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Travel does more than keep us connected to the world; it’s also a major way we discover new and inspiring places. Whether you’re exploring a new city, an exotic destination, or looking to get away from it all, travel impacts the places we visit, the people we meet, and the ideas we explore.
Impact-free travel should be our goal, but with so many trips and so many choices, it’s not always that easy.
So if you’re looking to explore the natural beauty of Colorado or get your fix of urban adventure, this list of sustainable travel tips can help you minimize your impact while traveling in the Centennial State.
Plan Ahead
A little planning goes a long way. Having a plan beforehand reduces waste and allows for a smoother travel experience. When making a plan, try to include where you will stay, where you will eat, the activities you will do as well as what transportation you will take.
This way you can choose places that have intentional practices to improve sustainability and reduce harm to the environment.
Choose Public Transportation
Colorado is building out a network of fast-charging stations to power electric vehicles and paving the way for even more low-impact travel opportunities in the future, but that doesn’t mean the state isn’t investing in public transportation.
If you’re visiting during the summer, the city of Denver has an excellent bus system to help you avoid parking hassles and traffic. If you’re visiting in the winter (especially if you are not experienced in winter driving), you’ll want to seriously consider public transportation as the roads can get icy.
There are shuttles available to mountain towns directly from the airport that have their own transportation networks. There are many public transportation options. There is even a handy RTD app, that will help you plan your trip with public transportation.
Maybe you want to see the mountains on one of Colorado’s scenic train offerings or try renting an e-bike and take advantage of the scenic mountain bike trails. You will see a view like no other.
Visit Off-The-Beaten-Path
Need help planning your Colorado road trip. The Colorado Tourism Office has a handy tool to help you plan and even get some off-the-beaten-path destinations into your itinerary.
When you have the itinerary planned out, you can skip the crowds and the typical tourist attractions. Instead of visiting Red Rocks, the first stop on most Colorado itineraries, try a less-traveled area, like Barr Lake State Park.
Or, if you’re looking for a more remote spot, head to the San Juan mountains. Both offer incredible vistas, and less-traveled areas, that won’t be overrun with other travelers.
Choose Lodging Carefully
When you’re picking a hotel, ask yourself this question: is this property owned or managed by an organization that upholds environmentally and socially responsible practices?
But even if a property claims to be “green,” if it’s managed by a private company, it can still impact the environment and local community in negative ways. To be on the safe side, ask hotel owners to prove that they are indeed “green.”
Many Colorado hotels and resorts are taking steps to be more sustainable. Aspen Meadows Resort has taken steps to remove single-use plastic in many areas of its premises. They are also the first hotel in Aspen to utilize electric shuttle vehicles for guest transportation.
The SCP Hotel, Colorado Springs is making efforts to offer nutritious ‘vegan-forward’ food choices in an effort to be more sustainable.
Visit Farmers’ Markets
Farmers’ markets are becoming more of a trend. In Grand Junction, there is the Downtown Market on Main open from June to September. There are also lots of farmer’s markets open along the front range in Boulder, Longmont, Denver, Arvada, and Golden. These farmer’s markets always have plenty of local food options available.
Volunteer
If you’re interested in volunteering while you’re visiting Colorado, there are lots of great options.
Colorado’s trails are beloved by locals and visitors alike, thus there are many opportunities to contribute to keeping them pleasant for everyone. You can volunteer with Boulder’s Department of Open Space and Mountain Parks to help maintain its trails.
Or maybe you’d like to learn a little history while you volunteer and help save and maintain Colorado’s historic sites.
Reduce Waste
No matter where you go, one thing you can do to reduce waste while traveling is to take a bag with you when you leave home. When you arrive at your destination, put all your waste in the provided bin, rather than leaving it behind. If you have time, look around for a recycling or composting station, and follow the directions.
Buy Local
It’s easy to buy local while traveling, and it’s a great way to support the people and places you visit. Look for produce and goods made from recycled or sustainable materials, and ask the merchant how they were produced.
There are a lot of great local products to choose from Hatch Green Chili to Palisade Peach Preserves. Local products are going to have more quality and character.
Travel does more than keep us connected to the world; it’s also a major way we discover new and inspiring places. Whether you’re exploring a new city, an exotic destination, or looking to get away from it all, travel impacts the places we visit, the people we meet, and the ideas we explore.
Impact-free travel should be our goal and Colorado is the perfect place for it.
Read more of our travel tips here:
Author Bio: Sandy Page is a life-long adventurer. In her free time, she reads and consumes copious amounts of hot beverages.
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