Ecotourism Destinations
Ecotourism Vacations in United States
When people think of holidays in America visions of Hollywood, Disneyland, Las Vegas and New York City spring to mind. These are all great destinations of course but they’re not exactly overflowing in ecotourism opportunities; no, for a greener than green vacation eco travellers need to ignore the usual American holiday brochures and get creative in their thinking. The Untied States has much more to offer than Rodeo Drive and Mickey Mouse.
Ecotourism Ideas in the US
Eco-friendly Santa Barbara – Leave the hustle and bustle of LA driving north to the quaint town of Santa Barbara and discover how they’re turning the area greener than green. From there catch the trolley bus to the nearby vineyards of Napa Valley and savour the local wines before bedding down for the night in a safari-style camp in El Capital Canyon.
Yellowstone National Park – answer the call of the wild by visiting one of the great wildernesses in the US which is home to wild wolves, elk and other wildlife. Hike through the park or camp overnight to truly be at one with nature.
Palm Beach County, Florida – Forget Walt Disney World and all its gaudy glitz and glamour and check out the much nicer family-friendly eco park, Peanut Island. Located in Lake Worth Lagoon, Peanut Island Park covers 86 acres and is accessible only by boat. Pitch a tent on the beach in one of the designated camping spots or treat the family to a native experience by staying in one of the Seminole Indian-style chickee huts. There’s a dedicated Eco Museum there too.
Date: March 28th, 2008 |
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Ecotourism Vacations in Canada
Canada does very little to sell itself as a destination because the images depicting the boundless natural landscapes speak for themselves; they draw travellers from far and wide seeking the great outdoors.
Canada is also a rich cultural melting pot with the French influence undoubtedly dominating and while most of the French-speaking region is based around Quebec, Canada in its entirety is officially a bilingual country. Its diversity both culturally and naturally makes it an excellent destination for any eco traveller.
Go kayaking with orcas off Vancouver Island, trek the Rockies to find feeding grizzly bears or stay in an environmentally-friendly ski chalet on the alpine slopes.
Date: March 28th, 2008 |
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The Return of the Wolf to Yellowstone National Park
A few nights ago a programme called Strange Days, televised by Planet Earth TV, discussed what happens to an environment when predators are removed. The documentary makers found that when natural predators are left to flourish so too does an ecosystem.
Hunters Become the Hunted
A problem was highlighted in Yellowstone National Park. Local researchers studying the native aspen trees, which once densely populated the area, found there had been no new growth for around 70 years. On further investigation they thought it was something to do with the mass cull of over 100,000 native wolves, killed because they were taking livestock and getting too close too humans.
Without professing to be an expert on the matter, surely if people decide to build a ranch on the edge of a thriving National Park it means that they will no doubt be visited by its inhabitants at some point, especially if they have a fondness for flesh, after all, they know no boundaries. But for people to complain and cull because native predators do what is only natural to them in their habitat is quite astonishing. It’s akin to pitching a tent in your neighbours lawn and then shooting them when they get too close because they’re on your land. Doesn’t really make sense, but I digress.
The Yellowstone wolves were hunted almost to extinction, like so many species that get in the way of human progression and expansion.
Date: February 18th, 2008 |
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New Ecological Travel Guides by VERY Publications
Just when you thought you’d found your favourite travel guides another lot pops on to the market to cause confusion but these aren’t any old tourist guides, no, eco travellers, the VERYstyleguide Ecological focuses specifically on the various aspects enviro tourists get excited about like, green restaurants, ethical businesses or alternative travel in the city ie, pedicab tours and bike rental. And the new guides are causing quite a stir.Published by UP&CO, these mini mags and shopping directories are the brainchild of designer, editor and publisher, Uscha Pohl. A long-time fan of all things ethical, especially clothing, Uscha has created a range of city guides that combine eco style and culture in an easy-to-use flip-over booklet.
VERY Eco says, “… the ecological guide offers new options to everyone who seeks to inject ecological and ethical principles into their daily life. These will permit the reader to live and shop in accordance to their convictions and to discover lesser known ecological domains like ethical banks, high-end fashion labels which rely on truly ecological and/or ethical production and sourcing procedures, as well as ‘ecologically correct’ information centres.”
Date: February 12th, 2008 |
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Ecotourism Australia Up For Top Travel Award
As I’m writing from Australia at the moment and the country has just celebrated Australia Day, I thought I’d make today’s entry about this hot and dry but rather lovely land.
Australia has long been in touch with their eco side and have had eco lodges around long before the idea of ecotourism became trendy, and they are soon to be awarded for their efforts… maybe.
The World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) have just revealed Ecotourism Australia is one of three finalists for a coveted Tourism for Tomorrow Award in the conservation category. The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards showcase a selection of “the world’s leading examples in sustainable tourism development”
Date: February 3rd, 2008 |
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Ecotourism Vacations in Alaska
Alaska, the 49th US state, may be cold and relatively barren yet it remains extremely popular with eco tourists keen to view its majestic glaciers and abundant wildlife and with adrenaline seeking travellers; adventure opportunities abound.
Mount McKinley, North America’s largest mountain, in Denali National Park offers exciting routes for hikers and cyclists as do the mountain ranges in the South Central region. Explore the coves and inlets of the Aleutian Islands by kayak, photograph sea otters and puffins on the way, or go inland to watch the brown bears catch …
Date: March 28th, 2008 |
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Snow Leopard Vodka Fund New Conservation Projects
The boutique Snow Leopard Vodka has announced it will be funding two new conservation projects in conjunction with the International Snow Leopard Trust of Seattle, USA.
The first project intends to teach the children of Kyrgyzstan in an eco-camp to educate them about their mountain’s fragile ecosystem and how their input is needed in the future to ensure the long-term survival of the snow leopard. If the children understand more about the snow leopard they are less likely to kill it in the future.
The second project will take place in Mongolia where locals will be taught the importance of protecting the snow leopard instead of seeing it as a threat. This is key to the animal’s survival.
Snow Leopard Vodka have provided enough money to recruit and train a village about economic enhancement enterprise which will work by adding value to the community’s main resource, wool. The Snow Leopard Trust will also buy their raw wool and handicarfts directly and make sure they are sold to speciality traders around the world which will increase the villager’s incomes quite considerably enabling them to send the kids to school and buy more food and medicene. In return the families protect the snow leopards
Sue Brodie, Chair of Trustees of the Snow Leopard Trust UK says, “A big thank you to Snow Leopard vodka who not only share our beliefs and passion for community based conservation being the key to the survival of one of the world’s most beautiful creatures, but who are materially contributing to the cat’s survival. This funding from Snow Leopard vodka is allowing us to start conservation projects we simply would not be able to do without their help”.
Date: February 22nd, 2008 |
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Galápagos Islands on Unesco Danger List due to Mass Tourism
News that the Galápagos Islands, the world’s first World Heritage Site, are under threat has again put mass tourism in the spotlight.
The Galápagos are a cluster of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean sitting just west of Ecuador, South America. They are best known for their wealth of unique native species and are thought to have instigated Darwin’s theories on evolution and natural selection.
Recent Number of Visitors To the Islands
Visitor numbers to the islands have grown from 40,000 in 1990 to 145,000 in 2006, that’s a 250% rise and as a result Unesco has added the archipelago to its ‘in danger list’, specifically citing the fragile ecosystem and the negative effects of a sizable growth in tourism.
“Unless we start to make fundamental changes right now, in the next 10 to 15 years we will see the Galápagos suffer from both economic and environmental degradation,” said Dr Graham Watkins, Executive Director of the Charles Darwin Foundation, whose mission is to conserve the Galápagos through scientific research.
Date: February 13th, 2008 |
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Rancho La Puerta, Eco Spa Resort Since 1940
The world’s very first destination spa in Tecate, on the Mexico/California border, was lovingly created and designed by two people who firmly believed in habitat conservation, organic farming and sustainable living.
Today, the family-run Rancho La Puerta has developed into one of the best examples of an Eco Spa in North America.
Humble Beginnings
Almost 70 years ago Edmond and Deborah Szekely had great plans to start a retreat for those desperate to escape the everyday rigors of modern life. So, they moved to the sparsely populated village of Tecate, rented a little hut that sat in the middle of a vineyard, which once housed meal for livestock, and started an organic veggie patch out front. The vineyard was called Rancho La Puerta.
Their idea was simple, to provide a haven for those seeking a tranquil place to help rebalance mind and body without causing any harm to the natural habitat around them.
Date: February 6th, 2008 |
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Santa Barbara Goes Eco
Santa Barbara, on California’s Pacific coast, is not usually associated with eco travel but once you get under its skin the home of OTT American soaps proves it has more to offer than just bad acting and shaky sets.
Located between the bustling metropolises of Los Angeles and San Francisco, Santa Barbara and the surrounds have officially been renamed the American Riviera. It is being likened to Nice in the South of France, minus the European edge, but the Santa Barbara Visitors Bureau is working hard to change that and is targeting European
travellers keen to discover a different side of sunny California. It seems people have finally had enough of Mickey Mouse and tacky rides.
Hiking and Cycling in Santa Ynez Mountains
The Santa Ynez Mountains offer miles of treks and trails for ramblers and hikers. Gaviota Peak and the Hot Springs Trails are very popular and Romero Canyon entices mountain bikers too; they’re steep to climb but the views from the summit are worth it, especially on a clear day.
Date: January 27th, 2008 |
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