Top 6 Sustainable Tourist Destinations In The US
What a lot of people don’t know is that there are more sustainable ways of travelling and it’s called ecotourism. It is a form of environmental care even though it might seem a bit contradictory. Any form of travelling will consume resources but what people don’t realise is that it doesn’t have to be that way.
Every single ecotourist will lower the impact that they are leaving on the natural wonders they are visiting. Although not every single trip you take can be classified under ecotourism you can choose to go to those destinations where you can be an eco traveller. Here are the top 6 sustainable must-see destinations that as a sustainable tourist you have to visit.
Take A Pledge At Yellowstone National Park
One of the most popular places for sustainable travellers is about a 15-minute drive south there is a Grand Teton Lodge Company. They are so popular as they have something called the Sustainable Stay Pledge. By taking the pledge you will be able to get a special discount on your room. This park is over 2.2 million acres and it has many different regions and habitats. There you will be able to experience fumaroles and geysers as well as making lakes, breathtaking wildlife, canyons and limestone terraces.
But what makes it so special is that there are many different things you can do to be a sustainable tourist. One of the most popular things is going to a composting and recycling program as well as see how they have created a way to reduce water usage as well as energy. If that is not for you, you can also go off-grid and take a backpacking trip. Make sure that you read the pointers on how you can leave your campsite cleaner than you found it.
One of the most popular attractions at Yellowstone is the Old Faithful. To avoid all the crowds, make sure that you are going super early in the morning or late in the afternoon. No matter what routes and when you choose to take them. As there are so many different hiking trails and sightseeing opportunities you can never make a wrong choice or be disappointed.
Explore The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is located in Taos, New Mexico and it is participating in the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative’s Green Power Program. That means that they are creating pollution-free energy and it will power your stay while you are there. It has over 30 million acres of breathtaking land that is filled with archaeological treasures as well as different geological formations that you just have to see.
One of the most popular attractions is the teepee-like volcanic formations that are over 7 million years old. While you are visiting this magical place, you will be able to volunteer on a farm and get to know all the sustainable ways of agriculture. Pistachioland is the best place to be if you are an eco traveller as they are a home to over 12,000 pistachio trees as well as over 14 acres of grapevines.
Another very interesting thing you can see there are the structures that have been there from over 1,000 years ago. If you are an adrenaline junkie there is no better place to go than rafting the Rio Grande. Depending on how daring you are you can go down the rapids or choose calmer areas where you will be able to look at breaking geological features, plants as well as animals.
Cycle Through Yosemite National Park
The best sustainable way to experience Yosemite national park is to reserve a cabin in the park or simply camp. If you are up for the challenge, look into getting mountain bicycles so you both reduce the carbon footprint and cut down time that you would spend on walking. It is over 1200 square miles filled with breathtaking scenery.
You will be able to experience epic waterfalls, open wilderness as well as some of the most magical sequoias you will ever see. If you are going there during winter time you will be able to go snowboarding, skiing as well as ice skating. But during warmer months you will be able to enjoy more activities such as camping, boating, hiking as well as different water sports.
As we have mentioned above the best way to experience this majestic park as well as be a sustainable traveller is either by biking around or simply by walking. Make sure that you are carrying around with you a bag where you will be able to throw away your trash as well as always make sure that you have enough food and water with you.
Visit The Popular Ecotourism Location, Zion National Park
If you are looking for a place of unbelievable natural beauty this 4,000-acre park is the ultimate location for you. The best time you can visit this magnificent place is during November as when it turns cold, it becomes the top ski place in the USA. but that is not all, there you will be able to see the Dinosaur National Monument where you will be able to see a palace where 1,500 dinosaur bones are exhibited in a mountain hole. While you are there you can also visit the most popular lake called Lake Powell which is also one of the second largest man made reservoirs.
Explore The Untouched Nature Of Alaska
As most know, Alaska is definitely a place everyone has to visit at least once in their lifetime as it is mostly untouched by nature. The Last Frontier, how people refer to Alaska, is the home for over a hunderend state and national parks. There are so many opportunities for sustainable tourism as they have the certification program called Adventure Green Alaska.
You will be able to go on different eco-friendly excursions and it is the best way to experience nature and wildlife it has to offer. Many companies put extra effort into making sure that they are adopting sustainable measures and that they recycle everything. So, if you are looking for a national park to visit, Alaska is the place to go.
Clear Your Head in Hawaii
There is no place that is better at connecting with nature than locals of Hawaii. They have embedded sustainability into their culture, therefore it is no wonder why it is such a popular place for sustainable tourists. As people are so aware of how important sustainability is, there are so many activities you can partake in that will teach you different ways of being sustainable. Hawaii is the best place you can visit to clear your head and learn new life habits.
As you can tell, sustainable tourism is becoming more and more popular as time goes on. That is because there are so many different green movements that are working on raising environmental awareness and people have started realising how important that is. If you are trying to change your life habits and make them more eco-friendly don’t forget that you can do the same when you are travelling.
When you are choosing eco firefly accommodations as generally options when you are travelling, you will be reducing the carbon footprint you are leaving on the world as well as making the world a greener place. No matter where you choose to go on this list, you won’t make a wrong choice as every single location is breathtaking.