Back on the Road Again

page 2 of 2 | PREV 1 | 2 

What to Do

More and more historic cemeteries are expanding their services with things like bird-watching tours, outdoor concerts and meals hosted by well-known local chefs, something a recent New York Times article dubbed "cemetery tourism." While there aren't any comprehensive web sites devoted to the topic, call up cemeteries in your area to see if they offer any unique programs.

Thematic walking tours of your city can range from scouring ethnic neighborhoods and historical landmarks to foodie strolls and pub crawls. Check Google or other search engines for local walks.

Farmers are drawing interested city dwellers to the countryside with overnight stays and homegrown dinners, so ask around at your local farmers market to see if any of the local purveyors offer either. Some may even come to you; California chef Jim Denevan travels around hosting his famed "Outstanding in the Field" al fresco dinners at farms nationwide, from June through December. A few locations are sold out, but waiting lists do exist ($200, www.outstandinginthefield.com).

Then, of course, are those iconic roadside attractions that exist off nearly every beaten path, like Iowa's largest frying pan or the world's only 24-hour Elvis museum in Holly Springs, Miss. Find one close to you at www.roadsideamerica.com.

Tips For Greener Travel

Travel close to home. The less you drive, the easier your trip is on the environment. Instead, take an alternative form of transportation, like a train or a bus.

Increase your fuel efficiency on the road. Inflate your tires, and drive at a leisurely pace. Reducing your speed to 55 mph from 65 mph may increase your fuel efficiency by as much as 15 percent; cut it to 55 from 70, and you could get a 23 percent improvement.

Rent a hybrid. If your trip requires flying, or driving a long distance, rent a hybrid. Hertz recently started renting Toyota Priuses at major metropolitan airports (www.hertz.com), and for inner city driving, check out car shares. Zipcar, available in bigger cities like New York, Chicago and Washington D.C., provides hybrids on a per-hour basis (www.zipcar.com).

Get to know the country through the window of a train. If you're really intent on taking a big vacation, consider splurging on an Amtrak North America Rail Pass ($999 peak/$709 off-peak; www.amtrak.com). The pass allows you to travel to over 900 cities in both the U.S. and Canada for 30 consecutive days.

For others, see The Green Guide's Road Trip Tips in the sidebar (left).

For more information:

"Car-Free Getaways"

"Local Heroes: Volunteering at Home"

Alan Durning's "The Year of Living Car-Lessly"

Slow Travel, www.slowtrav.com

PREV 1 | 2