5 Ways to Green Your Trip Preparation

Traveling green is all about the preparation. You can't control the green offerings at the place that you're traveling to, but what you can control is how much you prepare. Here's what I do in my typical trip preparation in order to ensure that I have everything I need to make as little eco-impact as possible:

• Research the local farmers' markets. This is a great way to eat green, meet the locals, and see the best local offerings. For me, this is the very best way to learn as much as I can about a culture. Go online to find out where and when the farmers' markets are and check out as many of them as possible.


• Bring a reusable bag http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/02/canvasco_carry.php for all your shopping whether it be at the farmers' market or at stores. That way you won't get stuck having to choose paper or plastic when you know that both of them take their toll on the planet.


• Pack green grub. If you know that the place that you're going is short on green eats, pack your own to avoid having to eat low quality, unhealthy, and wasteful food when you travel.


• Research organic and vegetarian restaurants before you travel. For those places that don't offer organic eats, eat vegetarian. While the food may not be organic, vegetarian food is generally a lower impact choice than hormone-laced meats.


• Research public transportation so that you don't have to rent a car or take a taxi. Use less fossil fuels by staying close to the sights that you want to see and walking as much as possible. Take the subway, the bus, or bike around.

Learn more about green grub in these related posts:
Three Fast (Organic) Foods on the Go
Green Foods on the Go, Part Two