green travel — The Vacation Gals

Ambassadors of the Environment at Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel

June 14, 2010 | Author: SoCalGal

The Ambassadors of the Environment is an international project started by Jean-Michel Cousteau. The project makes education fun with hands-on, in-depth experiences exploring local environments, and helping children appreciate the natural wonders of the world we live in. My family was lucky to be able to experience the Ambassadors of the Environment program at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua in Hawaii. Now, June 2010, sees the grand opening of an Ambassadors of the Environment at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel as well. Laguna Beach CA is a pretty easy drive for me, so my family was delighted to have the excuse to spend a weekend there. The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel is one of the finer examples of this luxury line of resorts, and it’s the longest tenured AAA 5-Diamond holder in California. The Ambassadors of the Environment program here is brand new, with a terrific staff of trained naturalists. Their passion for the local Southern California animals and plants is readily apparent. What a group of enthusiastic people.

Wherever Ritz-Carlton has opened a branch of the Ambassadors of the Environment (Grand Cayman, Maui, and now Laguna), it has replaced the resort Ritz Kids camp. Ritz Kids is more of a traditional child care/day camp for the children of vacationing parents. The deeper, more meaningful and lasting experience Ambassadors of the Environment provides makes all other resort day camps pale by comparison.

There are drop-off programs for children at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel Ambassadors of the Environment program, as well as activities for the whole family. We tried one of each. Each is led by a naturalist, and the two we met were absolutely terrific with our kids: Never condescending, they intuitively knew exactly how to relate to our kids and the other participants in a friendly, outgoing, but never pushy way.

First, we dropped our kids off for the “Lights, Camera, Take Action” activity. In three hours, my children wrote, directed, and filmed their own public service announcement (my reserved older kid opted to direct, while my younger daughter joyfully performed for the camera). They wrote an obviously age-appropriate public service announcement about endangered animals, and we received a DVD of this at times hilarious, slapdash ad for walruses and the like. It’s a keeper. My kids really had a great time with their naturalist, who also put the DVD together for us before our weekend vacation in Laguna was over.

It was the second activity that really blew us away, though. We signed up as a family for “The Biggest Show on Earth” Whale Adventure which is essentially a whale watching trip — but it’s so much more. The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel Ambassadors of the Environment program has teamed up with a couple of local whale watching tour charters; Captain Dave, and his Dolphin & Whale Safari company, is absolutely a treasure. Because its motor is internal, his catamaran is safe to sail through the pods of dolphins we passed. The bottlenose dolphins swam alongside the boat, and Captain Dave’s ingenious setup of a plexiglass viewing pod in one of the hulls lets passengers sit eye to eye with the dolphins. My children loved this, and I did too. Even the dolphins seemed to be enjoying themselves, showing off and looking right back at us.

California Grey Whales migrate past Dana Point in the Laguna Beach area and are a regular sighting for Captain Dave and his crew...and blue whales, the largest animal on Earth, migrate right past Dana Point too! We saw a blue whale surface several times; it was incredible. Captain Dave and his crew were able to figure out that the whale surfaced around every 10 minutes, for three times each, and they followed the whale. Everyone on the boat was awed. There is something about seeing these huge, graceful marine mammals that brings a group of disparate people together in a shared experience — everyone started pointing, talking to each other, and laughing. It was such an incredible, uniting experience that many on board realized only later that they’d forgotten to to take photos of the whale — my self included! Our Ambassadors of the Environment naturalist did, though, and gave us a DVD of his photographs of the “Biggest Show on Earth” activity later.

Captain Dave is committed to the health and safely of marine animals; leading whale watching tours is much more than just a job for him. His knowledge of and love for the local dolphins and the whales passing through is evident. Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel’s Ambassadors of the Environment is smart to partner with him, and my family is so, so lucky to have experienced a whale watching trip with him and his crew. More than just the highlight of our weekend vacation in Southern California, the Ambassadors of the Environment Biggest Show on Earth program is a highlight of our entire year.

The Ritz-Carlton Languna Niguel hosted my family, and a significant portion of our Ambassadors of the Environment participation was provided by the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel as well: thank you from the Vacation Gals!

Posted in: Destinations, Family Travel, Travel News | 4 comments

Car Trip Carbon Credits

July 13, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

Carbon Offsets for Car Trips (Cory Disbrow, via flickr) Travel deals are bringing the prices of vacations down to levels not seen since the 1980′s, multigenerational and green travel are burgeoning trends, and the economic downturn indicates that the classic car trip is sure to be a more popular method of vacation travel than ever before. But cars emit CO2, a known greenhouse gas. How compatible are green travel and the Great American Road Trip?

Very, it turns out. Travel planners just have to do a little research before piling the kids and all their assorted acoutrements (Nintendo DS, iPod, etc) into the family car. As there are carbon offset for air travel, so there are carbon credits available for road trips. The following are reputable organizations that help concerned travelers calculate their automobile’s CO2 output, and purchase offsets accordingly.

NativeEnergy – Native Energy helps travelers buy carbon offsets to make their vacations more carbon neutral. Monies spent offsetting the CO2 output of car-based travel are put towards supporting Native Americans, farmers, and sustainable projects. The current portfolio includes the Kasigluk Alaska Native Village Wind Turbines, Boulder Creek Hydro Project, and Farmer-Owned Distributed Wind. The website is easy to use: NativeEnergy guides travel planners through calculating their cars’ carbon emissions and makes purchasing offsets as easy as clicking a button.

Terrapass – This green organization is prominent in its field. Offering air travel and home energy carbon offsets as well as for cars, Terrapass is an easily navigatable site. To estimate a planned car trip’s carbon output, the “carbon footprint calculator” asks for a given car’s year, make, and model. Then, input “miles per year” as the estimated mileage of the road trip (instead of the yearly CO2 emission). The same webpage then allows users to see results and buy offsets.

Carbonfund – Carbonfund offers “carbon free certification” for products, information about climate change, and carbon offset programs for individuals and businesses. In terms of planning a carbon neutral car trip, users can measure their cars’ CO2 output (hint: SUVs have a heavier carbon footprint than do hybrids and other efficient autos) with either preset values or for specific miles. The car calculator is similar to that used by Terrapass, with an added detail asking for specs such as automatic transmission.

Sustainable Travel International – STI has a carbon offset calculator for travel, along with an eco-directory and a program of travel philanthropy, Altruistic Travel.Â Much like NativeEnergy, STI puts purchased carbon credits to good use with green projects in the US, China, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, and South Africa. STI’s carbon calculator is a bit simplified, compared to the details required above. The emission calculator may be more of a rounded estimation as a result.

Carbon Offsets Reduce Travel Footprints (Carole Browne via Flickr) Car trips are a great way for families to experience travel together, with the ride being as memorable as the destination. Families concerned about their relative carbon footprint can trust these programs to put their offsets to good, green use. Clean energy investment and support for tourism and sustainable development is key towards becoming carbon neutral.

Posted in: Family Travel, Travel Tips | 2 comments

Earth Day Top 5 Easy Green Travel Tips

April 22, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

: Easy Green Travel for Earth Day (wikicommons)

On Earth Day, it’s important to consider the potential benefits of traveling on the earth, as well as how to mitigate negative consequences. No doubt about it; travel leaves a carbon footprint. The CO2 emitted by airplanes is a greenhouse gas, as we (mostly) all know. Further, biodiversity (important for the health of any habitat) is affected by the construction of hotels and resorts. What can an eco-conscious travel lover do? Plenty. And on Earth Day, it’s important to consider the potential benefits of traveling on the earth, as well as how to mitigate negative consequences. Here are the Vacation Gals’ Top 5 Easy Green Travel Tips!

Don’t worry; our level of commitment can vary. Not just between person, but between trips as well. Awareness of the environment doesn’t have to equal staying in yurts and other no-indoor-plumbing types of lodging. Eco-travel is not a forced choice. There are many small ways in which any type of travel, from budget to luxury, can be made more environmentally responsible.

1) Getting There by Plane: In terms of getting to our vacation destinations, we don’t have to sacrifice air travel for leaving a lighter carbon footprint. There are click-through carbon offset purchase options available online. I like NativeEnergy for this, because its benefits aren’t just environmental, but economic as well. NativeEnergy builds positive businesses for family farmers and Native Americans by taking those carbon offsets and putting them towards farmer-owned renewable projects.

2) Getting There by Car (or otherwise): It’s good green thinking to research whether we can forgo car rentals. Some hotels offer free shuttles to and from the airport and local activities. Since these shuttles are running regardless, using them cuts down on CO2 emissions. Bikes and public transportation are also great alternatives. When it’s necessary to rent a car, we can ask if there are hybrids available. Some hotels offer rebates on parking for guests who pull up in hybrids. The Better World Club is an eco-friendly alternative to AAA.

3) Once You’re There: Sure, there’s camping, and there are yurts and ecolodges. Environmentally Friendly Hotels has a list. No matter the destination, though, there are easy choices we can make to travel “greener” without giving up accommodations we want on our vacations. For example, we can still turn off the lights in our hotel room before we leave for the day (it’s surprising how many people don’t bother). Ask if a hotel has a linen reuse program. These hotels usually have signs in the bathrooms that say something like, “If you want us to wash the towels, leave them on the floor.” Also, we can check if there is a hotel at our destination of choice that participates in a water recycling or conservation program.

4) Time to Eat: Some hotels – notably the Fairmont family of hotels - have restaurants that use locally grown, organic ingredients for their menu offerings. This not only cuts down on transportation costs, but assures a fresher quality of food too. Eating locally but outside of the hotel is still more ecologically sensitive than, say, a Happy Meal at McDonald’s. The 100 Mile Diet promotes locally grown produce. Inquiring about which of your destination’s restaurants participate in this earth-friendly concept is an easy way to affect positive change while traveling.

5) What to Buy: No matter where you take your vacation, remember to take only photos, leave only memories (as they say). The broken-up a’a lava rock looks plentiful and free to take as a souvenir in Hawaii, but it’s illegal to do so for a reason: Can you imagine if everyone took some? While buying unique crafts from local artisans is more expensive than buying that cheapo t-shirt at the airport, doing so invests back in the community. It supports traditional craft-making as a sustainable job in the travel destination’s economy. Sustainable tourism money translates into vacation destinations promoting the protection of their habitats’ biodiversity.

Making informed choices as a travel consumer is easy. Green travel is also easy, once we realize we don’t have to forgo our favorite vacation amenities to do so. Every little bit helps, after all. And who knows? Maybe next Earth Day, we’ll be game for that backpacking-camping-no indoor plumbing-ecotrip. Until then, incorporating easy green concepts into our vacations is painless, and great for the planet.

Posted in: Budget Travel, Travel Tips | 1 comment

Unexpected Hawaii Whale Watching Experience

April 21, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

One of the better snorkel trips I’ve had was on a morning trip to Molokini, a small uninhabited (by humans, at least) atoll off the coast of Maui. The snorkeling itself was nice, of course, but what really made the trip was the boat ride back to Maui. We were enjoying our post-snorkeling juice and pastries, when suddenly two humpback whales breached around 15 feet off starboard side of the chartered catamaran. They did this a few times, and each time, the passengers in the boat gasped. Some pointed, some rummaged for their cameras, and the woman next to be broke out in tears. I found myself laughing without being aware of when I started even to smile. It was a pure Hawaii experience: Spontaneous, in-the-moment, and completely joyous.

Something similar just happened this month, with the passengers on the Atlantis Submarines Maui. This underwater sightseeing trip usually takes its passengers off the coast from Lahaina. While Molikini is off the east part of Maui (which is roughly shaped like the two side-by side volcanoes that formed it), Lahaina is off the west coast, near Ka’anapali. On this particular cruise, a pod of around 5-10 humpback whales appeared maybe 25 feet from the Atlantis submersible, swimming around and apparently vying for the attention of one very desirable female whale. Isn’t she lovely? A quick-minded passenger took a video, check it out:

The activity lasted for 45 minutes or so, and then the humpback whales moved away. Only then did the Atlantis submarine return to the surface. It’s great that the Atlantis extended the tour to accommodate this special, amazing experience for the passengers. It gave them an experience they’ll never forget, I’m sure, and that’s what a Hawaiian vacation is all about.

Posted in: Destinations, Family Travel, Travel News | no comments

National Volunteering on Martin Luther King Jr Day

January 18, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

Anybody who loves to travel, who really sees the world – those who get away from the all-inclusive, no-need-to-leave-the-resort-property vacations – gains a deeper appreciation for our world and the people on it. How could we not? Opening ourselves up to different experiences makes us more well-rounded people. It’s no wonder that so many world travelers become aware of the importance of preservation; preservation of a culture, of history, of local ecosystems and the environment. When I read that USA Service’s national day of service for Martin Luther King Jr Day had turned into a weekend of volunteerism for America, I thought it was time to again walk the walk myself.

USA Service’s motto is “Renew America Together,” and there are many opportunities to sign up and volunteer for all sorts of different types of service to our local communities; time at a food bank and shelters, blood drives, libraries, and more. My family signed up for a local beach cleanup, sponsored by Heal the Bay. Many of our days are spent enjoying Will Rogers State Beach, after all – a morning spent collecting junk and garbage off this beach is a small way to care of California’s coastline.

We got there promptly at 10:00 AM, and the day was already warming up. It was great to see a large crowd getting garbage bags and some basic instructions (don’t pick up anything that belongs on the beach, etc), along with a checklist and pencil. My older daughter was in charge of the checklist, which she studied assiduously. “Hmm, plastic, styrofoam, glass…what’s a ‘condom?’” Yikes!

All told, we found over 100 small pieces of styrofoam, over 50 tiny bits of plastic, and a few pretty pieces of seaglass which we decided to keep for ourselves. This was shockingly, wonderfully, much less garbage than in years past. Santa Monica and LA banned smoking at the beach several years ago: In the years since smokers stopped using the sand as one giant ashtray, there has been a huge decline in the number of cigarette butts found. The first year we did an organized beach cleanup, we found in excess of 200 cigarette butts, and this year, we found three. That’s a remarkable change, and only a positive sign for the improving health of the beaches in Southern California.

A morning spent volunteering – through travel or locally – promotes a sense of community with our neighbors. And a national weekend of volunteering to improve the health of our natural resources and the lives of our country’s people – well, that makes America (and the world) a better place.

Posted in: Budget Travel, Family Travel, Travel News | no comments

A Perfect Honeymoon – St John, US Virgin Islands, for Romantic Caribbean Getaways

January 9, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

Fifteen years ago today, I married the love of my life. We’ve been on plenty of trips in the past decade and a half, and have passed on our love of travel to our children. One of our best vacations, though, was before we had kids. I’m thinking a lot about our honeymoon today, and about where we went. St. John, in my mind the most romantic of the US Virgin Islands, was where we spent our honeymoon. It was a perfect Caribbean island for a perfect honeymoon, and it didn’t surprise me at all when, a few years later, my brother-in-law had his honeymoon on St John as well.

: Caneel Bay, St John, US Virgin Islands (photo courtesy of CaneelBay.com)

: The Newlywed Relaxes in St. John (Jennifer Miner, 1994)

There are three US Virgin Islands, and St. John is the smallest. St. Thomas’s main port (and capital of the US Virgin Islands) is Charlotte Amalie: There are a ton of duty-free shopping here, so cruise ships let off and pick up passengers there constantly. It’s busy! St. Croix was not really a strong contender for romantic getaways (like honeymoons), and my new husband and I wanted our honeymoon to be a mix of pampering and eco-travel. That meant St. John.

St. John is, famously, 2/3 US National Park land, with a few upscale resorts scattered along its coast. No airport; travelers land on St. Thomas and take a ferry across. The peace and quiet, relative lack of commercialism, and the swathes of preserved natural Caribbean forest, really best suited our honeymoon wishes.

The Best Beaches on St John, US Virgin Islands

With so much less development than the other US Virgin Islands – and certainly much less than other popular Caribbean resort islands, too – the white sand beaches are clean and the water beyond pristine. One of the best beaches in the world is here, in fact; Caneel Bay, which was founded by conservationist Laurance Rockefeller. With 171 preserved acres and seven beaches, it’s really quite a wonderful legacy left by L. Rockefeller.

Other favorite beaches on St. John are Cinnamon Bay (one of the largest, and a National Park campground), Hawksnest, and Trunk Bay. We took a drive to Trunk Bay; it’s one of the most scenic spots in the Caribbean. We loved it; the soft white sand, the snorkeling, and the gorgeous vista were as good as it gets. Trunk Bay is on many lists as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

The best snorkeling on St. John, though, is in Leinster Bay. Not accessible by car, we had to hike (maybe 15 minutes) from the Annaberg Ruins parking lot. It’s worth the trip; hardly any tourists (a day cruise does dock here though), more sea turtles than I’ve seen anywhere except Hawaii, and a remote feel that adds to the romantic experience of a honeymoon vacation.

One last beach worth mentioning is – believe it or not – Honeymoon Beach. Unless things have changed in the past 15 years, this is a “clothing optional” beach. What did I do there? I’ll never tell (it’s technically illegal to go nude, by the way). There are plenty of people on Honeymoon Beach, plus curious boaters cruising slowly by, so this may not be the easiest place to let go of inhibitions; it’s definitely not the most private.

Two Recommended Luxury Resorts on St. John in the Caribbean

Luxury vacations at Caneel Bay Resort are “unplugged,” that is, no phones and no televisions – although there is a business center. Note: Caneel Bay Resort is not where we had our honeymoon. We hiked there, though, and enjoyed some luxury and pampering. Its beaches are open to the public.

The resort we stayed in for our honeymoon was romantic, pampering, fun, and…gone. A tropical hurricane destroyed that Marriott a couple of years later. So sad! However, the resort that replaced it, the Westin St. John, is a 4-star luxury resort hotel as well. Along with all the relaxation and pampering that a romantic honeymoon requires, the Westin has many fun children’s activities.

: Caribbean Honeymoon Sunset (Jennifer Miner, 1994)

I love tropical islands for vacations, and I love being married to my SoCalGuy. Today, on our fifteenth wedding anniversary, I look through old photos of our wonderful honeymoon on St. John, and marvel at the sweet passage of time. This US Virgin Island was the perfect romantic Caribbean getaway for our first week together as a married couple, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Posted in: Destinations, Romantic Getaways | 1 comment

Tips for Easy Green Travel

July 29, 2008 | Author: SoCalGal

While I’m not the most environmentally responsible person in the world, I try to do the simple things. You know; recycle, use those canvas shopping bags, buy locally grown produce – the sort of easy lifestyle changes that reduce my so-called carbon footprint. And while a “green” ecologically sound vacation is a great fit for some people, I like my air conditioning and flush toilets too much to stay in a tent when I travel. Most people who take week-long vacation are with me on this, as is seen by the relatively few yurts out there. The travel site boo.com has some tips for people like us, and put them together in a Green Getaway Guide.

Tips for Easy Green Vacations

Towels and Linens - Check if your hotel has a linen reuse service for guests staying more than one night.

Water Supply - Ask to see if the hotel or resort participates in a water conservation or recycling program.

In-room Recycling - Ask ahead of arrival if the hotel supplies in-room recycling bins, and if the hotel has an environmentally responsible waste management plan.

Lights out! - I know you’re on vacation, so there’s no need to make your own bed in the morning. However, you can turn off your hotel room’s lights before leaving for the day.

Transportation – Many hotels and resorts offer free shuttles to and from local points of interest; sharing use of the shuttle (instead of your rental car) is a great way to cut down on CO2 emissions.

Dining - Check to see if the hotel’s on-site restaurants serve food that is organic or locally grown. Some hotels – notably the Fairmont family of hotels and resorts – grow food in rooftop gardens. This ensures freshness and cuts down on transportation costs (financial and environmental) of getting the food from the ground to your plate.

Energy - Some eco-friendly hotels are beginning to use alternative energy sources, such as solar panels. Others offer deals to guests who pull up in hybrid cars.

Getting Around - Talking about cars, if it’s appropriate for your vacation destination, forgo the rental car altogether and use a bike, public transportation, or even a Segway to see local attractions.

These are my favorite of boo.com’s tips for making green(er) trips easy. We can travel in environmentally friendly ways, and still have the luxurious vacations we work so hard for. That way, the guilt we may associate with vacations can be confined to how much weight we’ve gained, or how much we’ve spoiled our children. That kind of guilt, we learn to live with!