Taking the Kids: Traveling more sustainably

For example, Grand Velas Los Cabos has launched a new Adopt-a- Plant program for children in the hope that visiting kids will learn lessons in stewardship. The resort will even send photos via email so the kids can see how their plants grow.

Hilton reports that it “has met its initial waste reduction goal of reducing its landfill waste intensity among its managed hotels ahead of its original 2030 target, and continues to remain committed to further reducing waste across our hotel portfolio. Several programs and partnerships have contributed to this success, including the transition to full-size bath amenities and recycling the bottles, digital keys rather than plastic and reusable drinking bottles and refill stations at more than 2,400 hotels.)

Slovenia, meanwhile, is the world’s first entirely green destination ( Slovenia – A sustainable country in the heart of Europe | I feel Slovenia ) with one-third of Slovenian territory in a protected area.

Also, most zoos have adopt-an-animal programs which help support conservation efforts. To encourage families to connect with nature, the Association of Zoos & Aquariums has developed a Family Nature Play & You e-guide to help families connect with nature and help children understand why they must be good stewards of the environment. Nature play increases self-esteem, improves psychological health and reduces stress.

Victoria, the waterfront capital of British Columbia, takes sustainability to another level as an international leader in environmental initiatives, ecological well-being, and driving and supporting the community's economic development. In honor of this year’s theme, it will focus on the issues surrounding plastic pollution and the need to reduce fast fashion.

As the environmental impacts of over-consumption become apparent worldwide, Victoria, with the largest number of resale businesses per capita in Canada, is now known as The Resale Capital of Canada.

Download the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch consumer guides to find sustainable seafood. There are regional guides, as well as one for sushi. Many fish are in trouble because of destructive fishing and farming. You can make a difference by making more responsible choices.

San Francisco’s Randall Museum will host Bug Day on April 20 and will celebrate everything insect with hands-on science and art activities, games, live music, movies and more. Here’s the chance to eat a bug, dress like a bug and watch beekeepers at work, all in the spirit of showing kids (and their parents) what an important role bugs play on our planet.

Stay at an eco-friendly hotel that has earned certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design by the US Green Building Council. USA Today lauds Hotel South Beach in Miami with its electric house car, natural bath products and monthly Dark Sky events to raise awareness of global brightening.

TripAdvisor now has a GreenLeaders program where they clarify if a hotel is eco-friendly. Search for the Eco-Leaders Badge on the listing page of the hotel and click to see the eco-initiatives. You can also use a booking platform dedicated to sustainability like ecohotels.com or bookdifferent.com, according to the Good TravelGuide. FairBNB.com in Europe donates half its income to local environmental and social projects while tiny house stays, cabins, and glamping tents also tend to have smaller environmental footprints.

Seek out farmers markets and restaurants that have sourced their food locally. More than ever, they are promoting those efforts. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition has a state by state resource for finding local foods.

On our recent trip to Barbados, we had one of our best meals on a terrace overlooking the ocean at Local & Co, which promises that the menu is changed constantly, “depending on the crops, weather conditions and chef’s mood.” The restaurant supports organic farmers and sources and forages for wild foods, working with producers, farmers, fishermen and butchers to do whatever they can “to help maintain the health of our oceans, soils and food communities.”

Think farm seasonal crudites with beetroot hummus, pumpkin and coconut soup (buy a soup and you will be giving soup to a local family in need), breadfruit gnocchi, the catch of the day and homemade ice creams and sorbets. More banana ice cream, please!

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(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The fourth edition of The Kid’s Guide to New York City and the third edition of The Kid’s Guide to Washington D.C. are the latest in a series of 14 books for kid travelers published by Eileen.)