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CONTENTS

Explore Ecotourism Destinations

Have you ever thrown a dart at a map and said let’s pack our bags and go for it? Although we have not tried it yet, I do find it intriguing and would love to see what happens. The more small towns and random stops we make during our travels, the happier we end up finding ourselves. It’s so amusing to uncover those hidden gem towns with unique and diverse communities, eclectic shops, authentic restaurants, friendly locals, and most importantly, no crowds! So throwing that dart and landing on a less-traveled location sounds pretty ideal. Whilst there is still the chance of landing on the prominent Paris or New York City- and let’s be honest, those don’t sound so bad either. Especially during the off-season. Regardless of where you choose to adventure to next, we’re here to help you travel as sustainably as possible.

There’s no denying the positive contributions to the world that come from traveling. From supporting social economics and engaging in the conservation of natural habitats to increasing cultural understanding, travel can bring great things. But it’s vital that we differentiate strategic choices from careless ones. Choosing your destination can play an important role in how sustainably you are traveling.

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ECOTOURISM TIPS

If you live in a tourist city, then you probably already see the effects of over-tourism. Like the big-chain hotels dominating the city skylines, the overcrowded streets, stores, and restaurants, or maybe even the careless cruise ships causing environmental damage. Thankfully we are starting to see a rise in countries and cities adopting sustainable methods which are helping change these terrible effects. Where we go, how we spend our money, and what activities we do while we’re away can add up to make a huge difference. Let’s take a look at some best practices for choosing your next sustainable destination!

Over tourism runs the risk of destroying the beauty and uniqueness of a place. Look at Venice for example, this very popular tourist spot now faces losing its status as a world heritage site due to the soaring amount of visitors each year causing damage and pollution and running locals out. By choosing the less-visited places around the world you are going to experience a much more authentic and intimate trip. You’ll have fewer crowds, more affordable options, and a genuine acquaintance with the surroundings of your destination. Not only will you be benefitting but you’ll also be helping save these overrun destinations by putting less stress on them.

If you do visit a popular area, consider going during the off-season months. Put in the effort to find and support small, local businesses. Book sustainably ran accommodations. Don’t do all of the popular site seeing, instead, ask locals for other recommendations so you won’t be adding to the crowds. And most importantly, when visiting a tourist trap- be respectful to others, dispose of your trash, recycle as often as you can, and do your best to choose emission-free transportation. Read more tips on the Ecotourism page.

Do you know of a location that is recently trying to get back on its feet again? Maybe a place where a hurricane or earthquake recently hit, or a county struggling from the previous year’s wildfire or drought? Help them out by visiting and supporting their businesses!

Visiting these locations can allow you to spend money where locals truly need it. You could even choose to participate in environmental and social projects to aid the environment and living situations. Just give it an adequate amount of time for the locals to adjust to what happened. Consider reaching out to local organizations that can help direct you where you can give support best. Leave a place better than you found it!

It takes some knowledge and research understanding if a location truly practices sustainable methods. Here are a few easier tricks though.

  • Check to see if there are many protected natural areas like state or national parks in the area?
  • If you’re visiting a coastal area, choose one with a marine protected area.
  • Do many local businesses have verification badges set by sustainability councils?
  • Pick a country where their government is known for supporting sustainable practices within communities.
  • Do they offer a good public transportation system? Like trains, subways, electric buses?

When you begin choosing where you would like to visit, start by reading about recommendations offered by sustainability organizations that have already completed the research to find locations that are truly committed. Green Destinations Foundation, Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the European Commission are just a few to name. They have the means to accurately assess cities and towns on their sustainability performance. We’re talking about active community involvement in many types of sustainable methods. Here’s just a few.

  • Responsible consumption of resources
  • Clean production of goods
  • Innovative creations by using used products, recycled materials, and locally sourced, renewable resources
  • Participating in recycling
  • Usage of renewable energy
  • Honest and consistent commitment to sustainability practices

RECOMMENDED DESTINATIONS

Ethan and I have traveled much of the United States and a little outside of the country. You can find us most often out in the wilderness but we also enjoy searching the city streets for authentic cuisine, culture, and arts. We’re totally guilty for visiting many of the must-see places like San Diego, Denver, or Yosemite National Park- but, you’ll notice that most of our advice will be towards the lesser-known and visited places we’ve discovered. Yes, those beloved, famous places you constantly hear about are obviously worth visiting, but if you want a more authentic and intimate experience, we highly encourage following us off the beaten path. We have found traveling and exploring so much more enjoyable when there are fewer people around. This means no traffic, easy parking, relaxed availability, tranquil hikes, greater chances of seeing wildlife, typically nicer locals, and the list goes on and on. Maybe we’ve become too particular or even critical? Call it whatever you want- we believe exploring with fewer distractions, and more purity is immensely more enjoyable than being a part of the big herd. We’re here to help show you some hidden gems and inspire you to turn down that gravel road or try throwing that dart to find your own!

If you’ve visited our Travel Routes page then you have seen a bunch of our maps with the routes we’ve taken and destinations we’ve explored. Below you’ll find some of our top recommended places to visit and guides to help you plan your visit.

STATES WE’VE VISITED

NATIONAL PARKS WE’VE ADVENTURED

COUNTRIES WE’VE EXPLORED

SOME OF OUR FAVORITES

MOUNTAIN TOWN

MAMMOTH LAKES, CA

This alpine wonderland offers lakes, rivers, and endless hiking trails. During the winter months, you’ll notice the traffic does pick up a bit at the ski resorts. It shares its location in the Eastern Sierra with Yosemite National Park but doesn’t nearly draw in the crowds.

COASTAL STRETCH

MENDOCINO COAST, CA

Mendocino County has 90+ miles of coastline in Northern California. You honestly can’t go wrong with any coastal town down the whole stretch. Heading north, it begins at Gualala and ends with Leggett. Cliffs, beaches, dunes, teal blue waters, rivers, and soaring redwood forests- all along the Pacific Coast Ranges. You get a little bit of everything in this magical piece of land.

DESERT CITY

TUCSON, AZ

Although a decent size city, Tucson isn’t necessarily a prime-traveled location. The city limits offer art, culture, and a decent restaurant and beer scene! Surrounding this valley you’ll find great desert mountain hikes where you’ll see the saguaro cacti, waterfalls, and stunning sunsets. Be sure to check out the two Saguaro National Park locations on the east and west side of the city.

WORTHWHILE NATIONAL PARKS WITH FEWER CROWDS

NORTH CASCADES

Located in northern Washington, this park offers a phenomenal alpine landscape with hundreds of glaciers, countless crystal clear lakes, several waterfalls, and thousands of miles of hiking trails.

LASSEN

We call this park a baby Yellowstone. This hydrothermal area located in northern California has roaring fumaroles, thumping mud pots, boiling pools, and steaming grounds. In the summertime, you can enjoy the lakes and rivers and in the winter, when there’s a thick blanket of snow, you can go snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding, and backcountry skiing/snowboarding.

Another beautiful lake area to check out while you’re in the area is Whiskeytown, CA.

PINNACLES

This park highlights towering rock spires poking out of the earth’s surface. After multiple volcanoes erupted here over 20 million years ago, it left this jagged mountainous landscape. Hikers can enjoy this unique topography along with several caves, rock climbing, and bird watching. The drive through the velvet green valley on the east side of the park feels like you’re in a whole other country.

“DRIVE AND SIGHTSEE” SPOTS

AVENUE OF THE GIANTS

This 31-mile drive is a portion of old highway 101. The whole scenic drive you’ll be awing at the width and height of the old grove redwood trees! It’s pretty common to see massive elk grazing in the fields too.

Shelter Cove is an amazing hidden beach town that’s worth the extra drive!

COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE

This National Scenic area is truly a spectacular river canyon that runs about 80 miles. Along a portion of the river, you can drive on the Historic Columbia River Highway and see at least a dozen of stunning waterfalls from your car. Stop and hike at the numerous sites to see even more! This area has approximately 90 waterfalls on the Oregon side alone.

RAPID CITY AREA

Black Hills National Forest of South Dakota provides so many exciting features! Beginning at the south end you can go cave spelunking at Wind Cave National Park and then hike and swim at Custer State Park. Next, swing over to the Crazy Horse Memorial to view the massive mountainside sculpture and experience authentic Native American culture. Just north of here, you can admire the famous Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Lastly, there are two more destinations we love. If you head east, stop at Badlands National Park. And/or, if you head northwest, check out Devils Tower National Monument. Throughout this whole region, you won’t miss the bison, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, pronghorn, and prairie dogs!

GEMS WITH REWARDING VIEWS

WESTPORT

Sitting on a little peninsula on the coast of Washington, Westport provides fishing, crabbing, surfing, and plenty of seafood restaurants. This quaint fisherman’s town has tons of protected coastal land and welcoming locals.

CANNON BEACH

Cannon Beach, much like many areas of coastal Oregon, represents the Pacific Northwest beautifully. Ecola State Park had sensational views and tons of hiking trails. The nearby town offers a variety of restaurants and breweries too. You don’t have to drive far to enjoy the best of both worlds!

TWIN FALLS

If you’re driving northwest, heading towards Oregon, then you’ll most likely be on Interstate 84. As you drive through, stop in the city of Twin Falls. This is the gateway to Snake River Canyon and home to the beautiful Shoshone Falls and Perrine Coulee Falls. Their historic downtown is lovely, offering many delicious restaurants and breweries.

POPULAR NATIONAL PARKS BUT WORTH GOING TO DURING OFF-SEASON

OLYMPIC

This park sits on a humongous peninsula on the northwest coast of Washington. From the lush temperate rainforest, the sandy beach coastline to the rugged, glacier-capped mountains, Olympic covers a huge amount of land and diverse topography. Because the park is SO large, it is pretty easy to choose the less-trekked trails and miss the herds of people. Its close proximity to Seattle makes it convenient to travel to, but it still isn’t as busy as Yosemite or Yellowstone. It’s definitely in our top 5 of US national parks.

YOSEMITE

Yosemite is what we call nature’s theme park. I honestly can’t fathom how a glacier carved this magical landscape years ago- it’s too perfect. The panoramic view from Glacier Point alone gives you the view of 3 towering waterfalls, Half Dome, and Yosemite Valley over 3,000 feet below. This park is extraordinary and that’s why it has almost 2 million visitors from June to September. Put this park on your bucket list- but please -try to visit outside of the summer months. It receives and holds a heavy amount of snow between November – May, so my recommendation is to go around May or in September – October. I know it won’t be as warm, but experiencing nature’s beauty in peace and quiet is well worth it! The traffic and parking are pretty horrible otherwise.

YELLOWSTONE

Yellowstone is probably the most well-known park in the country. It offers plenty of hydrothermal features like erupting geysers, thumping mud pots, boiling pools, and thermophiles. You’re also bound to see roaming wildlife, several rivers, and the giant Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

Be sure to check out its neighboring national park called Grand Tetons. The jagged, glacier-filled mountain is a sight alright! Jackson Hole is just south of there which offers a popular ski resort.

OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES

SQUAMISH, BRITISH COLUMBIA

About one hour north of Vancouver, Canada lies the town of Squamish. It offers incredible views of Howe Sound along with plenty of hiking, kayaking, and snow sports during wintertime.

TENORIO VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK, COSTA RICA

Tenorio Volcano is inland, just east of Liberia, Costa Rica. This tropical rainforest includes the sky blue Celeste waterfall, hanging bridges, and endless hiking trails. The Visitors Center has a delicious restaurant as well.

TAMARINDO, COSTA RICA

This is a coastal town on the west side of Costa Rica. It is a popular town for beach lovers, with a small-town feel full of shops and restaurants.

NOMINATED DESTINATIONS

You can certainly put in the effort to travel sustainably no matter where you travel to, but it’s helpful when the location you pick provides highly sustainable options. Plenty of sustainability organizations are conducting research and gathering data to measure, compare, and rank locations across the globe based on their participation in sustainable practices. There are numerous websites offering us reliable resources to learn about these proactive places. These lists can offer us tons of amazing destinations to visit and the confidence that we are contributing to the sustainable movement in a positive manner. Maybe you can consider choosing a nominated destination during your next trip!?

GREEN DESTINATIONS FOUNDATION

The Green Destinations Foundation features a top 100 list of destinations. These top 100 locations are eligible for nominations to the Green Destinations Stories Awards. In 2019, and in years before, they nominated Best of the Planet Awards. See some of the winners below!

STORIES AWARDS 2021

COMMUNITIES & CULTURE

  • 1st Place: Fiskars Village, Finland
  • 2nd Place: Azores, Portuagal
  • 3rd Place: Ne Yilan Coast, Taiwan

ITB EARTHS

  • 1st Place: Futaleufu, Chile
  • 2nd Place: Tartu, Estonia
  • 3rd Place: Tibau Do Sul / Pipa, Brasil

NATURE & ECOTOURISM

  • 1st Place: Tivat, Montenegro
  • 2nd Place: Kocevsko, Slovenia
  • 3rd Place: Saba, Dutch Caribbean

ISLANDS AND SEASIDE

  • 1st Place: Niu Island
  • 2nd Place: Saba, Dutch Caribbean
  • 3rd Place: Lika, Croatia

GREEN DESTINATIONS: PEOPLE’S CHOICE

  • 1st Place: Bitex (Bordum), Turkey
  • 2nd Place: Bison land, Romania
  • 3rd Place: Futaleufu, Chile

COVID & TOURISM

  • 1st Place: Nijmegen, Netherlands
  • 2nd Place: Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • 3rd Place: Brda, Slovenia

BEST OF THE PLANET AWARDS 2019

BEST OF AFRICA

  • 1st Place: Chumbe Island (Tanzania)

BEST OF ASIA-PACIFIC

  • 1st Place: Bardia National Park (Nepal)

BEST OF AMERICAS

  • 1st Place: Galapagos National Park (Ecuador)

BEST OF EUROPE

  • 1st Place: Portugal

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS NETWORK

The Sustainable Development Solutions Network rates all 193 United Nations member states in their efforts in improving sustainability within each country. They have created the Sustainable Development Report to help rank these countries in 17 categories. The United States sits at #32 with a 76% SDE score. Finland is currently leading the nation with an SDE score of 85.90%. The Interactive Map is another helpful visual tool to get a quick glance at the efforts of sustainability across the globe. Below are the awarded top three countries of 2021.

  • 1st Place: Finland
  • 2nd Place: Sweden
  • 3rd Place: Denmark

EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL

The European Green Capital is an initiative of the European Commission. They assess and nominate one European city each year on sustainable efforts. This award was conceived as an initiative to promote and reward sustainable efforts and showcase best practices. Below are the winning countries from 2020 – 2022.

  • 2022: Grenoble
  • 2021: Lahti
  • 2020: Lisbon

CHOOSE WISELY

After very little travel during the pandemic year of 2020, data revealed how much poor travel habits affect our world. Although traveling has its negative effects, if we educate ourselves, put in more effort when researching, and pick the best options out there, we truly can start healing our planet and creating a better traveling experience. It’s the thoughtless travel that needs to end. Only months after the 2020 pandemic began data and the media were able to show us the flourishing wildlife, the growth of nature, and the reduction of CO2 emissions. This proved the negative impact everyday life and travel have and most importantly, the need for change if we want a better future.

Don’t forget, whether you pick a destination implementing sustainable methods or not, it is up to us individually to participate in sustainable practices. Check out our Ecotourism page to learn more tips about picking the most eco-friendly means of transportation, choosing your accommodation, purchasing and packing green goods, supporting locals and small businesses- and more!

POPULAR PAGES TO EXPLORE NEXT

Discover information to help you plan your next trip!

TRAVELING

Apply healthy and sustainable practices as you travel.

ECOTOURISM

Explore go-to resources for traveling and sustainable living.

ALL RESOURCES

Seeking the unfamiliar – Promoting a sustainable lifestyle – Let’s see what happens