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- Give the Gift of Green Gadgets Nov 14
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Vacation
Travel by train or bus
Amtrak Acela Express Train (Northeast)
Traveling at speeds up to 150 mph, the Acela Express is Amtrak’s first high-speed train service. It serves Boston, New York, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia. Hourly service is offered during peak morning and afternoon rush hours between New York, Washington, DC, and other intermediate cities.Greyhound North America
Greyhound serves more than 3,100 cities with 16,000 daily departures across North America. One Greyhound bus replaces an average of 20 cars and achieves 162 passenger miles per gallon of fuel. Greyhound partners with other bus lines as well as Amtrak train service to help passengers get to their destination.Lux Bus America (Southern California)
Lux Bus America serves passengers traveling between Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and Las Vegas. The company also offers The Las Vegas Liner, providing daily service to and from Las Vegas.Megabus.com (Midwest and Northeast)
Megabus.com bills itself as a low-cost bus service. A round-trip ticket from Chicago to Detroit runs just $45.50 and takes less than 7 hours. The return trip is less than 5 hours. Purchase tickets to various cities in the Midwest and Northeast online.VIA Rail Canada
VIA Rail Canada transports 4.1 million passengers a year across Canada, serving about 450 communities. The company has an Environmental Policy that states, in part, that the rail line will serve only fair trade coffee, use recycled paper products, and recycle cans, newspapers, and plastic bottles.
Take a sustainable vacation
Adventure Collection
This group of adventure travel companies adheres to the organization’s five principles of responsible travel. Low-impact trips span the globe and include everything from hiking and horseback riding to river kayaking and llama-trekking.Earthfoot
Customize your own low-impact eco-tours and cultural vacations with naturalists, guides, historians, and community activists around the world who offer specialized, non-packaged tours. Search by region and by activity.GAP Adventures
This Canadian company offers small group adventures off the beaten track that help local economies while minimizing the impacts of tourism on natural areas and native cultures.Peregrine Adventures
This Aussie travel outfit promotes small group tours that are ecologically responsible and culturally sensitive.Raven Adventures
Whether it's an African safari or a kayaking trip in Baja, Mexico, a portion of your trip fee goes to conservation and other ecologically oriented projects in the areas where you visit.ResponsibleTravel.com
This UK travel agency offers 1,000s of adventure holidays and eco-tours with green tour companies and hotels around the globe.Wildland Adventures
Selected for Conde Nast Traveler magazine's prestigious "Green List," this travel company is known for its commitment to preserving natural areas and contributing to local cultures worldwide.
Choose a green hotel
Arenas del Mar Beach and Nature Resort (Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica)
Besides using a solar water-heating system and natural bedding, this Costa Rican eco-resort allows only quiet electric cars on the grounds, which just happens to be 70 percent protected rainforest.Asheville Green Cottage (Asheville, NC)
The Asheville Green Cottage offers locally grown organic fruit, Fair Trade coffees and teas, natural latex mattresses, organic cotton sheets and towels, and nontoxic cleaning products.Aurum Lodge (Alberta, Canada)
This lodge near Alberta's Banff and Jasper National Parks offers passive solar design, recessed low-E windows, composting toilets, and a graywater treatment system.Banff Park Lodge Resort Hotel & Conference Centre (Alberta, Canada)
Set in Banff National Park amid snow-covered peaks, it's the first hotel in Canada to receive the EcoLogo certification, one of the oldest eco-labeling initiatives in North America.Doubletree Hotel and Executive Meeting Center (Portland, OR)
This Green Seal-certified Doubletree Hotel in Portland, Oregon, uses energy- and water-saving equipment, provides in-room recycling containers, donates uneaten food to a local shelter and composts the rest.El Monte Sagrado (Taos, NM)
This luxury hotel in Taos collects rainwater, reuses all wastewater, and is constructed from “gunash” (recycled power plant ash that looks like adobe).Habitat Suites (Austin, TX)
Austin's Habitat Suites uses ladybugs for natural pest control and relies on shade trees to cool the building. Landscape plants are indigenous, requiring little water.Hotel Basico (Playa del Carmen, Mexico)
Planning to flee south of the border? Check in and chill out at Playa Del Carmen's Hotel Basico. The property takes eco-chic to a sexy, sustainable new level with rooftop pools made of old oil tanks and cabanas crafted from old trucks.Hotel Triton (San Francisco, CA)
All paper products—from toilet paper to room bills—at San Francisco's Hotel Triton are made with recycled content. Rooms also come equipped with water-saving devices and air purifiers.Inn By The Sea (Cape Elizabeth, ME)
The grounds of this Maine retreat are planted with native varieties that require less water and fewer pesticides. Rooms use CLF bulbs and some proceeds are donated to the Rainforest Action Network.Journey Inn (Maiden Rock, WI)
This Wisconsin B&B for weary green feet features floors heated via a solar-powered water system, organic wool and cotton bedding, low-toxicity furniture, and native-plant landscaping.Kandalama Hotel (Dambulla, Sri Lanka)
Besides using a passive solar energy system, native plants to landscape, and locally grown foods, this Sri Lankan hotel has also built an Eco-Park, an environmental education area for employees, guests, and school children.Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort (Australia)
Not only does this luxury outfit employ a number of measures to protect the surrounding Great Barrier Reef, but it also uses low-emission clean burning diesel generators to power its facilities.Los Manos Bed & Breakfast (Buena Vista, CO)
Surrounded by pinon forest and mountain views, this Colorado B&B offers strawbale construction for super insulation, passive solar heating, solar- and wind-generated electricity, and line-fresh towels and sheets.Orchard Garden Hotel (San Francisco, CA)
The Orchard Garden Hotel sports low-emission wallpaper and carpet, plus wood from sustainably harvested forests. Room lights and appliances only work when a keycard is in a wall slot—so they don’t stay on when guests step out.Proximity Hotel (Greensboro, NC)
The Proximity is aiming for LEED Gold certification. It consumes nearly 40 percent less energy and 30 percent less water and sports solar roof panels, low-flush toilets, recycled-content building materials, and plans to install a green roof.Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge (Homer, AK)
This lux outpost in Homer, Alaska, generates 100 percent of its own electricity via wind and hydro power. Lodges are hand-built from scavenged driftwood.The Fairmont (Washington, DC)
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Washington's Fairmont hotel offers free parking for hybrid cars, contributes part of it’s electric bill to wind power, and has installed a hydrocarbon-powered dry cleaning machine.The Orchid (Mumbai, India)
This hotel in exotic Mumbai relies on drip irrigation to cut water use, provides room stationery made of jute (a rapidly renewable substitute for tree-made paper), and plans to become a “zero garbage” facility.
Choose an eco-friendly cruise
Carnival Cruise Lines
With Carnival Cruises, waste is either recycled, incinerated, or offloaded for disposal on land (not at sea). The Carnival Spirit sports a black water/gray water purification system. It and the Carnival Triumph monitor ocean water quality.Costa Cruises
This Italian company received the “Green Star” award from RINA (Italian Shipping Register) in 2005 for all 11 cruise ships in its fleet. The award means all Costa ships comply with the highest environmental protection standards.Cruise North Expeditions
Explore Arctic wildlife and unique wilderness areas along the coast of northern Labrador aboard this 122-passenger vessel. Take in the spectacular views of fiords, narrow channels, and icebergs in this rarely visited region. Cruise North made Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s Green List in 2006.Holland America Line
All of Holland America's ships feature low-flow toilets and showers; non-perchloroethylene dry cleaning services that use nontoxic detergents; extensive recycling; and an energy-conserving towel re-use option.Lindblad Expeditions
Push off in one of the company's many smaller cruise ships for ocean adventures around the world. Chefs on board specialize in using local foods whenever possible, including locally grown produce and sustainable catch fish. Lindblad is dedicated to conservation and sustainable travel.Mystic Blue Eco Sailing and Diving (Greece)
Sail aboard the Tahita with a team of biologists, divers, and environmentalists, learning about the marine world in the Aegean and Ionian seas. You'll not only see unique, endangered species up close, but you'll also have the chance to help protect them and their fragile habitat.ResponsibleTravel.com (various locations)
Offers a number of eco-friendly wind-powered sailing trips—from exploring the Maldives in a traditional dhoni to viewing Orcas while sailing along Norway's scenic fjords. ResponsibleTravel.com specializes in working with travel companies that operate with concern for the earth and local cultures.Royal Cleopatra Dahabia Nile cruises (Egypt)
Sail the Nile and explore ancient cities, like Luxor and Aswan, aboard a traditional (carbon-free) Egyptian sailing yacht called a Dahabia. Relax in the sun on board or venture off to visit the tomb of King Tut or explore local shopping markets.
Buy carbon offsets
3Degrees
In addition to their carbon offset offering, 3Degrees is a leading national supplier of Green-e Certified RECs sourced from a variety of renewable energy technologies, including wind, biomass, geothermal, solar, low-impact hydro, landfill gas, and biogas. Use the footprint calculator to get started on your green energy path.Carbonfund.org
Carbonfund.org lets you offset emissions from air and car travel, energy use, and even special events.Climate Care
Shrink the size of your carbon footprint at home, while you drive, fly, or bask on some faraway beach.Climate Friendly
Tally emissions from driving, air travel, and home energy. Offset only what you choose. Or pick from one of Climate Friendly's custom packages (including driving, flying, etc.) that let you go carbon neutral just in that area for a year.GreenLife
GreenLife lets you offset your carbon emissions from home energy use, air travel, and driving. Offset your entire yearly emissions or a portion via one of the company's pre-priced packages or use the online calculator for a more precise tally.LivClean Carbon Offset Solutions
LivClean is a Canadian organization offering carbon offset products and solutions to both individuals and businesses around the world. Services include carbon footprint assessment, the procurement and sale of carbon offsets, sustainable business solutions, including sustainable positioning strategies, marketing, and communications, and more.My Climate
Neutralize emissions from flying, driving, and powering your home or business.Native Energy
Help fund community-based clean renewable energy projects, including methane reduction ventures and wind power initiatives.Sustainable Travel International
Calculate your entire carbon footprint from air and car travel, energy use, and hotel stays with STI's easy-to-use carbon calculator.The CarbonNeutral Company
Whether you're a student or business owner, the CarbonNeutral Company lets you tally emissions from flying, driving, running your home, or powering your truck fleet.
Take an eco-volunteer vacation
American Hiking Society
Stay closer to home with these backcountry volunteer trips in the US (some lasting up to two weeks). Projects are often strenuous and include rebuilding footpaths in national parks or helping with erosion control in a national forest.Conservation Volunteers Australia
Choose from day-long or longer trips to plant trees, install fencing to protect vulnerable areas, and more in Australia and New Zealand. Opportunities vary by season.Earth Island Institute's Project Network
Volunteer with more than 30 organizations in the network, including one dedicated to protecting Lake Baikel in Siberia and an eco-justice group working with indigenous people in Borneo.Earthwatch Institute
Assist a scientific research team in one of 50 countries. Projects include everything from measuring snow pack density (to observe the effects of global warming) to tagging sea turtles.Elderhostel
Offers a few volunteer vacation opportunities designed for seniors, including restoring natural habitats on Assateague Island, Virginia. Participants must be 55 and older.Global Volunteer Network
Worldwide volunteer opportunities abound, including assisting in a wildlife rescue center in Thailand and protecting endangered Leatherback turtles along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.Globe Aware
Nicknamed the “mini Peace Corps,” short-term volunteer trips include helping a village in Costa Rica develop a sustainable eco-tourism industry, as well as cleaning up local rivers and teaching environmental education classes in Jamaica.Himalayan Light Foundation
Traverse the mountains, tropical forests, and plateaus of South Asia while helping to install sustainable solar energy systems in remote villages that can’t afford electricity.International Student Volunteers, Inc.
University students can volunteer around the world, working with researchers and organizations to protect endangered species and restore habitats. Accommodations vary by project but run the gamut from home stays to bunkhouses.Muirs Tours
Research the behavior of wild horses in Mongolia or manage permaculture projects around the world. This British organization offers long and short term assignments.Oceanic Society
Participate in hands-on ocean conservation research projects. Trips include studying the behavioral ecology of bottlenose dolphins in Belize and monitoring the nesting habits of sea turtles in Suriname.ResponsibleTravel.com Eco-volunteer vacation
This travel company offers dozens of volunteer vacations (as well as sustainable vacations). Monitor effects of global warming in the Arctic or preserve the remaining Monkey Puzzle trees in Chile.Sierra Club
Stick closer to home rebuilding trails, clearing invasive plant species, and more in US and Canadian national parks and wilderness areas. Many international opportunities also available.Take Pride in America
A national partnership established by the US Department of the Interior that encourages volunteers to work in US public parks, forests, grasslands, wildlife refuges, cultural and historical sites, local playgrounds, and other recreation areas. Everything from river cleanups to rehabilitating natural habitats.The Bosque Village (Michoacan, Mexico)
An eco-tourist’s dream, this sustainable eco-village offers camping, as well as cabanas for those seeking something less rustic. Volunteer on the organic farm or enjoy an artistic retreat.The Global Classroom
Students and youth can choose from several trips. Projects include rainforest conservation in Costa Rica and building eco-friendly composting toilets in Baja, Mexico.Volunteer Latin America
Projects in South and Central America include everything from reforesting areas of the Amazon basin with native trees and medicinal plants to tracking wild Andean Spectacled bears.Volunteertourism.com
Offers volunteer opportunities around the world to individuals, families, and businesses looking for a different kind of meeting and convention experience for employees. Projects range from learning about bamboo (a sustainable resource) in Costa Rica to caring for endangered elephants in Thailand.Voluntourists Without Borders
Work with rural Thai and minority hill tribes to relieve poverty, protect forests, develop nature trails, and promote sustainable eco-tourism via a nonprofit initiative.Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms
Find opportunities to live and work on an organic farm (which avoids using toxic pesticides and fertilizers) in dozens of countries from Turkey and Denmark to Uganda and Nepal.
Drive a green rental car
Avis (nationwide)
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Avis offers the Toyota Prius hybrid to renters in various locations.Bio-Beetle (Los Angeles, CA; Maui, HI)
Bio-Beetle offers biodiesel-compatible cars including Volkswagen Beetles, Golfs, and Jettas to rental customers in Maui and Los Angeles.Budget (nationwide)
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Budget guarantees the availability of the Toyota Prius and Nissan Altima hybrids along with other fuel-efficient vehicles.Electric Time Car Rentals (San Francisco, CA)
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Enjoy the sights and sounds of San Francisco in an eye-catching, non-polluting electric car; GPS-based audio tour is optional.Enterprise Rent-A-Car (nationwide)
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Enterprise Rent-A-Car offers renters hybrid and flex-fuel vehicles at various locations.EV Rental Cars (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Ana, San Jose, CA; Phoenix, AZ)
Car rental agency with locations in Southern California, the Bay Area, and Phoenix exclusively offers hybrid vehicles.Hertz (nationwide)
The Hertz Green Collection offers five fuel-efficient vehicles that receive 28 or more miles per gallon at over 50 domestic airport locations.Sunshine Rentals (Key West, FL)
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Key West rental agency offers electric car rentals alongside bikes and scooters.
Hire a green limo or car service
Clean Air Limo (Austin, TX)
Austin-based Clean Air Limo—serving Central Texas and the Hill Country—offers "style, service, and sustainability" to green Texans. The company's fleet is composed entirely of hybrids, including makes by Mercedes and Lexus. Available for airport transfers, sightseeing, special events, and more.DrivenEco (New York City)
Need chauffeured hybrid wheels? Look no further than DrivenEco. Serving New York City and its environs for events both business and personal.ECOLIMO (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC)
Their fleet includes hybrids, biodiesel- fueled vehicles, and compressed natural gas (CNG) powered options.EcoShuttle (Portland, OR)
All aboard! Hire one of EcoShuttle's nine-person, 100 percent biodiesel-fueled vans for a simple airport ride or for a slew of special group events.Elite Green Car (Atlanta, GA)
Hail (well, hire) one of Elite Green Car's Lexus RX 400 Hybrids to cruise around the ATL in sustainable style.Evo Limo (Los Angeles, CA)
Their fleet of uber-lux suburbans and sedans have been converted to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) yet still come with mini-bars, tinted windows, and entertainment systems.Green Car Limo (San Francisco Bay Area)
Swapping traditional stretch limos with a Toyota Prius fleet, Michael Fadis' Green Car Limo service has been serving the Bay Area since 2005.Green Limousine (Vail, CO)
Want your next trip to the Colorado Rockies to be a bit greener (and sans the hassle of navigating snowy conditions yourself)? Book a ride with Green Limousine, a car service with a fleet of biodiesel-fueled sedans and SUVs.Green Shuttle of Cape Cod (MA)
Visit one of the Northeast's most popular summer playgrounds, Cape Cod, while curbing your carbon tiremark. Get picked up in a Prius, Altima, or Mercury Mariner at various points in New England such as Boston Logan Airport and Providence's Green Airport.Green SUV (Hollywood, CA)
If you're not ready to give up the SUV habit when it comes time to hire a car, consider Green SUV, which offers a fleet of hybrid SUVs, including the Tahoe, Yukon, and Escalade. Transportation provided for airport service, business meetings and corporate travel, as well as special events, in the LA area.Greenfleet Car Service (New Jersey)
Garden State-based Greenfleet Car Service specializes in corporate travel to and from airports, personal travel, group outings, and conventions.greentomatocars (London, UK)
With a fleet of private hire hybrids, greentomatocars is the greenest ride in London (they'll also transport you to other points in the UK). And they offset emission with tree-planting and various eco-friendly projects.New York Hybrid Car & Limousine Services
Offering airport pickup and drop-off, special occasion, sightseeing, and out of town services with "all hybrids all the time," New York Hybrid is a great alternative for your transportation needs.OZOcar (New York City)
Driving around the Big Apple can be a big pain in the you know what. Why not hire OZOcar, NYC's first hybrid luxury car service, to do the driving for you?PlanetTran (New England, San Francisco Bay Area)
Are you a green-minded traveler flying into San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Boston, Providence, or Manchester, New Hampshire? Give PlanetTran a buzz and they'll pick up you and your bags in a Toyota Prius and deposit you at your destination the sustainable way.
Comments
2:21am
There are so many iPhone travel apps out there today it can be confusing. Call me old-fashioned, but in my opinion there is nothing more effective than using a good travel guide. Before a trip it is always best to check out an online <a href="http://www.Dozentravel.com">travel guide</a> like http://www.twitter.com/dozentravel. There are now so many iPhone travel apps on the market that people will stop looking at the scenery and enjoying their vacation, instead they'll be using their smartphone to find out info, text, check emails, flight news and whatever else. We managed quite well without travel apps and iphones.
1:59pm
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