As summer draws nearer, so do thoughts of vacations to the beach, the lake, the golf course, the amusement park, international destinations, or wherever your travels may take you. Whether your vacation is just a short drive away or halfway across the world, this guide will show you the greenest places to stay and how to fill your time once you're there. This is Part 2 in a three part series.

In Part One, we talked about how to get where you're going. Now that you've arrived, here are some tips on where to stay and what to do.

Where to Stay:

There are many options out there for eco-conscious travelers, everything from green hotels to low-impact eco-tours. Try to stay close to where most of your activities will be located to reduce travel impacts while at your destination.

Green Hotels – Environmentally Friendly Hotels is an organization that rates hotels from 1 to 7 green trees (instead of stars) based on how many out of 29 different green attributes (including composting, towel and linen washing procedures, gray water and recycling) the hotels meet. Just type in your destination in the search box and browse the results.

Eco Lodges – Worldwide EcoLodges is a directory for mostly small, off the beaten path lodges all over the world. Often these lodges offer private or small guided tours, support local businesses and hire local labor.

What to Do:

Many vacation/tourism activities have large environmental impacts. If you are looking to reduce these, here are a few ideas of what to do, and what you might want to avoid:

Use non-motorized tours such as bike tours, walking tours, or geographically unique activities (surfing, hiking, sightseeing, etc…).

Support locally owned restaurants, coffee shops, merchandise stores and gift shops. Avoid easily recognizable national or international chains even though they are familiar and convenient.

Look for activities that immerse you in the local culture. Not only will this enrich your experience, but the stories you bring home will be much more entertaining.

Avoid that expensive helicopter sightseeing ride and the "Back to Nature ATV tour."

So now that you're there, have a place to stay, and know what to do, a few questions remain: How will you get around? And what else should you know?

Check back in the next few weeks for some very 'green' answers to these vacation-related questions!

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