Swim with whale sharks in Baja, Mexico

MSNBC reports on the adventure of swimming with whale sharks, "the world's largest fish," in the Mexico's Sea of Cortez.

Whale sharks grow up to 40 feet but have very small teeth and aren't predatory. That means they won't try to eat you. Gentle giants, they gather each fall at Bahia de Los Angeles — almost halfway down the Baja Peninsula on the Sea of Cortez — to filter-feed on microscopic organisms called plankton.

The Mexican government also seems concerned about whale sharks, marking off with buoys the part of Bahia de los Angeles where whale sharks congregate and enforcing rules for interacting with the animals. Chasing or herding sharks isn't allowed. No more than three people per boat may be in the water at any time. Touching sharks is prohibited.

Read the full story: Swim with the world's largest fish in Mexico

Photo from Baja Airventures Inc.

Pump soap, reduce wasteful plastic shampoo bottles

MSNBC reports that some luxury hotels are getting rid of wasteful and unenvironmental mini-plastic soap and shampoo bottles and replacing them with refillable pumps.

Pat Maher, the green consultant for the American Hotel and Lodging Association, predicts amenities dispensers will be the norm within five years. “Right now, half a million of those little shampoo bottles end up in landfills every day. Hotels that say they’re eco-friendly establishments and doing all those things they do with the greening of their hotels ... will start getting complaints if people stay at their hotels and they don’t have soap dispensers.”

Maher says properties currently testing or installing bathroom amenities dispensers include the Kimpton, Ritz Carlton and Choice Hotels as well as Starwood’s extended-stay Element Hotels.

Read the full story: Hotels dispensing with bathroom clutter

Photo by RSA

Glacier NP 100 years old but glacier free soon?

Associated Press via MSNBC reports that 100-year-old Glacier National Park could be glacier free by 2020.

The forests are drier and disease-ridden, leading to bigger wildfires. Climate change is forcing animals that feed off plants to adapt.

Many experts consider Glacier Park a harbinger of Earth's future, a laboratory where changes in the environment will likely show up first.

The chance to see the glaciers that are now disappearing is what lures many visitors to the remote park.

Read the full story: Age has been unkind to Glacier National Park

Photo by Michael Albans / AP

Recycle old products into travel essentials

MSNBC reports on 10 recyclables that you can reuse during your travels.

For example an egg carton (picture right) can be used to store jewelry. Old nylons can hold together a suitcase or used as a shower exfoliator.

Read the full story: 10 travel essentials you can find in the trash

Picture from Kindergarten Kidz website. This Arizona kindergarten makes crafts out of old containers and bags.

Should fat fliers pay more?

MSNBC ponders that question after a picture of a large man on a flight spilling out of his seat was reportedly taken by a flight attendant.

Policies differ by airline — some carriers try to accommodate their passengers at no cost, some require their large customers to purchase a second seat and reimburse the money if the plane is not full and a second seat becomes available.

Read the full story with comments: Readers respond: should obese fliers pay more?

Visit new Natural Wonders

Forbes via MSNBC reports on new Natural Wonders to see.

Chosen by a committee of the United Nations' Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, World Heritage sites, recommended by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), are natural and cultural areas recognized for their universal value to humanity. The selection process involves extensive field work by conservation experts who have, in most cases, dedicated their lives to studying the natural world.

Included are Italy's Dolomite mountain region, China's Mount Wutai, and Spain's Tower of Hercules among others.

There is also a nice slide show featuring other sites including The Bay of Fundy (pictured above) that is located between Maine, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Read the full story: The world's New Natural Wonders

Photo by Cheryl Forbes / Lonely Planet

Ecotour Cuba

MSNBC reports on Cuba's efforts to lure ecotourists.

Cuba is betting environmentally conscious vacationers, who are often willing to pay premium prices and stay longer than those hankering for cheap beach getaways, can boost profits. Eco-tourists focus not only on nature — biking, hiking, bird-watching, scuba-diving — but also on the country's social and cultural charms, while trying to make as little negative impact as possible on nature.

A key attraction will be the national park near the Bay of Pigs — the Cienaga de Zapata [picture above], or Zapata Swamp. Cuba's equivalent of the Florida Everglades, it's the Caribbean's largest bioreserve, 1.5 million acres of mangrove-choked canals teeming with the wildest Cuban wildlife.

Read the full story: Cuba works to become ecotourism destination

Photo from flickr by Manolo Marrero

Forbes Traveler via MSNBC reports on worldwide "amazing" rainforests.

From reserves in Australia to Belize to British Columbia and beyond, opportunities for adventurous travelers abound. Depending on the destination, you can either incorporate a rainforest visit into a broader itinerary, such as in Australia or Hawaii, or make it the centerpiece of a trip—for instance, a week-long river cruise though the heart of the vast Amazon rainforest

Read the full story: World's most amazing rainforests

Tell me about what's rolling by my window

MSNBC reports on the free Rails & Trails programs offered to Amtrak riders this summer.

National Park Service volunteers will be on board the trains giving historical context to what's rolling by the windows.

“Riding the train without the guides is like watching the Travel Channel with the sound off,” says NPS Programs Coordinator Jim Miculka. “If you turn on the volume, you can learn what that mountain or river or historic site is.”

Read the full story: Free interpretive programs for Amtrak riders

Family camping on the rise

MSNBC reports that camping is becoming a popular family vacation alternative because it is cheap and gets the kids back to nature.

Without the iPods and text messages, kids will make up their own games with rocks and sticks, compose songs on the hiking trail and entertain everyone with a skit around the campfire after dinner.

Read the full story: Taking the kids - camping

Volunteer on your next vacation

Travel & Leisure via MSNBC.com reports on voluteer vacations that get travelers involved in conservation and species salvation.

"'Despite the economy, we’re doing really well,' said Calie Yousha, a spokesperson for Global Vision International, which runs programs for conserving the Amazon Rainforest and studying dolphins in the Ligurian Sea, among others. 'We’ve actually seen a pretty significant increase in volunteering.'"

Read the full story: Best save-the-earth tips

Lights out at tourist sites during Earth Hour

MSNBC reports on the tourist spots turning off their lights for one hour this weekend to honor the climate change and global warming initiative Earth Hour.

Among those to turn off their lights will be the Los Angeles International Airport sign (left). It be lit with green lights for the hour right before it is turned off.

Read the full story: Earth Hour to hit major draws near you

Adventure fall foliage

MSNBC reports on alternative and adventurous ways to enjoy the fall foliage this Autumn.

Most of these include nature-appreciating activities such as hiking, rafting, kayaking, and rock climbing.

Zip-lining through the tree tops in Colorado is represented in the picture above.

Read the full story: Alternative Autumn: foliage for active travelers

MSNBC touts walking vacations

The Independent Traveler.com via MSNBC.com says taking a walking or hiking trip is a great way to get exercise while making memorable experiences.

Although the article was simplified and seemed to target people who would never imagine going hiking on a vacation, we were happy to see a mainstream site explaining the basics of undertaking such trips.

Read the full story: Walking tours and trips

Explore the world with two feet

MSNBC.com and Forbes report on walking tours around the globe:

"Walkers are generally a committed bunch; they know that seeing the world by foot yields a rare experience. Often travelers bond with interesting locals. They also get a vivid, lasting impression of the landscape. Walking tours can be done in one's figurative backyard, but there are several destinations around the world that expose travelers to the best of nature and culture."

Read the full story: Best ways to see the world by foot.

For some great hikes check out my hiking website: hiking bug

Volun-tourism

Volunteering usually involves people who are donating their time to help others in need.

So voluntourism is a growing movement where people can travel somewhere and donate their time there.

MSNBC.com reports on this trend, how it is green and easy to do. Overseas volunteer vacations are becoming increasingly more expensive so this is creating a domestic market making it easier to volunteer closer to home:

"Domestic volunteer vacations, on the other hand, can offer equally rewarding experiences in more familiar surroundings. You can work with Native Americans in Montana or immigrant families in Minnesota with Global Volunteers or help build homes in a dozen different states with Habitat for Humanity."

Read the full story: You don't have to go far to do good