Taking a bike vacation, save on gas

Bicycling through the countryside is the ultimate in slow travel, much cheaper than buying gas, and better for the environment too.

The New York Times reports on the upswing of vacationing on two wheels instead of four:

"'We just queried our e-newsletter list — over 30,000 people — and got a landslide of stories' from cyclists taking gas-free trips this summer, said Winona Sorensen, media director for the Adventure Cycling Association, in Missoula, Mont. Inquiries about bike trips were up 7 percent from last October to July, she added, while the group added 6,496 members, a nearly 15 percent gain over the previous year."

Read the full story: Vacation plans that avoid the pump

Labor Day holiday vacationers taking public transport

USA Today reports that travelers will be riding more trains and buses this Labor Day holiday to avoid high gas prices.

"'We're anticipating holiday ridership to be about 10% higher this year' than last, says Amtrak spokeswoman Karina Romero.

The United Motorcoach Association, which represents 900 charter and tour bus operators, also expects more passengers this weekend. 'We have seen a pickup since fuel prices went up,' President Victor Parra says."

Read the full story: More holiday travelers will bypass gas pump

Alternative fuels on the road and in Indonesia

Reuters has two interesting video reports on biofuels this week.

The first is on the "Grease to Greece" race from the UK to Athens, where participants drive cars using converted engines that run on used cooking oil:



The second report is on an Indonesian tofu factory that creates biofuel out of the tofu waste water. Twenty households and two tofu factories use the biofuel created:

Sea turtle nests abound in Cape Hatteras Natl Seashore

National Parks Traveler updates the story Ecotravel News has been following on beach closures to allow birds and turtles nest in peace along Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

NPT reports that there are over 100 sea turtle nests, that, according to North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission biologists, is 30 percent above normal

Read the full story: First piping plovers, now sea turtles

Pick-your-own New Mexican chilies

USA Today reports on the New Mexican farm where the attraction is pick-it-yourself chilies.

The farm owned by Joe Lujan (pictured right) has five varieties of chilies, that can be roasted and packed up on the premises.

"For some families in this part of the country, eating chili is a daily ritual. And Lujan has many customers who come religiously each year throughout the season to stock up."

Lujan started the "you-pick" business to save on labor costs and to let visitors enjoy and appreciate where fresh vegetables originate.

Read the full story: New Mexico farm lets visitors pick their own chilis

Watch the salmon run in Olympia, WA

The Olympian, published from the Washington State namesake capital, reports on the salmon run season.

Every late-August, around 10,000 Chinook Salmon - return to their spawning grounds on the Deschutes River and the Tumwater Falls hatchery, but on their way go straight through the city.

A prime viewing spot is the Fifth Avenue Bridge overlooking the fish ladder where the fish gather in massive quantities.

Read the full story: It's prime time to see salmon and nature up close

Photo from the defunct photo blog: Olympia Daily Photo

Congolese elephants wiped out by poachers

Reuters reports on the massive decline of Congolese elephants due to illegal poaching and the Chinese marketplace for ivory:

"China, among the world's main destinations for illegal ivory, was granted permission last month to buy 108 tonnes of ivory stocks from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species."

A spokesperson for the park says that it is very hard to determine if the ivory sold comes from illegal or legal stocks because of the corruption and mismanagement from the decades of war in the region.

Rebels from the neighboring country of Rwanda have reportedly killed seven elephants this week in Congo's Virunga National Park, the nation's oldest.

Conservationist believe only about 300 elephants remain in the park.

Read the full story: Ivory poachers decimate Congo elephant population

Offsets don't always erase carbon footprint

Reuters reports that people may be "fooling themselves" when they offset their air carbon footprint.

Critics of carbon offsetting claim that it is difficult to fully offset ones carbon footprint because different airplanes put out different amounts of carbon dioxide, the global warming greenhouse gas.

"Carbon offsetting has also had to contend with critics who say that it only creates an illusion of fighting climate change, focusing on marginal efforts such as planting trees or building wind turbines rather than tackling the underlying problem, for example by flying less or burning less coal."

A poll about the meaning of carbon offsetting by travel website Expedia found that only one third knew what it meant. One in ten thought carbon offsetting "meant to walk to work instead of driving."

Read the full story: Critics say air travel carbon offsetting too crude

Butter sculpture to be biofuel

New York City local paper Newsday reports on the New York State Fair's butter sculpture (pictured above) that will be turned into biofuel.

The 900-pound work of dairy art will be converted to biofuel by Syracuse's State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science and Forestry:

"'Butter is 80 percent fat and oil and 20 percent water and protein,' [says Dan Nicholson, a graduate student and research support technician in the college's chemistry department.] The water and protein is thrown away. Then the oil and fat is clarified to make it pure and clean and processed into biodiesel fuel. 'With 900 pounds of butter (from the sculpture), we can make 96 gallons of biodiesel,' Nicholson said."

The ESF college is already pretty eco-friendly; already 40 percent of its vehicles use renewable energy sources.

Read the full story: NY college will use butter sculpture for fuel

Staycation: "ditziest word" says Kansas paper

Kansas paper, The Wichita Eagle, gives a very good opinion about the silliness behind the travel concept of a staycation:

"The ditziest word in current use is 'staycation.' That's the shameful, second-rate substitute for travel that various pundits are currently recommending."

Ecotravel News has previously written about this trend, even proclaiming it the "ultimate in ecotravel." So although we still do stand by this claim, The Eagle's poor opinion about it has struck a chord.

The Eagle writes that traveling anywhere outside your immediate area will give you experiences and education that you'll never get from just staying at home. Even if money and high prices seem like taking a vacation difficult, there are ways to save, like get a cheaper hotel or cut down on sightseeing expenses.

And if that travel is friendly to the environment, even better.

Read the full story: 'Staycation' is outdated thinking

County fairs turning green?

The Washington Times reports on the latest trend hitting county and state fairs, no it's not new foods-on-a-stick, it's going green.

But going green at places like the Illinois State Fair so far means using paper cups instead of styrofoam. And the donut vendor who does this "green" act, from a plastic and incandescent light covered trailer no less, is up for the inaugural Green Vendor Award.

The fair did introduce plastic bottle recycling bins last year however they aren't as available as trash bins.

"This year, the [Illinois] state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity set up kiosks throughout the grounds promoting conservation. They have calculators where people can enter numbers to determine their impact on the planet and learn how to minimize it."

California and Washington State are a bit more green at their fairs; where solar panels are used for energy needs and used cooking oil is recycled into biofuel.

Read the full story: County, state fairs strive to go green

Uptick in agritourism, or haycations

The San Jose Mercury News reports on the growing trend of doing farm work for a vacation, agritourism.

Writer Leslie Harlib visited a farm in Marin County near the Bay Area, where she "reveled in the pastoral scene so timeless it's like being inside a Grant Wood painting."

"At Cow Track Ranch, owners Liz and Bruce Daniels love educating the folks who come to stay. 'Most people have no idea this kind of lifestyle still exists in Marin,' Liz Daniels says. 'If they're interested, we take them on a tour of our vegetable garden. I tell them about our production and where I sell my produce. They can find out about cattle ranching, and see the cattle up close.'"

Ecotravel News has previously reported on this trend in France, Peru, and closer to home agritourism.

Read the full story: Jump on agritourism wave and stay on a farm

Iconic cacti to be microchipped against theft

The National Parks Traveler reports that Arizona's Saguaro National Park officials could implant identifying microchips into their namesake cactus to thwart theft:

"The prickly plants, which can easily live 150 years and rise to 20 feet tall, are increasingly popular with thieves because of what they can retail for in the home landscape business. When a 6-inch cutting can sell for $25, well, you can imagine how high the prices might escalate for larger specimens."

Microchips have been implanted in cacti in Nevada's Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and are used to deter antler theft in Jackson, Wyoming's National Elk Refuge.

Read the full story: Saguaro National Park officials considering use of microchips

Portland, Oregon: no car required

USA Today gives a highly-detailed report on how easy it is to visit and get around Portland, Oregon without a car.

Some hotels there even give guests the use of free bicycles to see the city.

The walking and public transportation methods though mostly limit visitors to the downtown areas, which can be desolate at night.

Ecotravel News was recently in Portland, but since we stayed with our relative, who lives on the outskirts, we mostly drove everywhere, but in a Prius.

Read the full story: Portland is a hub for the car-free and carefree

Australian cyclist says "Free Tibet"

Ecotravel News has previously written about the ethical and environmental responsibility travelers have when visiting countries with repressive regimes. And we were especially disappointed in China's violent response to Tibetan protesters last March.

So we were happy to see on Phayul.com that the Australia cycling star Cadel Evans has "vocalized his opinion on the situation in Tibet."

Phayul writes that Evans compared the treatment of Tibetans by Han Chinese as similar to Aborigines by whites in Australia.

The Olympic Committee protocols make any kind of political protest during the Games illegal.

Read the full story: Cyclist Cadel Evans speaks out on Tibet as he leaves Beijing

Cars made with recycled plastic

The Detroit Free Press reports that car manufacturers are using recycled plastic to help offset rising costs:

"The savings range from a few cents per pound to half the price of new plastic, which accounts for one-third to one-half of the price of many components."

The recycled plastic is mixed with new material to be made into parts such as bumpers, mud guards, or dashboards.

Auto parts can't be made from 100 percent recycled plastic because they won't be strong enough to withstand impact; bumpers for example usually contain 20 percent recycled plastic.

Recycling plastic is also becoming a growing industry. Scott Melton, president of Flint, Michigan recycling plant ACI Plastics, "expects the company's $17 million in sales to grow 20% next year."

Read the full story: To help cut costs, auto industry gives plastics a second life

Kenya slum makes souvenirs out of old paper

Reuters reports on the Kenya slum that makes tourist souvenirs out of waste paper.

Watch their video report below:

CNN.com's biofuel road trip

Two fellows from CNN.com did an experimental road trip this summer in a truck outfitted for biodiesel consumption.

Cody McCloy and Brian Hardy drove from San Francisco to Atlanta in their newly purchased - yet old school - biodiesel vehicle (pictured right).

They mapped out biodiesel refilling stations ahead of time, but sometimes these stations wouldn't be open, so sometimes they needed to use regular diesel.

All in all they drove 4,189 miles, used 81.39 gallons of biodiesel, and 74.67 gallons of regular diesel.

Read the full story: My biofuel road trip: Hot as hell, eco-friendly

Happy 1-year anniversary Ecotravel News

Car to run on air, experts critical

CNN reports on a new eco-car that will use air to get around.

Zero Pollution Motors (ZPM) will manufacture the so-called air cars with an estimated release date of 2010. ZPM obtained the license to produce these vehicles from MDI, the European developers of the air car technology.

The car will use compressed air to power the engine, said the company, which is similar to train steam-engine technology. But the engine will be a dual energy type so it will also run using fuel:

"'Above 35 mph, there is an external combustion system which is basically a heater that uses a little bit of gasoline or biofuel or ethanol or vegetable oil that will heat the air,' said Shiva Vencat, vice president of MDI and CEO of Zero Pollution Motors."

Some experts claim the energy used to compress the air would make the car about as efficient as an electric vehicle.

Read the full story: 106 mpg 'air car' creates buzz, questions

Renting eco-friendly houses for a green vacation

The New York Times' Green Traveler Jennifer Conlin wrote about the latest trend in eco-friendly vacation house rentals.

One traveler who booked an eco-house had a serendipitous week with his family "living off the grid." They enjoyed it so much that now back at home, they recreate their experience with a once-a-month off the grid week.

House owners feel responsible for their guests' education of green living, so some even stock their rentals with books on environmental living.

Read the full story: Taking it easy can be easy on the planet

Pacific Grove, the tourist and car-free alternative to Monterey

The San Francisco Chronicle has a story for those travelers who want to experience the beautiful area of the Monterey Peninsula without the tourist and vehicle overload.

Pacific Grove, just northwest of Monterey, is easy to enjoy by walking and best of all doesn't have the crowds like its more touristy neighbor. There are scenic walks through the downtown and along the coast, where you can also go by bike.

"After exploring downtown (all five or six blocks of it), stroll north three blocks on 17th Street to find Monterey Bay, Lovers Point Park and the Adventures by the Sea rental office, where you can pick up bikes. Lovers Point is the southern terminus of the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail (the other end is 18 miles north in Castroville), but there's an unpaved trail that continues (most of the time) along the coast, weaving along the narrow slice of land between Ocean View Boulevard and the bay."

Read the full story: Quiet, compact Pacific Grove best suited to going car-free

Wildlife vs. tourists at Cape Hatteras National Seashore

National Parks Traveler updates the story of man vs. wildlife in Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Ecotravel News reported in June on the deliberate disturbance of certain protected areas of the Seashore.

Now NPT goes back to explore how the nesting plovers and sea turtles - as well as the tourists - are faring under the enforced beach closures.

North Carolina Senator Elizabeth Dole says the closures are causing an economic decline in tourists and wants to overturn park guidelines to bring back tourist dollars.

County tourist bureaus say tourism is still good despite other factors such as high gas prices, wildfire smoke, and the general downturn in the economy.

Park Service figures show only eight miles of beach closed to tourists.

Read the full story: How is Cape Hatteras National Seashore faring under travel restrictions?

Green resort controversy in Maine

The Associated Press reports on the controversy over a newly planned resort development on privately-owned wild lands on Maine's Schoodic Peninsula.

The proposed resort area of 100-1,000 homes will be developed into a green community, said the Winter Harbor Properties investment group. All homes will be powered by solar energy and have green septic systems says project overseer Cecelia Ward.

Conservation groups say the development will bring in more traffic and disturb wildlife habitats.

Read the full story: Some see red over proposed 'green' resort in Maine

Community-based tourism in Peru

USA Today reports on the growing trend of travelers to Peru getting away from tourist traps and living like local villagers.

Peru tourism has exploded in the past six years and more visitors are seeking out a unique cultural immersion that community-based tourism can provide.

"In the late 1990s, a group of enterprising [Vicos] villagers founded a community tourism project to promote sustainable tourism in the popular trekking area, while sharing their customs with travelers."

The back-to-basics approach also gives tourists hands-on experience tending the villagers' organic farms.

Read the full story: Tourists step off the beaten path to experience Peru's culture

Sydney reporters test commuting options

Australia's Sydney Morning Herald had an apt commuting race between some of their reporters using different methods of transportation to get to work.

But to make it an even better race, they all started from the neighborhood of Ryde - where New South Wales state transport minister John Watkins lives - to his office at Parliament House. The total distance is 15.5 kilometers, about 9.6 miles.

The commuting methods the six reporters used were bus, train, running, biking, driving a car or a motor scooter.

The scooter commuter came in first with a time of 25 minutes. The biker came in second, clocking in at 32 minutes. Then the car commuter arrived in 37 minutes. It took the train and bus commuters over an hour and a quarter. The runner arrived last, but only six minutes later than the bus rider.

This test shows why more people choose to drive their own vehicles rather than taking more environmental but slower public transportation.

Read the full story: Public transport? You're better off on your bike.