Summer is Bright, Summer is Colourful… but Why Don’t you Make it a Bit “Greener”

It’s summer time, and the family vacation is on its way! Having a baby on board or small children makes the holiday planning even more exciting… and tricky. If you have chosen to be a green parent, it is possible to keep on with your eco habits.
Here is our step-by-step guide on having a great and unforgettable green holiday.

Step 1: Where to go
One option is to stay home and discover your own place. Arrange trips to museums and local parks. Be tourists for a week and enjoy the feeling of sightseeing and discovering new places to go. Try to walk or use the public transport, get your own homemade food and go for a picnic in the park, and visit as many new places as possible. That way you can fully enjoy that “tourists” feeling.
If you decide to leave the city and go somewhere else, there are still plenty of green options. Whatever your choice is – a mountain break or a relaxed beach vacation, research on the local places to visit. Small resorts with walking distances places to visit means you won’t need to use the transport, and it’s much more comfortable for the whole family.

Step 2: Where to stay
B&B or small family hostels are the best greener choice. Big hotels cause harms which include water pollution, wasted electricity, and loss of native habitat. Prefer family-owned houses with a kitchen to use or local family restaurant, so you can enjoy a homemade food throughout your stay. You will also not need disposable plates and clattery, and this will help the environment, too.
While you are there, don’t forget those little things in our daily routine that make a big difference to the environment: turn off the light when you go out, don’t forget to reduce the water use by switching off the tap while you are brushing your teeth, get a glass bottle and fill it with tap water for when you are out and about, rather than buying mineral water in plastic bottles every day. Why don’t you plan a romantic night on candles? You would save energy and would inspire your other half. And you can they play hide and seek games with your kids - they will have so much fun!

Step 3: What to pack
Clothes. Choose those from your wardrobe which are soft and cotton. Light-coloured or white are best, as they will reflect the sunlight and will lift up your mood.

Toiletries. Get a few natural cosmetics for kids and for yourselves, too. A pack of oatmeal will help you clean your face and body, organic calendula oil with a few drops of lavender can be used for the whole family as a moisturiser and massaging. Buy organic shampoo and body wash, and don’t forget the natural sunscreen. Beeswax, coconut oil, aloe Vera leaf extract, grapefruit extract, and zinc oxide have all a natural SPF factor.

Natural First Aid Kit (click here).

Step 4: How to get there
Get the public transport, rather than your own car. But consider carefully which public transport to choose. Airlines, cars, trains, and ships create a lot of pollution. According to this Carbon calculator, a flight across country produces about 10% as much carbon as everything that the average American does in a year. So choose a low impact method of travel. Trains are one of the most efficient means of travel, and they offer quite an amazing experience if you can spare several days to travel.

Step 5: What food
Either use the kitchen to prepare the meal for yourself, or find a family-owned small restaurant with nice fresh homemade food. Ask locals for organic food and local produce markets, and buy fresh fruits and veggies daily. Why don’t you skip the snacks (for yourself, children need their usual snacks!), and try to be a vegetarian for a week? This will cleanse your body and will help you feel great, especially if you are planning to swim in the afternoon.
Replace ice-cream with chilled plain probiotic yogurt; add some strawberries or other fresh fruits bits – your children will love it!

Step 6: Things to do
Explore the resort. Walking around the place, sightseeing is nice and relaxing. If you are in the mountain, daily trips for an hour or so will make up your day, and children will have a chance to explore all those trees, flowers and insects. Don’t miss the chance – explain and feed their curiosity. If you are having a seaside break, relax on the beach and let your kids have fun on the sand. Why don’t you make a big sand castle together? But be aware of how dangerous the sun can be – don’t expose your children and yourself to direct sunlight between 11am and 4pm, and make sure you use a high-factor natural sunscreen, which needs to be used regularly.

Exercise. Exercising while you are on holiday is a great way to keep fit. Try yoga, which is great for babies and toddlers, too. Swimming is great option if you are on the beach; babies can swim from as little as 4 weeks old, but make sure you have are aware of all baby swimming tips and guidelines.

Family play. Whatever your green holiday destination is, family play should still be a part of your daily routine. This is a great chance to spend some quality time with your children, to get to know them better, to help them learn through play… and to have fun all together. Outside games are better, but inside craft activities are educational and fun, too, so use your imagination and create some inspirational projects as a family.

Make new friends. New destinations is about finding new places, getting inspired about new cultures if going abroad, trying local cuisine… and meeting new people. Use the opportunity to help you kids make some new friends, and keep them entertained while you are socializing with their parents, too.

Send some of those old-fashioned letters with paper postcards. You will nicely surprise your friends and family, especially if you send them some homemade postcards and made from recycled paper.

Holiday photos. If you are planning to have a holiday photo album, buy one made from recycled paper.

Step 7: Things NOT to do.
The list is endless, but here is a starting point:

- Keep you phone switched on
- Take your laptop with you
- Ask for an Internet café
- Rent a car
- Think about your work

The last one may not help the environment much, but will help YOU have a nice and relaxed family vacation.

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