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Great Places — In A Group
Try ecotravel in a group! Green Concierge offers trips designed in-house and by a variety of vendors. Green Concierge Travel looks for vendors that are leaders in ecotravel and ecotourism offering a group experience that travels lightly on the planet and respects the communities and cultures visited.
You can walk the Canadian countryside, paddle some of the most beautiful rivers, bike from town to town and explore exotic destinations like Africa and Asia and take your values along for the ride. Vendors can be found offering luxury experiences or one where you do the work (wildlife research, trail maintenance of community building) - volunteer - and write the travel expenses off as a donation!
Contact Green Concierge Travel to talk about your dream trip and we will help find the right vendors to make this trip possible. We have brochures on hand for many vendors.
Family Fun - the Green Way!
How can a family take a summer or holiday vacation with a limited budget and keep the trip green? Family travel has always come in all shapes and sizes and green family travel is no different. In this feature, Green Concierge Travel focuses on outdoor adventures for families. The featured trips deliver memorable adventures with companies that will give you great value and operate with the highest environmental standards. But you can always plan your own family trip and Green Concierge Travel is here to help.
On a guided trip, you can choose from trips where you learn outdoor skills or you can have the guides do the cooking and the chores. Staff keep children entertained during and at the end of the day. On these types of trips, companies often provide gear that you might need but might not have. No need to go out and buy! Consider renting from the company or from an outfitter/retail store like Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI).
Consider the two companies below that offer great options for family trips; the trips highlighted start at $645.00.
OARS: For families with children 4 and up, family rafting trips provide a wonderful introduction or continuation to your exploration of the natural world. OARS, with 40 years of experience in the business now offers a range of trips but as their name suggests, they really got their feet wet doing river trips.
OARS truly walks or "floats" the walk. They have contributed more than $3 million in donations and fees to the preservation of the environment. They have greened their ground operations putting solar panels on their home base in Angels Camp CA and operations site in Flagstaff AZ. OARS participates in and operates consistent with "Leave No Trace", an educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and active stewardship of the outdoors by all people, worldwide.
The company offers trips from four years old to "tweens" to teens. The have a designated staff person "Fun Director" who makes sure that your children become engaged in the trip through a range of activities – from swimming to hiking to story telling at night.
Sierra Club Outings: For families with children as young as one to special trips for seniors, Sierra Club Outings offer a variety of types and style of trips. And this summer they boast of 181 trips under $1000. Of course, you can still find a classic backpacking trip for you and your family. Sierra Club also offers base camp trips (stay at a base lodge or camp site) where you explore an area the duration of the trip.
Service trips are also available for families. The purpose of a service trip is two fold, to allow you to explore a specific area but also to actively help with its conservation. For example, Sierra Club is offering a service trip to the Maroon Bells outside of Aspen CO this summer.
The Sierra Club also practices leave No Trace on its outings and are welcoming to all. You have to be a member of the Sierra Club to sign up for an Outing. Not a member? Not a problem. You can sign up for membership during the reservation process. Regular membership: $25 per person or $49 for two people living at the same address.
Four Green Adventures for you and your family...
 Ride the Rapids, Float the River – the Yampa
"Only one major tributary of the mighty Colorado River still runs wild and free."* And it runs through Dinosaur National Monument. The incredible history and geology is revealed through rafting, hiking and the interpretation by the guides. (*From the OARS 2009 brochure, pg. 32)
OARS Yampa River, CO 5 Day Trip. Departures on: June 29, July 6, July 11. The minimum age for this trip: 7 years (12 during high water). River Rafting Class III, 72 miles; Meeting Point – Vernal UT; Gateway City – Salt Lake City, UT. Price: $835
Teens
Bond with your favorite teenager as you share challenging experiences – kayaking, hiking, high mountain lake swimming, geo caching; its all part of the trip.
Sierra Club Sierra Nevada Adventures for Families with Teens, Tahoe National Forest, California, June 28 -July 4, 2009. The minimum age for this trip is 13. Meeting Point: Price: $745 for an adult, $645 for a child
Mixed Activity Family Adventure Camp
Spend three nights at the Rivers Bend Resort alongside the South Fork of the American River. Kayak an alpine lake, paddle the family friendly South Fork of the American River, pan for gold and take a hike.
OARS Sierra Nevada Family Adventure Camp. Departures on: June 8, 15, 22, 29, July 6, 13, 20, 27, August 3, 10, 17. The minimum age for this trip: 7 (15 during high water). Meeting Point: Coloma, CA. Gateway City: Sacramento, CA. Price $737 for an adult; $701 for youth.
Florida Reefs and Mangroves...For Budding Scientists
"At the MarineLab we will explore the beauty and the importance of protecting this intrinsic environment and unique national treasure. Our "classrooms" include coral reefs, mangrove forests, estuaries, and sea grass beds." (From the trip description web site, Trip Number: 09250A)
For more ideas on finding a green value family vacation or to design your own adventure, email Green Concierge Travel at info@greenconciergetravel.com or call 608.204.2717.
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