Put away the sweaters and dust of your swim suits, Spring Break is nigh! Well deserved time away from school and/or work, you might be interested in some off the beaten path vacation locations. It’s a chance to let your hair down and go on a pre-summer adventure that tickles your green and/or foodie fancy to the max. And I’m not talking about drinking until your face falls off in some crazy, college kid-infested beach town. I’m talking about one week away from the grind to experience some of the best vegan food and eco-vacations the world has to offer. Be it a full week or just a few days, check out some of the most interesting locales across the globe to get your eco-vegan spring break on!

For the green traveler:

Portland, OR – Portland takes top honors for being both green as well as vegan-friendly. Be sure to fast for a full week prior to arriving in Stumptown, because if you’re a foodie, this is your haven. Sure, it’s not the sunny, hang-out-by-the-pool kind of place, but there is plenty of booze and tons of killer food. And if you’re feeling especially gluttonous, you can always bike or hike off the calories on any of their beautiful trails or eco-friendly streets.
Eco Must-Do: Pedal Bike Tours of the city

Burlington, VT – Want to get away from all the hustle and bustle? Then make Burlington your choice for this year’s spring vacay. The area is the epitome of eco-friendliness, from citizen-based groups that tackle any number of issues like solar energy and recycling to the fact that the city makes it a point to have its energy come from renewable resources; Burlington is a great place to cozy up and enjoy some time away. Explore the various hiking trails, prep fresh food from local farms, help with the maple farming, or stay at any number of their eco-resorts.
Eco Must-Do: Take a green cab and stay at the eco Willard Street Inn

Channel Islands National Park, CA – If you are looking for a little sun and splash, the very green Channel Islands are for you. Just a jaunt up the coast from Los Angeles, you can be enjoying the surf and the incredible marine life in a few short hours. With a wide array of diving and other eco tours like kayaking, set up shop in a green hotel by the sea and enjoy!
Eco Must-Do: Hang out underwater with the Eco Dive Center

Belize – Eco-tourism is Central America’s biggest coup. With gorgeous beaches and breathtaking rainforests, Belize lends itself to green living. Jam-packed with fresh-from-the-land cuisine and eco resorts, this is the place to sip from a coconut on the beach without worrying about your carbon footprint.
Eco Must-Do: Stay at Chaa Creek Resort and take part in its Go Green activities

Maasai Mara, Kenya – One of my most favorite places in the world is the Maasai Mara in Kenya. Not only will you be within arms length of some of the most magnificent animals you will ever see, you will experience a countryside unlike any other. The Maasai tribe’s people are some of the coolest people you will ever meet. With a variety of terrains from oceanside to desert, there are a number of eco-lodges and tours that will take you into a world that will ultimately change yours.
Eco Must-Do: Take a Maasai walking tour with Basecamp Explorer

For more eco spring break picks, check out my recent VegNews Article

For the vegan gourmand traveler:

Berlin, Germany – Surprisingly, vegan fast food (as well as tasty vegan comfort food) is all the rage in this German metropolis. Fan of organic, local food? Berlin will rock your vegan socks off.
Must-Visits: Vöner, Chipps, and Lucky Leek

India – India is one of the most veg friendly countries in the world. With roughly 30 percent of the country vegetarian and beef considered a big no-no, it’s easy to find delicious dishes. As vegans, we need to be mindful of ghee (clarified butter), creams, and cheeses, but the lovely folks of India are more than helpful when it comes to feeding vegan travelers.
Must-Visits: Haldiram’s in Delhi, Little Italy in Mumbai, and Suruchi in New Delhi

Greece – Ah yes, the Greek islands; the beautiful Mediterranean sea and lots of sun. Who wouldn’t want to vacay in this costal paradise? Luckily for veggies, there is plenty to eat (and drink!) that is not only vegan but healthy, too.
Must-Visits: Avocado in Athens, Ifestioni in Santorini, and Señor Zorbas in Fira

Thailand – Aside from India, Thailand is the next best exotic destination to chow as a vegan. Avoiding meat and dairy is no problem at all, but beware of fish sauce: It’s pervasive!
Must-Visits: Vegetarian Cottage in Bangkok, May Kaidee’s in Bangkok, and King Liew in Phuket

New York, NY – OK, so we all know that NYC is kick-ass all on its own. But did you know that vegan food is abundant in the city famous for it’s greasy, cheesy pizza? Yeppers!
Must-Visits: Candle 79, Pure Food & Wine, and Four Course Vegan

For more vegan foodie spring break picks, check out my recent VegNews Article

So green, hungry or both, make this spring break the adventure trip of a lifetime!

Written by Logan B.

Who doesn’t want to go to Hawaii and hop an air charter through the 8 islands?  If you feel like you need to justify flying to and around paradise, join in with thousands of runners and compete in one of over a dozen marathons held every year in the Aloha State.  With so many different running events to choose from, there is something for everyone including family, holiday, and charity runs.  Vacations don’t have to be about overindulgence of food and sloth, running in Hawaii can be a perfect way to incorporate health and travel.

Even if it’s just to do a short race, join 5,000 participants for the Honolulu 5-K.  You can opt to do a 1-mile fun run/walk in gorgeous downtown Honolulu if you or not everyone in your party can make the 5-K.  Proceeds benefit the athletic programs in Hawaii public schools.

Even the more hardcore Maui Marathon offers 1 mile, 5-K, half-marathon and full marathon options to suit its over 3,500 runners.  Take the kids with you and walk the mile together while mom or dad do a longer portion of the race.

For partiers this year, St. Paddy’s Day ‘Run til You’re Green’ race will be held in Kahului in the early evening.  Followed by drinking, music and other festivities, this holiday run will at least get you off your rear for 3 miles.

If you think you can handle a little altitude challenge go for the Volcano Rain Forest Run.  At 4,000 feet of elevation take your chances with 5-K, 10-K or half-marathon distances just outside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where Kilauea is still an active volcano.

Check out Runner’s World for a full listing of racing events in Hawaii and plan your next vacation to these beautiful islands guilt-free by participating in an event this year.

So this is a first, letting you know where I’ll be going instead of where I’ve been. But there is a reason for this as you’ll be able to take part in this adventure too! While I’m visiting Texas and taking an adventure packed tour of San Antonio, you’ll be able to watch it all go down with my live videos, having the ability to vote for me and my team to win so that you too can win fabulous prizes!

               Here is the link to vote for Team Healthy Voyager once a day until August 31st!!
http://alamo.visitsanantonio.com/race/

I’ve been chosen as 1 of 3 travel writers to compete in the Alamo City Race, an Amazing Race style competition presented by the San Antonio Visitor’s Bureau! It’s a jam packed 3 day race to win and show the world that regardless of your dietary restrictions, you can travel, be adventurous and also play to win ; )

Three teams of travel bloggers will spend three days, August 4-6, running around San Antonio and its many awesome sites.  We’ll be participating in competitions at San Antonio’s top attractions, while blogging, tweeting, YouTubing and Facebook updating about it to our followers. That means you!

My team will consist of me and my hubby, Dan Hamilton, and we couldn’t be more excited since we’ve been wanting to go on the actual Amazing Race for years.  We’ve traveled to the ends of the earth and do all sorts of kooky stuff  (i.e. ARG’s, Burning Man and the like) so we know we can take on any challenge that the Alamo City might throw at us.

We will be competing against Team Trekaroo (Sharlene and Michelle) and Team Adventurous Kate (Sisters Kate and Sarah). We’re the only guy/girl team!!

I am extremely stoked for the race as well as for all the great food!  There will absolutely be a San Antonio episode and many blogs to come along with lots on onsite reporting (tweets and foursquares!). I’ve not been to San Antonio in almost 13 years (1 year shy of going vegan) so I’m really looking forward to seeing it with fresh eyes and new taste buds!

Now here’s where you come in…

Each of the 3 race days is worth 20% of our overall score to win the whole enchilada, totaling 60% of the score. The other 40% is determined by votes so the more you vote, the higher our chances of winning. remember when I said you you could fabulous prizes? This is how! Voters are handsomely rewarded with fabulous prizes! A grand prize winning voter will will posh trip to San Antonio! Keep voting once a day until Aug. 31st to help your favorite team win! Check it:

San Antonio trip includes:

A  three night stay at the Grand Hyatt, Paella lunch for four at Citrus, $500 Visa gift card for airfaire and attraction passes for four to:

• The Alamo Trolley
• Enchanted Springs Ranch
• Guiness World Records Museum
• IMAX, Institute of Texan Cultures
• Laser Legend
• McNay Art  Museum
• Ripley’s Believe It or Not & Louis Tussaud’s Wax Works Ripley’s Haunted Adventure
• San Antonio Botanical Garden
• San Antonio Children’s Museum
• San Antonio Rose Live – Country Music Show
• San Antonio Zoo
• Schlitterbahn
• SeaWorld San Antonio
• Six Flags Fiesta Texas
• The Buckhorn Saloon & Museum/Texas Rangers Museum
• Tower of the Americas
• Wildlife Ranch Witte Museum

Additional transportation, taxes, gratuity, and extras not included. You can vote once a day to help your favorite team win! One grand prize entry per person.

So stay tuned because as of mid next week, I’ll be live blogging, tweeting, facebooking and youtubing our Alamo City Race adventure and we want you to join in the fun!  Go Team Healthy Voyager!!! (Cross your fingers that i don’t get disqualified for refusing to eat weird, non-vegan food!!)

So I’m back with some more Orlando hot spots! Last week it was all about stuff in town but this week it’s goodies you can find in and around the popular theme parks. While I’ve already done write ups on healthy theme park eating, I didn’t get in to specifics and since Orlando is the capital of theme parks, I figured I’d get down to the nitty gritty!

Ok, let’s start with Universal Studios. Seeing as how The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the place to be these days (and I TOTALLY agree, it rules!), people are visiting Universal’s Islands of Adventure in droves.

While in the park, sure there are plenty of places to grab a quick salad but if you’re looking to sit down and grab a nice meal (that’s actually reasonably priced), you have to check out Mythos. It’s no wonder that it has won best theme park restaurant since its inception. A great menu that gets mega points for accommodating special diets. Right on the menu it tells you what can be made gluten free and/or vegan and there are a ton of tasty options. And like I mentioned, it won’t cost you the usual theme park sit down dinner price!

On your way in and out of the parks, you’ll be passing through Citywalk. They have tons of chain restaurants (most of which I’ve already covered) but the one that caught my eye was The Latin Quarter. Yummy latin food for all sorts of tastes, they mix Mexican, Spanish and Caribbean so no one in your group is left out of the flavorful fun. And the best part is as they’ve got a bunch of options of veg heads! I had to opt for the veggie paella and was very happy with my choice ; ) Oh yeah, it’s also a nightclub, woohoo!

Alright, I’m sure you’re waiting to hear about the king of all theme parks, Walt Disney World. Well, I’ve covered the mouse’s house in the past but I haven’t covered Downtown Disney which is not only free to park and enter, it’s chock full of fun (without the big Disney price tag). Nightclubs, restaurants, shopping and even some fun activities, it’s a great way to get the Disney feel if you don’t have it in you to head into the parks.

If you haven’t heard, Babycakes NYC has staked their claim at this shopping and eating mecca. Vegan, gluten free and fabulous, there’s no excuse to curb your sweet tooth the healthy way while hangin’ out at the happiest place on earth.

Now if you’ve got a craving for some awesome Cuban food, you gotta hit up Gloria Estefan’s Bongos Cuban Cafe at Downtown Disney. With lots of veggie options and sacrificing none of the taste, Bongos is a ton of fun and super delish!

In a rush and not looking for a full on sit down, try The Earl of Sandwich for a tasty veggie sandwich or Fresh A-peel for a fresh salad of veggie burger (also lots of gluten free options too!)

But if you’re looking for all the magic and fun of the theme parks along with your meal, you gotta try T-Rex. Ok, it’s a bit on the pricey side but how can you leave mouse land without dinner and a show? Disney is great about accommodating special diets so if you let them know ahead of time, the servers will guide you through the menu so you can have a pre-historically awesome meal and still enjoy all of the fun!

And that’s a wrap (for now) on Orlando. I’ll be back in future travels and happy to report it all to you!

This time of year we are trekking all over the place to visit family and friends.  But if you happen to have some time to squeeze in some holiday family fun outside of the usual shopping, eating and movies, try visiting a holiday attraction.

Heading over to small festivals are great fun as many are hosted by non-profit organizations and proceeds help all sorts of folks during the holidays.  Hitting up carnivals and bazaars are a nice way to get out of the house and check out unique things, people and even get some gift ideas.

But if you are lucky enough to find yourself in a town that has a big holiday show, festival or attraction, do your best to pack up the car and make some fun family memories at one this year! If you’re on a budget, these can be verry cheap holidays too!

Here are some of the top ones around!

• The Rockefeller Center Tree & Ice Skating Rink – NY, NY
• Norman Rockwell Street at Christmas – Stockbridge, MA – The town and street that Norman Rockwell made famous by his painting, recreates the look every year!
• Holiday Boat Parade – Ft Lauderdale, FL – Eat your heart out Macy’s, this parade floats!
• Santa’s Enchanted Forest – Miami, FL – Christmas and carnival all in one!
• Victorian Christmas - Berlin, MD – Spend the holidays like they used to!
• Christmasota – Twin Cities, MN – The name says it all!
• Sculpture Garden Skating – Washington, D.C. – Skate outdoors in our nation’s capital!
• Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland - West Knoxville & Bristol, TN- This water sports company really does up the holidays!
• Silver Dollar City - Branson, MO – The Vegas of the midwest has something for everyone this time of year. Shows, lights and so much more!
• Oglebay Festival of Lights – Wheeling, WV – An enchanting festival of lights
• Smoky Mountain Winterfest – Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, TN – 3 cities team together with local attractions (like Dollywood!!) to create a very merry holiday.
• Trail of Lights - Austin, TX – An impressive lighted tree in a highly festive town, you can’t go wrong celebrating the holidays in Austin.
• Magical Nights of Lights – Lake Lanier, GA – The world’s largest holiday lights extravaganza!
• Holiday Festival of Lights – Charleston, S.C. – Lights, sand sculptures, Santa’s village & more!
• Enchanted Garden of Lights – Chattanooga, TN – An LED powered holiday fun fest!
• Louisville MEGA Cavern - Louisville, KY – An underground holiday light show!
• Southern Lights – Lexington, KY – Beautiful drive through lights.
• Fantasy of Lights - Pine Mountain, GA – Lights complete with holiday village!
• Mission Inn - Riverside, CA – a dazzling holiday spectacle!
• Disney Parks – Orlando, FL & Anaheim, CA – Disney is magical as is but nothing beats visiting the parks over the holidays. And if you’re worried about what to eat, be sure to check out my theme park healthy dining guide!

Wishing you a super fun holiday!

Looking for a good scream this Halloween but trying to reduce your carbon footprint? Man made haunts are a great fun but if you want a green Halloween you should know that the amount of electricity, building supplies, fake blood and fog are no friends to mother earth. It takes a lot of resources, energy and chemicals to put on a large scale haunt so why not visit a REAL haunted house? If you’re up for it and happen to be nearby some of the following, most haunted places in America, gather a group and see have what it takes to stand up to the spirits this all Hallow’s Eve!  Most offer tours throughout the year but during Halloween season, you can’t get a better bang for your buck. The possibility of seeing real ghosts and getting creeped out by just being there far exceeds the fake fright of a high schooler in costume ; ) It’s educational, assists in preserving history, greener then pop up haunts and sure to make your hair stand on end like never before. Buuuaaahahahahaha!!

• Gettysburg Battlefield, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
• LaLaurie House, New Orleans, Louisiana
• The Bell Witch Cave, Adams, Tennessee
• The Whaley House, San Diego, California
• The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado
• The Winchester House, San Jose, California
• Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Louisville, Kentucky
• The Stranahan House, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
• Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• The White House, Washington D.C.
• Saint Augustine Lighthouse, St. Augustine, Florida
• Congelier House, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Mount Misery Road, West Hills, New York
• Franklin Castle, Cleveland, Ohio
• The Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
• Hull House, Chicago, Illinois
• The Lincoln Theater, Decatur, Illinois
• Lemp Mansion, St. Louis , Missouri
• Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois
• The Myrtles Mansion, St. Francisville, Louisiana

And if you just want to hang in a super haunted city, there’s no shortage of creepy towns like New Orleans, Savannah, Charleston and more!! Happy Halloween!!

Last summer I wrote about some great opportunities in healthy, green and volunteer travel.  In the past year there have been so many things that have popped both wonderful as well as traumatic (i.e. Haitian Earthquake) that have opened up so many doors to folks suffer from chronic wanderlust.

The economy hasn’t been to kind to many people, worldwide, so travel has been put on the back burner. In addition, people who have restrictive diets or are being eco conscious, leaving home can also be a bit of a challenge.  Well, lucky for you I’ve compiled another list of ways you can hit the road regardless of budget, diet or carbon footprint!

• Healthy Voyager Tours – Of course I had to start with this one ; ) Starting October 2010 with our first excursion to Machu Picchu, Healthy Voyager Tours will be visiting some of the world most exotic locales while making it easy for vegans, vegetarians, gluten free, diabetic and other special diets to travel worry free. All inclusive tours that will offer delicious cuisine, fitness and cooking classes as well as world class accommodations and guided tours, you won’t want to explore the globe any other way again.
• Cross Cultural Solutions – With locations in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and South America, CCS has a variety of programs available for travelers who are looking to do some good while away from home.  For your philanthropy you travels can be covered from the flight to the entire trip depending on the program you choose. See some unique parts of the world, be immersed in new cultures while helping fellow human beings live a better life. Very cool!
• Terra Incognita Eco-Tours – In search of some out-of-this world wildlife while minimizing your impact on the planet? These eco tours practice responsible travel to natural areas that helps conserve the environment and improves the well-being of local people. Not to mention the insanely cool places they visit, check them out!
• Access Tours - Want to visit the American West but are disabled and/or wheelchair bound? Not to worry! Access tours all all access tours for all sorts of folks to some of the United States most breathtaking destinations. Christianakis Travel tours offers the same service for the physically challenged who want to explore Greece!
• Fitness Tours – Want to lose some weight or challenge yourself while away? Check out the butt kicking itineraries available through Fit Tours! Tours around the world to gorgeous locales will double as your gym ; )
• HOW – A wonderful organization, Helping Orphans Worldwide, HOW take volunteer groups to various locations around the world such as Vietnam, the Philippines and Moldova to help save children from awful situations.

In addition to these fun travel opportunites, here are a few sites that may help you in the $$ department if you’re itching to leave town soon!:

• AirBnB – rent rooms, homes or resorts worldwide for half the price
• Couch Surfing – Yep,  a site that connects homeless travelers to couches and sometimes beds to rest their weary heads ; )
• Home Exchange – Make yourself at home anywhere in the world

Either way you decide to go, just go! There’s a whole world out there and time isn’t stoppin’!

So last summer I wrote about Conscious Camping, health and eco tips so that you can get the most out of your adventure without getting sick or leaving a ginormo carbon footprint. Be sure to check out that post for additional info after you’ve gone through this summer’s checklist ; )

I thought since I covered a fair amount of healthy and eco tips, this time around I’d mention some great products to use on your next outdoor adventure as well as ways to keep it cheap! So here we go!:

Goodies

• To-GoWare – Camping or not, this product line is perfect for all forms of travel so you can eat on the run without using disposable junk. A must for healthy & eco voyagers!
• Organic Anti-Bug Balm – Smells good, feels good, keeps the bugs away AND has no harsh chemicals like DEET!
• Vegan, chemical free sunscreen – There are a few lines that carry vegan sunscreen but I’m partial to Kiss My Face products. Good Stuff!
• Seattle Sports PVC-Free Solar Shower – Nothing feels better then an outdoor shower and what tops that is a chemical free one!
• Everlite Solar Lamps – Save $$ and the planet by doing away with battery powered items as much as possible. Light your nights via the sun with lights and headlamps by Everlite.
• Burt’s Bees All-in-One Wash - This is great for any travel! All-in-one means traveling light ; )
• Natural First Aid Kit – Recycled materials case with everything you need (all natural products) in case of an emergency.
• Eco Toilet – When nature calls, it’s convenient & green!
• Survival Kit – No excuses, this thing holds a ton of lifesaving stuff so keep one with you at all times!

Keeping it on the cheap

• Stock up on lightly used items – Nothing is greener then recycling and reusing. Hit up yard sales, thrift stores and craigslist for camping gear.  You may be able to find almost brand new stuff for a fraction of the cost. Being green and saving green ; ) If camping with a family, look for a size up in tents (ex. a family of 4? look for one that sleeps 6) You’ll appreciate the space and when buying used, you’ll pay way less then a smaller sized one retail.
• Sleeping Pads – Great to invest in for extra warmth and comfort. Keep your eyes peeled for used pads because it’s cheaper then an air mattress ; )
• Tent it or Trailer it – Tents take up no space at all in the car so packing your temporary abode is way cheap. Trailers are great because, depending on the size, a mid sized car can tow it while having ready made shelter for a few campers. Pulling into a campground, tents and trailers are the cheapest spots to rent. With a family, it’s less of a headache to pull in and be all set for fun with a trailer. Plus, it keeps out a lot of the heat and sound so you can sleep more comfortably which means healthily!
• Pack sandwiches and snacks at home – If you know how many days you’ll be gone, make enough sandwiches and sides to last the trip. Wrap them reusable lunch wraps or glass containers and keep in your cooler to save your time and money. As soon as you start buying convenience snacks, you’re contributing to more and fill waste and more often then not, consuming junk food that’s full of preservatives. PB&J, hummus & cucumber as well as veggie wraps hold up well in glass containers as do potato salad, macaroni salad, quinoa salads and more. Plan ahead and you’ll be sure to save money and time on your trip.
• Take advantage of campsite amenities – especially when traveling with a family, day to day activities can add up. Do your homework and look for campsites that have lots of on site goodies like hiking, swimming, night time events, etc. For the cost of $20-$50 per night, you get 24 hours of fun and comfort for the whole family.

There’s still some time for camping trips before the kiddies head back to school and the cold weather rolls in so get out there and enjoy the great outdoors!

Who wouldn’t love to have their own, personal travel agent that customizes every detail from the destination all the way to your meals? Whether you are eco friendly, health conscious or want to do some good while you’re away, there are a variety of companies that can help you create the vacation of a lifetime. From volunteer travel to adventures and excursions, here is a list to get you started on planning your dream getaway!:

• Green Earth/Vegtravel – One of the premier vegetarian/vegan/eco travel agencies in the country, Green Earth/Vegtravel caters to the discriminating traveler. Those who desire to maintain their healthy and/or green lifestyle while adventuring throughout the world. Donna Zeigfinger, President and owner of Green Earth Travel,LLC is a seasoned traveler herself and a member of the International Vegetarian Union. Vegtravel can help you book custom designed vacation trips, group departures, cruises, eco adventure, fitness, spa, family, yoga, organization fundraising trips and more! The extensive data base of trips/packages and resources contained within the site will enable those who practice a vegetarian and/or green lifestyle to travel without food being a concern. Like me!!
• Blisscape – Boasting romantic travel made simple. Run by a healthy and green husband and wife team, Blisscape prides itself on helping book and create luxurious vacations for their subscribers. They also help plan green and volunteer travel worldwide. In addition, the site offers tips and info on travel fashion and trends along with being your online travel agent.
• Real Adventures – If you want adventure, this is the place! From specialized tours for bikers, educational to eco-tourism and wildlife trips, Real Adventures is a great resource for all types of travel. Book your next airborne thrill or kayaking trip here today!
• One World Volunteer - At One World, they believe that explorations in travel is that there is a lot that needs to be done to make the world a better place. The projects that you’ll find on their site were started by people who saw a need and acted on it, by; starting a school, creating a reserve, building an animal shelter, growing organic food, etc. Traveling is a way to discover new things about ourselves and learn to see ourselves more clearly. Volunteering abroad is a way to spend time within another culture, to become part of new community, to experience life from a different perspective. What better way to see a part of the world you may not have gone to or been able to afford to go while helping another person in need ; ) Sign up as a tour guide or just join a trip as a volunteer soon!
• Healthy Adventures – This site is great for healthy, pre-fixe vacations and seminars. The company offers set vacation packages that they host and you can join. Each organized vacation offers all kinds of activities in all kinds of locations. It’s also a great way to meet new people. Space is limited to their trips and seminars so if you see one you like, get to it!

Plan your next adventure soon and get out there!! See you in a few weeks after some summer family time!!

Adhering to the summer theme, what’s more summer appropriate then camping? Whether you rough it, tent it, camper or rv it, you tend to not have all the comforts and accoutrement of home when you’re sleeping under the stars. Because of that is is very easy to fall into a rut of convenience store food, cooler snacks and campfire munchies. This can lead to sleepless nights as well as fatigue. A bad combo if you will be hiking, boating or engaging in any physical activities that require you to be alert and on your toes. Below are some tips to green up, health up and make the most of your next venture into the wild!:

• Eat your veggies! Yep, that’s one thing that is incredibly hard to do when you’re living out of a cooler. Fruit is fairly easy to come by but getting your greens is near impossible. So, make sure you pack some Healthy To Go Go Greens! These green apple flavored packets of nutrition not only taste good but each packet gives you your recommended 6 servings of green veggies in just a few tasty gulps! Mix in with you water bottle and get your veggies while you hike or just hang out. They are vegan with no chemicals or unpronounceable stuff as well as gluten free, great for kids, etc. They also offer vitamin C packs, green tea energy packs, omega packs and more. AND if you order a big box, they send you a BPA free bottle for free ; ) Bring a pack for every day you plan to be away. You will be glad you did ; )
• Drink lots of water!! Activities in the hot sun are a killer mix for rapid dehydration. Keep liquefied and cool. Bring a bunch of water from home in reusable or recyclable gallons. Invest in a hand pump for the 5 gallon bottles as it makes it way easier to refill little bottles or wash dishes. It comes in really handy to fill a bowl to wash your face and brush your teeth you don’t want to hit the community sinks or when they just aren’t available ; ) Be sure to dump “gray water” in designated areas, away from fresh water sources and not in the bushes.
• Stock up on healthy snacks. Hangin‘ out with friends around your camp site is always great with some tasty beverages and food. Load up on organic chips and salsa or guacamole as well as hummus with chilled cucumber chips. Grill up pre-made veggie skewers that can be easily made at home and packed in foil and put on ice for the trip. When away from your site, bring bars like vega, purefit, goodonyas or laras to keep your hunger at bay without killing your insulin levels. Lots of great snack options can be found on the Healthy Voyager Approved directory ; )
• Pack as much as you can in reusable bags or storage. This way you decrease disposable food packaging.
• For some of us it’s tough to completely fall off the grid! Keep you cell phones, ipods and computers charged with the sun! Use solar panels instead of generators, crank or shakable flashlights and crank radios. Replace disposable batteries with rechargeable, whenever possible. A great stop for your portable solar needs is Sundance Solar.
• Bring enough receptacles to keep your trash separate from your recyclables. Some camp sites aren’t equipped with separate dumpsters so haul your own trash to the closest place that can take recycling.
• Be green and bring you own dishes. Invest in some camping kitchen and dishware. Do your best to avoid using disposable stuff. Plus it’s way cheaper on your wallet.
• Bring your own firewood. It would seem that using timber from around your campsite may seem eco-friendly, but it actually threatens the forest’s future. When fallen trees and branches decompose, they return nutrients to the soil, feeding the surrounding trees and vegetation.
• Stay within your site’s boundaries and on paths. Venturing into the forest threatens fragile plants and disrupts the homes of animals living there. And every time you veer off a path, you create an opening for others to follow – which will eventually widen the trampled area and reduce wildlife. Traveling off the path leads to soil erosion and the trampling of native plant life. Also avoid the temptation to throw rocks and remove brush while you’re on the trail.
• Keep campfires small and contained to a pit. Don’t burn plastic, metals or woods that have been treated with chemicals. If you use an outdoor grill, dump the ashes in your fire pit or dispose of them in designated areas.
• Follow the rules of the campsite. Especially the bathroom rules as some sites may be on a septic system and anything other then what is supposed to go in toilets or drains can harm it. Be a mindful guest and courteous camper. Your fellow campers will thank you!

Camping with friends, family or venturing on your own can be incredibly fun. Even more so during the summer months with all the outdoor activities available near campsites. Just make sure you are prepared for the area you will be visiting and be a very cautious as well as conscious camper ; )