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Family-friendly Winter Escapes

By Marisa Belger for Green Goes Simple

In search of a winter getaway that’s tons of fun, easy on the planet -- and maybe even educational? Whether you and your family like it frosty or tropical, there’s an eco-friendly vacation waiting for you.

Protect the Sea Turtles
Learning about exotic animals is one thing -- traveling to their home turf is another! This winter, pack up your crew and head south to Costa Rica, where an Earthwatch team will help you protect the leatherback sea turtle, which is facing extinction. Visit Earthwatch.org for more information and additional expeditions.

Hit the Slopes
Before you pop on your skis (or strap on your board), consider the mountain that will be hosting your excursion. Seek out resorts that put the natural habitat -- and its animal inhabitants -- first, as well as those that focus on water and energy conservation. Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe, Calif., is one of the best; it maintains top-notch trails without pushing into undisturbed turf.

Start WWOOFing
One of the best ways to learn about agriculture and visit someplace new is to WWOOF. (It stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.) Even if your green thumb is limited to a few struggling houseplants, you and your family can jump into life on a farm -- no experience necessary! WWOOF farms are all over the world -- think: Hawaii, Spain, South Africa or even closer to home. (There are WWOOF farms across the continental U.S.) Plus, it’s a truly inexpensive way to travel. WWOOFers receive room and board in exchange for work on the farm.

Volunteer in Guatemala
Turn your vacation into an educational experience by volunteering for those in need. The entire family can pitch in on a volunteer vacation to Guatemala, where you’ll help improve daily living for indigenous communities. There are many ways to volunteer: Global Vision International guides volunteers through the process of building energy-efficient stoves for impoverished families in Guatemala, in addition to supporting a number of other family-friendly volunteer vacations.

Do Nothing -- Wisely
If it’s downtime you crave on your time away, seek out the comfort of an eco-resort. The right establishment will provide you and your family with all the necessary comforts while also respecting the planet -- a win-win getaway! Look for resorts and hotels that use energy-efficient lighting, purchase food from local sources and conserve water whenever possible. From Fiji to Florida, you can find a resort that’s right for your family and your budget with just a little bit of research.

Marisa Belger’s work has appeared in Travel + Leisure Family, Natural Health, Prevention and TODAYShow.com, where she wrote a column about eco-friendly living. She was an editor at Lime.com and collaborated with author Josh Dorfman on his bestselling books, The Lazy Environmentalist and The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget. She is the managing editor of and frequent contributor to Green Goes Simple.

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	<h2>Blog</h2>
<h1>Family-friendly Winter Escapes</h1>
	By Marisa Belger for <a href="http://www.greengoessimple.com">Green Goes Simple</a>
		In search of a winter getaway that’s tons of fun, easy on the planet -- and maybe even educational? Whether you and your family like it frosty or tropical, there’s an eco-friendly vacation waiting for you.

Protect the Sea Turtles Learning about exotic animals is one thing -- traveling to their home turf is another! This winter, pack up your crew and head south to Costa Rica, where an Earthwatch team will help you protect the leatherback sea turtle, which is facing extinction. Visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.earthwatch.org">Earthwatch.org</a> for more information and additional expeditions.

Hit the Slopes Before you pop on your skis (or strap on your board), consider the mountain that will be hosting your excursion. Seek out resorts that put the natural habitat -- and its animal inhabitants -- first, as well as those that focus on water and energy conservation. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.squaw.com/%20">Squaw Valley</a> in Lake Tahoe, Calif., is one of the best; it maintains top-notch trails without pushing into undisturbed turf.

Start WWOOFing One of the best ways to learn about agriculture and visit someplace new is to <a target="_blank" href="http://wwoof.org/">WWOOF.</a> (It stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.) Even if your green thumb is limited to a few struggling houseplants, you and your family can jump into life on a farm -- no experience necessary! WWOOF farms are all over the world -- think: Hawaii, Spain, South Africa or even closer to home. (There are WWOOF farms across the continental U.S.) Plus, it’s a truly inexpensive way to travel. WWOOFers receive room and board in exchange for work on the farm.

Volunteer in Guatemala Turn your vacation into an educational experience by volunteering for those in need. The entire family can pitch in on a volunteer vacation to Guatemala, where you’ll help improve daily living for indigenous communities. There are many ways to volunteer: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gviusa.com">Global Vision International </a>guides volunteers through the process of building energy-efficient stoves for impoverished families in Guatemala, in addition to supporting a number of other family-friendly volunteer vacations.

Do Nothing -- Wisely If it’s downtime you crave on your time away, seek out
the comfort of an eco-resort. The right establishment will provide you and your
family with all the necessary comforts while also respecting the planet -- a win-win
getaway! Look for resorts and hotels that use energy-efficient lighting,
purchase food from local sources and conserve water whenever possible. From
Fiji to Florida, you can find a resort that’s right for your family and your
budget with just a little bit of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ecohotelsoftheworld.com.">research</a>.
				Marisa Belger’s work has appeared in Travel + Leisure Family, Natural Health, Prevention and TODAYShow.com, where she wrote a column about eco-friendly living. She was an editor at Lime.com and collaborated with author Josh Dorfman on his bestselling books, The Lazy Environmentalist and The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget. She is the managing editor of and frequent contributor to <a href="http://www.greengoessimple.com">Green Goes Simple</a>.
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