Travel Article: Green Vacationing in the Okanagan

Untitled Document Concern for the environment finds more and more holidaymakers seeking ways to reduce their impact on the environment by green vacationing. For some this may include reusing hotel towels and bedding, eating locally grown, organic foods, packing out garbage and recyclables or using public transportation. Visitors to the Okanagan will find a variety of green alternatives whether the vacationer is looking for accommodation, food, shopping or leisure activities.


Peaceful Lakeside Cabins at Night¹

SLEEPING GREEN

Visitors looking for an environmentally friendly sleeping experience in the Okanagan have various options, including campgrounds, cabins, bed and breakfasts, hotels and resorts. Regardless of the accommodation type, guests can make their stay greener by making simple choices to reuse linens and towels, recycle packaging and compost organic waste where possible, take shorter showers and turn off lights and electronics when not in use.

Campgrounds, Cabins and Bed & Breakfasts
For those looking to commune more closely with nature, the Okanagan's many campgrounds offer the ideal opportunity. Most of these campgrounds are located on lakes, rivers and trails and offer guests the chance to relax and reconnect with Mother Nature. Of the different types of campgrounds available, BC Forestry recreation sites provide the most down-to-earth experience.

Cabins afford guests the opportunity to employ many of the green practices they use at home while on vacation. While cabins vary greatly in amenities, the more rustic cabins have fewer electronics and so consume less electricity.

Bed and breakfasts provide guests with some of the amenities found in hotels but on a much smaller scale, which means they minimize waste and energy consumption. Many bed and breakfasts in the Okanagan are working to reduce their impact on the environment by adopting practices such as recycling and composting, cleaning with non-toxic cleaners and purchasing locally grown, organic foods. The Vanilla Tree House in Penticton is one such property with a strong environmental commitment, as well as a stunning view overlooking the Okanagan Valley.

Hotels & Resorts
While hotels have typically been considered the least green of all lodgings, many hotels and resorts are making an effort to become environmentally responsible and are adopting a number of green practices that include: energy-saving measures such as energy management systems, compact fluorescent bulbs and use of ceiling fans and motion sensors for public rest rooms; water-saving measures such as low-flow showerheads, aerators in taps, low-flow toilets, waterless urinals, changing towels and linens during a guest's stay only at the guest's request and serving water on request in restaurants; and waste reduction measures such as recycling and avoiding wastefully-packaged products. Another important choice many hotels are making involves choosing eco-friendly cleaning products.

Best Green Vacationing Practices

• Bring your own reusable water bottle
• Turn off all lights and electronics when you leave
• Whenever possible, walk, bike or use public transit
• Stay at locally-owned accommodations
• Choose local guides
• Eat locally grown food
• Respect local customs and traditions
• Support the local culture by purchasing hand-crafted artwork directly from the artisans
• When hiking, stay on the trails, pack out whatever one packs in and only take pictures as mementos

An excellent example of this increasingly green attitude among accommodation providers is the Delta Sun Peaks Resort, located north of Kamloops. This resort makes a concentrated effort to educate staff and guests about the resort's sensitive habitat and how they can help be a part of making the experience a sustainable one. The resort has also developed a fellowship with local organizations to create better environmental programs for the future.

The Kamloops TowneLodge is also significantly reducing their environmental footprint in Kamloops via a series of daily efforts and a commitment to future green practices.

EATING GREEN

Many people think eating green, especially while on vacation, is only for the dedicated or deprived. Others recognize, at home and on vacation, that one or two simple changes in shopping and consumption habits can significantly impact the environment in a positive way. Some easy ways to eat greener while vacationing in the Okanagan include buying organic, locally grown foods, buying foods with less wasteful packaging, cooking in rather than eating out, ordering smaller portions at restaurants to minimize leftovers and only ordering water if it will be consumed.

Eating In
Visitors to the Okanagan are sure to notice the plentiful fruit and vegetable stands along roadsides during summer and fall. These stands offer in-season fruits and vegetables, fresh from local farms and orchards. While not all fruit and veggie stands offer organic produce, they offer a greener shopping choice as it has taken little resources to transport and store their products. Another excellent place to find fresh produce is at the abundant farmers' markets located in many urban centres throughout the Okanagan. During winter, visitors can still find organic goods at local organic food stores.


Fresh, Organic Fruit awaits at Roadside Fruit Stands and Farmers' Markets²

Nature's Fare Markets is a small chain of organic grocery stores with locations in Kelowna, Westbank, Penticton, Kamloops and Vernon. These stores offer organic dry goods and produce as well as a variety of beauty products, vitamins and supplements.

Eating Out
When on vacation it is not always possible to eat in, particularly when staying at a hotel or bed and breakfast. In this case, visitors can still make green choices by being aware of where and what they eat. If staying at a bed and breakfast, guests may be able to request—prior to arrival—a breakfast made from local or organic produce. Those dining out can consider factors such as whether the restaurant is within walking distance, whether the menu features organic items and even whether the restaurant is involved in giving back to the community.

GREEN SHOPPING & ACTIVITIES

There are green activities to suit any taste in the Okanagan, including outdoor sports, shopping, festivals and tours. Visitors can achieve a greener experience by choosing to use public transportation where possible, packing snacks or a lunch, bringing a reusable water bottle, staying on marked trails, packing out all trash and not disturbing the local flora and fauna.

Shopping
The Okanagan is home to a considerable variety of artisans and small vendors, selling everything from one-of-kind jewellery pieces to used books. Purchasing items that are made locally means that these items have not been transported great distances using large quantities of fossil fuels. Those who sell used goods or who remake used goods into new, usable products also spare the landfills of these items. One of the most important reasons to buy items from local merchants is that it puts money back into the local economy, benefiting both the vendor and the community as a whole.


	Margaret Falls at Herald Provincial Park³

Visitors can find these artisans and small vendors at such places as the many fruit and veggie stands along Highway 97 during summer and fall, weekly farmers' markets during spring, summer and fall in most urban areas, artisan homes that are open to the public, numerous orchards, vineyards and farms located throughout the valley as well as at the different festivals and events that are held throughout summer.

Tours & Activities
The Okanagan offers numerous opportunities for visitors to enjoy nature, whether they want to soak up the pristine beauty of the less-populated areas or participate in one of many sporting activities on any of the large lakes. For those seeking solitude, paddling one of the smaller, quiet lakes or hiking on the more isolated and rigorous trails will afford many opportunities to connect with the natural world while leaving as little impact on the environment as possible.

Those looking for a less active activity can tour an organic orchard or vineyard, visit the Environmental Education Centre (EECO Centre) in Kelowna, take a tour with Great Horned Owl Eco-Tours or visit the Annual Organic Okanagan Festival.

Located in Herald Provincial Park on Shuswap Lake, northeast of Salmon Arm is Margaret Falls. This short 15-minute hike is ideal for the whole family and features some of British Columbia's most beautiful scenery. The hike starts at the parking lot, just above the Herald Provincial Park Campground and day use area.

If you enjoyed this feature, take a look at these great WorldWeb.com articles:
• Camping in the Okanagan
• Paddling the Okanagan

PHOTOS COURTESY OF:

Lakeside Cabins at Night; Okanagan, BC, Canada

Rainier Cherries at a Farmers' Market; Okanagan, BC, Canada

c/o Jennifer Lark Kent; Margaret Falls at Herald Provincial Park; Salmon Arm, Okanagan, BC, Canada

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Green Vacationing in the Okanagan