Want to enjoy a family getaway but don’t want to bring along your carbon footprint? These days, “it’s not easy being green” is definitely a thing of the past. From food to toilet paper, you can find eco-friendly options just about everywhere. So why not incorporate some green while you travel, too? Here are 6 easy ways to help conserve energy and reduce your impact on the environment while vacationing:

Eco-tourist family via Flickr. Photo by Tom Eppenberg.

1. Weirdly enough, the best way to keep your carbon footprint down is to not travel at all! With the down-turned economy many families have opted for a “stay-cation” and toured or adventured within their own city. Besides saving some money, your contribution towards staying green will be significant too!

2. Take the train! Public transportation is a huge way to reduce the amount of pollution put into the air every summer during high peak travel season. If you’re staying in a city, try taking the bus, subway (kids love them!), or walk. Bring your bikes or stay at a hotel that offers free bike usage to get you around town. Way more fun for the kids and great exercise for you!

3. Stay at a hotel that offers green accommodations. Some indications your hotel is “green” is if it touts energy efficient lights and water systems, and sustainable construction/interior materials. Some hotels have gone back to economy-sized luxury bath products that reduce the need for tiny travel sized bottles made from plastic. Many hotel accommodations now ask you to hang up your towel if you’re willing to re-use it and to signal if you’re okay with bed linens being re-made, but not re-washed. Every little bit helps!

Reuse those hotel sheets. Photo Catherine Boley.

4. Take a family vacation that is specifically geared to teach about green living. All over the United States are green destinations known for educating families about the environment. Kids can learn about why their conservation of energy makes an impact, and how they can continue their practices at home and at school. One such destination is Arcosanti, an experimental town that’s being built outside of Phoenix to demonstrate a method for reducing human impact on the environment while improving quality of life.

5. Buy eco-friendly sunscreen like Heiko Kids. During the summer, millions of people hit the beach and millions of gallons of sunscreen go into our oceans! An estimated 6 million gallons of the stuff goes in and is apparently destroying coral reefs in the process…yikes!

6. Eat local food. Nothing tastes better, is more likely to be fresh, or better for the environment than food that hasn’t been hauled all the way across the country by a big-rig for your enjoyment. Locally grown, organic produce is not only easy to find, but healthy for growing kids.