Seven Earth-Friendly Family Vacations Naturally Loaded with Fun. Just how green will your next holiday be? Sharing an earth-friendly, green vacation with your family is a terrific way to combine responsible living with family fun. As follows you will find seven suggestions to consider before making plans.

 
Here’s the scoop. Many parents maintain green households and engage daily in responsible living by conserving water, recycling, and carpooling and care about earth-friendly ways to vacation. Their choices include not just traditional “leave no trace” camping holidays but earth friendly resorts, and urban locations with sustainable practices. 

The best green family vacation ideas combine earth-friendly practices with remarkable family experiences. I am including my favorite “green” and  earth-friendly family vacation ideas. For even more ideas browse our Green Spots folder.

 
Sierra Club – Authentically green, family-friendly trips. Each year Sierra Club creates unique outings for families some dedicated to fun learning and others with a focus on service, each unique trip offers earth-friendly activities with a leave no trace philosophy. Most family or multi-generational trips are ideal for children ages six or older. (www.SierraClub.org).

 
Arizona’s Biosphere 2 – A mini-world giant learning lab. The Arizona high desert offers a remarkable experience for families at Biosphere 2 just north of Tucson where visitors are able to enter self-contained eco systems and observe scientists at work. Time Life Books recently named one of the 50 must see "Wonders of the World". Bonus Points: To get a sense of place a feature movie explains the past, present and future of the project. Wait for it! The tour includes time at an underwater observation gallery with views of the million-gallon ocean and its living coral reef. (32540 S Biosphere Rd, Oracle, AZ 85739. (520) 838-6200 or Biosphere2).

Eden Project in Cornwall – A forest under glass. Eden Project maintains the world’s largest man-made rain forest under one dome complete with a canopy walk and hundreds of butterflies. An atmosphere of stewardship permeates the facility presenting sustainable solutions and using music and art to excite and inspire visitors to engage in the world around them. The complex hosts children’s play sessions, storytelling, plus seasonal interactive exhibits, demonstrations like apple pressing and pruning. Throughout the year there are programs on site that deal with environmental issues, and focus on creative solutions to tread lighter on the planet. Bonus Points: Depending on the season families may enjoy ice skating, rock climbing or try the SkyWire – England’s longest zipline. (Bodelva, St Austell, Cornwall, PL24 2SG, UK. +44 (0) 1726 811911 or +44 (0) 1726 811911 or www.edenproject.com)

Flamingo Beach Resort and Spa - Greening on Costa Rica’s the Pacific side. Flamingo Beach makes it easy for parents and grandparents to vacation “green” with their young companions. With ease experts onsite facilitate earth friendly activities including fishing, diving and lake windsurfing, boat cruises and horseback riding as well as visits to wildlife sanctuaries and national parks with dramatic waterfalls and fiery volcanoes. Bonus Points: During turtle nesting season (May to July) it is even possible to participate in a night excursion to watch the leatherback turtles nest their eggs. Wait for it! Enjoy a rainforest organic natural clay treatment at Serenity Spa. (Flamingo Beach Resort & Spa, Playa Flamingo Santa Cruz, Guanacaste Costa Rica. Toll-free 1-877-450-3507, 011-506-2-654-4444 or www.resortflamingobeach.com)

Concordia Eco Resort – Caribbean camping. St. John USVI offers a mix of lovely beach time, snorkeling, hiking, and history. Concordia on the green side of the island hosts families in eco-tents with awesome views of the sea. The wood-framed, soft-sided structures offer a closer connection with the tropical surroundings. In addition to tropical birds and lizards expect to see a few free-range goats and donkeys enjoying island life. Bonus Points: The resort hosts movie nights for young guests, book and game library, yoga time, and crazy crab races.  (16371 Concordia, Virgin Islands National Park 00830, St. John. 340) 693-5855 or www.concordiaeco-resort.com)

Earthwatch Institute – Hands-on science on vacation. Earthwatch field projects nurture our planet and provide participants with ways to make a difference. For families who wish to take part in the exceptional projects Earthwatch creates family teams (ages 10 and older) for many of their eco-expeditions. Just browse the possibilities and then request a family team. Once the lead scientist agrees the details can be finalized. Trip contribution fees go to support conservation research. (1-800-776-0188 or Earthwatch Family Teams)

More green family vacation ideas may be viewed in Green Spots.

 
Content researched and written by Nancy Nelson-Duac Curator of the Good Stuff for the Family Travel Files. Images provided by Sierra Club Outing . Copyright updated 2016.