The Family Issue | EcoParent 51Winter 201550 EcoParent | The Family Issue Winter 2015

Winter-Green Getaways!

eco-friendly vacations for the season we love to hate

by ulrica jobe

Travel

Silver white winters that melt into spring.. . These are a few of my favourite things Well said, Julie Andrews. We do tend to get a bounce in our step once the wonderful aromas of spring start penetrating our senses and, slowly-but-surely, the salt and dirty snow disappear from the streets. However, you don’t have to torture yourself counting down the days until then. Embracing the brace of winter doesn’t mean you can’t take a little time off! Check out a few ideas for winter eco-getaways that might help you get through another one until you have to reconnect with and embrace your inner snow angel! We have recommendations for family vacation ideas, taking time out to focus on you and some great romantic ideas as well!

Hollyhock photos by Darshan Alexander photography

MONEY IS NO OBJECT! Save up your nickels!

Longitude 131 is located in Australia's Northern Territory and has 15 luxury tents near Ayers Rock, the world’s largest monolith. Learn about the Anangu culture and explore the rugged landscape. www.longitude131.com.au

Finca Rosa Blanca Inn is unrivaled in sustainability. It’s the highest ranking member of the Sustainable Tourism Certification program and the only hotel that has achieved a perfect score of 100. Take a tour through a rainforest guided by a resident naturalist. www.fincarosablanca.com/en

Bardessono is an LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certified hotel nestled in California’s Napa Valley. The property’s wood was milled from salvaged trees, it was built from nontoxic, non-allergenic construction materials and its green aspects are visible everywhere! www.bardessono.com

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CANADA ROCKS! In case you weren’t already convinced...

Canadian Mountain Holidays This eco-operator of eleven heli-skiing lodges and two summer-only heli-hiking lodges in various locations in B.C. features an award-winning sustainability program. Environmental stewardship is a value that has been inherent from its inception. www.canadianmountainholidays.com

Hollyhock As Canada’s lifelong learning and leadership institute, Hollyhock is a not-for-profit and unparalleled centre of learning, connection and cultural transformation. Check out a variety of programs designed to foster awareness, personal development and social responsibility. www.hollyhock.ca

Winter camping Ever stayed in a Yurt? It’s like camping but more spacious and you can fit a whole BED in there! Yurts are made for providing comfort in the harshest winters! www.ontarioparks.com/roofedaccommodation/yurts

OR www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nb/fundy/activ/camping/yourtes-yurts.aspx

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COSTA RICA One of the most popular eco-tourism destinations in the world.

Check out some of these affordable eco-friendly lodges.

Finca Luna Nueva, a Sustainable Rainforest Ecolodge on a Certified Organic Biodynamic Farm. Here, guests are encouraged to reconnect with nature by living the simple life. www.fincalunanuevalodge.com

Hotel Belmar On a clear day, you can see over the cloud forest all the way to the Pacific Ocean from this Swiss-chalet-style hotel. Family run, it opened in 1985 and has been committed to environmental and social responsibility from the start. www.hotelbelmar.net

La Leona Ecolodge is a locally owned glamp-site set in a 75-acre private reserve of primary rainforest at the edge of the wild and wonderful Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica. Here, they make it their mandate to reduce environmental impact and champion local culture. www.laleonaecolodge.com

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ALONE TIME? Try a yoga or Buddhist retreat.

Shanti Retreat An island getaway – but in Canada! Relax, rejuvenate and unwind on beautiful Wolfe Island, near Kingston, Ontario. www.shantiretreat.ca

Kripalu’s R&R Retreats Choose from a variety of workshops, outdoor activities, yoga and movement classes and design your own schedule. Enjoy all-natural meals and emerge renewed! www.kripalu.org

Gampo Abbey A Buddhist monastery in the Shambhala tradition, this soul-nourishing retreat will find you surrounded by meadows and hills on the remote and breathtaking Cabot Trail in Cape Breton. Features a variety of programs for serious time-out. www.gampoabbey.org

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Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji

Shanti Retreat, Ontario

Hollyhock, British Columbia

Longitude 131, Australia

Hollyhock, British Columbia

52 EcoParent | The Family Issue Winter 2015

ECO-FRIENDLY COUPLES’ GETAWAY It is possible to have romance and embrace

the environment all at the same time!

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort This extraordinary destination is owned by the son of the late Jacques Cousteau. Jean-Michel is dedicated to sharing his father’s and his own love of land and sea, and to sustaining the indigenous people of Fiji, their culture and their natural sense of hospitality. www.fijiresort.com

Eden Beach Hotel Picture the two of you sharing an island-garden bungalow 200 feet from the water in the shade of coconut palms. An iconic resort on a private stretch of white-sand, Eden Beach in Bora Bora’s turquoise-water lagoon is both pampering and planet-friendly. www.boraborahotel.com/Eden_Beach_hotel.html

Six Senses With more than 35 resorts around the world, Six Senses has extensive environmentally and socially responsible programs and supports environmental initiatives that help offset the carbon emissions from its operations. www.sixsenses.com

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GOOD DEEDS Incorporate some volunteerism into your next family vacation.

Habitat for Humanity Volunteer abroad to build decent, affordable shelter alongside members of the community. During your volunteer vacation, learn about substandard housing, community development challenges and Habitat’s mission to help eradicate these struggles. www.habitat.org/gv

Earthwatch Expeditions For more than 40 years, Earthwatch has paired adventurers with top scientists conducting vital research for a sustainable planet. Experience cultural and natural wonders while you contribute to environmental investigations. www.earthwatch.org/expeditions

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MAKE YOUR NEXT VACATION GREENER

Pay your dues. Airplanes are hard on the environment - consider buying some carbon offsets if you fly! Check out DavidSuzuki.org

Transportation. Before you rent a car, find out if you can walk, bike or use public transportation.

Water bottles. Buy a reusable one and drink tap water where you can.

Green Resort? There really is no such thing as an all-inclusive "eco-friendly" resort – check out the practices of the hotel where you are staying. iStayGreen.org lists eco-friendly hotels.

Souvenirs...do not include taking a piece of rock, seashell or any other natural matter from its habitat. Try to limit souvenirs altogether – oftentimes they are not even made in the country you’re visiting and end up in a drawer!

Home away from home. Employ the same eco-friendly practices on your vacation that you would at home. Don’t leave the water running, turn the lights off and use the AC sparingly!

CAN’T AFFORD TO GO AWAY THIS YEAR?

Strap on a pair of cross country skis or snowshoes and hit the trails – a winter wonderland awaits you! Rent a pair of skates and take a few laps around the local outdoor rink! Go on a walk, a scavenger hunt or try geocaching! Ever try ice fishing? Build a snowman, go tobogganing, or have a good old-fashioned snowball fight! And by all means, possibly the best part, when you come inside, grab your favourite blanket, load up the fireplace, snuggle in and enjoy a steaming cup of hot chocolate. You can even make a party of it, invite some friends over and partake in the age-old Scandinavian tradition of Hygge– look it up! It’s what the Nordic people do to get through their long and very cold winters!

HAPPY TRAILS

If you forego the charm and splendour of an entire Canadian winter, if only for a little while, do make an intelligent choice. Research your destination thoroughly; be conscientious toward the eco-system, the employees and the culture as much as you can. Travel is inherently taxing on the environment, and staying at home is a responsible decision, but travelling well is possible if you’re prepared and the options I’ve provided are but a few of the marvelous experiences available. Happy trails to you!

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji

Earthwatch Expeditions