flat course, that is a scenic tour of 29 diverse Chicago neighborhoods and dozens of local and historic landmarks.

November -- The ING New York City Marathon is arguably one of the world's great road races, drawing more than 100,000 applicants and some two million cheering spectators, more if you add in the 300-plus million people around the world who watch the race on television. This year's race is Sunday, November 2, 2008. The NYC Marathon also is one of the richest in the marathon circuit, with more than $600,000 in prize money. No wonder it attracts so many world-class professional athletes -- including this year Olympian Kara Goucher, pictured here crossing the tape at the Beijing Olympics. More than 700,000 runners have participated in this grand tour of New York City's five boroughs since the first race. That was in 1970. There were 127 runners.

December -- The Las Vegas Marathon will take place on Sunday Dec. 7, 2008, with runners leaving from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino at 6 a.m. Remember, this is Las Vegas, so an ordinary starter's pistol isn't theatrical enough. Fireworks start the race, as 20,000 runners sprint or jog down the legendary Las Vegas Strip, including an "only in Vegas" opportunity to run thru the famous Wedding Chapel.

Air France Earns Top Envirornmental Certification

2008-09-16T10:53:00.011-04:00

It's called ISO 14001, and it's the world's toughest green standard to meet. In the world of travel, just a handful of hotels have earned this top international environmental award, and no airlines that I know of -- except Air France, which has just been granted the right to call itself a green travel airline for its environmental efforts.

Congratulations, Air France. Or, as they say in Paris, Mervielleux! So, even though your logo is red, white and blue, you are really and truly GREEN.

This ISO 14001 certification applies for all Air France activities all over the world, not just within France. And it covers such things as gas emissions from aircraft and water and energy consumption on the ground, and every one of the 63,000 employees of Air France is involved.

So here's my official challenge to all the other airlines of the world -- if Air France can do it, why can't you?

And my invitation to you supporters of Green Travels -- if you are going to a destination served by Air France, get on board and support their award-winning effort to lessen their impact on the environment.

Travel Deals for Fall and Winter

2008-09-01T19:44:00.011-04:00

If you are a traveller -- and you wouldn't be reading this if you aren't -- then you welcome Labor Day not as the end of the summer but as the beginning of the travel bargain season. This is the time of year to save green.

Labor Day is the day rates drop for hotel rooms and airplane seats. The travel industry calls it 'shoulder season', but don't ask me why or how it got that name. It's low season through mid-November, when prices rise again for the high-priced holidays.

So, here are some great travel deals to take advangtage of -- quick -- before they disappear:

Delta Air Lines has put Hawaii on sale. If you book before Sept. 18th, you can fly for as low as $299 each way between the Mainland and either Honolulu or Kona.

Virgin Atlantic has put London on sale. You can hop across the pond before Oct. 18th for as liittle as $696 round trip from NYC or Boston, $806 from Miami and Orlando, and $950 from Los Angeles. The price is even lower for travel after zoct. 18th.

African Travel, Inc., which specializes in luxury African safaris, is offering free round trip air fare to Africa -- worth more than $1,500 -- from October through December. Choose from a 12-day trip to South Africa and Victoria Falls, or 13 days in Northern Tanzania. Accommodations are in luxury camps, and you'll get the chance to see the Big Five, which incudes elephants, lions and rhinos. It's an amazing experience.

Or, head for the Caribbean in January, when it's warm and sunny and the holiday crowds have left and you have the beach to yourself. Reserve any time this month to save 25% at The Reef Resort in the Grand Cayman islands.

You don't need a US Passport to visit the US Virgin Islands. where most of the top resorts are offering five nights for the price of four between January 1 and March 31, 2009. Just make your reservation before Oct 31, and this travel bargain also includes $300 in travelers checks, and a coupon book with savings on activities and attractions.

Here are just some of the USVI luxury resorts on the islands of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas joining in this offer this fifth-night-free deal --

The Palms at Pelican Cove, Chenay Bay Beach Resort,
Carambola Beach Resort & Spa,
Divi Carina Bay Resort,
Hibiscus Beach Resort,
Sand Castle on the Beach,
The Buccaneer,
Best Western Emerald Beach,
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas,
Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort,
Sapphire Beach Resort and Sapphire Village,
Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa on St. Thomas.

Travel green and save green during shoulder season.

Packing Light and Avoiding Excess Baggage Charges

2008-08-24T16:10:00.004-04:00

Every day it seems, the airlines are figuring out new ways to charge us for things that used to be included in the price of the ticket. In-flight movies, earphones and food are old news. Easy enough -- bring your own. But how do you get around the new extra charges for checking bags? Not so easy.

Not every airline charges you to check a bag -- JetBlue and Southwest still don't, and even airlines that charge you for checking a bag from New York to Los Angeles don't charge you if you and your bag are on an international flight to Liverpool or Lima.

Here's how to avoid excess baggage fees --

Join the airline's frequent flyer program. Having miles in the 'bank' makes you a valued customer, and even if trying to redeem the miles is a miserable, frustrating experience, having them in your personal record can help you avoid the suitcase surcharge.

Pack light and take only what you can carry-on. You've heard that before. You are allowed one

carry-on bag plus a personal bag, such as a purse or something larger that can hold your laptop, camera and wallet, too. Or, a diaper bag if your travelling companion calls you mommy or daddy.

Also, you are permitted to carry on a coat or jacket and something to read on board. Considering current baggage restrictions, carrying your jacket can be less expensive than stuffing it into your suitcase, even if it means looking ridiculous carrying cold weather clothing through a hot weather airport. Also, if your suitcase doesn't arrive with you, at least you won't freeze. And, wear your heaviest, largest shoes on the plane, instead of packing them.

Save space in your carry-on with proper packing techniques. Fold items neatly and stack in the middle of the bag. Fill up the edges by rolling things that don't care if they get wrinkled, like t-shirts, pajamas and underwear. Stuff socks and belts inside shoes. Leave the shampoo behind -- hotels provide that. Soap, too.

A top packing tip for either checked or carry on luggage is to pack last what you'll need first, so it is at the top of the bag. Don't put your jammies at the bottom if you are arriving late and too tired to play archeologist, digging around for the secret to the universe. And even if you are checking a bag, carry on a fresh shirt, just in case. And always carry on important medications and documents -- including that all important presentation you are giving to a client tomorow -- and the housegifts for whoever you are visiting.

Check your airline's weight and size restrictions for carry-on. Generally, it has to be 40 pounds or less, and not exceeding 45 inches when length plus width plus height are totaled. And, of course, it must fit in baggage bins or underneath the seat.

Happy travels. Use these packing tips to save green -- the green in your wallet.

Denver Ready for Democratic National Convention

2008-08-15T07:47:00.015-04:00

Just like the Olympics underway now in Beijing, the Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention are held every four years. And just like the sports Olympics, the presidential marathon takes years of planning and training.

The Democrats meet in Denver on August 25-28. Here's what just one hotel -- the Ritz-Carlton -- has been doing to prepare --

The eco-friendly theme includes a fleet of hybrid taxis to help guests travel green around the city, and recycling leftover food, flowers, and bathroom amenities through donations to local hospitals and homeless centers. The hotel expects to serve more than 6,000 meals, for overnight guests and for the parties booked here. And that doesn't include its signature restaurant, ELWAY’S Downtown, named for legendary former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway. The restaurant expects to serve more than 12,000 meals and cocktails.

Here's just part of the hotel's grocery list:

thousands of pounds of prime Colorado beef,

15 kegs of local Rocky Mountain brews

hundreds of pounds of organic produce

created special menus and even cocktail recipes inspired by the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, including Barack On The Rocks

baked some 11,000 donkey-shaped cookies to be placed on guests' beds each night as turn-down amenities.

preparing desserts such as Ballot Box Brownies and a red, white and blue Campaign ’08 Trail Mix, which includes healthy yogurt-covered almonds, dried strawberries, and for added crunch, blue M & M’s.

The hotel staff is preparing beyond the kitchen and bar, too --

memorizing political factoids, the simplist of which is “What city is hometown for Senator Barack Obama?”

practicing checking in large numbers of arriving delegates

preparing for the nightly race to deliver more than 800 gifts reflecting the official DNC colors of red, white, blue, and eco-friendly green.

the bell staff has been building its biceps for the 3,000 pieces of luggage it will be handling and opening the door some 5,000 times for entering and exiting guests.

If you haven't got your room booked yet, you're too late. The Ritz-Carlton has a waiting list. But you're never too late to become a fan of the Mile High city of Denver, which I love, especially in winter, when pass through on my way to the great Colorado ski country just west of town.

Beware of Phony Hotel Reviews

2008-08-12T15:24:00.013-04:00

It's no surprise that skyrocketing fuel prices have affected how and how often we travel, whether it's a family car trip or a getaway that involves an airplane ticket. So, since you are likely traveling less often than you used to, it is more important than before to be sure you are getting what you pay for from your hotel.

Beware of phony hotel reviews. Many of us these days are relying on so-called 'user reviews' on such websites as TripAdvisor.com and VirtualTourist.com. But are these really written by users? The answer is yes, no, maybe. You wouldn't buy a used car from a guy named "anonymous", so why would you trust your vacation to him or her or them?

I'm a professional travel writer -- a road warrior who has slogged hundreds of thousands of miles from Machu Picchu to Maine, slept at forgot how many airports when a missed connection jinxed me, left behind countless travel alarm clocks in hotel rooms where the pillows were 300-count covered rocks that left me sore in the morning, been frustrated by Wi-Fi that isn't, eaten things that probably shouldn't be identified, etc. So -- do you trust me more than some user named Hugo in Hartford? I hope so.

My colleague Durant Imboden is another professional travel writer. His Europe for Visitors website recently published an article detailing some scary truths about the big business of fake hotel reviews. These include glowing posts by staffers of advertising and marketing agencies who are paid to write four-star reviews of their clients plus reviews trashing the competition. Plus, there are deliberately bad reviews of hotel #1 written by a relative of hotel #2. Granted, some 'user reviews' are exactly that. But not all. How can you tell the difference? You can't.

So who do you trust? If you put your vacation in the hands of somebody not identified beyond "Charlie G." on a website, you deserve to be disappointed. Or do you put your trust in professional travel writers who write for magazines and newspapers and websites, and report on travel on radio and TV? And let's not forget the many reputable travel guidebooks in Barnes & Noble, Borders and on Amazon.com. Yea, I've written some of those, too.

Celebrate a Wind Powered Chairlift

2008-08-10T10:44:00.008-04:00

In the winter, the Zephyr chairlift whisks skiers to the top of the Jiminy Peak mountain, in the picturesque Berkshires of Massachussetts. In the summer, it lifts mountain bikers and hikers. But all year-round, this is a green lift, powered by the wind. And it's a winner.

The wind-powered chairlift has received the 2008 Golden Eagle Award for overall environmental excellence from the National Ski Areas Association, the trade association that represents more than 300 North American alpine resorts that account for more than 90 percent of the skier/snowboarder visits.

The award is sponsored by CLIF® BAR, the leading organic-certified energy bar, which skiers, boarders, hikers and bikers all stash in their pockets or backpacks for a quick fix mid-slope. They also make the Luna brand, which I personally prefer to the original Clif, which can be kinda tough to chew when it's cold, like when I'm skiing.

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort is celebrating the first birthday of the Zephyr lift this week with an on-mountain festival, plus free tours of the turbine. This is your opportunity to see how renewable energy works, up close and personal, as the saying goes. Be forewarned -- it's a hike to and from the turbine from the top of the chairlift. But worth it, for the edcuation you'll get about green, renewable energy in the travel industry, including ski and snowboard resorts-- and the view is pretty spectacular, too.

Just so you know -- Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort is the largest ski and snowboard resort in southern New England -- about half-way between Boston and New York City. And although other resorts buy wind power or carbon credits to operate their chairlifts, this one is the only mountain resort in all of the United States to generate its own energy using alternative wind power.

The Zephyr is powered by a 1.5 MW GE wind turbine, enough to power nearly 800 houses. It cost just under $4 million to build, including construction of a road to the tower and blades, but the resort expects it to pay for itself in seven years. And think of all the diesel fuel and fumes the Jiminy Peak wind turbine is not using! Good for you, Jiminy Peak.

Free Trolley for Visitors in Alexandria, Virginia

2008-08-04T12:29:00.008-04:00

It's a charming, historic city. And you can travel green because once you get to Alexandria, you don't need your car at all. Park it and hop on the picturesque -- and free -- trolley to get around town. Many of the shops, restaurants, attractions and hotels in historic Old Town are within walking distance of each other and the trolley stops.

The new King Street Trolley runs up and down the main street in Old Town. Remember -- it's free, so you save gas, the green in your wallet, and the environment because you're not spewing stuff out of your tailpipe. The trolley operates daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with frequent stops along King Street from the Potomac River to the King Street Metro.

You can also visit nearby Mount Vernon, Georgetown and National Harbor without driving, too. Take the Water Taxi instead, for great views and a great breeze on a hot summer day. The Water Taxi leaves Alexandria and National Harbor every 30 minutes, also from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Actually, leave your car in Alexandria and take the Metro to Washington, D.C. It's just four stops away, and you'll save gas. That's called green travel.

Full Moon Excursions and Energy

2008-08-01T14:56:00.014-04:00

A full moon can cast enough light that it is possible to hike or even read a book outside without a flashlight or other additional outdoor lighting. And a meal in the moonlight -- how romantic can things get.

The next full moon is the weekend of August 14-17, and The Boulders in Scottsdale, Arizona, has a special lunar package designed to draw on the power of the universe -- especially that full moon -- to help tune the body, inspire the spirit and open the mind.

One memorable thing to do is to walk the resort's labyrinth under the moonlight. I've done it in bright sunlight, and even though I'm too pragmatic as a journalist to be especially spiritual, I did, indeed, feel the power. So I can just imagine the forces at play under a full moon.

The package also includes --

Daily morning group hikes in the foothills of the Sonoran Desert
Unlimited fitness classes
Three 50-minute spa services such as massage, wrap, facial, scrub
Three daily meals, plus afternoon tea if your tummy has room
Daily lecture on such topics as nutrition, health, fitness, wellness and astrology
An interactive cooking demonstration, more like a lesson, with the chefs at The Boulders award-winning Golden Door Spa
A pedometer, so you can track your hiking mileage during your stay
A rock climbing lesson on the boulders of The Boulders
Labyrinth walks, daylight and moonlight

The same package is available for September's full moon, weekend of September, 18-21. Also, on the Fall & Spring Equinox and Summer/Winter Solstice there's a 'gastronomical' dinner under the stars in the resort’s Organic Garden. A guest astrologer explains the symbolic language of astrology and how the movement of the constellations and planets influence our lives and how the different signs relate to each other.

BTW -- The Boulders was one of the first resorts in the world to go organic, serving only organic foods. And organic wines, too. Definitely, a resort that knows a few things about green travels!

Baggage Bedlam at American Airlines

2008-07-30T17:02:00.011-04:00

First, the airlines start charging us for headsets, meals, even peanuts. Now, they are charging us to check our suitcases. Then, they simply are unable to get them onto the plane to travel with us.

Aargh! You'd think that if you have to pay $25 extra to get your underwear and jammies onto the plane, they would do what you've paid them to do. Not so.

This was the scene at the American Airlines terminal at New York's JFK today when the baggage handling system melted down. Computer glitch. Nobody's baggage went anywhere. Flights were delayed or cancelled entirely. Passengers who paid $25 extra to check their bags were given the choice to fly without their bags or hang around -- maybe until tomorrow -- when the bags and the passengers could be on the same plane. Maybe.

The picture was taken by Mike Xirinachs, a reporter for WCBS Radio -- where I used to work as a consumer reporter -- who was covering this baggage bedlam. Kinda looks like last year's scene at London's Heathrow Airport, when the baggage piled up because of a meltdown with the passenger and baggage security system.

So here are Consumer Kanter's Words of Warning for airline travel --

Never, ever put into checked luggage anything that you cannot do without, or replace, within 24 hours of your flight. That means your wedding gown or tuxedo, prescription medications, chargers or spare batteries for your digital camera and other electronic gear, the 'hello' toys your grandchildren expect when they meet you at the airport. Carry on with you at least a change of unmentionables for tomorrow, and a sweater or jacket to cover up the sweat marks on the shirt you are forced to wear two days in a row.

Never, ever take the last connection of the day. If something goes wrong, you are stranded halfway to your destination. Sleeping on the floor in some corner of an airport is no fun. Just ask me -- I've done it.

Always, always, put a luggage tag inside your bag, as well as outside, just in case the outside tag gets ripped off in some kind of baggage bedlam or conveyor belt catastrophe. It's tough enough to track down a bag that has a luggage tag on it. Borderline impossible without one.

Happy travels. And aren't we happy about paying out $25 extra green money to check a suitcase. That's for the first bag. Some airlines now are charging $100 or more to check a second or third one. As I said before -- aargh!

Four Ways to Enjoy the Water Around Vancouver

2008-07-27T17:50:00.007-04:00

Water is a common theme in Vancouver. It's just about everywhere you look and it's exactly where people want to be in warm weather. Here are four ways to enjoy this wonderful city in British Columbia, home to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games:

Take a guided kayaking trip up Indian Arm: Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak Centre offers a variety of guided canoe and kayaking trips. Try the "Deep Cove Explorer", a three-hour tour that runs every afternoon in the summer and sends you peacefully gliding through the water and exploring marine areas unavailable to motorized boats. Head out along Indian Arm in search of eagles, seals, salmon and other marine life while learning proper water safety and paddling techniques.

Wilderness paddle and beach BBQ: Lotus Land Tours offers an exciting six-hour wilderness paddle including a sumptuous BBQ salmon lunch on a small, uninhabited island.

Experience the First Nations with Takaya Tours: Join guides from the Coast Salish nation on a unique two-hour canoe adventure up Indian Arm. Paddle a 13-metre cedar canoe as First Nations guides sing traditional songs, tell stories and point out ancient village sites.

A trip that's for the birds: Travel along the rugged coastline en route to the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary via a Steveston Seabreeze Adventures bird-watching tour. You'll paddle through managed wetlands, natural marshes and low dikes in the heart of the Fraser River estuary. The most famous resident is the bald eagle, but keep your eyes peeled for sandpipers, red-tailed hawks, peregrine falcons, cormorants, tufted puffinsCost is $29.95 per adult.

Paddling your own kayak or canoe definitelly classifies as green travels.

Microtel Inn & Suites Offers Many Free Amenities

2008-07-24T12:11:00.011-04:00

Sometimes, green travel means saving money along with saving the environment, and you can do both at Microtel Inn & Suites. This budget hotel chain offers an impressive selection of freebies that are helpful to any budget. And I'm not talking about the cheesy microwave-yourself packaged wrap-wich that passes -- or, rather, fails -- for breakfast at other economy chains.

Microtel gives you free internet and free Wi-Fi, something high-priced luxury hotels don't. Why they don't is something I don't understand, but that's another story.

Microtel also gives you free local and free long distance phone calls. Does any other hotel chain -- at any price -- give guests free long distance phone calls? If you know of one, let me know. Sure, sure, most of us have cellphones with L.D. included, but this way, you don't have to use up your minutes. Use theirs.

The chain is also green when it comes to the environment, with high-efficiency windows, upgraded insulation and laundry equipment. And guests are encouraged to recycle paper, glass and plastics. The chain also is a sponsor of The Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH) and known as the preferred hotel chain for travelers with disabilities.

No wonder this growing chain ranks at the top of the list for guest satisfaction among hotels in the economy price by J.D. Power and Associates

The newest link in the chain is in Verona, New York, about half-way between Albany and Syracuse. A great location for summer travel to the Catskills, Adirondaks and Finger Lakes.
The location also is adjacent to Turning Stone Resort Casino and the Skana Spa at Turning Point, to several championship golf courses, and both Colgate University and Hamilton College are nearby.

So travel green at Microtel Inn & Suites.

Full Moon Hiking and Star Gazing in August

2008-07-21T17:06:00.013-04:00

For a unique, green travel experience, take a hike at sunset or later, by the light of a full moon, when you can also enjoy star-gazing. There are several places in the West that offer guided sunset and full moon events, for the next full moon on August 16. You just missed July's full moon a couple of days ago.

In Denver -- that's the city's skyline pictured -- the full moon party is held at the city's only rooftop hotel pool, at the Warwick Denver Hotel, on the night of the full moon. Since August 16th is a Saturday, it should be quite a party, with live jazz, Perrier Jouet champagne, and passed hors d’oeuvres. You can just go to the rooftop party, or make the party part of a weekend package that includes accommodations.

Squaw Valley, at the north end of Lake Tahoe, offers guided Sunset Hikes on Friday and Saturday evenings all summer, and Full Moon Hikes on the evening before and the evening of the full moon in August. The hikes leave from High Camp, at the top of the Cable Car, at approximately 6 pm. High Camp, at 8,200 feet, is an ideal trailhead for exploring this mountain, with it's beautiful views of year-round snow-capped peaks, and the cobalt blue lake sparkling in the distance below. Guides share their knowledge wealth of information about the geology, flowers, trees and animals native to the region, as well as environmental projects currently underway at the resort.

No Passport? No Problem.

2008-07-14T13:50:00.012-04:00

Are you are one of the procrastinators who still hasn't gotten around to getting your passpport? No worries -- if you are a US citizen, you do not need a valid US passport to mancation, girlfriend getaway, babymoon or simply vacation in some of the best destinations in the Caribbean.

Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are considered -- for passport purposes -- part of the US. So, Just get on the airplane with your sunscreen and your driver's license with its photo ID. Ditto American Samoa, which isn't in the Caribbean. It's in the Pacific.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative passed by U.S. Congress requires that travelers, including U.S. citizens who travel via air to and from the Americas, the Caribbean and Bermuda, must travel with a valid passport in order to enter or re-enter the United States. Not so US citizens visiting the three islands of USVI -- St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas -- Puerto Rico or American Samoa.

So what are you waiting for? Go travel. Go travel to one of these great green islands -- green palm trees, turquoise beaches.

Inventing Words to Sell Travel

2008-07-02T11:46:00.019-04:00

Okay, I've had it with the made up words. Travel is travel. A vacation is a vacation, whether you go alone, with friends or with family, whether you travel to an environmentally friendly green destination or not.

Man-cation. What's that? A vacation only for men? Says who? Who invented this meaningless phrase? More importantly -- WHY? And why can't it be spelled the same way twice? Man-cation with a dash or mancation without?

The female version of 'man-cation' is not 'girl-cation'. It's girlfriend's getaway. Yes, I absolutely want my girlfriends to getaway. From what? From me? Or from the people making up silly travel promotions and words.

Stay-cation, or as it is spelled sometimes, staycation without the dash. Please tell me what this means so I can tell poor Noah Webster to stop spinning in his grave. Of course I stay somewhere when I go on vacation. Even if I stay at home to rearrange the furniture on my vacation, I'm staying somewhere. So what does this nonsense phrase mean? And why are there are marketing efforts to boycott the stay-cation? If we don't know what a stay-cation is, how can we boycott it?

Waiter, please bring me a mocktail. That's what the well-regarded Merrion Hotel in Dublin, Ireland, is offering as part of its summer 'family fun' package. Grown-ups get fluffy terry robes, and the kiddies get "mocktails", whatever those are. Fruit juice, you think? Maybe what makes them a 'mocktail' instead of a glass of orange juice is that they decorate the glass with a silly little paper umbrella. Or, since it's Ireland, that should be a miniature Leprechaun.

The last straw? A shape-cation. This is a package from New York City's Carlton Hotel. It's a bridal package -- including room, spa treatments, a gift yoga mat, and a private session with a bridal lingerie consultant. I understand that you need a license before you can get married -- but a 'shape-cation'?

What's next? How about a man-shape-cation? Or a girlfriend getastay-cation? It will take more than one mocktail to get me on one of those.

Omigosh, I'm starting to sound like the late, great and will be much missed George Carlin.

Best Fourth of July Celebrations

2008-06-30T08:21:00.008-04:00

From the Atlantic to the Pacific, everything is just terrific on the Fouth of July, with parades, food festivals, concerts, backyard barbecues and fireworks. Lots and lots of fireworks. It's hard to call this green travels, because fireworks come in all colors, especially red, white and blue.

Simply, this is America’s annual birthday party, celebrating the day in 1776 when 13 scrappy colonies declared their independence from the world’s then-superpower.

Here are three of the best --

New York City -- The Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks is the nation’s largest, with more than 120,000 bursts of shape and color and movement reaching as high as 1,000 feet into the air, all of it timed to a riveting soundtrack. There also are live performances from top Broadway show stars and pop favorites, this year including country music star Kenny Chesney. The fireworks begin at 9 p.m., launched from barges in the East River. The event is televised nationally on NBC.

Washington, D. C. -- It’s an all-day Fourth of July festival in the Nation's Capital, starting before noon with America’s National Independence Day Parade along Constitution Avenue, past national monuments including the Washington Monument. Many of the bands are in Revolutionary Era dress, marching to the beat of fifes and drums. After the parade, a National Folklife Festival on the Mall celebrates many of the cultures of the U.S. A. The party finishes in the evening at the Capitol Building, with a musical celebration by the National Symphony Orchestra, and fireworks that light up the sky. This concert and fireworks party is broadcast by PBS.

New Orleans -- This city is filled with music year-round, and a New Orleans July Fourth celebration has a touch of Mardi Gras. The music starts before noon with concerts and events at various spots around the riverfront, from the French Market and to the Riverwalk Marketplace. At 7:30, there’s a concert by the New Orleans Concert Band overlooking the Mississippi River, followed by a Dueling Barges Fireworks Display.

More Free Gas Deals from Hotels

2008-06-29T15:22:00.009-04:00

Gas prices are higher than ever. That's not news. What is news is all the deals from hotels to give you back some green this summer travel season.

No, hotels are not lowering their rates, but they are giving guests rebates for the gas tank. Here are some more great deals --

The TradeWinds Island Grand Resort, a beachfront resort located directly on the Gulf of Mexico on St. Pete Beach, just 30 minutes from Tampa, Fla., is betting that oil prices will continue to rise. So instead of offering you a fixed $10 or $25 or whatever for 'free' gas, their rebate is pegged to the cost of a barrel.

The promotion is called "Barrel of Fun" . Cute. At check out, guests booking the package receive a room credit equal to the exact price of a barrel of crude oil on that day. Here's the catch -- there's always a catch. The promotion is for a minimum three-night stay, weekdays only -- no weekends -- and ends on August 28th, just before the big Labor Day weekend.

Lake Tahoe is one of my favorite places to get away -- winter to ski my legs off, other seasons to hike, bike, go whitewater rafting on the Truckee River, or relax on a paddlewheel cruise of the lake. The Resort at Squaw Creek is one of the most highly-rated resorts in the US, at the base of Squaw Valley USA, home to the 1960 Winter Olympics. It's an AAA Four-Diamond property.

Squaw Creek's "Affordable Highways promotion gives you a $25 free gas card, and requires only a two-night minimum stay. Be sure to mention code AFHWYRSC when you make your reservation.

Okay, so hotels aren't lowering their prices. But free gas is a great way to save green on your summer travels.

Alaska Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Statehood

2008-06-25T11:50:00.007-04:00

This is going to be the biggest party in Alaska's history, with events all over the state celebrating the 50th birthday of the 49th state.

It was on June 30, 1958 that the U. S. Congress approved statehood for Alaska. The birthday bash begins Friday, June 27 with a free Wynonna Judd concert that is being broadcast around the world. Coined "Operation Gratitude," the show honors Alaska's military and the state of Alaska.

Judd's concert will be held at Alaska's Elmendorf Air Force Base, located just outside Anchorage. Wynonna's sister Naomi Judd, and the Palmetto State Quartet, will also be on hand.

Even without the birthday celebrations, this is a great time of year to visit Alaska. In June and July, just before and after the summer solstice, Alaskans enjoy near-constant daylight, so the concert will be well lit, to say the least.

Alaskans are likely to be celebrating the rest of the year, until January 3, 2009 -- that's the 50th anniversary of the date Statehood was made official, when President Dwight Eisenhower's signature ushered in Alaska as the 49th state, on January 3, 1959. For a full schedule of events, check the special celebration website.

Wyoming Resorts Go Smoke Free

2008-06-20T17:26:00.008-04:00

Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee are known for some of the most challenging and most scenic terrain in the world -- skiing and snowboarding in winter, and mountain biking when snow gives way to colorful wildflowers and green Alpine grasses.

Now, these world-class travel destinations will also be known for a bold commitment to the health of their staff and guests. Earlier this month, the two year-round resorts, plus resort Snow King Resort in Jackson Hole, put smoke-free policies into effect.

What makes this action unusual is that no other U.S. ski resorts have passed such comprehensive smokefree policies on their own, without the influence of a local or statewide smokefree ordinance. Also, this action by the three top resorts in Wyoming sends a strong message to the local community, the state, and the rest of the ski industry.

There is no more smoking in any Jackson Hole Mountain Resort building, around the entire base area, parking lots, lift lines, chairlifts, trails and all ski/mountain bike runs. And in case you forget, JHMR has posted 50 branded non-smoking signs around the resort.

Grand Targhee Resort, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Snow King Resort partnered with the Teton County Tobacco Prevention Program and local businesses on this effort.

The smoke-free policy will help our health, of course, and it also may help the health of Wyoming's forests and parks, including Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. That's because last year more than three million acres burned because of human carelessness, including careless cigarette disposal, such as the idiot who tosses a butt out of a moving car.

Travel green, travel smoke-free.

Thai Airways Programs to Protect the Environment

2008-06-15T08:58:00.006-04:00

Thailand is known for incredibly beautiful pagodas, beaches, wonderful food and a warm welcome to visitors. Now, its national airline, Thai Airways, is adding green programs to protect the environment.

Here's part of what they are doing to help us all travel green --

A reforestation program at Hui Sai in Cha-am district, Petchburi province involves local schoolchildren, to teach them about the importance of the forest and natural resources. Children of Thai Airways employees also are participating.

An environmental awareness exhibition traveling to the airline's various offices and ticket locations in Thailand, to educate employees and passengers on how Thai Airways is working with other airlines to to decrease CO² emissions in the airline industry.

A Good Agricultural Practice program, which has been conducted for the last six years, helping Thai farmers develop a production system that is environmentally friendly. The airline also purchases food directly from local farmers.

A program that encourages Thai Airways employees to collect vegetable oil that has been used in meal preparation and send it to the company's catering unit to recycle it into biodiesel.

Cheers to Thai Airways for its green travels efforts.

Travel Companies Help Chinese Earthquake Victims

2008-05-30T11:05:00.007-04:00

This isn't a regular subject for Green Travels, but it is an important enough subject to switch gears --

Millions of people are homeless in Sichuan Province, China because of the devastating earthquake earlier in May. Here are some ways that travel companies are helping -- and how you can help, too.

Let's start with panda bears, the iconic and popular -- and endangered -- animal.

The Wolong Nature Preserve is the world's most important panda conservation and breeding center. It was destroyed by the earthquake, and pandas and the people who care for them have been left homeless. GLOBIO and DVD International are teaming up to benefit the Wolong Nature Reserve. GLOBIO is an organization that promotes cross-cultural contacts of children -- and we all know how much children love panda bears.

Buy an Ultimate Panda DVD. It's all about these unique and captivating creatures. Half of the money from sales will be donated to rebuild the Woolong Nature Preserve -- where the DVD was filmed.

Airlines have been getting a bad rap lately -- which they deserve -- for adding all kinds of baggage fees and taking away our free peanuts, plus raising ticket prices. So let's give credit to an airline that's doing something good -- Northwest Airlines.

Transfer any amount of your NWA WorldPerks miles to The Salvation Army and Northwest Airlines will match those gift miles up to a total of one million WorldPerks miles. Transfer miles online or if you prefer, call 1-800-327-2881. Make sure to have your WorldPerks number and PIN ready. Or, at donate least $50 to The Salvation Army and NWA will give you 500 WorldPerks Bonus Miles.

So where are American Airlines and United Airlines? Don't they fly to China, too? Don't they like pandas?

First Green Hotel in Chicago

2008-05-27T15:40:00.011-04:00

When you travel to the Windy City, stay and sleep in a green hotel.

The InterContinental Chicago, on fabled Michigan Avenue, has received all kinds of awards for its eco-friendly initiatives and efficient use of energy.

It is the first Chicago hotel to receive an Energy Star award, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy.

You usually see the Energy Star icon on household appliances that meet EPA requirements for energy efficiency. But not an entire hotel. This one does.

The award means the InterContinental Chicago is one of 25% of all the hotels in the USA that are certified environmentally-friendly. And, it is in the final stages of receiving LEED and Green Seal certification, two other hard-to-get ratings.

Part of the news here is that this isn't a brand new hotel, designed and built from the ground up to be eco-friendly. This is one of the most historic hotels of America, retro-fitted to be a modern energy star.

Originally built in 1929 as the Medinah Athletic Club, an exclusive luxury men's club, the InterContinental Chicago is one of Chicago's most elegant landmarks. It includes a historic, junior Olympic size pool, is recognized as one of the best indoor pools in the U.S. and is included in Chicago's major architectural tours.

Travel Deals, Discounts and Bargains

2008-05-22T08:50:00.009-04:00

Gas prices rising. Airlines charging you to take a suitcase. Simply, travel is more expensive than last year. But some family attractions are reducing their prices.

Here's where to save green travel dollars this summer. Okay, okay -- these might not be the kind of environmental, eco-friendly, tree-hugger destinations you usually find here. Today, I'm writing about the broader category of saving the green in your wallet.

Six Flags Over Georgia is reducing its main gate regular admission price by $10 for the remainder of the 2008 season. That means ten roller coasters, including Goliath and the Mind Bender, water rides including thunder River and Splashwater Falls, a children's area with Thomas the Tank Engine, and a full schedule of free concerts. Even with the $10 discount, you're still paying $39.99 per adult, $29.99 per kid.

super discount deal -- buy tickets online for $29.99 per person, adult or kid, print them out, and go straight to the gate, no waiting on the ticket line.

Madam Tussauds Washington D.C. is dropping prices for seniors, children ages 12 and under, and for residents of Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia (you'll have to show proof of residency, like a driver's license, to get the discount for locals). Okay -- each ticket discount is it's just $3 or $4, but that's the price of one gallon of gas.

Be sure to bring your camera. It's hokey, but everybody does it -- have your picture taken next to lifesize and lifelike images of famous names including President John F. Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy, George Clooney, Beyonce, Senators Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama, even Pope Benedict XVI, who visited D.C. in April.

Green travels sometimes just means saving gas and saving money.

More Deals for Free Gas for Summer Travel

2008-05-20T08:08:00.008-04:00

It must be a good idea, because the two top online hotel reservations companies -- Hotels.com and Expedia -- are offering deals that give you back green dollars to lower the price of filling your gas tank.

Hotels.com will give you a $50 gas card rebate for every three night reservation. Stay six nights, and you get $100 green back for gas travel. But there are restrictions. Surprise. There are always restrictions.

The Hotels.com gas rebate deal is only good for stays between July 6 and September 1. That means no two-night getaway weekends are eligible, and the free gas deal does not apply over the popular July Fourth and Labor Day holiday weekends.

You have to apply for the gas rebate card, and it will be mailed to you after your eligible three-night stay. But Hotels.com doesn't say how long after. By Thanksgiving, hopefully.

The gas rebate program from Expedia is a bit different. It still gives you $50 back for a three-night stay, but this program gives you a prepaid Mastercard you can use at any gas station. And, of course, there are restrictions.

The Expedia program is for weekday stays only, no weekends.

The gas rebate program is over August 31, just before the Labor Day holiday.

Are these gas rebate deals hype or help? Will giving you back $50 green dollars for your summer travel mean the difference between going to grandma's house and not?

Free Gas From Hotels

2008-05-14T08:51:00.007-04:00

Hotels are trying to boost travel this summer by giving guests free gas -- giving back some green.

The promotions are designed to lessen the crunch of rising gas prices. But it's really a ploy to generate some positive public relations and marketing buzz.

What is the difference is between advertising "free gas" and advertising "$50 reduction in your hotel bill"? A lot more of us writers and bloggers will write about FREE GAS than will write and blog about Hotel X is discounting its two night stay by $50.

And the free gas promotion has restrictions. Duh! Surprise.

Take Choice Hotels International. Never heard of them? They're the parent group of Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion and Cambria Suites brands.

You can get a $50 gas rebate -- if you book three different, separate visits between June 1 and August 14, and if you register for the program before your first stay, and send in the paperwork after your third stay. Wow! I'm so impressed.

Wouldn't it just be easier for Choice Hotels International to say "join our frequent guest program, stay with us three times this summer, and we'll reduce your total bill by $50". Of course it would. But who would write about that?

There's lots of ways to travel green, to save the environment, and also save the green in your wallet. Travel smarter, travel green.

Take Home a Piece of Yellowstone National Park

2008-05-12T14:43:00.009-04:00

Yellowstone National Park is very likely the most environmentally faithful, green place for travel. And the historic Old Faithful Inn, overlooking the iconic Old Faithful geyser, is the best place to stay inside the park.

The inn is famous -- along with its view -- for its hand-crafted old-fashioned furniture.

Beginning this summer, visitors can buy copies of headboards, chairs, mirrors, and other items from the new "Yellowstone Collection” available in the gift shop, and also online.

The furniture is made by the Old Hickory Furniture Company, which has been making furniture for the Old Faithful Inn since it opened in 1904.

Even better -- Old Hickory is donating 10% to the Yellowstone Park Foundation, to help operate park programs that the National Park Service does not fund.

To kick off the line of furniture, Old Hickory and Xanterra Parks & Resorts, which operates Old Faithful Inn, are sponsoring a contest called the ‘National Treasure Grand Giveaway.” Prizes include a complete bedroom set of the handcrafted furniture and one five-day Yellowstone vacation including five nights at the Old Faithful Inn, airfare for up to four people, meals and activities.

Where Americans are Traveling This Summer

2008-05-09T11:06:00.007-04:00

More than 25 million Americans will be travelling internationally this summer, a larger number than of green travel adventurers than went on the road last year.

Travel to Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia is up for summer 2008, despite the weak dollar overseas, despite international airline fares and hotels that are more expensive than last year.

The travel forecast is from AAA, via report produced by a company called Global Insight.

According to them, Americans will be spending an astounding $30.7 billion overseas during the months of June, July and August.

Even though the increase in the number of travellers is up only two percent, the increase in the amount we'll be spending is up twice that much -- because of the double-whammy of general worldwide inflation, in part due to the astronomical rise in gas prices and the week U.S. dollar.

The largest travel increases are for China and India. China, of course, is the site of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. According to the AAA-Global insight report, travel by Americans to visits to China and India are expected to be up more than 13% -- each -- this summer.

Travel to Europe also is predicted to be up this year --

France -- up 6.7%, with more than one American million visitors,

Ireland -- up 6.6%, with more than 337,000 American visitors

Italy -- up 4.7% with 1.6 million green travels visitors

Germany -- up 4.4% with 725,000 American travelers.

So, this is a busy year for green travels overseas. Make sure you get to the airport early.

Portland Brewpub Goes Solar to Brew Beers

2008-05-06T09:57:00.005-04:00

Portland’s Lucky Labrador Brew Pub is the first brewpub in Oregon to use solar power to brew beer. Definitely a green travels destination. But no green beer.

Solar panels on the roof generate energy to heat the water used in making beer. The renewable energy is also used to heat water for dishwashers and bathrooms.

Even on cloudy days, of which Portland is known to have a few, the panels can generate enough energy to warm water to 145 degrees.

Lucky Lab, one of several Portland-area brewpubs that welcome dogs in their outdoor seating areas, plans to brew a special “Sun Beer” to celebrate its solar-heating system.

This Lucky Lab pub, in Southeast Portland, is in a former warehouse. There are also two other Lucky Lab brewpubs around Portland -- but so far, they haven't gone solar. Maybe soon.

A green travels destination that is pet-friendly, too.

Help Save the Endangered Loggerhead Turtle

2008-05-04T13:46:00.005-04:00

This green travels expedition can help save the Loggerhead Turtle, the largest hard-shelled turtle. It lives along a long stretch of southeast Florida coast, and it is endangered.

The eggs of these beautiful -- and endangered -- creatures will be hatching soon, and there's the chance to both see them in their natural habitat and help them survive.

A volunteer from the Sea Turtle Preservation Society of Brevard County, Florida educates guests on the plight of the sea turtles during beach walks while on the lookout in hopes of spotting a Loggerhead.

The walks are a great educational experience as well as an opportunity to get your family talking about ways to go green at home.

The Crowne Plaza Melbourne Oceanfront Resort has a vacation package that includes turtle walk tickets. The hotel also returns $10 to the Sea Turtle Preservation Society for every package booked. The turtle walks are from June 1 to July 31.

There's more information about the endangered loggerhead turtle on the National Geographic website.

Green turtles and green travels.

Airlines Now Charge You to Check Bags

2008-05-02T09:26:00.010-04:00

Starting next week, airline passengers will pay extra to check their bags. This is a kind of green travel -- it is the airlines taking more green out of our travel pockets.

Instead of raising ticket prices, airlines are raising the cost of taking a second suitcase. Starting Monday, May 5, it will cost you $25 to check a second bag on these airlines:

United, Delta, Continental, US Airways, Northwest
American (starts Monday May 12)

If you are traveling next week, expect extra congestion and extra tension at the check-in counters as unsuspecting travelers get hit with excess baggage charges.

Why are the airlines doing this? To help cover their increased fuel costs, which are enormous. And, by discouraging us from traveling with two bags, the airlines also are cutting the weight of their planes, which will help squeeze a few more miles out of each gallon of jet fuel.

The $25 charge for a second bag does not apply to everybody -- only to the passengers in the cheap seats -- kiss your discounted economy fare goodbye. Full-fare economy, business and first class passengers are not being hit with the $25 excess baggage charge. Ditto, members of an airline's frequent flyer club.

The rules are pretty complicated. Check your airline's website for updated information. But don't expect much information.

American Airlines has a teeny tiny box tab on its baggage allowance website page that says 'important updates" that's easy to miss. And I couldn't find anything at all about the new baggage charges on the United or Continental websites.

That's just plain dumb and asking for trouble. I pity the poor airline check-in personnel next week. They are in for a lot of abuse that's not their fault.

Bad enough the airlines are dumping $25 baggage charges on us. It is shameful they are not informing us better. So much for friendly skies!

Learn to travel light. Check one large bag instead of two smaller ones. But remember to keep that one large bag to 50 lbs. or less, since you also will be charged for excess baggage for any bag that weighs more than 50 lbs.

Or, just stick to carry-on. Then you won't have to worry about being the owner of one of the one-billion (yes, billion with a 'b') bags that are delayed worldwide each year.

Swim with Polar Bears in Canada

2008-04-30T15:26:00.004-04:00

Get in the water and swim with polar bears in Cochrane, Ontario, Canada.

Polar Bear Habitat & Heritage Village offers visitors the chance to get up close and personal with the furry animals in the water.

This is the world's first and only polar bear rehabilitation center with a special pool to allow guests to swim next to the amazing creatures – with a thick glass wall separating the two spaces, of course.

The non-profit polar bear habitat rescues polar bears whose well-being is endangered. Right now, the center is home to three bears – Nanook, age 24, and Nikita and Aurora, four-year-old twins, who are playful and cute and people-friendly, and safe to play with on the other side of a glass wall.

You don't have to jump in the chilly water with them, but it's more fun than watching them from dry land. The polar bear habitat and museum village is open year round, but chance to swim with the polar bears is only open from mid-May to mid-October.

New Simpsons Ride is Designed to Save Energy

2008-04-27T12:26:00.006-04:00

The Simpsons Ride opens in May at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando, based, of course on the blockbuster Simpsons movie and hit TV series.

Of course it will be a mega-popular ride. It's also a green ride -- an energy efficient green travel destination.

The ride was designed with new lighting technologies and new electric motor drives that save energy.

Through what Universal is calling a "green" conversion process, "The Simpsons Ride" will use some 55-thousand less watts per hour than the ride it replaces.

That adds up to power savings of 662,796 watts a day during the busy summer months, That's a pretty impressive power savings. So how are they doing it?

The environmentally conscious Simpsons Ride features the largest lighting installation of LED lamps in theme park ride history. Not just Universal, but all theme parks.

The Simpsons Ride is illuminated by more than 2,500 LED lights. These use one-third the power of standard incandescent lighting. So, instead of using up 82-thousand watts of electricity an hour, the LED lights need just under 28-thousand.

It's just part of Universal Studios commitment to green as a core business value. A company-wide "Green is Universal" initiative includes programs to increase recycling ratios, switches to alternative fuels, conservation of energy to reduce carbon footprints, and printing on recycled paper.

How to Travel Green

2008-04-20T09:34:00.009-04:00

Travel green, save green. These simple green living and green travel tips are not just Earth Day, but every day.

Don't litter. Even though others might dump their trash on the side of the road or on a pristine beach, don't join them.

Support the local economy -- buy souvenirs made locally. I was appalled on a recent visit to the West Point Museum to see t-shirts and other souvenirs bearing a Made in China label. The museum gift shop at the United States Military Academy sells things not made in America. Shameful.

Seek out souvenirs made by local artists and craftsman. You'll bring home something unique, plus you ensure your green travel dollars stay local.

Support the local economy -- skip the chain restaurants. Seek out locally-owned eateries. Again, that ensures your dining dollars stay local.

Use public transportation to get around. That will help save the environment as well as your green travel dollars. Plus, you'll have a better understanding of the city you are visiting.

In Buenos Aires recently, I went out of my way to ride the city's A-Line subway, becasue I grew up riding New York City's "A" train, made famous by jazz great Duke Ellington.What I discovered in Argentina was wonderful old wooden trains with windows that open and milky glass shades over the lightbulbs. It was a lovely, memorable ride.

Rent a fuel efficient or hybrid car. Save money at the gas station, save the environment.

Yes, it's easy to travel green.

Celebrate Earth Day with Three Easy Ways to Travel Green

2008-04-17T09:58:00.018-04:00

Think about the environment everyday, not just on Earth Day, April 22. Being green also means saving green -- the green dollars in your wallet.

Here are three easy things to do to help you travel green, and be greener at home, too:

One -- Take a re-usable shopping bag to the store with you. If you are like me, you have dozens of plastic bags from the last supermarket trip and dozens of cloth tote bags, too. Use them. What is the logic in bringing home yet another plastic bag just to add it to your local landfill? In many parts of the world, shops don't give you a bag, you have to supply your own.

Buy yourself one of the colorful totes from Chico Bags. Light, reusable, and they fold up into an integrated pouch as small as your BlackBerry. Easy to keep in your purse or car glove compartment, so it's always handy.

Two -- Stop buying bottled water. Americans spend something like $16 billion on bottled water, and that doesn't count the cost of the oil to manufacturer and transport the bottles, including to the landfills where they wind up. An astounding 80% of water bottles wind up in landfill, according to Nalgene, which makes re-usable water bottles.

Filter your own tap water. That's what several of the dollar-a-bottle brands do. You'll save green -- both the environment and your wallet.

Three -- Slow down. Driving 65 mph, rather than 75 mph, can improve your fuel economy by 15 percent. There are more tips on saving money at the gas pump on my Great Drives blog.

Yes, my friends, it's easy to be green. Also less espensive.

Go Green! Celebrate this earth we live on, not just Earth Day 2008, but everyday.

Earth Day Events at Universal Studios

2008-04-14T15:03:00.011-04:00

Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates Earth Day with free, family-friendly, eco-friendly activities -- including free parking for visitors who travel green in fuel efficient hybrid cars.

Saturday, April 26 is being designated at "Eco-Fair" day, with more than thirty displays and exhibits, including a “hands-on” lesson on the vital -- and positive -- impact that reptiles and insects have on the environment.

Some of the more animated critters will include an Australian Bearded Dragon Lizard named "Benny," Ironclad beetles that "play dead,” and a friendly Tarantula named “Rosey” who is eager to shake everyone’s hands. A friendly Tarantula? Since when are they friendly?

What's a fair without celebrities? Lauren Koslow from “Days of our Lives” will be just one of the celebs on hand to autograph eco-friendly bags and help dispense energy efficient light bulbs at the Environmental Media Association’s booth.

Another highlight of the Eco-Fair will be the collection of hazardous waste materials sponsored by the City and County of Los Angeles. Guests who bring in an item for safe disposal get free parking.

So, here's the chance for you Angelenos and your neighbors to get rid of -- safely and properly -- things like paint solvents, motor oils, cleaning products, pool and garden chemicals, auto and household batteries, monitors, printers, televisions, video games, cell phones, stereos and electronic toys, can enjoy free parking.

The Universal Studios Eco-Fair is part of the company’s ongoing “Green is Universal” initiative, a campaign to raise awareness and activate consumers to help save the environment, as well as a long-term commitment to green NBC Universal’s own operations.

Green is universal. And Universal is green.

Best Spring Gardens and Garden Tours

2008-04-13T09:18:00.010-04:00

Colorful spring flowers and flowering shrubs and plants. What better way to enjoy green travel than visiting some of the world's best gardens.

Garden tours are an adventure of color and shape, for nature lovers, photographers, and, of course, gardeners, who combine green thumbs with green travels.

Perhaps the most famous spring garden is Keukenhof Gardens, one hour from Amsterdam, that blooms with more than seven million tulips, in nearly as many colors. Some of these blooms are rarely seen outside the garden's gates. Seven million tulips. It boggles the mind.

As much as the Dutch celebrate tulips, there are nationwide festivities on April 30th, which is celebrated as the birthday of Queen Beatrix. It is known as Queen's Day. There are parties and parades everywhere, most especially in Amsterdam, where the city turns into a giant street fair.

Back to the flower festivals -- pardon the pun, but they are blooming everywhere in botanical gardens. Nearly every city of any size has one.

The Brooklyn Botanical Garden is famous for its Japanese cherry trees, all pink and white and fluttery in the spring air. This may be the only world-famous garden with a subway stop at its doorstep. And the Brooklyn Museum is across the street.

As its name implies, The Huntington Library, Art Galleries and Botanical Gardens is more than just a walk in the park. Although you can sit and have traditional British tea here, too. Plan to spend the day in this lovely spot just outside Los Angeles.

The Denver Botanic Gardens offer a glimpse of the snow-capped Front Range of the Rockies in the distance, and orchids and other exotic blooms up close.

Ah, the flowers that bloom in the spring. Tra la. Definitely great green travel.

Whale Watching in Iceland

2008-04-11T18:08:00.007-04:00

One of the most popular green travel adventure activities in Iceland is whale watching.

Tours are available from April to October and are ready to take you within an arm’s reach of a breaching humpback or a minke whale, and often dolphins, too.

Iceland's capital of whale watching is Húsavík, North Iceland. Whale-watching operator North Sailing owns three ships there, including an old-fashioned schooner.

After a whale watching trip, stop off at the Húsavík Whale Centre, run by Ásbjörn Björgvinsson, named one of Time magazine’s European Heroes of the Year for his environmental and conservation work.

Or, begin your whale-watching expedition from Reykjavik, Iceland's charming capital city, with Elding Tours. Their large cruiser holds 150 passengers with 3 viewing platforms. But I would choose the smaller yacht, carrying up to 38 passengers which is more maneuverable, so it can turn around more quickly to follow the breaching whales.

For more information about Iceland, including the world-famous Blue Lagoon, check the Iceland Tourist Board website.

Visit Pennsylvania Dutch Country via Antique Train

2008-04-10T10:54:00.010-04:00

Take the train to visit picturesque Pennsylvania Dutch Country. An antique train, that is.

Rolling farmlands set the scene for a leisurely tour on the Strasburg Rail Road. It's a 45-minute ride to Paradise, Pennsylvania and back.

There are scenic tours during the day, attracting railroad buffs of all ages. It's a great family excursion.

There's also a sunset ride, for adults only, with wine and cheese, that combines the romance of antique railroading with -- well -- the romance of wine and cheese at sunset.

Strasburg Rail Road is America's oldest short-line, celebrating 50 years since its rebirth in 1958. That's when a group of twenty-four visionaries saved the line from abandonment, keeping it alive to introduce and entertain a new generation to the wonders of travel by train.

Train travel is green travel.

Check the Pennsylvania Dutch Country Convention and Visitors Bureau for more ideas about things to see and do in this charming and historic area.

Taste of New York: April is Wine Month

2008-03-31T07:51:00.008-04:00

April is Wine Month in New York State, with hundreds of restaurants and wine stores offering customers a “Taste of New York”.

April is the perfect time for this promotion. The first wines from the great 2007 vintage are being released, and we are starting to plan our wine country trips for late spring and summer.

New York Wine Month has a list of restauarants throughout the state which are featuring New York wines from the Hudson Valley, Finger Lakes and Long Island.

Or, buy my book. Shameless self-promotion here.

Eating the Hudson Valley: Food Lover's Guide to Local Dining, Wineries & More is the only complete guide to family-owned and operated restaurants whose menus focus on fresh, natural, local ingredients. There's also a guide to local wineries, farmer's markets, cooking classes, and famous sites to visit. Things like West Point and Kykuit, the Rockefeller mansion.

The list does not include New York City restaurants, which have a separate Taste of New York and New York Wines promotion each fall.

Santa Monica Restaurant Goes Green with Solar Power

2008-03-28T11:42:00.010-04:00

The Lobster Restaurant, one of Santa Monica’s historic landmarks, has just added 54 solar panels to its roof.

The restaurant is by the world-famous Santa Monica Pier. The solar panels curve gracefully over the roof, just steps from the Pacific Ocean, and do not obstruct ocean views.

The solar panels are expected to generate up to 20% of total energy needs for The Lobster. That's electricity which won't be generated by coal or oil or nuclear power. Just power from the sun.

The restaurant -- which first opened as a seafood shack in 1925 -- worked with Solar Santa Monica, the city’s program encouraging both solar photovoltaics and solar thermal (hot water), to get the new system up and running.

Solar power for sunny California. How appropriate.

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Three cheers for The Lobster. And one question --

Why aren't more businesses installing solar panels on their unused, unproductive, sun-splashed rooftops?

Top Tips to Save Money at the Gas Pump

2008-03-27T09:18:00.012-04:00

Gas prices are causing sticker shock, and perhaps indigestion, too. But there are some simple ways you can reduce your pain at the pump and travel green:

Slow down. Driving 65 MPH, rather than at 75 MPH, can increase your fuel economy by 15 percent.

Behave. Aggressive driving, such as 'jackrabbit' starts and slam-dunk braking, can reduce your highway mileage by a whopping 33 percent.

Keep your tires properly inflated. Under-inflated tires waste gas, and wear out the treads, too. Tire pressure changes one pound for every ten degree Fahrenheit change in the outside temperature, so if you haven't checked your tires since you stopped wearing winter mittens, you are wasting gas. And money.

Get rid of the junk in the trunk. Manufacturers are squeezing out every spare ounce from body parts to reduce weight and increase fuel efficiency. So why are you carrying around everything but the kitchen sink? Junk in the trunk reduces fuel efficiency.

No idling. Get in the car and go. Sitting there with the motor running gets you zero MPG. That's why hybrid cars are so much more fuel efficient than their comparable-sized gas only siblings -- when a hybrid is not moving, it switches to the electric motor, which doesn't use gas.

Get regular tune-ups. Just replacing your air filter can improve mileage by 10 percent.

Check your gas cap. Be sure there’s a tight seal, to prevent that high-priced octane from vaporizing. Nearly 20 percent of vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are damaged, loose or are missing altogether, wasting some 147 million gallons of gas every year.

Fill-up in the morning or evening, not mid-day. Why? Because gasoline expands with warmer temperatures. You'll get more gas and less air when the temperature is cooler.

Pump your gas slowly. Use the slow setting on the pump trigger to minimize the amount of money-wasting vapors you are putting into your gas tank.

Of course, you could also drive less, carpool, take the train, walk.

Delta Joins United Charging $25 for a Second Bag

2008-03-26T11:52:00.008-04:00

Airlines are finding creative ways to increase the cost of a ticket -- without actually increasing the cost of a ticket.

Delta is now joining United in charging passengers $25 for a second checked bag. And USAirways has similar plans.

It's called 'unbundling', something like a hot dog vendor charging you extra for sauerkraut. And it's a sneaky way to increase prices without actually increasing prices. Oh, I said that already.

The other sneaky thing is that United and Delta haven't made the announcement officially. It's hidden on their websites. But, an article in the Washington Post spills the beans.

The baggage fees begin in May -- just in time for peak summer travel season -- no matter when you bought your ticket.

The fee applies to economy-class domestic and international flights. Business- and first-class passengers are exempt. So are some members of an airline's frequent flyer program. So, if you haven't joined a program like Delta SkyMiles or United MileagePlus, do it now, while that's still free.

Airlines used to feed you. Now you have to buy your food on board -- except on l-o-n-g flights. Since so much of airline food isn't too good to begin with, and most airport food court food is of the greasy kidstuff variety, I'd rather bring my own from home or from a sandwich store near home than buy on board.

Airlines used to give you free headsets or free movies, or both. Now, you have to buy them on board. Unless you bring your own, and a portable DVD player, too.

Curbside checking used to be free. Now, some airlines are charging $2 or $3 per bag to check them curbside. That's for the airline. You still have to tip the skycap.

What's next? Charging for the seatbelts?

Bed and Breakfast Inns Offer Green Travel Bargains

2008-03-24T20:10:00.006-04:00

For the fifth year in a row, bed and breakfast inns around the U.S. are offering creative ways of rewarding guests for conserving gas.

The program is called "Tanks a Lot!", and it includes helping guests pay for their own fill-up, either before or after a home-made breakfast.

Here's a sample of eco-friendly great green deals being offered by B&Bs in more than 40 states, the Caribbean Islands and three Canadian provinces --

The Colonial Terrace, Carmel, California, just one block from Carmel Beach -- Through the end of June, arrive in a hybrid vehicle, Sunday through Thursday, and receive $25 off the total bill to put toward gas.

Pilgrim’s Inn and Cottages, Deer Isle, Maine -- This inn is rewarding guests who arrive driving hybrid vehicles, by reducing their bill up to $40 for a tank of gas, through October 18.

White Swan Inn, Whitehall, Michigan -- Through June, guests staying two nights who bring a grocery bag of non-perishable food items or personal care products for the local food pantry will receive a $40 discount on their bill to help with gas. Mention "Fuel and Food" when making your reservation.

Island Goode’s, Hilo, Hawaii -- Look forward to fresh produce grown on this eight-acre estate, plus solar-heated water at this eco-friendly inn. Book two nights and get a $25 credit toward auto or travel expenses; stay four nights and get a $50 credit. Call for a free airport pickup, and ride green in the inn’s Toyota Prius.

Be sure to mention the BedandBreakfast.com's Tanks a Lot! promotion when booking your reservation.

Marriott Golf Courses to be Certified Audubon Sanctuaries

2008-03-21T21:07:00.011-04:00

Marriott Golf is going to the birds, and we're not just talking about golf birdies.

The company is launching new standards for 34 of the golf courses it manages in North America and the Caribbean to become Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries by the end of next year. Travel green and golf green!

Certification means golf facilities must protect the environment. That includes enhancing precious natural areas and wildlife habitats, water and energy conservation, and more.

The golf program is the latest link (okay, I couldn't resist the pun) in a systemwide environmental commitment by Marriott International.

Marriott Golf courses include such famed golf destinations such as Doral Golf Resort & Spa, in Miami, Florida; Royal St. Kitts Golf Club in the British West Indies; and Shadow Ridge Golf Club in Palm Desert, California.

In fact, Doral, host of the 2008 WGC-CA Championship, March 20-23, becomes the first-ever Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in North America to host a World Golf Championships event.

In the last decade, Marriott has replaced 450,000 light bulbs with fluorescent lighting, introduced linen reuse programs, and installed 400,000 low-flow showerheads and toilets at its hotels worldwide.

And, at its headquarters in Maryland and a division headquarters in Orlando, Marriott replaced more than 2.5 million pieces of Styrofoam and plastic utensils with fully biodegradable versions those made of potato, sugar cane and cornstarch.

Such green actions have earned Marriott an EPA Sustained Excellence award and placed the ENERGY STAR® label on more than 200 of its hotels, the most of any hotel company.

Bottled Water or Tap?

2008-03-20T22:48:00.005-04:00

March 22 is World Water Day -- a good time to think about the environmental cost of bottled water.

World consumption of bottled water more than doubled between 1997 and 2005.

Think about how much oil it takes to manufacture and ship all those plastic bottles.

Now, think about all those plastic bottles winding up in your city's landfill -- the ones that didn't get dumped along your favorite street or highway.

The United States is the world's largest consumer of bottled water. US residents drank nearly 6.3 billion gallons in 2005, according to Planet Ark.

More than one billion people in this world lack access to clean water, bottled or not.

Something to think about on World Water Day. And every day.

Is bottled water worth the price?

Visit Home of Paul McCartney in Liverpool

2008-03-18T15:54:00.007-04:00

Visit the childhood home of Sir Paul McCartney, which Heather Mills did not get in their well-publicized divorce settlement.

Maybe that's why these Beatles impersonators are smiling, or maybe it's just because this is a great time to visit Liverpool, which has been named the European Capital of Culture for 2008.

Take a magical history tour of Liverpool, where The Beatles lived and wrote about in their songs.

There are two ways to travel green in Liverpool -- three if you count walking --

Hop aboard a yellow minibus, not a yellow submarine, to visit the childhood homes of Sir Paul McCarthy and John Lennon, now both National Trust heritage properties.

There's also a hop-on-hop-off double decker bus, which makes multiple stops, including at The Cavern Club on Matthew Street, where the Beatles were just one of more than one thousand musicians and groups to have played here. There still is live music here five nights a week, and outside, a “Wall of Fame” lists some of these golden oldies, from Richie Havens to Acker Bilk, the Yardbirds and the Rolling Stones. The Cavern Club is just around the corner from the new Beatles-themed Hard Day's Night Hotel.

Take the ferry for a one-hour loop of both sides of the Mersey River, immortalized by the Beatles song Ferry Across the Mersey, which plays over the loudspeaker when the ferry leaves the dock, which is in front of the baroque Cunard Building. Liverpool may be most famous these days for its Beatles connection, but the city has a strong maritime history, too.

And if you want yet more of The Beatles Story, there's a museum of the same name in the Albert Dock area of museums and shops. It traces the influence of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and other 1950s rock and blues stars on the young Liverpudlians who would create what became known as ‘the Mersey sound” in the 60s.

It’s pure nostalgia for those old enough to remember the raucous early days. And, it's bittersweet for anyone viewing the white piano decorated with a single red rose and a framed photo of John Lennon, while the loudspeaker plays Imagine, softly. The self-guided audio tour is in nearly one dozen languages; Lennon’s sister narrates the English version.

It's enough to turn you into a Beatles groupie, if you weren't one already.

Best Wildflowers in Years in Arizona Desert

2008-03-16T12:46:00.008-04:00

Thanks to well-timed rains, the desert of Southern Arizona will have its best wildflower season in years this spring. And, the wildflowers are being joined by a similar riot of colors of cactus flowers.

Peak blooming season is generally mid-March through April.

There's a list of colorful areas in and around Tucson on the website of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, where you also can take guided tours with a staff expert. This is an outdoor museum, where you sometimes have to give the javelinas and other desert creatures right of way to cross the paths.

Spring is a great time to visit the Sonora Desert -- daytime temperatures are cool and comfortable, and the desert floor is green and pink and purple and red.

Just so you know -- Tucson is 2,389 feet above sea level, and the metro Tucson area covers more than 500 square miles. Arizona does not follow daylight savings time. From April through October, Arizona time mirrors Pacific Daylight Time.

Restaurants Support UNICEF Effort for Clean Water

2008-03-13T11:40:00.004-04:00

World Water Day is March 22, acknowledging the importance of clean water for people around the world.

In Washington, D.C., nearly 100 top restaurants are participating the UNICEF Tap Project, a grassroots initiative to provide clean water to children in developing countries.

Lack of clean water is the second largest killer of children under five. This year the Tap Project goes nationwide, including Washington, DC., where restaurants are asking customers to donate $1 for the tap water they get for free, to support the cause.

For a list of DC-area restaurants participating, click here. The fund-raiser is during the week of March 16, through World Water Day on the 22nd.

Last year, more than 300 restaurants and thousands of their patrons in New York City raised more than $100,000 -- that helped provide four million children with safe and clean water.

More than one billion people do not have access to clean water or adequate sanitation, and one in five of them are children. Eighty percent of all illness and infant mortality is due to waterborne disease.

UNICEF's goal is to reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe water and basic sanitation by 2015.

A little goes a long way— $1 to UNICEF can provide 40 liters of safe drinking water. That is enough to give one child safe drinking water for 40 days, or 40 children safe drinking water for one day.

As the saying goes -- every drop counts.

Washington, DC Cherry Blossom Festival

2008-03-10T12:47:00.009-04:00

Cherry blossoms are about to redecorate Washington, D.C. in pink and white.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is the annual rite of spring in the nation's Capital, and it also celebrates the gift of hundreds of cherry trees from Japan to the United States, representing the friendship between the two nations.

The world-famous trees were a gift from Japan in 1912, and 2008 is the 96th year of the festival. The festival runs for two weeks starting March 29th, with daily events including concerts, arts and crafts, demonstrations of origami, and more.

This year, opening ceremonies include an appearance by Miss Universe 2007, Riyo Mori, originally of Shizouka, Japan.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival organizers have a live webcam to track the blooms, which are tracked by a horticulturalist with the National Park Service.

The webcam is a cool way to travel green.

Washington, DC hotels have special packages for the festival, and the city's restaurants have added special cherry-infused menu items. Check the Washington, DC Visitors Bureau for the cheery cherry details.

Air Canada Offers Carbon Offsets to Passengers

2008-03-06T13:41:00.006-05:00

Air Canada has an innovative green travel program that allows passengers to purchase carbon offsets for environmental efforts.

Since the program was launched in May 2007, the airline's customers have purchased thousands of dollars in offsets -- enough to plant nearly 1,400 trees to a forest restoration project in Maple Ridge, British Columbia.

The program has offset nearly 7,000 tons of CO2 -- which is the equivalent of taking some 2,300 vehicles off the road for a full year. Pretty impressive.

Air Canada's environmental program is in coperation with ZeroFootprint.

I'm just back from a ski trip to Alberta and the wondrous slopes and vistas of Sunshine, Lake Louise, Norquay and Marmot Basin.

My own JFK-Calgary trip had a carbon offset cost of just $11.37.

Yellowstone National Park Geyser Cam

2008-02-20T18:26:00.004-05:00

Now you can watch the Old Faithful Geyser spout on your computer.

Yellowstone National Park has just launched its first live streaming webcam of live, full motion video of what is arguably the world's most famous and recognizable geyser. But the Yellowstone National Park 'geyser-cam' shows you more, too.

The camera also takes in other geysers location on Geyser Hill, including Beehive, Lion, and Giantess. But not my own personal favorite, the bubbling Paint Pot geyer.

Also, the camera shows you whatever wildlife that meanders into camera range, including bison and elk.

Northwest Airlines Spending Billions on Greener Airplanes

2008-02-18T17:15:00.007-05:00

Northwest Airlines has dubbed its environmentally friendly program "EarthCares". There are several parts to it --

The airline is spending $6 Billion (yes, with a B) over the next few years to modernize its fleet, retiring fuel-guzzling jets in favor of more modern and more energy-efficient ones. This will reduce the airline's carbon emissions by 25%.

Also, by the end of the decade, Northwest will donate a total of $1 Million (that's with an M) to the Nature Conservancy, to protect land in the Mississippi River Valley from being polluted, developed or both.

You can support these efforts by donating either money or frequent flyer miles, and you can do it on the airline's website

Bonaire Designated as Most Pristine Coral Reef in Caribbean

2008-02-16T09:05:00.012-05:00

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had designated the island of Bonaire as having "arguably the most pristine coral reef environment in the Caribbean".

Scuba divers and snorkelers already know this -- it's why Bonaire consistently rates as one of the world's top diving destinations. Visibility underwater can extend 100 feet or more, and the variety of coral and tropical fish is both colorful and plentiful.

The designation by NOAA means Bonaire’s reef will now become the benchmark for which all other coral reefs will be compared, since research has shown Bonaire has the highest percentage of coral cover and the lowest percentage of algal cover compared to other Caribbean reefs.

And that's why Bonaire is inhabited by more species of fish than any other Caribbean island, including my own personal favorite, the parrotfish, whose brilliant turquoise color matches the color of the water in which it swims.

This past January, a group of marine biologists and other scientists spent a week researching and mapping the coral reefs. It was an impressive group -- trained environmentalists from NOAA, the College of William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the University of Delaware and the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.

The expedition was in cooperation with STINAPA, the organization that oversees the Bonaire National Marine Park, where the expedition is taking place. The marine park pretty much surrounds the island.

Located eighty-six miles east of Aruba, the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire lures visitors with year-round sunshine and a laid-back ambiance. In addition to snorkeling and scuba diving, there's windsurfing, kiteboarding, landsailing, mountain biking, sea and mangrove kayaking, horseback riding, nature tours, hiking, bird watching, sailing and deep sea and bone fishing.

Quite a list. Quite a coral reef. Quite a Green Travel destination!

Hertz Goes Hybrid

2008-02-15T10:37:00.007-05:00

Hertz has gone green, adding $68 million worth of hybrid vehicles to its rental fleet.

It's called The Green Collection, and it totals 3,400 hybrid vehicles nationwide by the end of this year, 2008. Of those, 100 are being added to the fleet in New York City.

The Hertz Corporation is the world's largest general-use car rental company, so this is both a financial commitment and a worthy environmental initiative.

The hybrids are the Toyota Prius, the best-selling hybrid in the USA.

The Hertz hybrids join more than 100-thousand other vehicles in the rental fleet that meet EPA SmartWayTM certification, which indicates lower emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases. The Toyota Prius has been awarded the EPA's highest honor, SmartWay EliteTM status.

That means more than 64 percent (268,000 cars) of the Hertz rental fleet racks up 28 mpg or greater fuel efficiency. That's a better corporate-wide fuel economy average than some of the manufacturers whose vehicles Hertz buys and rents to us.

So, the next time you need to rent a car, call Hertz and reserve a great green drive.

LOVE for Sale in Philadephia for Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T09:14:00.001-05:00

Find LOVE in Philadelphia on Valentine's Day.

The City of Brotherly Love is going ga-ga for LOVE. I'm referring to the iconic L-O-V-E graphic design on things like keychains, coffee mugs and more.

If LOVE is what you seek this Valentine's Day, it's for sale in LOVE Park, in the park's own shop just a kiss away from the towering red pop art sculpture. The official name of this park in downtown Philadelphia is Fairmount Park, but everybody calls this swath of green Love Park.

The popular name is thanks to the sculpture by artist Robert Indiana, which has become one of Philadelphia's cherished landmarks. A steady stream of visitors come to the LOVE statue for lovely souvenir photos, on their way to other lovely Philly favorites like the famous "Rocky" museum steps, the Liberty Bell, or the Philly culinary icon, the cheesesteak.

In Philadelphia, Valentine's Day is a red letter day for Green Travels!

Ski Resorts Lead the Way Going Green

2008-02-13T10:23:00.002-05:00

Most of the U.S.A.'s winter destinations are actively working to lower their carbon footprint and make the phrase "sustainable tourism" more than just a buzzword.

Here's what some ski and snowboard resorts are doing to prevent the environment from going downhill:

VAIL, Colorado, is 100 percent wind powered.

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, Washington, has relocated a chair lift base out of a marsh area, and donates used cooking grease to be converted into bio-diesel fuel.

SCHWEITZER, Idaho, is operating two new chairlifts on 100% renewable energy through the purchase of green tags.

DEER VALLEY, Utah, has tweaked lifts and snowmaking to reduce energy usage by 390,000 kilowatt hours -- which adds up to 400 tons of carbon emissions a year that won't be polluting the atmosphere. Also, season pass holders and guests booking a lesson or other skier service can opt to add one percent of the cost of the purchase for donation to the Summit Land Conservancy.

PARK CITY MOUNTAIN RESORT, Utah, purchases enough reneweable energy to run four of its six-passenger chairlifts (which skiers and snowboarders affectionately refer to as "sixpacks"). That eliminates 3.64 million pounds of emissions. The resort also is researching sites for solar power and wind turbine power to reduce fossil fuel use even further. Also, Park City's fleet of snowmobiles, which are used by Ski Patrol and other employees, is fueled entirely by bio-diesel, which is keeping 55 tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere.

SIERRA-AT-TAHOE, California, began offering close-in, preferrential parking this season to skiers and boarders who arrive in hybrid vehicles. And, the resort's official vehicle is a Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which also gets preferential parking, of course.

There's yet more about the greening of ski resorts in the annual Ski Issue of the New York Times Travel Section

Yes, ski/snowboard resorts are going green. It makes for a nice color combination -- white snow, blue skies, and Green Travels.

Green Flowers Bloom at Marriott Hotels

2008-02-12T05:32:00.000-05:00

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Marriott becomes the first hotel company to offer green flowers at events and meetings.

But, you say -- the photo is a bouquet of red roses, not green roses.

Green flowers as in organic flowers, grown without chemical pesticides.

U.S. consumers spend more than $200 billion annually -- yes, that's billion with a "B" -- on socially and environmentally responsible products. Environmentally grown flowers is a growing (sorry, I couldn't resist that pun) part of that market.

Many flowers, including the perfect red roses so popular on Valentine's Day, are imported from South America, where they are grown often with pesticides that are banned in the United States. These chemicals are causing health problems for many flower workers, killing birds, and polluting the water -- the same reasons the pesticides were banned in the USA.

Marriott becomes the first hotel company to offer organic and sustainably-grown flowers for weddings, meetings and other events. The organic flowers will be available at some -- not all -- Marriott hotels in North America, as well as at the company's Rennaissance Hotels, and at prices comparable to similar non-organic flowers.

The organic flowers are from Organic Bouquet, widely recognized as the pioneer of the eco-flower market in the U. S. Organic flowers are grown with organic and ecological practices that minimize damage to ecosystems, conserve biodiversity, and enhance environmental quality for future generations. Oh, yes -- avoiding pesticides also helps improve the health of farm workers.

If you are buying flowers for Valentine's Day, look for arrangements of organic and certified sustainably-grown flowers. And if you are buying flowers for a event at a hotel or restaurant, ask the catering manager to do the same.

Marriott's commitment to the environment spans more than 20 years, before Green Travels and sustainable tourism became buzzwords, and has been recognized repeatedly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and leads the industry with more than 250 ENERGY STAR hotels.

The company is on track to reduce its carbon footprint by one million tons over 10 years from 2000 to 2010.

Sightseeing Cruise San Diego Harbor on Biodiesel

2008-02-11T09:40:00.000-05:00

The largest sightseeing cruise operator in Southern California is switching from standard marine fuel to domestically-produced bio-diesel.

Hornblower Cruises is now the first commercial business operating in the Port of San Diego to voluntarily switch to a domestically-produced, environmentally friendly bio-diesel fuel. The company operates eight vessels, ranging in size from 80 to 230 feet, for harbor cruises, whale watching and dinner and brunch cruises.

It's an obvious next-step for Hornblower, whose narrated sightseeing cruises focus on the region's marine life and wildlife, including the migratory patterns of birds and whales, and the necessity of protecting them and the environment.

Hornblower says its guests will be able to smell the difference from the non-toxic, non-carcinogenic biodiesel fuel being used.

San Diego Bay is home to swimmers, whales, dolphins, fish, seabirds and lots of recreational, commercial and military boaters. Switching to bio-diesel can help reduce the environmental impact of recreational boating. Hornblower hopes its switch to bio-diesel will inspire others to make the same commitment.

The switch to bio-diesel is a collaboration between Hornblower, New Leaf Biofuels and General Petroleum, the largest distributor of bio-fuels in Southern California.

Happy 122nd Birthday to the Automotibile

2008-01-29T16:47:00.000-05:00

January 29th is generally regarded as the birthday of the automobile, because --

It was Jan 29, 1886 that a young German engineer named Karl Benz applied for a patent for his "vehicle with gas engine operation".

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Find out more about the history of the company now known as Mercedes-Benz.

Free Parking for Hybrid Vehicles

2008-01-27T21:49:00.000-05:00

As part of its on-going program of Green Initiatives, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is giving free valet parking to guests who arrive in a hybrid vehicle.

That's a saving of $23 per night, over and above the savings drivers get at the gas station.

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess joins five Fairmont Hotels in California and one in Quebec offering this hybrid perk. The hotels are the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, the Fairmont San Jose, the Fairmont Miramar Santa Monica, the Fairmont San Francisco, the Fairmont Newport Beach, and the iconic Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City.

The free parking perk is just one part of Fairmont's award-winning environmental program. It was the first major hotel chain in North America to go green, before it became fashionable, with programs for waste management, energy and water conservation, and a strong program to involve the local community.

In Scottsdale, Fairmont has helped create an eco tour called the Sonoran Trail, adopted a rescued Desert Tortoise, which is a threatened species in the Sonoran Desert, and instituted a recycling program that generates more than 200 tons of recycled products each year.

Preferential parking for fuel efficient vehicles definitely is a trend -- check my recent post on the Lake Tahoe ski resort doing something similar.

Winter is Ideal Time to Visit USA National Parks

2008-01-24T21:23:00.000-05:00

Whether you want snow or sun, you can find it in one of the USA's National Parks.

From Alaska to Massachusetts to the warm beaches of California and Florida, there's something for everyone, anytime of the year. Including January.

Many parks offer special winter programs in addition to their regular programs – such as these three --

De Soto National Memorial in Florida runs an annual camp from December through the end of March. Camp Uzita brings visitors back in time to 1539, when 650 Spanish conquistadors came to Tampa Bay and changed the lives of its native inhabitants forever. Programs focus on the meeting of these two very different cultures. Living history interpreters demonstrate Native and European arts and crafts. Children are invited out on Saturdays to learn about Native American mask painting and paint one to take home for themselves.

At Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, one of the most enjoyable winter activities for any national park occurs is ranger-led snowshoe hikes. These hikes take place everyday, and the park supplies visitors with classic wooden Yukon or Alaskan-style snowshoes. You'll learn about how the harsh conditions of winter determines which animals and plants survive here as they amble over hill and dell in search of wildlife and/or signs of wildlife. The trip eventually brings you to the banks of the Snake River, and an incredible, unforgettable view of the Grand Tetons sparkling in the sunshine.

Death Valley National Park in California is the answer to the question -- where can I go that is not cold or snowy or damp. January -- or anytime in winter -- is an ideal time to visit this park. There are no crowds and no searing heat here in winter, and some of the best and clearest skys in the country make star-gazing memorable. Ranger guided activities include living history guided tours of Scotty's Castle, a 1920s mansion with original furnishings and stories to match. Or, you can hike some of the park's 3.4 million acres,

The National Park Service recommends stopping by a park’s visitor center to get the latest, most up-to-date park information on programs and hiking paths.

And by the way -- that photo of me standing in the middle of an empty road to the right of this posting -- was taken in Death Valley National Park. If you look carefully at the printing across the fronf of my t-shirt, you might be able to read the words "Death Valley".

Whale Watching Season in California

2008-01-22T13:08:00.000-05:00

Here's how to have a whale of a time in Southern California -- go on a whale-watching cruise .

Now through through March is prime whale-watching season, to see these massive mammals off the coast of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Spirit Cruises offers two-hour narrated cruises that sail between one and three miles off the coast of San Pedro. Whales are seen 95 percent of the time, plus sea lions, dolphins and other marine life.

The most common whale seen is the Gray Whale. Fin Whales and Blue Whales have also been spotted, along with Humpback Whales, Orcas and Minke Whales.

There's more than marine life to enjoy. The cruise around Long Beach and Los Angeles Harbors travels under four bridges and past the Queen Mary and Terminal Island Federal Prison.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for children.

Two Dozen Orlando Hotels Certified Green

2008-01-21T17:42:00.001-05:00

The number of Florida hotels going green is increasing by the dozen. Two dozen, to be exact, all in Orlando.

The green certification is from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which designates a hotel, inn, resort or B&B as a Florida Green Lodge when it meets certain standards and practices.

These include water conservation measures through low-flow plumbing fixtures, a linen reuse program, and energy efficiency and programmable thermostats.

Other criteria include recycling ink and toner cartridges, purchasing items in bulk, and purchasing recycled materials. All Green Lodges must also use green cleaners and high efficiency air filters.

Here's the list of the newest Florida Green Lodges -- you should seek these out for your green travels. Alphabetically, they are:

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge,
Disney's BoardWalk Inn,
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort,
Disney's Contemporary Resort,
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort,
Disney's Old Key West Resort,
Disney's Pop Century Resort,
Disney's Port Orleans Resort,
Disney's Saratoga Spring Resort & Spa,
DoubleTree Guest Suites in the Walt Disney World Resort,
Embassy Suites Orlando International Airport,
Embassy Suites Orlando International Drive/Convention Center,
Embassy Suites Orlando North,
The Florida Hotel and Conference Center,
Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground,
Hawthorn Suites Orlando International Airport,
Hilton Walt Disney World, Rosen Centre Hotel,
Holiday Inn Orlando International Drive,
Renaissance Orlando Hotel Airport,
Rosen Plaza Hotel,
Rosen Shingle Creek,
Royal Plaza in the Walt Disney World Resort,
Walt Disney World Fort Wilderness.

As said at the beginning of this list -- seek these out for your green travels to Orlando. Look for the Florida Green Lodge logo.

Green GEICO Gecko Tours Zoos and Aquariums

2008-01-09T17:38:00.000-05:00

A live gecko exhibit to is on a national tour to highlight wildlife conservation.

The tour is funded by the automobile and motorcycle insurance company GEICO, whose radio and television commercials featuring the animated gecko spokes-creature are among the most popular advertisements on the air.

The live gecko tour is in cooperation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and kicked off at the San Diego Zoo and Aquarium.

The traveling GEICO Gecko Exhibit is located in the San Diego Zoo’s Children’s Zoo from January 5 - February 17, 2008, and features giant Day geckos, a unique group of lizards native to Madagascar and the Indian Ocean islands.

Visitors will have the chance to meet the GEICO Gecko costume character at the zoo every weekend the exhibit is there.

The three-year partnership between GEICO and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums will take the traveling GEICO Gecko exhibit to AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums across the United States. At each stop GEICO will make a contribution to wildlife conservation.

The GEICO Gecko is already using his star power on behalf of zoos and aquariums, with a series of television and radio commercials highlighting his wild cousins. To see those commercials, click here.

Learn to Ski or Snowshoe for Free on Sat., Jan. 12

2008-01-07T11:47:00.000-05:00

Ski resorts in 24 states are offering free on-the-snow activities this Saturday, January 12th. It's the 13th annual Winter Trails Day, to promote outdoor exercise during the winter.

More than 100 ski resorts and locations are offering learning opportunities for cross country skiing or snowshoeing on Winter Trails Day, including in National and state parks and on U.S. Forest Service lands.

Getting outdoors and burning off some unwanted calories is a top priority for many of us after too many eggnogs over the holidays, and these two easy-to-learn sports can burn 45 percent more calories per hour than walking or running at the same speed.

Winter Trails is part of Winter Feels Good, a national initiative to promote the health and fitness benefits of snow sports.

It's not just cross-country and snowshoe -- there are lots of opportunities, as well, for free or low-cost lessons in downhill skiing and snowboarding.

Resorts that are members of Ski Utah, Vermont Ski Areas Association, Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association, Colorado Ski Country USA, New Hampshire Ski Areas Association and others, are offering special equipment and lesson packages to encourage newcomers to try skiing or snowboarding.

So if you are a downhill demon -- and I admit that I am -- this is an ideal day to encourage your significant other or favorite aunt or uncle to join you on the slopes.

Let's give credit to some of the sponsors of Winter Trails Day -- it's a long list that includes --

Cross Country Ski Areas Association and American Hiking Society; equipment manufacturers Alpina, Atlas Snow-Shoes, Atomic, Exel, Fischer, Rossignol, Salomon, Tubbs and Karhu. And outdoor clothing manufacturers Columbia, Turtle Fur and Sorel.

See you on the snow on Jan. 12th?

Nissan Gets Eco-Award for Helping Combat Climate Change

2008-01-04T18:18:00.000-05:00

The non-profit Carbon Disclosure Project has recognized the environmental efforts of Nissan, listing it for the first time in its 2007 Climate Disclosure Leadership Index.

Five automakers—BMW, Ford, Renault, Toyota and DaimlerChrysler, as the German automaker was known then —made the list in 2006 (since the 'divorce' it's back to two separate companies, Daimler and Chrysler).

Nissan has been trying to reverse its image as playing environmental catch-up with Toyota and Honda, the leading makers of gasoline-electric hybrid cars. Nissan seem to have succeeded --

Its environmental action plan focuses on reducing carbon dioxide emissions, including a pledge to cut emissions at its factories by 7 percent in 2010 from 2005 levels. Also, Nissan now is producing hybrid vehicles. now.

Okay, the Altima Hybrid sedan uses Toyota technology. More than okay -- the Nissan Altima Hybrid costs less than the comparable Toyota Camry Hybrid, when you include the tax credits that still apply to Nissan hybrids but no longer apply to Toyota hybrids.

The Carbon Disclosure Project surveyed about 2,400 companies worldwide this year, choosing 68 for the index.

Pictured -- Nissan Altima Hybrid 2008

Saving Endangered Turtles in Hawaii

2008-01-03T13:13:00.000-05:00

Nearly 70,000 endangered Hawksbill turtles have hatched in Hawaii, thanks to the dedicated volunteers and staff of the Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project, based out of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Since the Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project started in 1989, staff and volunteers have tagged 81 nesting hawksbills, protected 656 nests, and helped nearly 70,000 hatchlings scurry to the sea. Last season, volunteers helped more than 4,300 hatchlings safely reach the Pacific Ocean.

Each hatchling represents hope for the survival of the endangered turtle species.

Their efforts have just been recognized -- by receiving the 2007 Hawaii’s Living Reef Award, created three years ago by the Coral Reef Outreach Network.

During a six-month nesting season, forty volunteers searched beaches for signs of turtle activity. Nests were discovered and protected at five beaches. Crews held around the clock vigils on thirty-six nests to safeguard the eggs and hatchlings from predators, including mongooses, feral pigs and cats -- and human predators, too.

The project operates on a small budget and relies on dedicated volunteers who hike miles over lava rock to camp on remote, sun-baked beaches. These volunteers are not deterred by centipedes, pounding surf, or tropical storms. In addition to helping hatchlings, the volunteers collect the turtles’ tag data and record their life histories.

Quebec Winter Carnival and City's 400th Birthday

2008-01-02T10:04:00.000-05:00

The annual Quebec Winter Carnival is three weeks of parades, concerts, snow sculptures, ice skating parties.

One of the most popular events is a canoe race on the St. Lawrence River. If the river is frozen solid, teams pull their wooden canoes over the ice instead of paddling them through the water. Another event is the snow bath, in which hardy partyers strip to their bathing suits and roll around in the snow.

Usually, the Quebec Winter Carnival is the biggest party of the year in historic and picturesque Quebec City, the end of January and beginning of February. This year is different.

That's because 2008 is the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City, with celebrations and festivities throughout the year. Just part of the list includes a special exhibit of hundreds of artworks from the Louvre in Paris, and a Cirque du Soleil show specially created for the year-long birthday party.

What makes this green travels?

Quebec City is the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in North America, a magnificent walled city -- the only walled city in North America.

So, it's important to Quebec's residents, businesses and government to protect the city's history and resources -- its architecture, parks, the river that runs through it, and the lakes and waterfalls a few minutes outside the city.

Any time in 2008 is a great year to visit Quebec City, and be part of a 400th birthday party.

Picturted -- Winter scene in front of Quebec's iconic hotel, the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac.

New Airplane Baggage Rules for 2008

2007-12-31T08:18:00.000-05:00

The rules are changing -- again -- for airplane carry-on luggage and checked baggage.

Starting January 1, 2008 -- tomorrow -- you may no longer put spare, back-up lithium batteries for your digital cameras, computers, cellphones, etc., in your checked baggage. They must be in your carry-on luggage.

The reason? The US Department of Transportation is worried that lithium batteries travelling all by themselves in your suitcase could rub up against your socks and the friction could cause them to explode and start a fire inside the plane's cargo belly.

But, obviously, DOT and does not believe these same lithium batteries rubbing up against your paperback book in your carry-on would cause a fire.

There's no word from DOT whether the chargers for those batteries can travel in checked luggage, or must also be in our carry-on.

It is okay to pack your computer or camera into checked baggage -- as if anybody in their right mind puts expensive and delicate computers or digital cameras into their checked baggage.

So, you can put your expensive electronic gadgets in your checked luggage, but not the spare batteries to power them. This makes no sense.

Also, the new rules prohibit more than two spare lithium batteries in your carry-on. Okay, I generally travel with two cameras and laptop. Which of my lithium battery powered "children" will have to starve to death for lack of battery power because I am now limited to carrying a back-up battery for only two of them? This makes no sense.

Wait -- there's more. DOT is now requiring that we carry our two -- only two -- spare lithium batteries in their original packaging. Yes, friends -- the very same paper and plastic you threw out before DOT made this new rule. Or, you have to pack them in another plastic baggie, the same kind that holds your three-ounces-or-less toiletries. Loose lithiums can be confiscated!

So, Happy New Year from DOT and the harried airport "police", who will have to carry out this new carry-on rule. The TSA, whose full name is the Transportation Safety Administration, now protecting us airline passengers from the dangers of lithium batteries, in addition to water, mascara, deodorant, hand lotion, cuticle nippers and pumped breast milk.

Here's the official word from the TSA website, Safe Travel.

Eat Your Tofu -- and Wear It, Too

2007-12-30T15:23:00.000-05:00

Tofutech is a new knit fabric created from soy. So now you can wear your tofu as well as eat it.

Tofutech is from ExOfficio, a top manufacturer of travel apparel, including high performance

Soy contains 16 amino acids which can be absorbed into human skin. Such absorption benefits the collagen protein which strengthens skin and blood vessels, helping skin become healthy and radiant. So, wearing fabrics made from soy will actually help your skin, the company says.

Natural soy fabrics offer natural odor and bacteria resistance, moisture wicking comfort, wrinkle resistance, quick-dry convenience and a soft, natural hand for added comfort. These are properties ExOfficio builds into the design of its 'regular' performance travel fabrics.

Right now, there are just a few Tofutech designs, but the company hopes to add more in 2008.

The good news is Tofutech travel clothing is no more expensive than comparable shirts from ExOfficio. And the other good news is that since soy is a renewable commodity, you will be wearing green when you travel, even if your green travel shirt is in a different color.

Take the Trolley Back to the Future

2007-12-28T07:56:00.000-05:00

Cities across the US are taking a new look at an old idea: the city streetcar.

Vintage, electric trolley systems, like Tucson's Old Pueblo Trolley, provide an authentic streetcar experience that mixes public transportation with entertainment for visitors. Everybody loves old streetcars, with their wooden seats, clanging bells and windows that open.

Besides being lots of fun, the Old Pueblo Trolley is a demonstration light-rail project. The future includes expansion of its rails and overhead wires into the downtown business district.

Light-rail systems are a green way to move people around downtown -- they are energy-efficient. Just ask cities like Salt Lake City, which built one to help transport visitors to the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Tucson's one-mile route connects the Fourth Avenue shopping-and-entertainment district with University of Arizona, passing beautifully restored historic homes along the way.

You can see more historic trolleys, plus vintage busses and more at Tucson's Southern Arizona Transportation Museum.

Looking for the Loch Ness Monster

2007-12-26T21:02:00.000-05:00

The Loch Ness Monster, affectionately called "Nessie", may or may not exist. Even so, more than 1,000 people have claimed to have seen it lurking in the loch.

The fairytale myth has been adapted for the big screen. ‘The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep’ is the imaginative re-telling of Scotland’s most famous mystery. It's a charming, magical movie for kids of all ages, and sure to generate interest in travel to green Scotland.

Loch Ness is the largest volume of fresh water in Britain, measuring between 750 and 820 feet deep in places, allowing plenty of hiding places for it’s most elusive resident.

The most comprehensive collection of evidence on the famous mythical monster is at the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre at Drumnadrochit.

Or, try finding Nessie yourself. Explore the mystical waters of the Loch on one of the scheduled cruises and tours, which visit hiding spots such as the Caledonian Canal, the deepest parts of the loch, and the picturesque ruins of Castle Urquhart, one of the most evocative and romantic parts of the area.

Another breathtaking natural attraction is the Falls of Foyers. These are two waterfalls, the smaller upper falls and the spectacular 100 foot lower falls. Viewing platforms let you get up close to see this ancient ravine. There also are twisting, winding trails to discover around the narrow wooden gorge. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes and a spray-proof jacket.

At the end of the day, stop off in one of the pubs in the village of Killin alongside the lake, or loch. Perhaps you'll hear stories about Nessie from some of the local residents. Perhaps over a glass of the famous local beverage of Scotland. You know what it is. Unlike Nessie, that's no mystery.

Recycle or Freecycle

2007-12-25T07:57:00.000-05:00

New toys for the kids, upgraded BlackBerry or iPod for you, home theater plasma TV for the family. What will you do with the old 'stuff'? Ditto the gifts you hate, like that green alien cookie jar you just got from Aunt Tacky Taste.

Some things can be donated to charity, of course. Instead of putting the rest out with the trash and adding to the landfill, Freecycle it.

Freecycle is an international group whose axiom is that one person's trash is another person's treasure.

No buying or selling involved. Actually, that is strictly prohibited. This is not eBay. No money is exchanged. You give what you don't want to somebody who does, indeed, want it. Simple.

Register with your Zip code to find a Freecycle group near you, post information about what you want to give -- or get -- online, and you avoid the dreaded cycle of buying the same thing over and over. And you are also helping the planet.

There are some 4,000 Freecycle groups around the planet, with a combined total of more than 3 million members. Somebody wants your old BlackBerry.

We're Driving More This Holiday Season

2007-12-24T09:05:00.000-05:00

Despite higher gas prices for our vehicles and more expensive airline tickets, the AAA estimates more of us will be travelling at least 50 miles from home this holiday season than last.

It's just a 0.7 percent increase -- from 65.2 million last year to 64.7 million this year. That percentage increase is a good bit less than the price increase we are seeing for gas and airfare.

According to the AAA, airfares averaging 16% more than last Christmas have a double-whammy. Since airfare bargains are harder to find, and many of us are deciding to drive, instead of fly, to grandma's house, despite $3 a gallon gas.

Just so you know -- gasoline costs an average of 70 cents a gallon more this holiday than last.

More than 80% of all holiday travelers will be in their vehicles on the road this week. That's a total of 53 million, and all of them will be on the same road as you are.

And another projected 3.3 million will traveling by train, bus or what the AAA called "other mode of transportation", whatever that is. Broomstick? Segway?

Because of those more expensive airfares, due in part to higher jet fuel prices the airlines have to pay, just under nine million of us are travelling by plane this week. Hotel prices are up, too, by as much as 9% since last year's holiday week, according to the AAA.

It all adds up to a lot of people on the move this week, and pay more for the privelege.

Chile Seeks to Create World's Largest Whale Sanctuary

2007-12-21T14:34:00.000-05:00

Half of the whale species on earth can be found in the waters around Chile at any given point in the year, so whales, and whale watching tourism, are of crucial importance to Chile.

That's why a combination of activists and politicians from Chile and elsewhere in Latin America have proposed forming the world's largest whale sanctuary there, which could eventually make Chile the world's top whale-watching destination.

The sanctuary proposal is being presented to Chile's Senate Environmental Commission, with the goal of receiving government approval before the next meeting meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), to be held in Santiago in June 2008.

Marine biology research centers such as Whale Sound already recognize the tourism potential of a whale watching sanctuary. Located near a humpback whale feeding area within the Francisco Coloane Marine Park in the Strait of Magellan, Whale Sound offers 3-day/2-night package journeys with dome-style lodging and daily excursions led by degreed biologists to view whales and other aquatic life.