Green travel ideas from two environmentally conscious travelers

Well the family vacation is over and of course, I need to start planning another one.  I am thinking of a beach vacation this winter that is eco-friendly and offers some soothing sun rays and great food.  Here are four of my top choices based on reviews (some from UpTake) and each resort’s website:

1. Villa Montana, Caribbean–I have never been to the Caribbean and the web site looks enticing.  I like smaller resorts with a personal vibe about them.  This looks like it can do the trick.

2. Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji– Anything with the Cousteau name must be nice to the environment. Plus, just the name “Fiji” sounds exotic, distant and offers the possibility of a real getaway to me.This is a five star resort offering luxury accommodations.  I can only dream, but it sounds wonderful. It was also given the Australasia Leading Green Hotel award by World Travel. Luxe and green–don’t you love it already.

3. Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, Florida–A golf course that co habits with marshlands and savannahs.  I never thought it possible to do that and keep those greens, well green.  Amelia Island has achieved this and offers world class golf.

4. Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Austin, Texas–a golf course and an Audubon sanctuary, gives new meaning to the term ‘birdie.’  Plus, the reviews from UpTake were all positive and that does not always happen, does it?

I think after this short bit of research that eco-friendly lodging can be found at the more expensive end of the pricing spectrum.  Next time, I will be looking for lodging in the $50 to $100 range.  Can cheap also be green? And offer the niceties I look for when I travel?  We will see, till next week.

My family and I are traveling to Washington, D.C and may take that well known side trip to Monticello.  I heard it is a 2.5 hour drive and if we decide to take the trip, I wanted to spend only one night in the area, make it eco-friendly and keep the budget below $200 a night.  I was surprised at the bountiful results, first I found this site, Virginia.org with a go green logo that presented many options.

Searching a bit further, I found just the thing,  Montfair Resort Farm.  It offers air conditioned cabins, hiking and fishing on over a hundred acres, plus it has all sorts of credentials attesting to its eco-friendly stature.  And I thought it would be hard.  Nope, it wasn’t.

Speaking of green, while I rest by their lake, I will be reading a good book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.  With measured prose and a persuasive manner, she has convinced me to compost, only buy organic and plant my own vegetable garden next spring. She is presents hard facts in a light-hearted manner and  despite the heaviness of the subject matter, very readable.  I feel better already.  Virginia is green and I am too (almost).