Earth-Friendly Day Trips

If you have a long weekend or are just itching for someplace to go on a sunny Saturday, you may want to load the family in the car and go on a day trip. But even though you're only traveling for the day doesn't mean that you can't be environmentally conscious. Choose a day trip that is earth-friendly as well as fun. Some considerations: • Avoid driving long distances for your day-trips; pick something closer to home. You use less gas and produce less pollution. • Consider activities that are green; instead of going shopping, go hiking or biking. • When hiking, biking, swimming, or doing other outdoor activities, leave only footprints: make sure to dispose of picnic waste in trash bins, and don't take souvenirs from nature. • Consider a day-trip that will actually help the environment. Participate in a clean-up effort at a local park or along a stretch of highway. • If you're going to eat on your trip, take your own food in a cooler and reusable containers. Fast food generates a lot of trash – especially if you're feeding a family. • Never toss garbage out the window of your car – it's not only bad for the environment, but in most states you can be ticketed and fined!