Green Map: another great eco-travel tool

by Anna Brones on

Writing an article for Matador Travel about Stockholm last week, I came across a helpful site called Green Map. A US based non-profit, Green Map is a global collaborative committed to sustainable development through map making. To put it simply, the organization works with people around the world to make maps that chart communities’ environmental, cultural and green resources. The end goal is to create sustainable networks that offer healthier and greener choices for both locals and tourists.

Many of the maps are can be downloaded, which is especially useful if you travel with a PDA which would allow you to travel with an electronic version. Need to find an organic cafe in Copenhagen, where to compost in Manhattan, or nature trails to hike in Singapore? Green Map has the answer, making it — in my opinion — one of the most helpful tools for green travel.

Check out the site and take some time to browse around.

Gadling’s top five US Airports for public transportation

by Grant Martin on

Public transportation plays a critical role in the structure of a metropolitan area. In addition to supplying cheap transportation suited for all city dwellers, it’s an economically and socially conscious alternative to gas guzzling personal vehicles. This network should support the city, be inexpensive and be well connected to the airport. It should also be well organized so that travelers can connect from the terminal into the public transit system and to their final destination easily; it’s part of what makes a city fluid.

Europe’s got it down. Anyone can plop down at Charles de Gaulle, hop an RER and be into the city center in a half hour. Even if you fly into Beauvais you can take a train down into Gare Du Nord at a reasonable pace.

But what about the US? In the land of SUV’s, twelve dollar cheeseburgers and McMansions, are we that well connected?

Some of us are. We at Gadling have compiled our list of five favorite airports that are best connected to public transit. We’ve ranked them by virtue of their accessibility, cost, ease of transfer into the city and reach of the system. And the winner?

  • Chicago: Both O’hare and Midway are well connected to the El — the former on the Blue Line northwest of the city and the latter on the Orange Line southwest of the city. Chicago’s elevated trains run deep into the loop and extend like fingers into the suburbs, and you can get almost anywhere in the city for that $1.75
  • Washington DC (Reagan): While DC’s metro system does have annoying graduated fares depending on how far you travel, you have to admire its accessibility to the city. One can be off the airplane, across the street, through the subway and into Chinatown in a heartbeat.
  • San Francisco: The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is solidly connected to SFO and parametrically covers the entire San Francisco Bay. They too have a graduated fare system, but the cleanliness and efficiency of the system are well worth it.
  • Boston: Despite its early closing time, Boston’s MBTA is also well connected to the Logan airport. Three or four stops on the blue line will take you to the subway center, where you can connect to nearly anywhere in the system, all for no more than 2$.
  • New York (Laguardia): Even though most people hate the three New York co-terminals, you have to give LGA credit for being the cheapest to get to. If you’re in one of the smaller terminals you can quickly get out of security and onto the M60 or a Q33 down to Roosevelt, then transfer anywhere in the city, again for 2$.

Your city not on here? Leave a comment and tell us why you think it belongs.

And stay tuned for Gadling’s worst US airports for public transportation coming up.

Take Your Recycling on the Road

by Catherine Bodry on

Well, don’t really take your old newspapers and empty soda cans with you. But do bring your environmental ethics.

We’re all a little bit different on the road than we are at home. But that doesn’t mean that it’s okay to be a green-lovin’ environmentalist who wouldn’t dare use a disposable paper cup for a latte on the home front, and a McDonald’s take-out grubber abroad.

It’s not easy to be green when you’re traveling. Dirty tap water, tight luggage space, and quick travel all make reusing products extraordinarily difficult.

You don’t have to be perfect, but there’s resources out there to help you be better. The Go Green Travel Center is a whole website dedicated to green-friendly travel, offering suggestions for transport and trips, plus other tips for travelers all shades of green.

Have A Green Summer & Google Maps

by Adrienne Wilson on

Considering summer officially kicked off last month it’s safe to say this Have A Green Summer and Google Maps campaign isn’t new news to all, but for some of us I’m sure it’s new. What has happened is this: Earth Day Network teamed up with Google to bring eco-friendly, green information to folks traveling to five major metro areas this summer. Areas include Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando and San Francisco. You can use Google maps to hunt down all your green locations while you use Earth Network’s video tours to explore before you go. I’d say this is pretty gnarly if you’re afraid of going some place like Los Angeles because of all the smog and what not. Even better if you’re not a fan of far-off, tropical jungle escapes where everything is green. You can have your city, cake and eat it too provided the icing is a light frosty colored green.

Plenty Magazine

by Adrienne Wilson on

It’s official now – I’ve been
diagnosed with a case of the Green Holy Ghost.  And who knew catching an eco-spirit could be so much fun?
It all started yesterday when I arrived first thing in the morn for the grand opening of a new Wild Oats market here in Tampa. I was bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and
determined to be one of the first 200 to nab one of the grand opening goodie bags. After they slapped all eagerly
waiting persons with the kind of green wrist bands you’d get at a nightclub and introduced all the VIP’s including the
mayor we were let loose, running rampant  inside the natural marketplace. In their clever little marketing scheme
you could only pick up your bag at the register after you perused aisles and aisles of healthy fare. Nobody was bold
enough to go to the cashier without one item at the very least, so the smart ones plucked up little energy bars, got in
and got out. Adrienne, on the other hand ended up spending $45 bucks when my goal was to spend half.

Needless to say I was hoping there would be a 5-gallon trial size of ethanol
nestled somewhere inside, but there wasn’t. On the contrary, I did find some delicious energy bars, chocolate soy milk,
coupons and a recent issue of Plenty Magazine. Plenty? Hmm… Never heard of it
before. After just spending a few minutes looking through the glossy mag dedicated to several eco-related topics
including travel, I decided it was a fair trade off for the ethanol I had initially expected. Plenty appears to have
lots to talk about if you’re interested in finding very green events, spa destinations or food happenings for your next
vacation. Check out the online blog for frequent updates or find a magazine
in your area.

And I promise you it won’t even cost you $45.