Now that the kids are out of school, the possibilities for making lasting summer memories are virtually endless. If yours is an eco-conscious family, consider some of the following suggestions from the Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful team to super-size your summer fun while minimizing your carbon footprint.

Stay Close to Home

Whether saving time, money, or energy, staycations have become all the rage with environmentally concerned travelers. But the great news is that Georgia is brimming with excellent destinations that don’t require a long drive. For instance, from the county seat of Gwinnett in the City of Lawrenceville, the distance to the following destinations is just…

• 18 miles – Exploring the Base and Summit at Stone Mountain Park
• 19 miles – Sampling Wines at Chateau Elan Winery & Resort
• 20 miles – Hitting the Waterpark inside Margaritaville at Lanier Islands
• 31 miles – Visiting Downtown Atlanta – including Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, and more
• 32 miles – Catching a Baseball Game at Truist Park
• 42 miles – Testing Your Bravery at Six Flags Over Georgia
• 42 miles – Paying Homage to the Dawgs in Athens
• 50 miles – Panning for Gold in Dahlonega
• 66 miles – Tubing in Helen
• 87 miles – Hiking in Blue Ridge
• 109 miles – Kayaking at Amerson Riverpark in Macon
• 119 miles – Camping on Pine Mountain (be sure to visit Wild Animal Safari)
• 121 miles – Stopping to Smell the Roses at Callaway Resort & Gardens
• 142 miles – Go Urban Whitewater Rafting at Columbus Riverwalk
• 276 miles – Stepping Back in Time at Historic Savannah
• 340 miles – Sticking Your Toes in the Sand at St. Simons Island

Don’t forget to add Gwinnett County’s outstanding park system to your list of summer outings!

Choose Your Mode of Transportation Well

Feeling the need to get out of the state for your summer vacation? The most eco-friendly – and arguably romantic and nostalgic – mode of transportation is traveling by train. According to AmtrakGuide.com, the top 10 destinations from Atlanta by train are:

• Birmingham, Alabama
• Tuscaloosa, Alabama (particularly during football season)
• Laurel, Mississippi
• Charlottesville, Virginia
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Manassas, Virginia
• Alexandria, Virginia
• Washington, D.C.
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• New York City, New York

To start planning your next train trip, visit Amtrak’s website. If trains aren’t the best option for you, a small plug-in hybrid electric car, 4-passenger gas-powered car, medium to large electric vehicle, or bus are among your next best bets with regard to minimizing your carbon footprint.

Choose “Green” Destinations

If you have your heart set on international travel this year, it’s important to note that both airplanes and cruise ships consume a great deal of fuel and emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. To offset that eco-expenditure, you might want to select a destination that values sustainability. Between access to rail and ground-breaking green hotels, Lonely Planet has earmarked the following cities and countries for your consideration:

• Lake Garda, Italy
• Arosa, Switzerland
• Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
• Bahamas
• Pangulasian Island, Philippines
• Werfenweng, Weissensee, Styria and Vienna, Austria
• Catalonia, Spain
• Costa Rica

From all of us here at Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, we wish you and yours a very Happy Summer! To stay on top of our latest eco-friendly tips, be sure to bookmark www.GwinnettCB.org and visit our blog often. We also invite you to connect with us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Safe Travels!