Head for the wild this summer with an ecofriendly tour operator, or buy renewable-energy credits to counterbalance your trip's global-warming emissions. Your travels can do the world a whole lot of good.
Navigate your options Many tour operators promise to help protect fragile eco- systems. To find an adventure that's as eco as its pamphlet claims, search online resources—such as Eco Tour (www.ecotourdirectory.com) and the International Ecotourism Society (www.ecotourism.org)—for companies that adhere to a code of conduct. Most green guides will happily disclose their policies to potential clients.
Jetset wisely Air travel accounts for nearly 4 percent of the carbon dioxide belched into the atmosphere every year. Go to Native Energy's website (www.nativeenergy.com/travel) to calculate the carbon tons your flight will generate and to purchase offset credits from wind power or farm methane. If you use Travelocity (www.travelocity.com) to book your flight, at checkout you can request that it donate $10, $25, or $40 to the Conservation Fund, which will plant trees to offset your flight's CO2 emissions.
Sightsee smartly Read up on ideas for sustainable living in Laurie David's Stop Global Warming: The Solution is You! (Fulcrum, 2006). Her travel-specific tips include buying recycled products on the road, seeking out local vendors and organic foods, and cutting down on waste by bringing a travel mug and reusable bags.
—Erinn Morgan