Intelligent Travel

Tour Guide: Hike and Feel Good About It

Mount Rainier National Park

If there's anything I miss the most about living on the West Coast, it's the mountains. Sure, D.C.'s got the nearby Appalachians (I visit Shenandoah National Park as often as possible in summer), but there's nothing like looking out your Pacific Northwest window and seeing snow-capped peaks in every direction (Seattle is blessed with the Olympics to the west and the Cascades to the east).

The American Hiking Society has a solution for folks like me who live in a city where the mountains aren't quite at your doorstep. The AHS offers weeklong Volunteer Vacations in 25 states (and even the Virgin Islands) from February through November every year, for hiking gurus, beginners, and everyone in between who are capable of doing trail maintenance. Best of all, their website allows you to search for the volunteer tour that might work best for you. Just select your state, difficulty level, what kind of accommodation you prefer (even the avid backpacker likes a comfortable cabin every once in a while), and age range (from family friendly to 21+).

Neighborhood Watch: Greensburg Rises from the Rubble

Once-backwater Greensburg, Kansas, is turning a brand-new, bright green leaf. With a population hovering around 1,500, the town has emerged over the past few months as one of the country’s most progressive, environmentally friendly cities.

Rising from the rubble left behind from last May’s devastating 1.7-mile-wide F5 tornado, Greensburg earlier this year became the first city in the United States to mandate that all city building projects be built to LEED platinum level standards. Just under a year after the rural area lost 11 residents and 95 percent of homes and businesses to the storm, new permits have been issued for 126 homes and 41 commercial buildings.

Locals have enthusiastically embraced their new tree-hugging image. “We are talking about a model green community for the world. And we want the world to visit. We could end up having ecotourism here,” Daniel Wallach, a local businessman who formed the Greensburg GreenTown organization to co-ordinate the effort, told the Guardian.

The town's previous claim to fame was an antiquated site called the Big Well—the largest hand-dug well in America—a stark difference from the cutting-edge developments of today. Set to debut in time for the tragedy's year anniversary on May 4th is the brand-new 5.4.7 Arts Center, a community gathering place and art museum-workshop designed by students from the University of Kansas's architecture school—built from a reclaimed munitions depot and complete with three wind turbines.

And already in the works are several innovative demonstration homes that will serve as eco-educational lodgings, where people can spend the night and see what it means to live in, say, a straw bale house. Plus, by September, a space where destroyed businesses can start up again under the same roof to share expenses—including ten retail shops—will open in the fancy new Business Incubator on Main Street.

"Greensburg is a work in progress," Greensburg GreenTown's Catherine Hart told IT. "There’s a lot happening. It’s really interesting because there’s still some debris and a lot of things that haven’t been rebuilt, but also some that has been, so the contrast between the two most find really interesting. The energy of being around rebuilding is really quite palpable."

It certainly doesn’t feel like Kansas. Where’s Toto when you need him?

Photo: New growth in Greensburg, by Stacy Barnes

Free EcoCabs, Eh?

Starting today, a fleet of 28 EcoCabs has descended upon the smoggy streets of downtown Toronto.

What’s an EcoCab, you ask? In addition to being an adorably goofy alternative to the iconic yellow cab, the EcoCab runs mostly on a trained driver’s pedal-power (in other words, a modern-day rickshaw) and is powered by a rechargeable electric battery. The emission-free three-wheelers clip along at a sprightly 7.5 miles an hour in bike lanes and offer residents and tourists short-distance transport between Toronto's shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations as well as office buildings and transit stations. Each cab is equipped to carry two adult passengers. The best part? Rides are free of charge, funded by advertising on the exterior of each vehicle.

According to speculation, EcoCabs will hit Vancouver and Montreal next year.

Photo: Kazuyoshi Ehara/CNW Group

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Swiss Mobility

The SwitzerlandMobility project, a sustainable network of trails interwoven through the country's landscape, just launched this past weekend. Brian Schott was on hand to see it at its start.

MURTEN, SWITZERLAND — I was late. After arriving in Switzerland to sort out the country's new Mobility Project, I was struggling with my own version of Swiss mobility: sprinting for the train in Lausanne for the 45-minute ride to Murten, hoping to make a press conference that would launch the largest national network of non-motorized transport routes ever created. Once I was rolling, wiping sweat from my brow, I could relax. I gazed at workers in the fields harvesting onions, and gawked at views of the alps across Lake Geneva. Walking to the shores of Lake Murten, I listened to thrush singing, took in the beautiful architecture of the medieval village, and breathed in the smells of ornamental cherries and magnolia trees in bloom.

The dignitaries gathered. Press assembled. I listened.

Okay, here’s the deal, they explained. There are no new trails. No new construction. Really nothing new for travelers to see. Huh? I’ve never been here before and am already blown away by just the small speck of landscape that I have seen in the past 24 hours. Just standing here in this village is enough.

So what exactly am I doing here?

Turns out, thanks to the ingenuity of Swiss precision and four years of hard work, these charming folks have created a linked network for hikers (3,914 miles/6,300 km), touring cyclists (5,281 miles/8,500 km), mountain bikers (2,050 miles/3,300 km), inline skaters (683.5 miles/1,100 km) and canoeists (115 miles/250 km), all marked across the independent 26 cantons of Switzerland. The system of trails will use over 100,000 standardized signposts with different markings for national, regional, and local routes, for all the various forms of human-powered mobility. Some 18,000 public transport routes connect with the network. Ja wol!

That, in itself, is a major feat. Anyone who has ever been to any kind of meeting sitting around some table trying to gain consensus for a project knows that. Toll!

“The signposts are excellent,” assured Ruedi Jasli, one of the masterminds behind the project and the owner of Swiss Trails. Fifteen years ago he spearheaded an effort to get in-line skating trails established across the country. When I spoke with him in person after the official announcement, I could feel his passion. He obviously has a lot to gain from its success, managing the booking of one to eight day tours. But you can tell his love of sport outweighs his love of the bottom line. Any good project starts with love.

“The signposts are perfect,” he went on. “There are two options for signs. None. Or perfect. We chose perfect.”

You gotta love the Swiss. Tick, tock.

Yellowstone and Montana MapGuides

We always try to keep tabs on what our neighbors here at National Geographic are doing, and so we're excited to share what the folks at the Center for Sustainable Destinations are up to next. One of CSD's many projects is to establish geotourism charters with local communities to help identify, develop, and promote the unique and authentic assets that will attract travelers to their region. Working closely with community partners, they then harness the staff and resources of the National Geographic Maps division to create a unique MapGuide, which, as the name helpfully indicates, is a bit of a guidebook and map in one. I used one while in Baja a few months ago, and thought it was both tremendously helpful and a really fun way to explore a place.

Last month, CSD released their latest MapGuide, "The Crown of the Continent," which spans Alberta, British Columbia, and Montana. Working with a local geotourism alliance, they plotted a slew of fascinating finds like the Bellevue Underground Coal Mine tour (wear miner's helmets!), the Two Medicine Dinosaur Center (fossils!), and Garnet Ghost Town (boo!), plus a bevy of campsites, small B&B's, and handicraft shops. The maps have terrific photographs and tons of information, and even better, they're absolutely free! You can take a peek at the maps online, and order your own at the Crown of the Continent website.

Next up for CSD is a MapGuide on Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Right now, local residents and visitors can nominate for inclusion in the MapGuide landmarks, attractions, activities, events and local businesses that define the region's unique character and distinctive appeal. Nominations may be made between April 15 and June 30, 2008, so send in your favorite spots now!
Image: Crown of the Continent MapGuide

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Gettysburg Going Green

Don’t judge a building by its exterior is the lesson learned at the all-new Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center, which opened April 14. Despite being designed to "blend into the rural Pennsylvania countryside" according to the National Park Service's website, the brand new center is packed full of modern multimedia, and has been designed to meet LEED certification at the silver level. Yes, Lincoln's Gettysburg is getting up to speed and going green.

Located in the Gettysburg National Military Park, the center includes interesting features to accompany the obligatory walk in the battlefield itself. Visitors can explore the center’s 11 exhibit galleries, watch a short film (narrated by Morgan Freeman) that highlights the significance of the 1863 Battle at Gettysburg, peruse 300,000 Civil War artifacts, and check out the expanded museum bookstore for souvenirs. I know I will when I continue my travels through Colonial America.

History lessons and environmental friendliness: What more could this earth conscious history junkie ask for?

Photo: Gettysburg National Military Park

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April 22: The End of Plastic?

Could this be the end for plastic bags?

Whole Foods has announced their goal to eliminate all plastic grocery bags by Earth Day (April 22). The grocer, which features natural and organic foods, said it hoped shoppers would bring their own reusable bags, but would offer 100 percent recycled paper grocery bags when needed.

Why are they doing this? According to the natural foods retailer, it takes more than a thousand years for bags to break down in a landfill and a reusable bag can be used thousands of times, sparing Mother Earth the waste.

We can't help but think that the market is setting a good example, and that we as consumers should follow their Earth Day initiative to curb our own plastic bag use — be it when we're traveling abroad or simply commuting to work. After all, bringing a bag is increasing trendy around the globe, and don't we want to be up on the trends?

The New York Times recently reported that "a rising number of governments and retailers are banning plastic bags, or discouraging their use, because of concerns about their environmental impact." San Francisco banned plastic bags in supermarkets and pharmacies last year, and Beijing has completely banned free plastic bags starting June 1. New York City is offering plastic bag recycling for retailers. Australia's government launched a program to reduce plastic bag use in 2004 and are currently looking to either ban them outright or start charging customers per bag. And since Ireland instituted the "plas tax" in 2002, they've seen a 90 percent drop in plastic bag use as well.

Need a suggestion for where to get your own stylish tote? Check out some of these websites for chic, eco-friendly options:

Chris Elliott on Greenwashing

Leave it to our beloved Help Desk columnist Chris Elliott to help clarify the confusion behind "greenwashing" in travel. In a recent article he wrote, now up on his blog, he exposes techniques used by airlines, hotels, and other culprits in the tourism industry to wrap themselves in a cloak of "green" by purporting to save the planet while actually doing little to help. He writes:

[T]here’s no credible evidence that the greening of travel is saving the Earth. But here’s what we do know. A recent Deloitte survey found that nearly half of all travelers try to be “environmentally friendly” when they’re traveling, and almost a quarter of them are willing to pay more for green hotels, resorts and rental cars. Another poll by Travelocity found that almost three-quarters of active travelers were prepared to pony up more cash for a greener getaway.

In other words, travelers want to feel socially responsible—and the travel industry, true to character, is more than happy to take their money.

Elliott speaks with some experts to learn more about what you can do to avoid being duped. His highlights are after the jump:

The GeoTourism Challenge: Nominate Now!

Each one of these flags represents a new way of looking at tourism

A few months ago we introduced the GeoTourism Challenge, a contest sponsored by National Geographic's Center for Sustainable Destinations and Ashoka's Changemakers to help seek out the people and places which are using innovative tourism methods to help "sustain, enhance, and preserve a sense of culture and place."

As travelers, you can help by nominating people you've come across in your wandering, from elected officials, to corporate leaders, to tour operators who are doing things right. And for simply offering a reason why you're nominating them, you'll be entered to win a week's travel including airfares, accommodation and spending money, anywhere in the world where WHL Travel operates.

So take a look at the list that's been created so far, which ranges from Mom and Pop B&Bs to the king of Bhutan, and then nominate someone yourself – just do it soon, as the deadline for entries is April 16th.

Up Close to the Proximity Hotel

“Travelling Without Footprints,” is a video series exploring carbon-friendly travel experiences. In this first installment, former Traveler researcher Ali Ogden takes us to the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina, where owner Dennis Quaintance shows us what it takes to make a hotel green as he works toward achieving LEED Platinum status. His notion is that you don’t have to sacrifice comfort for conscience. Watch as he shows Ali the hotel's solar panels (look out for hot pipes!), waterless urinals, and more...

Travelling Without Footprints is produced by Ali Ogden and Chris Keener.

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Tour Guide: Experience Oz

Deciding where to go on your next Aussie vacation can prove to be difficult. Many people don't realize that the land Down Under is almost as big as as the U.S., and therefore, one cannot simply drive from Cairns to Melbourne in an afternoon (it's roughly the same distance from L.A. to St. Louis, Missouri – about 1,800 miles – and with little in between).

But I've just discovered a tour company that makes decision-making easier, by providing eco-tours in specific destinations with a choice of activities (walking, cycling, canoeing, etc.), so travelers can find the one that suits them best.

Australia-based Ecotrek specializes in small-group, nature-based tours. From walking on Kangaroo Island, to canoeing the Cooper River from Queensland to South Australia, to cycling the wine regions near Adelaide, every tour allows its participants to share their passion or interest in a certain activity. I'm particularly intrigued by the Mutawintji, Kinchega and Lake Mungo Arid Lands Eco Journey, which is a cultural eco-tour of three national parks with deep Aboriginal roots.

Aside from its 4-to-5-day trips, Ecotrek offers shorter weekend getaways in South Australia and Victoria. Prices include all accommodation (ranging from tents to bed-and-breakfasts to unique heritage-listed mansions, depending on the type of tour), all meals (including one-half bottle of wine per person per meal), trail snacks, tea, equipment, and entrance fees to places you visit on the tours, etc.

I'm going to start saving for my next Aussie holiday, especially when the price includes plenty of wine.

Photo: Ecotrek

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How to Really "Backpack Europe"

For some of us here at IT, camping in tents was our first real introduction to travel. So our interest piqued when reading Arthur Frommer's interesting blog post about campsites situated on the outskirts of most European cities. The campsites are usually accessible via the city's public transportation system (like a subway or bus), and provide a cheap alternative to staying right in the heart of things.

He writes:

Did you know you could camp in Paris along the banks of the Seine River in the Bois de Boulogne park? How about a campsite with a view overlooking the domes and bell towers of Florence from a hillside terrace in the Oltrarno district? Venice even has a campground by the beach on the island next to the Lido, just a short ferry ride from St. Mark's Square. Some campgrounds are operated only in warm weather (roughly Easter through October or early November), but many stay open year-round.

The bill at a European campground can be a bit confusing, since you are usually charged an array of small fees – one for the site, another for each person, yet another for your vehicle -- but the total usually ends up around $17 to $26 for a couple in a tent, up to $40 in the most popular campgrounds in the summer high season. Forgot your tent? You can usually rent one for $10-$20.

Fields of Green

We blogged last week about D.C.'s new baseball stadium, Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified ballfield in the country. Well, this weekend I had a chance to check out the park myself, heading over to the Navy Yard section of town for Saturday night's exhibition game. And let me tell you, I was impressed. It's not just the idea of being one of the first people to see the park, but the, ahem, intelligence with which it was designed.

From the way the concession stands are set up in the outer circle of the concourse, so you can still watch the game as you walk around, to the huge, huge High-def scoreboard (which was mesmerizing) you could tell that despite the 22-month turnaround, quite a bit of thought had gone into the building process. But even better are earth-friendly touches that abound. Recycling containers are everywhere.  There's not a lot of parking, so it pushes people to opt instead for mass transit, or even better, to use the free bike valet. Beer is poured in biodegradable cups made from corn, and when you're done with a few rounds, you can head to the low-flush toilets. And though the lines for the locally-sourced food were long, having a Ben's Chili Dog at a ballgame was certainly worth the wait.

Fortunately for fans everywhere, Major League Baseball is working to bring these green innovations to stadiums across the country. Teaming up with the Natural Resources Defense Council, several parks began implementing greener practices in the past few years. Fortune reports that the Seattle Mariners recycle paper, plastic containers, and food waste; the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox are installing solar panels to cut energy costs; and the Pittsburgh Pirates are using corn-cups, 100% recycled toilet paper, and are sending their scouts out in hybrid cars.

We're glad that MLB is stepping up to the plate for sustainable practices, as it's certainly something that we can root, root, root for.

Photo: Janelle Nanos

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Introducing the Stay List

Equally as important as answering the question, "Where should I go on my next vacation?" is "Where should I stay on my next vacation?" Where you sleep can make or break any holiday, be it a long weekend away from the office, a family trip with the kids, or a romantic getaway for two. Sure, Motel 6 is cheap, and places like Holiday Inn have frequent-sleeper rewards, but nights spent at these stays tend to be forgettable (not to offend you, Motel 6: I can't count the times I've been on a road trip pleading to the highway gods for the next exit sign to read "Motel 6, next right").

But for those who are looking for a hotel that incorporates the destination's history, culture, and community, Traveler's got the ultimate guide to authentic getaways in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean: The Stay List.

We sent detailed surveys to some 600 properties and, thanks to our hardworking research staff, narrowed down the list to the top 150 hotels. These Stay List-worthy hotels embrace authenticity, location-inspired architecture, eco-stewardship, and giving back to their community. While I can't obviously feature all 150 hotels in this post alone (you'll have to check out the April 2008 issue for that), I'd like to highlight a few of my favorites.

Greening the World, One Shot at a Time

One shot of vodka, that is. We've written about green brew before, but were intrigued to hear about the self-proclaimed "world’s first eco-friendly premium spirit," Vodka 360.

So, why drink this vodka (as if one needs a reason)? The bottles are made from 85 percent recycled glass and the logo is blown into the glass (saving paper). When paper labels are needed, 100 percent post-consumer waste materials are used, as well as water-based inks. Every bottle also comes with a postage-paid envelope so that drinkers can mail back the flip-top cap for re-use.

Inhabitat explains further:

All impurities are removed by distilling the vodka four times using the column distillation process and later it is filtered five times though granulated charcoaled coconut shell filtration system. The state-of-the-art distillery meets or exceeds all EPA air and water quality standards for distilleries. The production process reduced its volatile organic compounds output by 70% and sulfur dioxide emissions by 99% and the company states that it uses 250% less fossil fuel energy during production process.

In addition, McCormick Distilling, America's oldest continually operating distillery and the manufacturer of Vodka 360, promises to donate $20 for every case purchased to Florida's Coastal Conservation Association.

Now, there are other eco-friendly vodkas out there. Purus (which calls itself the world's first organic Italian wheat variety), and VeeV, made from the Brazilian açaí berry, which Dr. Nicholas Perricone told Oprah was his number one "superfood" (and if Oprah endorses it, it must be good). VeeV donates $1 per bottle purchased to the Sambazon's Sustainable Acai Project and, for every person who registers on its website, Purus will plant one tree in America. To which we say, bottom's up!

Photo: Vodka 360

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New Zealand's Organic Explorer

Perhaps you're already familiar with New Zealand's vast green expanses from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. But if the only thing organic you associate with New Zealand is Middle-Earth (admit it, there are some of you out there), here's a new way to get to know the region's plentiful offerings. I recently stumbled upon the website Organic Explorer, which offers up eco-friendly accommodations, restaurants, and excursions throughout NZ, as well as a great list of orchards and markets for picking up fresh local produce while on the road.

The database is searchable by region. So, if I were traveling back to Otago, I would find  that I could try some local cheese at Whitestone Cheese Co. in Oamaru, drive south for an organic pint at the Green Man Brewery in Dunedin, and then stumble home to the City Sanctuary Bed and Breakfast, which serves its guests organic breakfast.

And should you somehow find yourself bored during these wanderings, there's also a calendar of upcoming events (open studios, earthbuilding workshops, and hiking trails) all with an eco-friendly focus.

Let's Play Ball!

 
Baseball season is almost here (which means it's getting warmer, too!), and our hometown Washington Nationals just got a brand new ballpark. But this year, in addition to serving traditional hotdogs and Miller Lite, Nationals Park is adding a bit of local flavor to its menu.

The 41,222-seat stadium, which officially opens March 30, will feature 11 local independent businesses, including favorites Ben's Chili Bowl, Noah's Pretzels (which will serve its pretzels in the shape of a "W"), Boardwalk Fries, and Dinger ice-cream sandwiches from Gifford's Ice Cream & Candy. Fans might even be able to ditch big-name beer for local brew from Capitol City Brewing Co. (negotiations have not yet been settled).

"Our offerings are going to be hard to rival," Nationals spokeswoman Chartese Burnett told the Washington Post. "I'm a vegetarian, and to be able to get sushi and veggie burgers at a ballpark? Come on. We'll have something for everyone."

Voluntour Opportunities in New Orleans

On Monday, Traci Angel gave us her impressions from her experience as a "voluntourist" in New Orleans. Today, she offers up a list of places where you too can help. Projects are always in flux, depending on necessary work and resources. Be sure to plan in advance and check for availability.

Acorn — The Association of Organizations for Community Reform Now. Focuses on the Ninth Ward’s rebuilding efforts.

Catholic Charities — Meets temporary needs of poor.

Common Ground Relief — “Solidarity not Charity” is their motto.

Habitat for Humanity — Builds and rebuilds homes.

Hands On — “Be the change. Volunteer” is the motto for this rehab organization.

IMPACT Ministries — They clean and gut homes and serve area families.

Parkway Partners — Restores urban landscape and trees.

Rebuilding Together — Is part of the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, which helps restore historic neighborhoods.

Presbytery of South Louisiana — Cleans and guts homes throughout New Orleans neighborhoods.

And if the thought of bunk beds on vacation doesn’t appeal to you, the W Hotel in New Orleans has a limited offer deal that includes box lunches and work gloves during the labor portion of your stay and cocktails and spa amenities at the day’s end. Ten percent of the room charge also goes to Hands On New Orleans.

Photo: Pontchartrain Sunset, by Joseph Kennedy via the Intelligent Travel Flickr pool

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Behold! Wander Woman!

In light of International Women’s Day, here are some encouraging statistics that would make us shout “You Go Girl!” if it were still the 1990s. According to a recent survey by ResponsibleTravel.com, an online eco-friendly and ethical travel site, more than 67 percent of bookings made through its website are done by women. And one-third of those women booked solo trips. Women are choosing environmentally friendly travel over mass tourism, and are more eager than ever to venture off on their own.

Eco Space reports on one of these Green Globetrotting Girls:

Jane Burton, a newly initiated GGG and physiotherapist from London, recently travelled solo to join a cycling trip in Cuba. “I wanted to go away on my own but I didn’t want to lie on a beach for a week and stay at an all-inclusive resort. I wanted to know that my holiday would benefit local people as much as possible and that in the process, I would learn about the real Cuba.”

“The cycling trip I took was terrific. We stayed two nights in casa particulares (homestays with local people) which offered a unique insight into Cuban lives. Also one of our guides was Cuban - he had some incredible stories to tell - and cycling everywhere meant we could visit places that were well off the beaten track. I never thought that going on holiday on your own could be so much fun. I met a brilliant bunch of people from all different walks of life and every day was an adventure. I have such fond memories of my holiday.”’

IT says cheers to you, Jane, and all the other ladies trekking the globe leaving as small of an eco-footprint as possible.

Photo: brancusi7 via Flickr

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The Sounds of New Orleans

We recently asked for your voluntourism stories, and were glad to hear from Traci Angel, a health and science freelance journalist from Columbia, Missouri, just back from a trip with Hands on New Orleans.

Scratch, scratch, scratch. Scheesh, sheesh, boom, boom. BOOM. Sheeesh. Sheesh. Three hours crawled by as we heaved and lunged our bodies against small hand blades to scrape away paint from an entryway of New Orleans’ Pierre A. Capdeau School. The peeled areas were about to be replaced with a newer, and brighter, baby-blue hue.

This is not your typical vacation.

In late February, I was working with the volunteer organization Hands On New Orleans. We’d come like so many others have — to help out as tourists.

Pierre A. Capdau, a charter school, was closed for four months following Hurricane Katrina while officials ensured the classrooms could pass health inspections. More than two years later, the school and surrounding Gentilly neighborhood continue to rebuild. Across the street from the playground, a huge dumpster spilled over with broken furniture. A man stood on a ladder applying a bold gold paint to a house’s front porch. The house next door was vacant, still scarred with spray paint markings that symbolized rescuers’ efforts (date checked/occupants recovered) after the hurricane. I felt better seeing “0” in the markings, indicating number of people found inside during the weeks that followed Katrina. Maybe those who lived there have started anew elsewhere.

Our hands cramped from repeatedly whacking at the hardened paint. Shirts came untucked. Sweat dripped as the temperature climbed inside the cramped hallways. Exhausted, we looked at each other through the smoky cloud of dust that grew denser with our clamoring. Then I heard another sound. It came from the piano nearby that was dotted with paint chippings. Don, don, don. Don, da, don, da, don, da. Don, don don don....A volunteer college student played “Heart and Soul"(the song from the huge piano that Tom Hanks plays with his feet in “Big”). Its happy, catchy two-part harmony rose above our banging.

We discovered Hands On New Orleans after we learned that the better-known Habitat for Humanity was full on the dates we would be in town. Hands On operates out of a volunteer center that can bunk volunteers and sees many college groups looking for alternate break options. Americorps groups from across the country take turns staffing the projects.

China's New Bus: Zen or Hell?

Ten countries, 16 days, one bus full of intrepid travelers. Sound like the makings for a ridiculous reality TV show? Nope, it’s the Butterfly Bus (which just launched as BuddhaBus, but underwent a spitfire-fast name change to avoid religious offense): an “overland adventure” (in their words). Departing from London, the bus slogs its way to Urumqi, Xinjiang Province, China, in an extreme model of slow travel.

Traversing almost 5,000 miles, passengers along the way sleep over in Warsaw, Kiev, Moscow, Samara, Chelyabinsk, Kostanay, Astana, Lake Balkhash, Almaty, Korgas, and Urumqi. The bus company promotes itself as an eco-friendly mode of transport, touting two tons of spared carbon dioxide emissions compared to a flight from London to Urumqi. The inaugural bus is set to depart September 6 and will cost a hefty £795 ($1,600) one-way or £1,295 ($2,612) round-trip.

Of course, such an unusual journey comes with a few quirky requirements, like, say, transit visas for Russia, Kazakhstan, and China. Critics have been quick to line up against the ambitious launch.

UN's Green Passport

Just last weekend, the United Nations introduced Green Passport, a campaign intended to advise travelers on the best ways to travel green. Gadling explains:

Launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the internet-based campaign... will hopefully offset the effects that the growing industry has on the global environment. "By browsing the Green Passport website consumers will be able to find practical tips to help them reduce their environmental and social footprint while they are on vacations. Tourists will discover that traveling green is not as hard as they imagined," said Stefanos Fotiou, head of UNEP's tourism unit.

The Green Passport website is designed to look fun and user-friendly, and you can even submit your own green travel tips... A large part of the program is focused on traveling responsibly. In other words, educating yourself about your destination and culture before going and while there, respecting the local population and customs.

The interactive website (while a tad slow in loading each page) provides tips for every aspect of travel, from packing eco-friendly toiletries (so as not to pollute another country's drinking water), to taking greener transportation (biking, public transport), to staying in green accommodations, as well as what you can do after you return home from your trip.

Bravo to the UN. We just hope they'll fix the website so it is both eco-friendly and user-friendly.

Image: Green Passport, UNEP

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Birds and Birdies on the Green

Picture a wide grassy expanse filled with hills and valleys, with a sampling of sandy spots and a few little nooks perfect for birdies to land in. It sounds like a pretty perfect bird sanctuary...or a pretty sweet golf course.

Combining the two made sense to the group Audubon International, which has been working to make golf courses into animal habitats. Since starting the program in 1991, they've worked with the United States Golf Association to designate over 655 courses (PDF) as safe spaces for golfers and birds to mingle.

Audubon International's education and certification program aims to "protect our environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf." Their plan works to "enhance the valuable natural areas and wildlife habitats that golf courses provide, improve efficiency, and minimize potentially harmful impacts of golf operations." All of which seems pretty smart to us, especially considering one recent "harmful impact" to a unassuming hawk.

Healthiest U.S. Cities

Fresh (flying) salmon for sale at Seattle's Pike Place Fish.

I've got to gloat for a minute. Cooking Light magazine recently rated the top 20 healthiest U.S. cities. Seattle (my hometown) took first place (we may drink a lot of coffee, but caffeine doesn't inhibit Seattlites from making healthy choices), and my adoptive home of D.C. ranked third.

Cities were judged by 15 criteria, including how walkable the city is, how many chefs work there, residents' health, number of farmers markets, and how residents make use of fresh produce.

What makes Seattle stand out from the rest? According to Cooking Light, Seattle ranked highest in spending money on parkland, 85 percent of its residents exercise regularly, and it is one of the most walkable cities. It's also known for its great markets, like Pike Place Market (above). For a list of some of the city's best places to eat (inlcuding eco-friendly Tilth and fresh local fish at Matt's in the Market), check out Seattle's "Places of a Lifetime" foodie picks.

Organic markets, green space, and walkability gave D.C. the bronze medal (Portland, Oregon, got the silver). We recommend classic eats like Old Ebbitt Grill, the organic offerings at Adams Morgan's Cashion's Eat Place, and IT favorite (and eco-friendly) Java Green.

Other cities that made the cut? Minneapolis, Minnesota; San Francisco, California; Chicago, Illinois; Baltimore, Maryland; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to name just a few.

What are some healthy picks in your favorite city?

Photo: Brad Swain

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Barcelona: Be Green, Be Cheap

Planning an España getaway this summer? If you're headed to Barcelona, be sure to check out the new Barcelona Urbany (opening June 1), which claims to be the country's first eco-friendly hostel.

What makes this hostel eco-savvy? It will recycle and reuse 50 percent of the water and use a rainwater harvesting system. It will also use low-consumption lamps and "more environmentally friendly and less aggressive materials." Sounds pretty good to us.

But just because Urbany is greening its quarters doesn't mean it is lacking in 21st-century amenities. Not only will the hostel have a swimming pool, BBQ area, free guest kitchen, and spa facilities, it will also offer breakfast and Wi-Fi free to guests.

The 13-story hostel will include about 400 beds in both mixed and female shared rooms, as well as individual and double rooms for those not wanting to put up with snoring strangers (you can check out some current construction photos here). And all rooms also have en suite bathrooms, which is the definition of hostel luxury.

Read more: IT got the goods on some U.K. hostels' efforts to go upscale, and on an eco-savvy hostel-on-wheels.

Photo: www.flickr.com/photos/bcnbits via Flickr

The Not So Lazy Environmentalist

A self-described "passionate yet lazy environmentalist" Josh Dorfman, radio host, environmental entrepreneur, author, and speaker, is anything but lazy. Since starting his satellite radio show, The Lazy Environmentalist, Josh has interviewed people ranging from celebrities to magazine editors highlighting green living, sustainable travel, and more.

What inspired you to start the Lazy Environmentalist?

I felt that a voice was missing from the environmental movement that embraced the realities of our consumption society and instead of guilt-tripping and preaching, strived to make green living fun, attractive, and super convenient. As much as so many of us care about the planet, leading environmentally responsible lives is not always top priority. There’s our careers to attend to, our kids’ soccer practice, and millions of other aspects to our frenetic lives that make going green challenging. My aim is to constantly inform about green choices that actually make our lives better, so that going green becomes something we want to do instead of something we feel compelled to do.

In what ways have your own habits changed since starting your radio show? Are you still lazy?

I’m definitely still lazy, which is why I want green solutions that don’t require me to change my habits. But if changing my habits is required, then I want green options that are cool or save me money or make me healthier. I’m more apt to go green if it’s in my enlightened self-interest – that is, it’s better for the planet and it’s also better for me. “Sacrifice Environmentalism” is a really lousy brand marketing concept. We need smarter thinking, more innovation.

Do you have any examples of innovative ideas that seem to work for you?

I’ve been sampling reusable bags from Envirosax and Flip and Tumble and Angry Little Girls (I love this one). I’m more apt to change my behavior and bring a reusable shopping bag with me to the store if the bag is stylish, convenient, and/or funny. Think about the Toyota Prius. People buy it partly because it saves them money at the pump and it’s better for the environment. But people mostly buy it because they know that when they’re driving it, everyone else on the road sees what a wonderful, enlightened, hero of the planet they are. We need more solutions like that. Relying upon people to “do the right thing” is a losing proposition. Engage people and let them feel really conspicuously good about going green and we’ll get some results. I know a lot of people take issue with me on this, but the question we have to ask ourselves is: Do we want to feel righteous or do we want to be effective? I prefer trying to be effective. 

Dominica Changes Course

We were glad to hear the news that Dominica's government has decided to put a temporary halt to their plans to construct an oil refinery on the island. The slated $80-million development, funded by Venezuela, had been met with opposition from the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association, who argued that the refinery would dissuade visitors and hurt the reputation of Dominica as the "Nature Isle" of the Caribbean.  Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit deferred to the DHTA, saying on a local radio station that he believed "fundamentally that the concerns raised by the DHTA cannot be overlooked" and that an environmental assessment would follow.

Dominica's score of 77 placed it among the "Best Rated" destinations on our Destinations Rated: Islands survey (Nov/Dec 2007). One of our expert panelists said at the time:

The Nature Isle is aptly named—awesome power and incredible beauty of nature unspoiled. Its lush mountains, indigenous population, art, craft, agro-based products, and small-scale accommodation facilities all add to the opportunity for sustainable tourism development.

But another noted that the state of projects, like the oil refinery, keep the fate of the island hanging in the balance:

A serious dichotomy [exists] between lip service to preserving and protecting its wilderness, which is the major product, and the soliciting of more cruise ships, the proposed oil refinery, and support for Japan on the whaling issue.

"If this decision sticks, it will help Dominica retain its excellent but insecure score on the Destination Stewardship Index," says Jonathan Tourtellot, director of National Geographic's Center for Sustainable Destinations, which conducts the survey for Traveler. Dominica tied with the Grenadines as the two most unspoiled places in the Caribbean. "Given the island's eco-oriented visitors and active geology," Tourtellot speculates, "a geothermal-energy plant might suit the 'Nature Isle' image a lot better than oil."

Here's hoping that this helps tip the scales toward more sustainable practices in the future from Dominica.

Photo: Jeff Clow via Flickr

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Driving on Air

We've been so busy focusing on electric cars, biofuels, and other ways to cut carbon emissions from our autos that we might have overlooked one seemingly endless resource to run our vehicles: air.

The BBC reports that a French engineer has promised that his design for an air-powered car will be ready for the roads in a year's time. Guy Negre has been tinkering with his OneCAT air-mobile for a decade, and plans to partner with the Indian car company Tata (which has been in the news lately due to their efforts to roll out a $2,500 car) to produce it, and says he will work to persuade hundreds of other car manufacturers around the globe to build his cars with locally sourced materials. In addition, his team is also looking to distribute electric mopeds to offset the CO2 output from motorbikes and scooters in urban areas.  All of which sounds promising, but how exactly do the darn things work? The BBC has the details:

The OneCAT will be a five-seater with a glass fibre body, weighing just 772 pounds and could cost just over US$4,900. It will be driven by compressed air stored in carbon-fibre tanks built into the chassis. The tanks can be filled with air from a compressor in just three minutes—much quicker than a battery car. Alternatively, it can be plugged into the mains for four hours and an on-board compressor will do the job.

While some industry officials counter that the car would need to meet safety standards, Negre points out that without a gas tank, only the air compressors would explode during impact, causing a very loud bang. "The biggest risk is to the ears," he says. All of which sounds promising to us.

Photo: Image via AutoBlogGreen and BusinessWeek

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Go! Go! Bangkok!

Contributing Editor Daisann McLane sends us a dispatch from Bangkok...

I'm in Bangkok now, on the first leg of a "low-carb" (as in carbon) trip around Southeast Asia. Tomorrow I've booked a sleeping berth on Thailand's state railway for an overnight trip down the Thai isthmus, then across by ferry (or taxi) to Penang, Malaysia.

I've been coming to Bangkok for more than ten years, and while I love the city, it has always ranked low on my environmental list. The city sprawls like Houston or L.A., and even though in the last 9 years t