Going on a Green Vacation

Although many people equate “going on vacation” with long car rides and plane trips, there are other ways of taking a vacation which are friendlier to the environment. You don’t actually have to travel far from home in order to have a good time. Most people have places in their own area, or even in their own city, that they have never been to. By taking a “green” vacation to attractions in your own area, you can avoid the need to consume a lot of energy in order to get where you are going. A local vacation can also save you a lot of money.

Visit Local Attractions
Chances are there are a number of museums and other attractions in your city or a nearby city. These attractions are often just as interesting as museums that you travel hundreds of miles to visit. A local zoo would also be a great vacation destination. If you are unfamiliar with what is in your area, you can do some online searches, or contact your city’s visitor’s bureau in order to come up with interesting things to see and do in your own city. Most people take the attractions in their own cities for granted, and sometimes go their entire life without visiting them. You might be truly surprised at the interesting things there are to see and do if you just take the time to find them.

Visit Local Parks and Preserves
Your local park and nature preserves are another great destination for a “green” vacation. Most parks have many features for kids and adults to enjoy, as well as plenty of picnic areas. There are walking, hiking and jogging paths that you can take advantage of. Some parks also have sports areas that you can use for free, such as tennis courts, shuffle board courts, volley ball courts, baseball fields, and bocce ball courts, all of which can be a lot of fun to enjoy together as a family. You might even be able to mingle with other families to get a game going. Playgrounds for the kids are also common in parks, and some park systems offer wading pools, water features, or even petting zoos. If you have a good park in your neighborhood, you could pack a picnic lunch and spend the entire day enjoying the park with your family.

Embark on a Family Project
Sometimes you don’t even need to leave your home in order to have a great vacation day with your family. Some of the best vacations often involve spending the day together working on a project that is meaningful to the entire family. Depending on your family, this could include activities such as scrapbooking, adding a new feature to your yard or patio, organizing photos, or any one of a number of things that you might have wanted to do for a long time, but just never seem to have the time for. The advantage of a family project vacation is that when the vacation day is over, you have that great feeling of knowing that not only did you have a good time, but you also accomplished something.