Have A Green Spring Break

1. Take a Spring Break Eco-Trip

You might get a cheap air deal to the coast, but those emissions will cost you. The biggest carbon footprint for your week more than likely is your transportation. But, you have a yearning to see the beauties of the world that won’t go away, so instead choose an eco-friendly spring break destination. This may involve sustainable housing, low-impact activities, and supporting local artisans and restaurants.

2. Find Fair Green Spring Break Air Fares

Darn it. Your airplane tickets are already purchased, so there is no way to avoid those awful carbon emissions your flight will generate. Now what's a green guy/gal to do? Now wait just one second because carbon offsets are one way to take care of all of the CO2 you will generate. Another helpful option is to use tips to Green your Air Travel to make your time on the flight itself as green as possible.

3. Take a Classic Spring Break Road-Trip

The open road, or maybe just free housing in a friend’s timeshare, is calling your name. Pack as many people into that car as it will hold, to pack the biggest punch in reducing your personal carbon footprint for what will surely be a memorable week. Better yet, why not rent a hybrid car while you’re at it. You'll save on gas as well as save wear and tear on your car. Many car rental companies now offer hybrids among their fleet of rentals.

4. Take Your Bike To Go

It'll take a little more planning, but traveling by bike for a week is definitely the greenest way to go. Hop aboard a bus or train to a city or town you've never been in and spend the week learning the area, hanging out with the locals and just cruising around on your two wheels. Make sure you take a map with you and maybe a weird pair of biking shorts, and get ready to see the town on an up close and personal level.

5. Enjoy a Green Spring Break Party Scene

If you’re headed down to the beach and the party scene, remember that there are myriad ways to go green when you imbibe, whether you prefer beer, wine or cocktails. And if you hit it off with someone, and things get hot and heavy, keep it safe with these healthy, green between-the-sheets tips. Remember, enjoy everything in moderation, and keep it all legal, please.

6. Find Green Spring Break Hotels, Hostels and Housing

To get a better sense of the local flavor and possibly get a personal invite to area events and celebrations, stay with a establishment. Rooming with locals will give you a better flavor of the local community, as well as clue you in to unknown treasures around town. You will also be supporting the local community, where tourism dollars are often a major source of income. If that's not an option, choose to stay in a sustainably certified hotel.

7. Get Your Hands Dirty

The concept might seem counterintuitive, but many students these days are choosing to join in on what is known as known as an Alternative Spring Break. Most colleges organize volunteer opportunities, either partnering with Habitat for Humanity, or with local community groups painting schools, planting trees, or engaging in another worthwhile green activity. Other opportunities include traveling out of state, or even out of the country. Sometimes you can even get college credit for your week spent "working." Check with your local campus community service and/or volunteer office to see if they have anything in the works. Don't worry—you don't have to clean up garbage in some polluted swamp. There are plenty of alternative trips—going to Cancun to protecting sea turtles, for example that hardly seem like work at all.

8. Eat with the Locals

Avoid fast food and support the local community by eating a "slow" cooked meal and laying off the grease. After a night of fun with your friends, your stomach is probably begging for a hangover cure, so do yourself a favor and opt for something you won't regret later. Plan ahead and find the local farmers' market to stock up for the week—you can find the closest market to your destination at Local Harvest. What could be better than taking chilled fruit to snack on while laying out at the beach under the hot sun?

9. Be a Local Tourist

Chances are, if you've spent your entire semester studying and working on campus, you have'’t had much time to explore the area outside of prison, er, school. If that's the case, enjoying a staycation is the way to go. Spend the week checking out area museums, concert venues, parks, and other local hidden gems. Local alternative newspapers, and our very own Green City Guides, offer plenty of tips for fun local activities that'll teach you the finer things about your own backyard. So sleep in late, and then enjoy your own, local treasure hunt.

10. Take the Kids

If you're staying local and still need plans, museums and other educational organizations often offer (Spring Break week "camp" options with daily activities and outings for kids. While many of these do come at a price, they ensure daily (planned) activities, outings and entertainment for your children for the entire week. Or, instead of taking the family to Disneyland, why not take them someplace they will remember for years (and later use on college admission essays) like trekking through Mayan ruins or swimming with sharks in Belize. These activities don't have to break the bank and also support local communities that often are dependent on tourism dollars.