Hello, Adventurers! Welcome to the Coastal Expeditions blog! If you love outdoor activities such as hiking, paddling, exploring nature, and learning about wildlife, you’ve come to the right place! Here on the Coastal Expeditions blog, we dive deep into different habitats, excursions, conservation efforts, and nature programs. To our return readers, thank you for your support! We commend you for being committed to learning. Our site is filled with interactive maps, destination guides, and educational resources. Speaking of educational resources, The Outdoor School consists of afterschool programs, weekly camps, school field trips, and more! We offer hands-on workshops taught by highly-trained guides on wilderness skills, birding, identifying native plants, sustainability, kayaking, and camping. Basically, anything you want to learn about, we teach! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take a look around our site to learn more about our offerings. If you are an educator interested in planning a fun trip for the students at your school, do not hesitate to reach out to us! In our last blog, we talked all about sea glass and how you can find it. Today, we’ll be discussing some eco-friendly travel tips. If you’re interested in finding out how you can travel and explore nature in a way that is beneficial for both you and the environment, you’ve come to the right place! Let’s get started!

Green Transportation

We know that transportation is one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gasses. Greenhouse gasses are gasses in Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor, which are all naturally occurring. There are also synthetic gasses, known as fluorinated gasses. Transportation is responsible for 14 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is due to the burning of petroleum-based fuels, like gasoline and diesel. Because of this, it is important to consider how you will get to your travel destination. If you are planning to drive, determine whether your car is eco-friendly. If not, consider renting a hybrid or electric vehicle, if possible. Otherwise, choose the smallest car that is still comfortable for the number of people you are traveling with. If you are taking a trip with family or friends, carpooling may be a viable option. Destination too far? If flying to your destination is the only option, try to book flights without layovers. Takeoffs and landing create most of an airplane’s carbon emissions, so a non-stop flight may slightly reduce your carbon footprint. Trains are another eco-friendly option– They emit the lowest levels of pollutants! Although a slower method of transportation, train rides can be quite relaxing. Once you’ve arrived at your destination, consider bike or walking tours to get around and explore. Not only do these provide great exercise, but they’re good for the environment, too! Public transportation is also an option to cut back on gas. 

Packing Sustainably

One of the best ways to pack for your trip sustainably is by reducing plastic. This can be done by limiting the amount of single-use products you bring along. For example, a reusable water bottle is much more eco-friendly than plastic bottles. A reusable straw can also be helpful when on the go, whether you are checking out a local restaurant or stopping for your coffee fix. Different types of reusable straws range from stainless steel, metal, paper, or food-grade silicone. When it comes to toiletries, there are a variety of sustainable options such as bamboo or biodegradable toothbrushes to choose from. Plastic isn’t designed to break down and can be difficult to recycle. Bamboo has a smaller ecological footprint than plastic because bamboo plants grow quickly and replace what was taken for the production of a toothbrush. Bamboo is biodegradable if used in its raw form. Consider getting refillable silicone bottles to put soaps, shampoos, and conditioners in. 

Eco-Friendly Eating and Shopping

Did you know that what you eat can contribute to global warming? About one-quarter of greenhouse emissions each year are a result of what we eat. Food production consumes around 70% of fresh water and is responsible for 80% of the world’s deforestation. Meat production in particular is a substantial contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based diets are significantly eco-friendly. Consider replacing meat with legumes, nuts, seeds, cereals, grains or even tofu. When traveling, seek out local restaurants rather than chains: The food is more likely to be fresh and locally sourced. (And you’ll be helping the area’s local economy!) Pack snacks in reusable containers to eat on the go, rather than buying prepackaged foods that can contribute to landfills. When shopping at your destination, consider local-owned businesses. Buy locally made products, especially handmade ones. Not only will you be supporting local artists and small businesses, but items flown in from other places have a much larger carbon footprint. Bring along a few cloth tote bags for souvenirs or a day of shopping. This will reduce the amount of plastic bags you use while you are out and about.

Hiking and Exploring Sustainbly

Typically, hiking trails will have marked pathways. These are there for a reason: straying from the path can harm native flora and fauna. This can be damaging to the area’s ecosystem. Designated hiking trails help preserve the surrounding wildlife. That being said, while you are out hiking, exploring, or on an excursion, it is likely that you may encounter wildlife. Whether a squirrel or bear, in these instances it is crucial that you keep your distance! You wouldn’t want someone intruding in your home, so do not intrude in theirs. You can observe wildlife from a safe distance, but it is also important not to feed them. You may even see signs telling you not to do so, and it is incredibly important not to ignore those. While you might be tempted to have a Snow White moment, this can do more harm than good. Feeding wildlife can cause animals to rely on humans for food, disrupting their everyday lives and process of finding food for themselves. This can also lead them to venture out of their habitat and into more urban areas in search of food. Additionally, each animal has its own diet. They can become malnourished if fed the wrong foods. Feeding wild animals or attempting to pet them can be dangerous for the humans involved, too. Getting too close can lead to an attack. Not only can this be life threatening for you, wild animals that attack often get euthanized. Therefore, keeping a safe distance between yourself and wildlife is beneficial to all. Believe us, a video for your Instagram story is not worth getting attacked over!

Another important thing to note while hiking or exploring is to clean up after yourself! It may seem like a no-brainer, but littering is never acceptable. A good rule to remember is that everything that comes out of your backpack must leave with you. Consider bringing a tote bag to put your trash in, if you do not see garbage cans along the way. If you see any litter that is not yours, pick it up and dispose of it properly. Litter can become hazardous when accidentally discovered by animals. With the ongoing pandemic, we have seen an increase of masks and facial coverings being left behind in nature. Animals can become tangled in the elastics, which can be fatal. As nature lovers, it is our job to protect it. After all, you wouldn’t appreciate people leaving trash around your house– Don’t do it to the wildlife!

Traveling and hiking can be great ways to get outdoors and enjoy nature, but it is still important to be responsible and respectful while doing so. You can be environmentally conscious and still have fun! Figuring out your mode of transportation is the first step to an eco-friendly journey. From there, you can enjoy a sustainable adventure, whether it is for only a few hours, a day, or longer. We hope that you enjoyed our tips on how to travel sustainably and that you put them to good use! As always, we thank you for reading and we hope to see you back on our blog soon! If you’re looking to explore the Lowcountry, check out our offerings on our website to find the adventure which suits you best! Our tours are led by knowledgeable, approachable naturalists and sea captains who are eager to answer your questions! Until next time, readers. Get out there and explore! Adventure awaits!