Planning a spring break vacation, staycation or day trip? Are you starting to see the carbon emissions add up as you make travel plans?
Spring break is a time-honored tradition that’s enjoyed by more than just students. Families and couples also use it as a reason to take a much-needed break just when the weather starts to warm up and the days get longer. The only issue is many spring break excursions have a negative impact on the environment.
The good news is you don’t have to forgo a spring break vacation in an effort to conserve energy. We’ve got three ways you can enjoy clean, energy-efficient fun during your spring break.
Hike Daily
Spring is one of the best times of year for a hiking adventure. As long as you can avoid the springtime showers, the weather is fantastic – not too hot, not too cold. Plus, hiking is one of the healthiest activities you can do, and there are trails for people of all skill levels. It’s also something the family can do together even if you’re towing a toddler. Even better is the fact you don’t need any special equipment to take a hike.
Need another reason to strap on a pair of hiking boots? Being out in nature has been shown to decrease stress levels, which is the whole point of taking a spring break. All you have to do is pick your favorite green spot and start walking to unwind.
Hiking Trip Tips
- Bring plenty of water.
- Wear sunscreen and reapply every two hours.
- Opt for moisture-wicking socks.
- Choose boots with good ankle support.
Take a Camping Trip
You can extend that nature walk to a full-on camping trip for tons of stress relief. Camping is much less energy intensive than staying at a hotel or resort during a spring break vacation. Because you’re “roughing it” in the woods, activities don’t involve outlets.
Unplugging for a few days could be exactly what you need to recharge. Also, a camping trip is the perfect opportunity to test out a solar-powered phone charger. As relieving as it is to totally let go of modern-day technology, things like GPS maps and communication during an emergency are must-haves while you’re camping.
Another great thing about camping is you usually don’t have to go far to find a camping spot. There are 58 national parks across the country with campsites and dozens of additional parks in each state. Some are primitive camping only (tents) while others also have RV hookups.
Speaking of RVs. If you keep the trip close to home to minimize gas use, staying in an RV can still be energy efficient. Many RVs run off of solar-powered generators. It’s clean energy that few hotels and Airbnbs offer. You’ll be using more resources, but you can still enjoy the great outdoors with minimal energy use.
Camping Trip Tips
- Always bring a cooler that seals air-tight. Any open food should be kept in the cooler at all times so it doesn’t attract animals.
- Never leave a campfire burning if you leave the campsite or go to sleep. Keep a gallon of water handy for extinguishing the fire.
- Bring lots of sunscreen and bug spray, but leave the Citronella candles at home.
- Pack loose long-sleeve shirts and pants to minimize sun exposure during peak UV hours.
Rent an Electric Vehicle for a Weekend Road Trip
If you’re planning to take a road trip during spring break consider conserving miles on your car and renting an electric vehicle (EV). At one time the idea of going on long road trips was out of reach for EVs. They could only go so far on a charge and places to power up were few and far between. But that was then.
Fast-forward ten years and the infrastructure for allowing EVs to go on longer hauls is finally being put in place. The electric vehicles themselves have also seen dramatic range improvement. This year automakers are rolling out a fleet of EVs that can go 200 miles or more on a single charge. Some can go as far as 620 miles, and there’s an all-electric truck that can go 400+ miles. With those ranges you can take a long weekend trip to a destination 3-4 hours from home without having to recharge.
But you don’t have to worry about running out of juice in most major metros. There are sure to be at least a few charging stations at a grocery store, office complex, park, etc.
EV Road Trip Tips
- Before hitting the road download the PlugShare app. It’s the top app for finding EV charging stations.
- Learn how to use EV charging stations before the trip if you’ve never used one.
- Plan a route based on where and when you need to recharge to keep the battery charged at least a quarter full.
Are you in staycation mode? During your downtime take a few minutes to check out the green energy plans from Spark Energy. Make the switch today and relax knowing that every kilowatt of spring break fun is supporting a healthier environment.