Here are some of the top choices for eco-fun:

Kilimanjaro Safari: If you and your kids like to see animals, you will definitely want to check out this attraction.  You’ll see antelopes and zebras and everything in between.  The “ride” gets a little corny when the tour guide receives word that poachers have taken a baby elephant from its mother and your truck takes off on a chase to help save the infant animal from harm.  But overall, it is very cool and a great way to learn a bit about animals you may have never seen before.

Mahrajah Jungle Trek and Pangani Forest Exploration Trail: These are two self-guided nature trails that offer great views and information about all kinds of Asian and African animals…gorillas, meerkats, hippos, giant bats, tapirs, and even an okapi!

Discovery Clubs: Be on the lookout for these activity stations all throughout Animal Kingdom.  There are 6 of them located throughout the park and at each one kids can try hands-on activities such as constructing a dinosaur from a pile of bones, going on a scavenger hunt, becoming a wildlife detective, and viewing the world from a bug’s point of view.  After completing each activity, kids receive a stamp and if they do all 6 they can get a special bonus (my littlest one pooped out so we didn’t make it to all 6, but the girls loved the 3 that they tried.) To find the Discovery Clubs locations, look for the red squares with a “K” symbol in your park map.

Rafiki’s Planet Watch: This is a great spot for learning more about the conservation projects that Disney takes part in (in-depth info on that tomorrow.)  You can get an up-close look at the inner workings of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and learn even more about animal conservation and preservation.  Rafiki’s Planet Watch is also home to “Affection Station” a petting zoo where kids can brush, pet, and feed, goats, sheep, chickens, and llamas.

I was also pretty impressed to learn that conservation is a general theme on many of the Disney World attractions.  For instance, their public relations rep explained to me that the basic theme behind “Expedition Everest” (Animal Kingdom’s giant, nail-biting, high-speed, darkness-plunging, thrill ride) is that we need to be respectful of the mountain…and taking shortcuts to the top might get you into trouble.  I asked my husband if he picked up on this when he came weak-kneed and white-knuckled through the ride’s exit gate.  “Hmm, I might have missed that.” was all that he would say.
Photo by shutterproof

Last week, I took my family to Disney World.  Not the greenest of ventures you say?  Well, while Disney may not be the first destination that comes to mind on the eco-parent vacation list, I found that with a little planning and preparation, you can have an amazing vacation without sacrificing your eco-savvy style.  The key is knowing what to bring, what to eat, and what sites to see to maximize the green on your trip.  So this week, I’m writing a series of posts to help you green your next Disney vacation.  This week’s posts will include info on:

• Greener travel to Disney World
• Eating your greens at Disney
• Disney’s eco must-sees
• What’s green behind the scenes at Disney

Got a green Disney tip to share?  Be sure to drop me a line so that I can include it!

Photo by disneylori

At The Hotel

• Turn off lights, air conditioning units, TVs, and other appliances before you leave for the day.
• Most hotels have a policy in place to limit unnecessary bedding and towel changes. If yours does, take advantage of it…if it doesn’t, ask if they’ll consider it.
• Bring along your own bar of soap and reusable bottles of shampoo, lotion, and condition.

Getting Around

• Walk, ride your bike, or take public transportation whenever possible.
• If you do need a car, consider using a car-sharing program such as ZipCar or Flexcar that offers eco-friendly cars for rent by the hour, day, or week. Or rent a hybrid or electric vehicle from EV Rentals.
• Carry your own reusable drink bottle and tote bag to avoid the need for disposables.

Low-Impact Activities

• No matter where you go, try to get outside as much as possible during your trip. Visit a local park or waterfront, take a walking tour, or rent a bike, sailboat, canoe, or kayak and go explore.

• If possible, use a digital camera to eliminate the chemicals and paper required to make unnecessary prints. If your camera requires batteries, use rechargeables instead of disposables.
• Don’t take maps of brochures unless you really need them.
• Slip the cheap plastic trinkets and cheesy t-shirt and look for sustainable souvenirs that are made locally and support the local economy. But be sure to avoid any products made from endangered and/or threatened species such as those that contain tortoise shells, ivory, feathers, coral, or animal skins.
• Rent or borrow gear that you will use infrequently instead of purchasing new.
• If you visit a natural area on your vacation, respect the environment by following designated trails, paying entrance fees, disposing of your trash properly, and not harassing the wildlife. Take only pictures and leave nothing but footprints.
• If you are traveling to another country, minimize your global impact by showing your respect for the local culture. Read up on the environmental, economic, and social issues of your destination. Learn a few words of the local language and be sure you understand and adhere to cultural norms.

Dining Out

Click here for tips on eating green on the go.

Keep It Light: Save you back and save the planet by keeping your load as light as possible. The less you pack, the less energy (yours and the planet’s) it will take to get your bags to your destination.

Grab the Green Stuff:

Of course, packing lightly doesn’t mean that you should skimp on the green essentials. Make sure you have these supplies in your suitcase so that you can go green on the go:

• Reusable drink bottle
• Reusable tote bag
• Reusable bottles of toiletries
• Digital camera
• A great green read

Before you head off on your eco-friendly vacation, take these steps to make sure that things stay green back home:

• Adjust your hot water heater and heating and air conditioning units to use the minimum amount of energy necessary while you’re gone. (If you have pets that are staying behind…be sure to leave the house a comfortable temperature for them!)
• If you need to leave a light on for security purposes, use a timer to avoid wasting electricity.
• Stop your newspaper.
• If possible, turn off your water (from the pipes outside) to prevent flooding or leaks while you’re gone. Just be sure to turn the water back on slowly and check thoroughly for leaks when you return.
• Unplug all unnecessary appliances and electronics (such as TVs, coffee machines, and computers) to eliminate energy “leaks.”
• Lift the wire on your freezer’s ice machine to turn it off and prevent leaks while you’re away.

• On-site recycling
• Shuttle service to and from the airport and other popular destinations
• Low-flow toilets and showerheads
• Motion activated lights
• Native plant landscaping
• Eco-friendly cleaners
• Bicycle rentals

At The Hotel

Make your green hotel even greener by turning off lights, air conditioning units, TVs, and other appliances before you leave for the day. Ask housekeeping to limit unnecessary bedding and towel changes to save energy and water. If housekeeping doesn’t comply, put the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door. And bring along your own bar of soap and reusable bottles of shampoo, lotion, and conditioner instead of using the disposable bottles proved by the hotel.

As a general rule, the closer you stay to home, the less energy will be used and pollution created to get your family to your destination. But that doesn’t mean you need to skip the vacation or avoid traveling altogether. Here’s how to green your next trip.

Try A Staycation: Skyrocketing gas prices have caused many American families to cancel their travel plans this year. If your family will be “staycationing” (or staying at home for vacation), consider this your golden opportunity to check out your local scene. Explore nearby parks, museums, shops, and restaurants. Put up a tent in the backyard and let your kids stay up late telling ghost stories under the stars. Hit your local library and movie rental store to stock up on new selections. If you don’t already have one, borrow or rent a canoe to explore your local waterways. Take a walk or ride bikes, play board games, order pizza (eco-friendly pizza, of course) or just curl up with a great green read. Need more ideas? Check out The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Backyard Adventures for some great staycationing ideas.

Vacations That Give Back: Looking for an unconventional family vacation? Consider a volunteer excursion where you and your family exchange work for accommodations, food, and sometimes even travel expenses. The Sierra Club offers a number of family service trips such as building new trails near Aspen or preserving artifacts in Dinosaur National Monument. Or contact the World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms to learn about organic farms around the world that welcome families in exchange for a few hours of work.

Low-Impact Travel: If you do decide to hit the open road (or tracks or skies), be good to the planet by minimizing the impact of your travel. Planes emit more carbon dioxide per traveler than any other means of transportation, followed by cars and trains. If you are traveling in the United States, consider taking a family-friendly train ride to your destination. You will reduce your family’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and save yourself the torture of flying with children. Need to fly? Consider offsetting your trip with a program like Better World Travel’s TravelCool Carbon Offset Program or Green-e that will support green energy or tree planting programs that neutralize the greenhouse gas emitted during your travel. And if you drive, get a tune up before you go to improve your gas mileage by up to 15%.

For more info about eco-friendly vacations and sustainable tourism, check out these sites:

Better World Club

Green Map Atlas

Green Travel Hub

Planeta

Responsible Travel

The Rainforest Alliance