When most of us think vacations, we think getting away—far away. But the solution to pollution is, well, not to pollute. On average, North Americans dump 53 kg of carbon into the atmosphere every day. That's about 20 tonnes per year, over six times the amount produced by people outside North America.
With that in mind, it’s time to rethink our holidays, and to look for the sweet spots closer to home. It's not only a question of where to go, but how.
One of the best getaways for Vancouverites is the Okanagan Valley. It's home to numerous well-known wineries, including organic and biodynamic wineries like the ones below. In summer, the 180 km-long valley is well-known for its fruit crops—everything from strawberries to peaches—and in winter it's a mecca for everything from cross-country and downhill skiing to birdwatching.
But unless you're carbon-conscious, a trip by car can be almost as polluting as air travel. Here are a few green-minded things to consider before planning a trip to the Okanagan.
Before you travel - Car versus bus or shuttle:
Kelowna, the largest city in the Okanagan, is about 400 km from Vancouver. Here's the breakdown.
• Air: A one-way to Kelowna by plane would release about 102 to 111 kg (0.1 long ton) of CO2 emissions per passenger, according to a Carbon Fund Calculator. That number jumps to 274 kg when radiative forcing - the measurement of the capacity of forcing agents to affect energy balance and contributes to climate change- is taken into consideration. The effect of greenhouse gases is considerably different than on the ground level. Radiative forcing looks at the water vapor an aircraft emits during flight, which can cause the formation of ice clouds, called contrails. Clouds can have a double effect on radiation.
• Car: A one-way trip from Vancouver to Kelowna would release around 80 to 120 kg of CO2 emissions (calculated using a 2010 Honda Accord through a Carbon Neutral Calculator).
• Bus: A Greyhound bus taking the same trip can be less than a third of the carbon emissions per person, at around 30 to 40 kg of CO2. Greyhound also runs regular daily services from Vancouver to the Okanagan with stops in Kelowna, Penticton, Summerland and Westbank. Premier Pacific Coach Lines and many other shuttles also provide service trips from Vancouver to the Valley.
Read the fine print there and you realize a not-so-obvious fact: if you're carpooling with three or more people, you can beat the per-capita emissions of riding the bus.
The trick is to have a car that gets decent fuel efficiency, and to find people to carpool with, which (among other sites) you can do on CarpoolWorld.com.
When you get there - Green accommodation
Greener travel includes the duration of your stay. Like many areas of BC, the Okanagan valley has many inns and resorts using biodegradable products, local produce and energy-efficient infrastructure. And they don’t necessarily translate to a higher cost either.
“The Best Western is the most eco-friendly hotel in Kelowna, with solar-heated water, and an electric vehicle charging dock,” says Wendy Wright, of The Okanagan Greens Society.
The hotel installed solar hybrid water-heating system, one of the largest in Canada, in 2002. It prevents 90 tonnes of greenhouse gases per year that would have otherwise gone into the atmosphere from burning natural gas.
Click here to see some other inexpensive green hotels in the region.
A few other alternatives include booking a farm stay, like this one at O'Reilly's Organic Farm, where tourists can enjoy the food grown right out the front window.
Camping in the Okanagan is another great option. Just remember to buy used gear, solar lanterns and chargers and use eco-friendly toiletries.
Ditching the car once you get there for bus tours or walking tours could be a better way to enjoy a vacation. It’s environmentally friendly, it’s a little more involved with the scenery and surroundings— and isn’t that why we go on vacation? Click here for some of the shuttles and charter buses in the area.
Where should you go? – Walking and biking tours
Kelowna’s cultural district is just a 50-minute stroll with only one traffic light. The trek begins at Waterfront Park and ends at Kelowna Farmers’ Market where you can enjoy delicious organic vegetables.
While in Summerland (south of Kelowna), be sure to check out the Kettle Valley Steam Railway, which was built in 1910 – 1915. The only preserved section of this 90-minute historic railway route offers 16 km of orchards and vineyards, and amazing views from the Trout Creek Bridge 238 feet above the canyon floor.
Photo by Sarah Kim via Flickr
Another great way to enjoy the views over Kelowna and Okanagan Lake is from Myra Canyon. A scenic, 12km portion of the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR), it features 18 trestle bridges and two tunnels (a dozen of the bridges were rebuilt after the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire in 2003).
Many tourists choose to travel the length by foot, but another eco-friendly idea is to rent bikes up at the Myra to take in the full canyon. There's a bike rental business, Myra Canyon Bike Rentals, located right at the parking lot from Myra Forest Service Road.
Let’s face it, one of the biggest reasons Vancouverites swarm to the Okanagan isn’t just to take in the breathtaking scenery, it’s for the wine. Visitors can sip stellar wines with an impressive view along the 14 km Naramata Bench. There are around 24 wineries on this winding road; the first winery starts in the city limits of Penticton and the last one just above the heart of Naramata Township.
Photo by Naramata Bench Wineries via Flickr
Summerhill Pyramid Winery is another option for being a certified organic winery and foremost producer of sparkling wine in Canada. The restaurant on site, Summerhill Sunset Bistro, serves food grown and raised by local organic producers, including a permaculture style veggie garden.
Other ways to have a ‘Greener’ vacation
It seems archaic to think that these exist, but tourists still use disposable cameras on vacation, so they don’t have to haul or risk their DSLR. But these end up in the waste stream, so in terms of images, stick to digital. This is part of the general theme: when you depart from your vacation spot, don't leave a waste trail. When in doubt, follow the famous eco-travel tagline: Take only pictures, leave only footprints.