Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Earthy Travel 2nd Ed.

Back in the day while traveling I noticed that I would almost be so ready to be on vacation that I checked out of my "Earthy" momma skin for a minute to just relax and be lazy.  No dishes, cooking or cloth diaper laundry, YES PLEASE!!!!!  That was short lived when I noticed how much waste I was producing on said Holiday from Domestic life, and that didn't sit well with me.  I have since made sure that outside of our biodegradable diapers we still live waste conscious when traveling!  Here are a few tips to help you!!!

Hotel: 

If you are staying only a weekend clean towels are not a must everyday,  so let management know that it is not necessary to change your towels and sheets every day. When you leave the room, turn off the AC/heat, lights and TV. Leave the little bottles of shampoo, if you don't use them.

Camping:

Making sure that what you bring in you take with you!!!!  This Means EVERYTHING!!!!  




Getting around:

Book flights with airlines that recycle the waste created when serving food and beverages to passengers. British Airways, for instance, has a very strong environmental agenda. Southwest Airlines recycles all cabin waste, and was the first to offer electronic ticketing systemwide.
  • Use the hotel van instead of renting a car. Use public transportation in your destination city.  Or rent a bike!  Or hoof it, you would be surprised at how many Gems you will find walking,  that you would have potentially missed.   Unless you plan on covering a ton of ground with a bunch of stops and the price is right for your budget, trying to stay on public transportation; it's more earthy indeed!
  •  RENTALS: Recently we have become car renters and have to say we just love it.  We love that the wear and tear is not on our car (or in our case large beater truck that wouldn't make it to destination in first place).  Getting hybrids can save your family a ton of money!  Recently we did a Southern CA trip 6 days driving from Davis CA to L.A. back up the 1 stopping in Santa Barbara, San Luis, Big Sur, Carmel, and Monterrey and spent $100 in gas!  UMMMMMM are you kidding me...  We were so surprised and happy.  We could go where we wanted didn't have to wait for public transportation which we usually do.  It was just amazing.  So total for our trip for all transportation ended up being about $300 for rental and gas and we covered a whole lot of ground!  FANTASTIC!
Eating:

 If you are staying in a hotel with a fridge do a grocery store run, we usually get cereal and soy milk or oatmeal for breakfast.  We buy sandwich stuff for lunch and eat dinner out.... But if you have a microwave in your room you can do dinner in as well... Depending on your family size it might be a wise choice... For our family we usually do breakfast and lunch back at the room so my girls can take a quick siesta and go out for dinner...  But regardless grabbing a few things at a store will ensure that the whole time you are on vacation you know what your family is eating and if you are an anti proccessed food family, like us, this is the way to go!!! 

Since I am an eater and I love to find local hot spots, I always research restaurants to plan ahead.  (It is one of my super nerdy favorite things to do, a glass of wine and menu perusing is an amazing Friday night).. For my dietary restrictions it is cool to have an idea of what a place has and how much money I will be shelling out ahead of time...


 Bring tea from home if you are a tea drinker as well as energy bars and a reusable water bottle.  This will save you soo much money if you need a snack or water or a caffeine fix on the go.  Depending on where you are traveling and the cost of living in that area a bottle of water sometimes is $4 bucks.... That is insane and not going to happen with my cheap butt...  

Newest Vegan finds as of our recent said Southern CA trip:

Adama Vegan Restaurant
Santa Barbara


Alchemy Arts Center Restaurant, Elixir bar and yoga 
There raw coffee drinks are delicious, as well as the food.  When you walk in you will know why I am in love, you will feel it on the inside.  It is just sensational!
Santa Barbara 


The Natural Cafe
San Luis Obispo

Bliss Whole Food Market and Cafe
Wonderful place for food, and has grab snacks for when you are on the run!  
San Luis Obispo

  
Cornucopia Community Market 
Community co-op, delicsiou grab and go foods vegan/gluten free options and groceries if traveling in Carmel.
 26135 Carmel Rancho Blvd, Carmel, CA 93923 


El Cantaro
Completely vegan with insane potato tacos, mind blowing tortilla soup with great salad options
 791 Foam Street Monterey, CA
 


Packing:
 

Rather than buying small size toothpaste tubes, squeeze some toothpaste into a clean contact lens case or contact lens cleaning capsule. These are also handy for carrying salves or pills.  Do not!  I repeat DO NOT just stick things in baggies...  Such a waste...  Make sure the toiletry bag you buy is a vinyl lined bag that can get rinsed out if shampoo does what it tends to do on airplanes from the pressure!  Bringing your own items in travel bottles means you know what products you are using.  Buying all those travel size toiletries are a WASTE!  You have all the stuff at home, put in bottles and bring it!!! 

Select clothing that's versatile, lightweight, and most importantly, clothing that will dry quickly. Wash your clothing en route -- even if it's just showering with your clothes still on and lathering them up with shampoo -- and dry one set while you wear the other, or let them dry while you're wearing them.  Undies, light sweaters, bathing suits, dresses, socks, cotton shirts...  All these things wash well, just fill up your sink in bathroom and wash with some travel detergent packets and empty sink,  rinse until the suds are out....  Ring out and hang in the shower to dry!!!!  I always bring a few clothespins in my toiletry bag...  And if you ask my husband he would say "The crazy Brod makes me hang a clothesline in the silliest places" ;) (Thanks BABE)...

I usually bring one suitcase per 2 people in my family....  Sharing is caring, and we rarely use all the clothing we bring so I usually pull back a ton on packing.   The good thing about that is there is more room to bring new things home ;)

Reusable shopper is a must pack as well as a few spoons from home!!!  Because that seems to be what we are usually using on the road....  i.e cereal, oatmeal, a cup o soup ;)


Buying:

Buying souvenirs is great for the local economy, but be eco-conscious when you buy.  Always ask yourself "Will I or the person I'm buying the item for actually use this, or do I need this"?  Clothing is always a fun splurge for me, I love rummaging through thrift stores or a one of a kind shop and finding a vintage dress or bracelet...  I love that when I look at it, I will remember where I got it " it makes me smile" ;)  Sometimes I actually like to gather things and make souvenirs when I get home...   A collage of pictures and cute little mementos that I collected while traveling.  For gifts instead of the snow globes and cheesey stuff I often get eats... I love to find yummy coffee, or chocolates, to bring back for my family....  All things that can be toted around in my eco shopping bag....  Nothing that needs crazy packaging to handle...  WASTE!!!!


Fun stuff:

These are the greats that will aid you in your green traveling adventure:


For toiletries:
This is a great set for everything you need in the bathroom ;)


Containers:



Food to go:
These will not let you down while traveling!!!

Utensils:

Yummers:
This soup is super easy to make and hits the spot when traveling and don't want to slow down..
http://www.healthy-eating.com/product/organic_miso_cup_4_pack/

These noodles are wonderful and cheap, I have them in my doula bag and take them when we travel, saves money and I don't get stressed out finding everyone food.  You can find them at trader joes everywhere so another bonus.
Trader Mings
Kung Pao
Noodles and Sauce 

These bars are the best for mornings that you are trying to get everyone out the door and you need a quick snack before you get to your breakfast location!



Clothing:

Lightweight and water proof, this is the sure thing jacket for traveling to other climates.

This is the rocking soap for cleaning some articles of clothing on the fly in the comfort of your own room!


Luggage/ bags:

Super cute and vegan luggage:

For childrens snacks:

Reusuable shopper for shopping excursions:

This will be an updated post.  Please share any ideas with me that you may have for earthy travel!  Tread lightly! And travel often!!!!  Even if it is in the same state ;)




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