Unfortunately, many visitors to the planet’s wondrous tropical island vacation spots return frustrated at the overcrowding. And the devastation of treasured destinations caused by over-developing to draw tourists is anything but green. Not to mention that the farther a vacation takes you from home, the larger the carbon footprint left behind. Here are some closer to home islands that represent good practices in sustainable tourism, and that let you minimize your CO2 travel emissions.
1. The Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
The 21 Islands of the Apostle Islands National Park are closed to cars. The fact that these gems of nature on Lake Superior are a short distance for so many inhabitants and visitors to America’s Upper Midwest is another environmental advantage over a holiday in the Caribbean. Plan a trip by canoe or kayak to best experience the incredible sandstone formations, or hike into a secluded campsite.
2. Muhu Island, Estonia
For Europeans, Muhu Island in the Baltic Sea is just off the Estonian coast. The place to stay is the Pädaste Manor Hotel. The restaurant at this restored mansion prides itself on locally sourced ingredients, including salad from the kitchen greenhouse and walnut bread baked fresh on site. Locally sourced means moose, eel, beets, and ostrich, farmed on the island. Enjoy a yogurt oatmeal scrub, a goat milk facials and the wood burning sauna.
3. Kangaroo Island, Australia
Kangaroo Island houses the types of quirky wildlife–penguins, sea lions, kangaroos, koalas–for which Australia is famous. And to ensure it stays that way, keepers of the island use a Tourism Optimization Management Model (TOOM) to track visitor impacts and guarantee sustainable tourism.
You can find many more great suggestions at http://www.treehugger.com/
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