How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Now that we've not been traveling for a while and the travel industry is trying to bounce back, we can see the impact our past trips have had on the environment, and we can look at ways we can change what we do and how we do it to reduce our carbon footprint. While travel doesn't always feel like it's great for the environment, especially when you're getting to your destination on a a huge plane that burns a ton of fuel, there are many things you can do to offset your travel carbon footprint. 

Pack Light

The less "cargo" that a plane carries, the less fuel it has to use. It might be negligible in relation to the weight of the plane itself, but every little bit helps, plus you'll feel like a rock star for being able to go straight from the plane to your hotel, because you don't have to wait at the baggage carousel like all those other suckers. Boom! You saved time and you saved money. If you need ideas on how to pack strategically, check out this post.

Bring a reusable water bottle

Stay hydrated, while also being environmentally conscious and not buying a bunch of bottled waters on your trips. I have a favorite. I will fill it half with ice and the other half with water at the beginning of the day and my water stays cold all day long and I usually even have ice long after my bottle is empty and I need to refill it. It's great, because it also saves you money too.

Skip the straw

So many places now are banning plastic straws, because they aren't recyclable and mostly just end up in the ocean, aspiring to become a part of that plastic island. If you travel  internationally, you'll notice that you don't even get offered a straw in many places. If you must have a straw, travel with a reusable one. I have several stainless steel and copper straws that I put in my purse to use when I'm out. If you hate the feel of metal, try bamboo instead or a silicone top for your metal straw.

Bring your own utensils

With the same idea about straws, I generally travel with a set of bamboo utensils. Why? Because I love eating at food trucks, but I hate plastic utensils...and there's never anyplace to recycle them (if they even are recyclable). There's also the fact that sometimes those plastic forks and knives are just not sturdy enough for the food you're eating. Have you ever had a fork just snap in half while trying to eat something heartier? Well, bamboo forks will never do that, plus, you can wash them and reuse them without worrying about BPA and degradation. 

If you don't care if you have a whole range of utensils, then check out these awesome travel utensils from Humangear. They're made for camping, but no one's going to bat an eye if you whip these out at the food trucks, especially in Portland.

Shop at farmers’ markets

Support local farmers, butchers, florists and artisans by shopping at open-air markets. Not only will you be putting money back into a community to help it thrive, you’re also keeping small businesses alive. By purchasing fresh ingredients that you can eat right away or do a little preparation with back at your lodging, you’re saving money over a traditional sit-down meal.

Eat at food carts

Another way to save on meals is to eat at food carts. They are the ultimate in budget dining, because they are basically a mobile kitchen. With their low overhead, (no seating, waiters, busboys, etc.) those savings are passed on to you. You also get to try local cuisine for less, and normally where there is one food cart, there are many. If your kids are picky, there is bound to be something they find appetizing within reasonable walking distance from your current cart.

Find sustainable restaurants

While not always budget-friendly, I try to look for restaurants who use local and seasonal foods. This means that your food doesn't have to travel far to get to you, plus you're getting the freshest dishes possible, so it's a win-win. There are lots of sustainable restaurants that pass their savings on to you, so not only are you getting awesome food, but you aren't paying more for it either. Locally-sourced food is a great way to really feel your destination as well.

Ebooks and apps

Guidebooks are awesome, but not only do they take up room in your luggage, what do you do with them when your vacation is over? Probably you recycle them, but what if you didn’t have to? You can pretty much get any book you want in digital format for your e-reader or smartphone. You can even “bookmark” important pages you know you’ll need. And there are a lot of apps that can give you directions, city tours, maps and even help you find attractions nearby. Many are even free! Going paperless can really make you feel lighter on your trips and allow you to feel better about all the information you’re toting around.

Walk or take public transportation

A big percentage of  travelers rely on renting cars or taking cabs when on vacation, but that’s not always economical. In most big cities, taxis are really expensive and just a few trips could add up to hundreds of dollars. Why waste all that money (and gas!) when you can just as easily walk to your desired destinations or take public transportation? If either of these options are feasible, then take the time to slow down and smell the roses. 

You never know what you’re missing until you get out and see things from the point of view of a local. You’ll get some fresh air, exercise and even find a hidden shop or café that you can come back to. This is also a great time to let your kids take the reins and learn to navigate the subway map or figure out the best walking route from your hotel to wherever it is you planned on going. And if you tend to get swollen ankles from tons of walking, then get yourself a pair of good compression socks for sightseeing or to wear when you get back to your room.

Stay in an eco-lodge

If you’re looking for alternative accommodations from your typical hotel, consider staying in an eco-lodge. They come in many different types, but strive to do their best to impact the environment as little as possible, with low-flow toilets, use of sustainable materials, farm-to-table programs and more. You will find that many are a lot more luxurious than expected and even more affordable. Be careful, though, as some offer electricity, while others do not. If lights after sundown are important to you, then make sure you confirm that it is included before you book.

Stay in an Airbnb

While this isn't necessarily eco-friendly all on its own, it comes with benefits built-in that you don't think about: there's no housekeeping, so unless you're washing all your linens and towels everyday, you're saving water. You can also opt to put your Do Not Disturb sign on your door instead, so you skip cleaning days that are unnecessary when you're staying in a hotel. Reuse things, save them from having to replace your half-used soap or shampoo. In the meantime, turn off as many lights as you can while you're in the room, and all of them when you leave for the day. These things still help in the long run.

Recycle

Not all places recycling receptacles, which is disheartening, but I always have a second garbage bag that I use strictly for my recyclables and then I ask where I can take that at the end of my stay. I've been known to break things down and pack them home if I can't find a proper place to dispose of them. I'm not willing to toss things in the garbage unless there's absolutely no other choice. If you cruise, I have been told that everything goes into garbage cans and then there are crew members who sort out garbage from recycling. 

As a budget traveler that tries to do my part for the environment as much as possible, I’m always looking for new ways to save on my whole vacation. By just making the effort to get out and see your destination from a new perspective, you find different ways to experience your trips and change up your travel style a bit to make it more affordable and green at the same time. 

How do you travel green?


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Celebrating in Amsterdam at Home

A few weeks ago, we decided to "travel" to Amsterdam on our Destination Date Night in order to celebrate King's Day, the day when the Dutch throw a big party for their king's birthday. People wear a ton of orange and cram onto boats and the waterfront and drink a lot, because that's how most of the world parties. I also wanted an excuse to eat a lot of waffles.

If you want to know more about King's Day, you can see my post here, but we learned as we ate and had a two-person dance party to enjoy our own little celebration. My table was set with a yellow tablecloth, because I don't have an orange one (even though I thought I did) and adding extra orange may have been a bit much. I also used this watering can as a vase and added the must-have tulips that Holland is known for. It has been a bit that I included our sticker passport books, but we've been utilizing them. I also know that The Netherlands sound like a great place to just go and walk and enjoy the city, which is the perfect vacation destination for us. As such, I snagged a Monocle Guide to plan a future trip.

It's been a bit since I had a cocktail with my dinner, but I found a recipe for a version of a drink I like (French 75) called the Dutch 75. It uses vodka, champagne, and lemon, which I garnished with some fresh mint. It was a nice, refreshing cocktail, which would also pair well with a brunch menu.

Cheers! Eric went with a color theme and enjoyed a nice Bundaberg ginger beer. Other traditional Dutch beverages focus on gin, beer, and coffee (which we also had with our dessert waffles). 

Look at this great waterside view. We did our part to put on as much orange as we own, which was not a lot, but we did our best.

And now for the waffles. Yes, we could have gone really traditional, but #1 I didn't want to have the same thing we had for Norway, #2 I didn't want to go all the way across town to get it, and #3 I didn't want to figure out how to make a bunch of new, weird foods. Also, there's a Dutch waffle food cart nearby, so I decided to just go for all of it. 

Here you have the Chicken BLT with sriracha aioli, I chose the Black Forest which had ham, bacon, gouda, maple butter, plus I added spinach for some greens.

While we ate, we talked about Amsterdam and had on videos of past King's Day celebrations in the background. This was a fun way to feel like we were in the middle of the action and also gave us a wonderful view up and down the river front. 

This last year was a weird one for places that are known for big festivals and parties, but they try to make do. I found a video of 2021 that was a party mix by DJ Martin Garrix done on the top of A'dam Tower. You got awesome skyline views and excellent party music. In normal years, you would be able to see lots of these music events with thousands of other people. 

While we bopped to jams, we stuffed our faces with our dessert waffles and had some coffee...in orange mugs! On the left is the Smaaken waffle: brie, spiced apples, bacon, and maple butter. On the right is The Elvis: bacon, peanut butter, bacon, and honey. 

Obligatory visit to a windmill and a field of tulips. We actually were going to go to the Wooden Tulip Festival this year near us, but because of the timed tickets, the price for two people didn't really make sense. It wasn't much less than for an entire family pass, so I decided this was a good compromise.

Don't forget to get your passport stamped!

Party down, guys!

You may not want to throw a King's Day celebration at home, or maybe you do, but that doesn't mean you can't also enjoy an Amsterdam staycation. Here are some things you do to make it special:

• Add some backgrounds
• windmill and tulips
• waterfront buildings
• Orange tablecloth (or another color you prefer)
• Rustic milk can to use as a vase
• Tulips to fill it with
• Amsterdam travel guide
• Passport books
• Bike for decor (biking is a popular way to get around the city)
• Stroopwafels
• A Holland table flag or a flag of the Netherlands
• A great YouTube play list - King's Day videos I watched
• Martin Garrix DJ set
• King's Day 2018
• King's Day on the water
• Dutch copper wine glasses
• Women's Dutch hat
• Dutch Blitz game

There are so many ways you can make this staycation fun and special, whether you go for beer tasting or virtually strolling through some tulip fields, or even go for a "walking" tour from your couch. You can view more of my staycation vids and photos when they happen on my Instagram. All of my staycation stories are in my Covid Travel highlight. They have music!

Have you ever wanted to go to a big festival?

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My Mongolia Wish List

I know Mongolia is a large country. At roughly a quarter of the size of the continental U.S., it may be difficult to see everything you want in one trip, but maybe not, if you plan strategically. The country doesn't really have a good tourism network yet, which means you'll likely be one of very few tourists wherever you go, you may have to wait until you arrive to arrange tours and tickets.

Photo by Batgerel Batkhurel on Unsplash

Yes, I enjoyed learning more about Mongolia at home, but nothing beats actually traveling and engaging with local people, eating local food, and learning your way across a city or country. Here's my wish list of things I want to do when I finally plan my trip. 

Photo by Amit Gupta on Unsplash

Yak tour

This is actually the number one thing I'm excited for in Mongolia. The Yak Trek is basically you following yaks pulling wagons carrying supplies. you can walk or ride a horse, and you make camp each night, eat outdoors, and meet nomads along the way. Knowing that I hate hiking and camping, this 3-day walk across the wilderness sounds pretty amazing. 

There are also yak-riding tours, which I'm also 100% in for, despite probably having major allergies by being so close to them. I'm willing to suffer for this amazing experience though, so maybe I'll just hope for the best, where I'm not allergic to horses or farm animals, and carry a lot of hand sanitizer and extra meds to be safe.

Photo by Tuguldur Baatar on Unsplash

National Museum of Mongolia

Located in Ulaanbaatar, the largest museum in Mongolia will walk you through the entire history of the country and everything else you need to know. Discover how Mongolians live in daily life and how they have evolved over time through permanent exhibits and rotating, temporary exhibits like Mongolian Traditional Dishes, which focuses on utensils and textiles and household items, including furniture, luggage, and serving trays.

Photo by Jéan Béller on Unsplash

Ghengis Khan Statue Complex

Found approximately 30 miles from Ulaanbaatar, this complex is actually topped by the world's largest statue of Ghengis Khan. Say what you will about him in regards to his grisly and dictatorial methods, but he was all for freedom of religion and created the largest contiguous empire in history. He also united many nomadic tribes across the area. He solidified Mongolia's space regarding politics and culture and created quite a far-reaching lineage of his bloodline. 

At the complex, you can learn more about Khan, try on traditional Mongol costumes, and even eat at the restaurant upstairs. The museum is also in an area that has fantastic birdwatching, plus you can meet a golden eagle or vulture, which you know I'm all about.

Photo by Patrick Schneider on Unsplash

Stay in a Ger

Gers, or yurts, are the traditional nomadic dwelling. You can find these all over, including near the large cities, because people want to live in the traditional way, but still have the convenience of city living. You can rent one near Ulaanbaatar, with internet access, for under $60/night.

Photo by Usukhbayar Gankhuyag on Unsplash

Visit the Gobi Desert

Honestly, I never knew where the Gobi was, but the photos are beautiful and I'd love to visit for the day to see what it's like. You can ride camels here, which may or may not be for me, so I'll see when I get there. 

There's a great less-desert-y area called Yolyn Am in a gorge of the Gobi where you can just enjoy the views and yaks grazing.

Photo by Lightscape on Unsplash

Try Airag

While I'm not one to drink that much alcohol when I travel, I always look for unusual foods and drinks and want to try everything at least once. Airag is one of those things. So, what is it exactly? It's fermented mare's milk. Yeah, maybe it'll be gross, but I'll never know if I don't try it. Maybe it's one of those things I like that other people aren't a fan of, like haggis. 

Photo by Lightscape on Unsplash

Visit during the Bayan-Ölgii Eagle Festival

Falconing is one of my favorite things and I greatly enjoyed when we did it in Scotland. If you ever get the chance to do it, I highly recommend it. Eagles and other raptors are amazing birds, who are smart, and have great relationships with their handlers. This festival happens in late September or early October every year and includes different events. There are even opportunities to meet eagles up close and personal. 

Kharakhorum

The original capital of the Mongolian Empire, Kharakhorum was founded by Genghis Kahn in 1220. This once cosmopolitan city is no longer thriving, but it is home to a great museum, the first Buddhist monastery in the country, and a handful of temples. 

I think there are plenty of other awesome things to do in Mongolia, but I feel like many of those things may be found while traveling around the country, which will be part of my travel plan. That'll be interesting, since I almost never go anywhere without a full plan, but I look forward to getting in a car and exploring as much as possible. 

Have you ever wanted to visit Mongolia?