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Is green travel hard? On a recent train trip, I tried to pack in as many green tips as I could. How did I do? What was the hardest? The easiest?

Getting There:

This part was easy. I’ve had a love affair with trains for many years so the decision to take the train to see friends in Orlando was an easy one. At about $60 for a round trip ticket, this choice was quite a bit cheaper than driving. No need to worry about the rising price of gas! Plus, I knew that taking the train was a greener choice than driving: it would save some serious carbon emissions. This was totally enjoyable. On trains, you get to relax, chat with your neighbors, and watch the scenery change outside.

The Water Bottle:

Carrying a water bottle onto the train was also easy. I was able to fill it up at several intervals. An even better idea for next time would be to find a bottle with a built-in filter, since drinking tap water from the train’s bathroom required me to be more than a little brave about what I was drinking.

Green Snacks:

On the train, be careful if you’re a vegetarian or vegan. If you choose to have a sit-down meal in the dining car, you’ll have more natural choices such as salads. However, if you eat from the casual lunch counter, there’s not much in the way of non-meat food. Although most trains offer a gardenburger instead of a hamburger, the gardenburgers are expensive and – chemical alert – microwaved in a plastic wrapper. Ugh. Why pay almost $5.00 for a gummy, microwaved sandwich when I could eat my own lunch from home? Plus, bananas and apples are easy to throw into a backpack, as are trail mix packets and other tasty travel goodies.

Shopping:

Oh, I scored a big failing grade on this one. I forgot to bring a reusable bag, so a few purchases went into traditional plastic bags, and some stores didn’t have paper bags at all. On days when I had my backpack with me, vacation goodies were stowed inside, eliminating the need for any kind of additional bag.

On-Train Entertainment:

This one was a toss up. While packing several books can make your bag heavier and contribute to the train using more fuel, an e-reader can waste electricity. What’s a green bookworm to do? I decided that for such a short train ride, I could do both: take a few (fairly light) books and pack the e-reader, making sure to turn it off when I wasn’t using it.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By thetrapezium

While at dinner, a friend of mine announced to his mom that he rarely watched TV anymore and was thinking of getting rid of it entirely. About a week later, he visited his folks and his mom, still surprised by the anti-technology announcement, pointed to the set behind her. “See that?” she joked. “That’s called a television. Do you remember what one looks like?” My friend is a die-hard travel documentary man. He’s seen all of them, so I assumed he’d watched enough about interesting, far-flung places for a while, if he was willing to give up tv.

Arguably, many of us have internet on our phones – and with it, access to video sites. But when we’re in our homes, what are some benefits of turning off the TV?

Time to Think

Turning off the TV means that we don’t have constant background noise. What’s underneath the drone of several hundred channels? Silence.

Intention

When we turn off the TV (or other electronic items) we are making a conscious choice to live exactly in the moment. I read somewhere that most of us often get stuck watching something just because it’s “on.” What if we exercised the power of choice and only took the time to watch what interested us?

No Ads

What would life be like without commercial ads? How would we think about our lives? Often, we don’t realize the consumer mentality we’re stuck in until we take a step out of it.

In the case of my friend, the ignoring of the tv awakened a desire to travel, actually travel, outside of his living room. In the few months since he’s given up tv, he’s begun to look into taking some trips to the places he learned about on tv. He seemed less tired and more energized – and hopefully, he’ll write me when he leaves.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo by b.frahm

In Green on the Train, Part I, we examined ways that taking the train can save money, reduce your carbon footprint, and help you chill out. In this second part of Green on the Train, we’ll share a few more train-positive ideas, guaranteed to help you enjoy your eco-friendly ride.

People

Travel makes us vulnerable. We’re sitting next to a total stranger for several hours and they are right there in our personal space. But here’s a thought. Try getting to know the carbon-based life form sitting next to you. After all, nothing kills a burgeoning travel friendship faster than when you hide behind a copy of a book designed to get people to leave you alone (The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers, anyone?), but for two minutes, try putting the scary book away. Chat with the person sitting next to you on the train. You might be surprised. You might learn another person’s story. On my last train ride, I sat next to the former assistant of a famous artist. She had many interesting stories to share – and I was pleased to listen. A green tip? By talking to someone, that’s a few more minutes that you’re saving the electricity of your phone or handheld device. More importantly, you’re taking the time to connect with others.

Chill

If you can get used to the rocking of the train, let it rock you to sleep. Bring along an electronic device and watch your favorite shows, read, or listen to music.

Windows

Eat in the dining car or in the observation car. Often, most trains have a casual area with booths and a more formal dining car. No matter which one you try, check out the scenery, which can be panoramic. There can be distinct beauty in the world as seen from the train. If you really want to increase your green appreciation, ditch the power-operated devices and take in the scenery. On my last train trip, we sped past a gorgeous orange grove, backlit by the late afternoon sun. Stunned, I took it in and thought I’d never see that from the air or the highway.

Want to check out train schedules? Try Amtrak or Tri-Rail.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo by prayitno

I’m a die-hard train lover. There’s something about boarding a train that gets me daydreaming about glamorous, black-and-white 1940s films. Some of the best vacations I’ve had have begun with a five-hour train trip to a nearby town (as opposed to the three hour, highway/high-stress/high-mileage version). There are several advantages to choosing to take the train and not the car.

Reduce the Footprint

Train travel is one of the greenest ways to get around. Basically, you’ve got several hundred people all reducing their carbon footprint because they are traveling together. Train travel also means less stress. You’re not going to worry about gas prices, highway confusion, or road rage. Ahhhh, bliss! Of course, if you’ve got kids, you may want to pack a considerable bag of stuff for them to do. The downside? Train travel can be slower than air or car travel, so double check delays before you book.

Inexpensive

A train ticket runs between $50- $100 on average, while airplane prices are much higher and gas prices can add up. If you’re on train ride that is a day or less, consider packing some organic snacks, sandwiches, or fruit – and don’t forget that reusable water bottle. Between the inexpensive ticket prices and the chance to bring your own food, train travel is an eco-friendly steal.

Awareness

Most trains have a recycle bin onboard, so remember to recycle your wrappers, cans, and extra paper. Also, be sure to only print out only the maps or paperwork that you need for your trip.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo by Risager

South Florida Tri-Rail Service

When on vacation, it’s a great idea to skip the rental car in favor of sightseeing like a local. Often, car travel limits what we experience. Alternate modes of vacation travel may give you a chance to have more freedom than you would in a car.

Walk or Bike

Pack sturdy walking shoes and ditch the car in favor of exploring an exciting new city on foot. This is a great way to burn off some vacation calories or to really explore a new place. The Desoto is right on Hollywood Beach’s famous boardwalk, which has a variety of shops and restaurants.

Many hotels rent bicycles for an easy, relaxing way to get around. (The Desoto will happily provide free bicycles to encourage your daily adventures.) Learning routes ahead of time is also a good way to reduce any potential travel anxiety.

Bus or Train

Learn about the public transportation system. Several online sites can help you with this If you’re concerned about getting lost in a strange city, do your research and invest in some good street maps, some of which can be found online, so you can figure out routes in advance before leaving the hotel in the morning. The Tri-Rail is an option to explore, as is the Florida Metro Guide, which lists several bus, train, and even ferry schedules.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo by ClearLightPR.com