🌱 Sustainable Travel – Is It Possible to See the World without Harming It?
Plus: wisdom from Hellen Keller, free wine, Malaysia, Viña del Mar
Hey folks, before getting started…THANK YOU. You showed up this week to read my newsletter and it means a lot.
Your support helps me show up to write each week. You Rock!
Also, last week was super busy so this post is late. My apologies!
Ok, the last edition focused on essential packing for road trips. This week, let’s ask an important question:
How can we travel sustainably?
But first, what does sustainable travel mean?
Our friends at National Geographic say sustainable travel involves reducing our carbon footprint while on the road. NatGeo and Sustainable Travel International list a few ways to do this.
Here are some ideas:
Avoid places overrun with tourists
Sometimes this is impossible. But when you plan a vacation, spend a little extra time researching alternative destinations that aren’t on most visitor’s radar.
Also, consider visiting popular locations in the off-season.
Pickup after yourself
Whether hiking around a state park or exploring the Great Wall, bring a small bag only for trash. This way, you can store empty food wrappers or containers until finding a bin.
Bonus: Bring your own utensils, straws, and water bottles to avoid plastic waste.
Stay longer (or just in one place)
When you’re constantly moving from place to place, your carbon footprint gets bigger. Staying in one place and truly getting to know it can help the environment because you’re not using as much transport.
It also helps you build a stronger connection to the destination. Many folks call this Slow Travel.
Choose more Earth-friendly means of transit
This is arguably the biggest challenge when it comes to travel. To jet off to Europe or South America, we need to fly. Some carbon emissions are unavoidable.
However, you can reduce your carbon footprint with direct flights if possible. When you arrive, stick to public transit like buses or rent bikes.
If trains are available, then go with those! Many cities around the world now use zero-emissions buses.
Support local economies
Don’t choose Starbucks. Choose the local coffee shop. Rather than resort to fast food, pick up something from a local market. While on the road, consider packing a lunch if no local options are available.
Or, do your research to see if any organic farms in the area have a deli. For instance, the Country Mercantile in Richland, Washington is my family’s favorite pit-stop!
In summary: Sustainable travel sounds like a challenge, but it just requires some creativity. A little extra planning (💡) to make a positive impact.
Back to you: What do you do to travel sustainably?
⚓️ Travel quote of the week
“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”
-Helen Keller
🧐 Did you know?
If you ever walk the Camino di San Tommaso in Abruzzo, Italy, take a break in Ortona for free wine. In this small village, there’s a wine fountain that flows year-round. The Fontana Del Vino is a must-visit.
🎏 Culture Corner
The beginning of June is sacred to Dayak ethnic groups ( the Ibans and Bidayuhs) in Sarawak, Malaysia.
This time of year is when the Gawai Dayak Festival takes over the local community.
At its core, Gawai Dayak commemorates a successful harvest season and a time to thank their gods. It’s a vibrant festival of gratitude, delicious food, catching up with loved ones, and even a beauty pageant.
Dayak people may hold a miring (thanksgiving) and a large meal called ruer. Tuak is a home-brewed rice wine typical for this time of year.
People don colorful Bidayuh costumes.
🌆 Five things to do in: Viña del Mar, Chile
Only 74 miles from Chile’s capital, Santiago, Viña del Mar is known as the Garden City (la Ciudad Jardín). This South American coastal resort city is a destination for sun-soakers, wine enthusiasts, and outdoor activity seekers. Here are five fun things you can do in Viña del Mar:
Visit Playa Reñaca: Go to Viña’s premier beach with stunning views of the Pacific, gorgeous sunsets, and a nice dip in the water.
Viña del Mar Music Festival: Viña hosts one of Latin America’s largest music festivals each year. In 2024, Maná, Andrea Bocelli, and Manuel Turizo performed.
Botanical Garden: This nature preserve has 370 acres of natural beauty, 1168 plant species, and 250 tree species.
Wulff Castle: Built in 1906 by a German trader, Gutav Wulff, the Wulff Castle is a chateau sitting above the sea. It’s now Viña’s cry heritage center.
Eat Shrimp Empanadas: The city is next to the Pacific Ocean, making it a prime destination for seafood. A camaron y queso (shrimp and cheese) empanada should be on your must-try list.
Peak months: December, January, February
Never plan a trip alone again! I can help you find cool stuff to do for your next vacation.
Ok friends, let’s pull over and take a break.
Thanks for reading and have a great day! 😊
Love you guys,
-Daniel
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I don't think it possible to live in the world without harming it. But as a full time traveler the last 12 years I think I do less to harm it by consuming less and using less resources. But that was when I was traveling by van and boat. Now I just have a back pack and took 4 flights since May 31. But that was the only way to get to Cartagena from the US. The bus to Medellin took too long so that was our 4th flight. But hopefully now we are in South America we can travel shorter distances by bus. I really do feel bad about the airplane flights.
I wonder if house sitting, which we do a lot of, would be considered more sustainable for nomads. I mean that fridge is going to be running whether the owners are there or not.