When you hear write-off, you may think taxes. Not in this case. This is a writing contest on water conservation. You come up with a proposal to better a part of the world, and a travel company will send you there for your efforts. The four ways ...

Those are the categories: Health, Environment, Education, Sport.

The contest is being put on by a nonprofit called travel2change, and aims "to identify and fund the most creative ideas or proposals for improving the sustainable management of water in travel destinations."

You may have heard that everybody hates a tourist. Some possible reasons: Folks who come to a place, take pictures, spend money and leave behind their garbage.

It doesn't have to be that way. The idea here is to generate proposals and travel ideas that have a positive impact on the lives of local communities, involving a trip where you do something "with" and "for" residents in the place you visit. Drop a stone in the water, and it creates ripples. The same idea applies here.

Back to the four reasons, the person with the best idea for rethinking travel around the theme of water wins a trip to the spot they've chosen, along with support to make the project a reality.

Support for this comes from an international travel company called Kuoni. Winning entries will be chosen by a travel2change jury and a jury of your peers (on the site).

The deadline for the first contest comes soon, as in July 10. But there's more in store, according to organizers. The rest is a secret for now.

Think about it: This doesn't have to be a boring, do-good, all-work-and-no-play kind of trip.

Rethinking travel around the theme of water? The possibilities are endless.

More on Green Travel
Save Russia's Strange, Beautiful, Endangered Saiga Antelope
'Rent Green' for a Getaway, or a Test Drive
Outdoor Adventure: Take Your Kid(s) Snorkeling

Sustainable swimsuits and trunks are hot. Zero swimsuits and trunks on the other are even greener -- perhaps to some, even hotter -- with production energy, natural resources, and fabric out of the picture. Plus, as many would argue, what's more natural than reclaiming our birthday suit in which we arrived to this planet and getting down with Mother Nature?

If the idea of baring all makes you blush or has you thinking "hell no!", I felt the same -- especially having been raised in the States where it sometimes feels like showing one's skin is akin to committing a sin. Then I braved a day trip to Gunnison Beach, Sandy Hook, NJ -- ranked at #8 on the list -- and not only relished the carefree and colorful experience, it happened to be one of the cleanest most beautiful beaches I've enjoyed on the East Coast.

Ready to dip your toes into the world of beaching bikini or speedo-free? Hang free and get fearless! Head over to your nearest of TripAdvisor's 2010 Top Ten Nude Beaches.

Extra bonus: no tan lines! Just be extra-protective of the areas where sun hasn't shone. ;)

The World's Best Nude Beaches -- 2010

1. Black's Beach -- San Diego, CA

2. Haulover Beach Park -- Miami Beach, FL

3. Little Banana Beach Skiathos -- Greece

4. Playa Sonrisa -- Costa Maya, Mexico

5. Grand Saline Beach -- St Barthelemy, Caribbean

6. Moshup Beach Gay Head -- Martha's Vineyard, MA

7. Playa Es Trenc -- Majorca, Spain

8. Gunnison Beach -- Sandy Hook, NJ

9. Little Beach Wailea -- Maui

10. Orient Beach St Maarten -- St Martin

More Beaches:
7 of the World's Strangest Beaches
Green Glossary: Beach Erosion
The World's Most Beautiful Beach Art ... from Jersey (Photos)

You’ve been preparing for your big beach vacation for weeks, getting your body in bikini-strutting shape, waxing out every last hair, even tending to those back pimples. You feel like a million bucks when as you step onto that sand and strip down to your barely there skivvies, finally showing off that bod that you you’ve been hiding underneath your heavy clothes. But after a week of eating too much, drinking too much, and exercising… um, not at all, you feel more than ready to wrap it up and hide behind your clothes one again. Not this year!

If you want to stay slim AND enjoy your vacation, follow these 5 easy tips:

1. Take Advantage of Your Environment:
Do yoga on a rock, take a hike, kayak, swim in the ocean, go on a walk, take a water aerobics class.

2. Eat Simply Local and Share:
Talk to the chef, see what’s local and fresh. Ask for that prepared in the simplest clean way to bring out the ingredient’s natural flavors. I love fresh, simply grilled fish, ceviche (raw fish and cucumber marinated in lime juice, spices), fruit platter flavored with fresh lime or even cayenne pepper. When it comes to guacamole- yes enjoy! But instead of dipping fatty fried chips into the guacamole, use jicama, carrot sticks, celery or radishes.

3. Drink Skinny:
If you are at a place where margaritas are the local drink, ask for them skinny: tequila, fresh squeezed lime (lots of it), agave, and a little fresh local juice if you want.

4. Quickie Workout in Bed.
If you don’t want to interrupt your vacation relaxation, before you get out of bed in the morning, do a quickie workout- kick your legs, circle your arms, get your abs involved and burn some calories before you even start your day!

5. Look at the Activities Calendar!
That’s how you will find out about activities like Yoga on the Rock, or cultural lessons like tequila tastings, or even about new spa specials like a Tequila massage (amazing!). Even if your entire purpose of vacation is to do nothing at all, you can still be healthy and even lose weight while you’re doing it.

So don’t stress about staying slim on vacation. Just be smart and make Fit decisions and you could even come home a few pounds lighter!

More Content on Green Travel:
7 of the World's Strangest Beaches
7 Great Eco-Luxury Oceanfront Escapes, Plus 4 Questions to Determine if a Resort is Green
Brazilian Wax to Workouts… How To Be A Brazilian Beauty, Naturally

It’s pretty hard to avoid having an all around unhealthy, overly indulgent stay in Las Vegas. The entire Strip, with its smoke-filled casinos lacking any hint of natural sunlight and fast-food courts around every corner, lends itself to that “I wasn’t very good to my body” feeling. That’s why I was amazed to come back from my recent trek into the city of sin feeling rested, cleaner and, yes, after a vacation, thinner!

The CityCenter—which includes Aria Resort, Vdara, the boutique hotel, and Crystals Shopping Center—is set up so you don’t ever have to experience the typical part of Vegas if you don’t want to. The City Center is a “mini urban community.” The tram and bridges winding through and connecting the diverse properties eliminates the use for a car even once during your stay. I loved that feature because usually everything feels SO far apart on the strip. I’ve spent too many late-night hours waiting for a bus that dropped me off 5 blocks away from my resort.

My friend and I checked into Aria, the only resort on the strip where you will find actual sunlight inside the casinos. I had to get accustomed to for once having some conception of what time of day it was in Las Vegas. But that was infinitely better than being spit out the revolving doors of one of the more conventional casinos to realize “I’ve been gambling for TEN hours!” Another aspect of the resort that was notably different from its neighbors—the clean air. That’s because in its efforts to cut down on air conditioning use, the property cools from the ground up with tubes that run through the floor. This means no losing your friends in a cloud of cigarette smoke. Most hotels and resorts put their ventilation systems in the ceiling—which can often be a few hundred feet above our heads—so an immense amount of energy is required just to get that air from up there to down where we actually do our gambling, dining and drinking.

Photo: CityCenter Julian Serranos Tapas restaurant

Photo: CityCenter Candy Store

A few other components that reduce the artificial, Disneyland feel of other resorts: the plant life around the property is native to the desert, most of the restaurants offer expansive outdoor seating (whether that be actually outdoors or simply protruding into the casino) making it feel more like a promenade in a quaint town, and the pocket park between Aria and Crystals, with large art sculptures and benches located strategically under the trees to protect form the desert sun.

My friend and I made dinner reservations for the weekend at Sage and American Fish. Both restaurants use seasonal produce retrieved locally. Chef Richard Camarota of Sage sneaks some international influences into his traditional American dishes. No dish left us feeling heavy but each was bursting with distinct flavors. A few of our favorites: the oyster shooter with piquillo pepper, Tabasco and aged tequila mignonette (not a hint of fishiness), the foie gras custart “brulee” (toasted on top like a crème brulee”, the 48-hour Beef Belly with fig glaze, and the crunchy chocolate and peanut butter tart. When it comes to cocktails I’m always on the look out for interesting cocktails with unexpected ingredients, so I ordered the Tahona, made with Sombra Mescal, Green Chartreuse, Smoked Grapes and Lavendar Bitters.

Photo: Julia Austin Tabasco Oyster Shooter & Smoked Grape Cocktail at Sage

Photo: Julia Austin Crunch Chocolate & Peanut Butter tart at Sage

Yes, it was a lot of food, but light and fresh enough to leave me free of a food-hangover the next morning and ready for my indoor hike around Aria. That’s right—exercise in Las Vegas. I think it’s a shame to be cooped up in a gym while on vacation. I want to explore constantly. Luckily the fitness center offers the indoor hike, during which one of the instructors will tour you around the property, showing sides of the resort most guests usually miss out on, and using the space to stop for drills. I did sprints, lunges and squats in the convention center, jumping jacks in front of Haze, the resident nightclub, and pushups near the pocket garden. The tour distracted me from the fact that I was actually getting a workout, but I felt it the next morning.

My workout prepped me for round two at one of Aria’s five-diamond eateries, American Fish. I rarely order fish, but every dish is prepared with entirely unique garnishes, glazes and sauces, that I forgot I was eating FIVE seafood dishes. Here were some of the highlights: Diver scallops with creamy cucumber sauce, quail egg, caviar and purple potato, Tuna Tartare with wild arugula and pine nuts, and the evil (but blissful) desert platter consisting of coconut rice pudding, mascarpone cheesecake, Valrhona Chcolate custard and Farmers market strawberries with pistachio streusel. Defintely had to change into one of my tummy-tucking dresses after that!

Photo: Julia Austin Diver Scallop with Cucumber Sauce & Caviar at American Fish

Photo: Julia Austin Dessert Platter at American Fish in Aria

I ate healthy(admittedly in exuberant amounts), I squeezed in a workout and my cocktails actually consisted of some fat-burning, detoxing ingredients. But what really left me feeling like I spent the weekend at a spa rather than American’s playground was my Indian Jasmine Flower skincare and massage treatment at Vdara spa, the only Nevada spa that partakes in the Green Spa Network. Each treatment incorporates organic and natural ingredients and takes an holistic approach. In this 90-minute treatment, I was gently exfoliated with organic sea salt and a blend of jasmine sambac, neroli and Indian Jasmine. Following the exfoliation I rinsed off in the in-room shower and lay back down for my full body massage including the scalp massage with organic flowers enriched with honey. My skin felt and glistened like butter after. Basically, I felt like an Indian princess. Not a bad feeling.

Photo: Julia Austin Hot Tub & Relaxation Room at Vdara Spa

Photo: Julia Austin Meditation Room at Vdara Spa

If you’re looking for a new “spa weekend” type of getaway, or if you just want to squeeze in some healthy, clean experiences between your clubbing and yard-long cocktails, The City Center allows you to escape from the giant M&M stores and smoke-filled casinos for a surprisingly sin-less visit to the city of sin.

Read More About Surprisingly Green Destinations
7 Great Eco-Luxury Oceanfront Escapes, Plus 4 Questions to Determine if a Resort is Green
2011's Most Ethical Destination Countries
Find Green Hotels with Eco Hotels of the World

This could be called "An Introduction to Digital Nomad Living." It's one of those ideas you come across on StumbleUpon. A family of three from Santa Cruz, California (at one time, anyway) is spreading the message. They've found that they can travel the world and "live large" for less than living at home. How is this possible?

This lifestyle also is called extended travel.

Some tips: Get a cheaper flight by staying longer and going off-season, and book a rental rather than a hotel. Cook at your new temporary home, rather than eating out every night. For those meals out, do lunch, which is cheaper than dinner anyway.

The Soultravelers3 website has more information, including a reading list for people who are interested.

The Soultravelers were inspired by a French family of four who camped around the world for four years on about $2,200 a month.

For people who telecommute (like yours truly), this is a tempting idea. Home schooling the kids might be a problem, though. Along with keeping them busy while you and your significant other try to work. Summers are hard enough, if you get my drift.

According to a blog, the SoulTravelers are in their 50s, with one child.

They called themselves the Dee family --- Jeanne, Vince and their daughter "Mozart," according to this New York Times write-up.

The "Dees" sold their home and small vineyard and retired early, deciding to see the world while they were still young enough to enjoy it. Hear hear. My parents, in their 70s and 80s, had a hard time getting around Europe a few years back.

The SoulTravelers say they embarked on an open-ended, slow trip around the world in 2006. And, being digital nomads, they wrote about it online.

A recent blog entry notes that this is Year Five of the family's extended vacation and "we have it down to an art form now."

They're currently on a road trip of Europe, using a motorhome as their base and living on $23 a day, per person. Where does the money come from? It looks like they're earning a bit from website affiliations.

Who is inspired by this? Jealous? Who has a similar story? Who wants to read more? They're on Twitter. The family also was featured in the best-selling book "The 4-Hour Workweek."

More on Family Travel
Four Ways to Write Off a Trip, to Anywhere
Outdoor Adventure: Take Your Kid(s) Snorkeling
Father/Son Team Traveling from NYC to Portland in 1,000 MPG Vehicle

Here's a way to brighten your day. Hate your job? Bummed out by crummy "summer" weather? Or maybe the job is fine, but you're stuck indoors on a sunny day? Well, then, take a look at this. Kokei Otosi has the Best Internship on Earth. What will she be doing?

She'll be doing her part to save the planet we call home, as a intern with the Sierra Club, traveling around to promote the appreciation and protection of nature through outdoor education and adventure.

You might say she's helping protect the things that make life worthwhile. The things that make it worth working for the weekend. Check out this itinerary. It might even give you some ideas for your own nature appreciation vacation.

Photo credit: ChuckBaldwin.com

Kokei, a New York University sophomore, will be:

• Whitewater rafting down the American River in California;
• Going on an archaeological dig in Utah;
• Marching in the Puerto Rican Day Parade;
• Mobilizing youth at Outdoor Nation in New York City;
• Camping with Military Families Outdoors;
• Rock climbing on the Great Lawn at the White House; and,
• Hiking through the San Gabriel Mountains.

Oh, and she also received $2,000 worth of gear from The North Face and Planet Explore as part of her internship, along with a $2,500 stipend.

Kokei will be vlogging during her internship adventure.

Here's her first video, from Day One. Rub it in, why dontcha. See the subtle Snapple reference at the end.

Seriously, we're happy for Kokei. It sounds like the internship will live up to its name.

And not all is lost for those of us who didn't win. The Sierra Club has other outdoor and vacation programs, and will be begin taking applications for 2012 this winter.

Kokei is on Twitter @SCBestIntern

More on Outdoor Adventures
Apply for the Adventurous 'Best Internship on Earth'
How to Take an Extended Vacation, Around the World, in Style
Take Your Kid(s) Snorkeling

As the summer heats up, chocolate lovers across the country will be celebrating the season with a favorite BBQ treat: s’mores. These delicious snacks with graham crackers, toasted marshmallows and chocolate bring joy and happiness to children especially, but they may be linked to the exploitation of children in West Africa. The good news is that just as you can make your s’mores with marshmallows toasted just to your liking, you can also cook yours up with chocolate that reflects your values.

Ten years ago, reports first surfaced about child labor, forced labor and trafficking in West Africa’s cocoa industry, the largest cocoa producing area in the world. Chocolate companies signed a voluntary agreement committing to ending abusive child labor and forced labor in their cocoa supply chains by 2005, but almost ten years later the abuses continue.

A research team from Tulane University that investigated company initiatives to address these abuses in West Africa under a contract from the US Department of Labor found that children are trafficked from countries like Mali and Burkina Faso into the cocoa farms of Cote d’Ivoire to produce the primary ingredient in chocolate. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of children in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana were found to be working in hazardous conditions.

In order to address the exploitation that continues to fuel the cocoa industry, chocolate companies are increasingly committing to using cocoa that has been independently certified to comply with international labor rights standards. For example, Fair Trade Certified cocoa bans the use of child labor, while also providing cocoa farmers with a higher price for their beans which helps to improving living and working conditions while easing the pressure to rely on child workers. Fair Trade also provides farmers, organized into democratically-run cooperatives, with a premium that they use to fund community projects like training and social programs.

In fact, the top recommendation for companies in the final report from Tulane University is to “continue to scale up its consumption – and publically commit to new procurement targets – of product certified cocoa specifically in the U.S. market.”

This summer, the International Labor Rights Forum, Global Exchange and Green America are sponsoring a fun activity called “We Want More from our S’mores”. As part of the campaign, people across the country are making their s’mores using Fair Trade Certified chocolate while educating their communities about the problems in the cocoa industry and asking chocolate companies to support responsible cocoa sourcing policies like using Fair Trade cocoa.

It’s easy and fun to participate and July 4th BBQ’s are the perfect opportunity to join. You can find all the details online here. You can also spread the word by joining Change.org in asking celebrity chefs to post recipes for Fair Trade s’mores.

More Summer Fun
Sexy, Sustainable Summer Poolside Fashion (View & Vote)
From Garden to Plate: Summer Yoga Retreat
Your Complete Guide to Summer Vegetable Gardening

Can you ever eat a lobster again after reading this news? It turns out that our clawed friends have self-repairing DNA, which means they would essentially live forever if it weren't for being caught and eaten, or dying from injury or disease.

When I told my wife this, she didn't believe it. But it's apparently true, and due to an enzyme, although not well known among seafood eaters (including me). Who doesn't love a nice lobster tail once in a while? Drawn butter? Anyone?

The enzyme, called telomerase, repairs a lobster's DNA, allowing them to live without really aging, and grow to huge sizes, such as the Guinness World Record of more than 44 pounds.

"How in the world can I ever eat a lobster again?," I told my wife. "They can live forever."

It just seems like too much to bear, despite the deliciousness and the thought of wearing a goofy bib while enjoying an Ultimate Feast (which has enough sodium to kill you, by the way). Death for death.

But my wife had a good point. We have to eat lobsters. If we didn't, there would be a food shortage for lobsters, right? Either that, or they might take over the earth. Wasn't "Planet of the Apes" bad enough (especially the remake)? It's like thinning out the deer herd.

Photo by Tony Bowden/CC

Have you ever seen a starving lobster? They're all claws. Anyway, jokes aside, this is something to ponder. Will it become a battle cry for vegans everywhere?

One way to make sure you're eating right when it comes to seafood is to pay attention to sustainable harvesting.

The folks at Monterey Bay Aquarium have developed an app for that, along with additional Seafood Watch resources.

On lobster: Caribbean Spiny Lobster is on the "avoid" list, but there are several better alternatives.

Via: Broken Secrets

More on Food
Mark Zuckerberg Slaughters a Lobster and Other Humane Meat Eating
LA County Schools Get Rid of Chicken Nuggets and Corn Dogs
Stump Your Waiter, Waitress or Butcher with the iPhone Sustainable Seafood App

If you watch shows like "Medium" and "Ghost Hunters" itching for a chance to experience paranormal activity, these destinations are your ticket to terror. If you're someone who firmly says you don't believe in ghosts, then you should have no problem visiting these either, right?

The Paris Catacombs
Paris, France
Sure, it’s all crossoints, fake Luis Vittuon Vendors and Moulan Rouge above ground, but just 60 feet beneath this city of love is the stuff that made Hamlet reconsider his dirty thoughts about Rosalinne. The Paris Catacombs is an underground crypt of epic proportions, housing approximately 6 million pulse-less Parisians.

Due to over-population in graveyards, the Parisians began digging up bodies and moving them to what is now a tourist’s favorite French destination, but was then just the useless outskirts of the town.

Artistry runs in the Parisian’s blood, so logically the walls of the crypt had to be “ornamented” in bones and skulls. Breathtaking. Literally.

Tours are not recommended for the faint of heart or claustrophobic. For all others, look into tours and other experiences in Paris at My Parisian Tour.

The Stanley Hotel
Estes Park, Colorado, USA

Any place that gets the creative wheels pinning of Stephen King is naturally ranked high for its freaky factors. Room 217 at The Stanley inspired the cult classic “The Shining.”

You can’t help but feel bad for this hotel, which probably had no intention of being a destination for ghost-hunters. But it is now. Guests have claimed to see apparitions all over the property.

See them for yourself by booking a room at The Stanley's official website.

Edinburgh’s Underground Vaults
Edinburgh, Scotland

University students clink their foaming mugs in the local pubs and the accent there, well, it’s just too sing-songy to ever feel a hint of the creeps. But don't be fooled.

What began as a place for the wealthy to store their goods became a place for dirty deeds. The hidden location drew prostitutes with their clients, murderers with their victims and black market traders alike—essentially, “professionals” in businesses that often go deathly awry.

The Auld Reekie Tours company is glad to give you a tour. But be warned—poltergeists are known to be active. One tour guide claims “people have left with cuts, scratches, burns and bruises.”

Lizzie Borden B&B
Fall River, Massachusetts
Even though she purchased cyandine prior to and burnt some of her own clothes after—Lizzie Borden was still acquitted for the crime of hacking her father and stepmother into pieces. Ever heard the rhyme "Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother 40 whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41."?

The home of this charming family has been converted into a B&B. Guests have reported seeing the ghosts of the murdered Andrew and Abby Borden wandering the halls, as well as the lucky acquitted Lizzy herself.

Love B&B's? Try and get some rest in one of the rooms of the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast.

St. Louis Cemetery No.1
New Orleans, Luoisiana
New Orleans is already a place where voodoo abounds, so generally creepy places like cemeteries just give you extra chills. Especially the St. Louis Cemetery No.1, presumably presided over by the ghost of voodoo priestess, Marie Laveau.

Mary is said to be living an active after life and manifests herself as a red-eyed black cat or the ghost of her pet snake.

A second very real danger exists here—muggers and vandals—sitings of which have been reported by visitors.

Tower of London
London, England
Many heads have rolled here, and their bodies have stuck around to look for them. The tower served as a major chopping block during the time of Henry VIII. Expert ghost hunters report a headless Anne Boleyn—Henry VIII’s second wife—strolling the halls. Screams are often heard from the ghost of Guy Fawkes, who was convicted for high treason in 1606 and the ghost of Sir Walter Raleigh frequents the Byward Tower.

Beechworth Lunatic Asylum
Beechworth, Victoria, Australia
Like in the famous Eagle’s “Hotel California”, it’s much easier to check into this place than get out. A total of 8 signatures were required for a patient to be released, while a measley 2 signatures had patients checked in by the thousands. Three thousand to be exact, many of whom turned out to not even be mentally ill. Most died within the walls of the asylum.

Beechworth was the site of many malpractices, including the famous Darwin chair experiment, in which patients were tied to a chair and spun around so rapidly they would bleed from their nose, mouth, eyes and ears.

Check yourself in for a visit with the doctor with Beechworth Ghost Tours.

The Bran Castle
Transylvania, Romania
Not the home of Dracula, but close. The original “Dracula” was based on a merciless tyrant—Vlad Dracula—who inhabited The Bran Castle. The surrounding area is overgrown with thick, dark forests and encircled by mountains, creating a feeling of
complete desolation.

Those famous fangs may have just been a scaled down version of the real Dracula’s preferred form of execution—impaling to death.

If you dare, tour Dracula’s hometown. Visit his alleged grave at Snagov Monastery, as well as Dracula’s Bran Castle.

Are you a believer yet?

Read More About Unique Destinations:
The Hauntings at Beekman Mansion
Top 7 Sustainable Travel Destinations
10 National Parks Boasting Exotic Wildlife

Religious, atheist, hippy or hard-core urbanite—everyone needs a little healing now and then. Whether you’re a serenity seeker who travels the world wherever myth and folk lore take you, or you need to get out of the city for the first time in ages, these seven healing locations will feed your soul (or at least give you a good detox).

The Russian Banyas Sandunovskie
Banya, Moscow
This steamy location is said to be overseen by spirits called vannik who will bewitch your clothes, so strip down! Head into the steam room, a wooden structure with a large furnace and the occasional healing fragrance. Attendants will bring in birch and juniper branches that have been soaked in water and slap them against your entire body. I know—sounds rough—but it actually brings your blood to the surface, creating a tingly sensation. When you’ve met your heat capacity, jump into the nearby refreshing pool, but be sure to jump back out before hypothermia kicks in! Repeat as many times as you can handle. You’ll glow like a Twilight vampire afterwards.

Shrine to Pele, Hawaii
Sisters will be sisters. These two just happen to cause eruptions and storms. The Goddess Pele is known to preside over volcanoes, while her sister Poliau causes snow storms. When the two fight, Poliahu usually wins, causing Pele to erupt and Poliahu to send flakes to cool down the situation. On the big island you’ll find the most active volcano—Kilauea—that acts in mysterious ways, oozing lava along the ground rather than from the top, making the whole island appear to be glowing. Devotees of Pele leave bouquets, booze and berries here as offerings.

Japanease Onsen, Shikoko Island
How would you like to bathe in some volcano fault lines? It’s safe, I promise, and Japan is covered in them. Locals often reap the mineral benefits from the springs in the falut lines called “onsen.” Many onsen sights are the seat of a number of baths, each with different healing properties. One onsen hotspot is Dogo, a luxury spa in Ehimekan on Shikoko Island. Here visitors are treated to hot tea, dumplings and a vast veranda draped in tatami mats for meditation and relaxation.

Photo: Microsoft Yogi at Sunrise

Lago Atitland, Guatemala
Hidden up in the Guatemalan highlands you’ll find the mystical village of San Marcos La Laguna. Some of the sites you’ll catch here are three active volcanoes, wild orchids, ancient Mayan communities and Lago Atitlan, a 1,000-foot-deep collapsed volcano filled with water. The belief that San Marcos emits a healing energy could be why meditation and massage centers, as well as yoga studios, have sprung up all along the outskirts. Other activities you’ll find in this calm community: dawn meditation and relaxation yoga classes, tarot reading and energy-channeling classes.

Table Mountain, South Africa
This flat-top mountain overlooks Cape Town in South Africa. African legend has it that upon creation of the earth, the earth goddess Djobela made four Watchers to guard each of the respective directions on earth. When the watchers died, the goddess turned them into four mountains, Table Mountain representing the South watcher. Visitors have said that the rock formations within the mountain resemble ancient gods. Rock shrines on top of the mountin represent the chakras of the human bodies, so Yogis and anyone seeking to balance a particular chakra leave offerings to the appropriate shrine.

Chichen Itza, Mexico
Natural sinkholes in this pre-hispanic city lead to underground water sources said to be sacred to the Mayan gods and the site of sacrifices for better crops. When the Mayans colonized the city, they built a number of pyramids one of which—El Castillo—has become a popular tourist destination during the spring and fall equinoxes. During this time, the sun hitting the pyramids has been described as creating a serpent-like figure, meant to represent the Mayan god Kulkukan. Chichen Itza is also home to healing stones that have become popular world wide, like quartz and jade. Local spas use the stones for massages and hot stone therapy, before returning the stones to the ground to regain energy from nature.

Photo: Microsoft Healing Massage

Matha Amritanandamayi Mission
Amritapuri, India
Have you ever seen those people holding signs that say ‘free hugs”? Well the hugging guru lives at this Hindu religious retreat—literally. Known as the “hugging mother,” this guru has hugged more than 24 million people in the past 30 years. No wonder this spot considers itself the site of a spiritual revolution—that is some hippie, free-loving activity.
The study of homeopathy also originated in Kerala, the city where the mission is seated.
Try the signature treatment of sitting nude on a hot wooden bench as two therapists pour hot oil over your body and rub it on with broad strokes to eliminate toxins.

Thinking about making an escape now?

Read More About Ways to Unwind:
Throw an Easy Eco-Spa Party
8 Yoga Poses That Make You Happy
9 Healing Herbs and How to Use Them in Your Cooking

For those people out there who love to travel, but like sticking away from tourist hot spots and fancy hotels, try these alternative modes to see a new area.

Budget Travel:
Couch Surfing: this program allows people to lend their couches (or a spare bedroom) to anyone looking for a place to stay on their travels. It works via an easy to use website and allows people to sign up and create profiles for themselves (right now there is 3,013,856 members.) There are hundreds of positive testimonials on the site and people that have offered their homes again and again. It's free to be a member and you can offer your own couch up to someone if you live in an area that's worth visiting. Try it somewhere easy, like the next state over from where you live, for a free stay in a new place.

Work Exchange:
Woofing: Every want a chance to learn about organic farming (like in Hawaii)? Well now you have it! WWOOF (World Wide Organization for Organic Farming) works as a medium to send volunteers to organic farms all over the world. The published list of "hosts" ranges from small gardens to huge animal farms offering volunteers a wide range of different choices. In exchange for their help on the farm, volunteers are given accommodations and often are treated as family.

Work Away: Another great way of staying somewhere for free is through Workaway. This site offers a wide variety of places and people in which you can work with in exchange for room and board. This is a great way to learn about a different culture and new trade, while helping someone in need (and making great new friends).

Volunteering:
Another interesting, and often easier way of staying somewhere for a longer period of time, is to volunteer. This is a great way to appreciate that you have the ability to travel and get to see somewhere new, while often learning about a different place or culture. There are many different forms of volunteering and some are more intense than others. A good site to start your search is voluntourism, but many others exist around the web.

Homestays:
If you can muster up the courage to live with a new family, this could be a great option for you. Adventure Homestays offers places around the world to stay and also student exchange programs if you're still in school.

If none of these speak to you. Think about a bike or camping trip around your region. Both are great ways to run into places you may have never realized were on a map.

Like this? Then Check out:
How to take an extended vacation around the world, in style
Four ways to write off a trip to anywhere
6 of the most remote travel destinations around the world

Thinking of going somewhere hot to heat things up with your other half? Sounds fun... until you think about your average vacation destination and imagine pushing your way through tourists and tourist-minded-merchants around every corner you turn. Irritation and passion are not a good mix.

Seems Andros is your answer. Andros Island is the largest island in the Bahamas, but somehow it is the least densely populated and nearly untouched by tourism. No wonder Andros is a hot spot for honeymooners—it’s far, far away from “real life,” in more ways than just geographically. It’s one of those few hidden havens that you want to get to before the rest of the traveling population does. One other little detail about Andros that makes it a great place to fall in love or stay in love: the island is bursting with aphrodisiacs- from the plant life, to the food and of course, that steamy, sweat-inducing climate. Here’s how I hunted down some libido lifters.

One night, I went on a group hunting trip for land crabs- a reputed local specialty known to rev up the libido. Land crabs are giant, grayish crabs with claws reaching 4 to 5 inches in diameter. These crustaceans live in holes in low-lying areas near salt water and wetlands and are extremely sensitive to motion, scattering back into their holes at any movement. This obviously causes some trouble with hunting, along with those vicious claws. But the two tricks are “torching”—shining bright flash lights in the crabs’ eyes to stop them in their tracks, and picking them up in just the right way, grabbing them by the back and tilting them away to avoid pinching. Once cooked, we bit right into the shells, dipping gooey dough into the fat that dripped out of the crab. Sounds like a tough way to get in the mood for love, but somehow the thrill of the chase helped!

Another local food great for piquing passions—conch. The part called the “noodle” is meant to turn you on. Try this delicious conch salad recipe on your next date night.

Not into seafood? Andros is crawling with aphrodisiac herbs and plants like the Love Vine and bark from the Gumbo-limbo tree, used in the aphrodisiac bush tea.

Of course beyond what you put in your mouth, romance seems to saturate the sweaty air as you take a long lazy day trip relaxing on a Bone Fish boat as you watch and learn the catch and release technique from the pros, take a leap like the locals do into the Blue Hole, the return to your home-like Small Hope Bay Lodge and indulge in a seriously intoxicating Black Monkey cocktail.

It's not uncommon for tourists to decide to stay a few days (or years). Even if you don't find love, you will no doubt fall in love with Andros.

More content on Island Beauty
The World's Most Beautiful Beach Art ... from Jersey (Photos)
7 of the World's Strangest Beaches
Top 7 Sustainable Travel Destinations

You've heard of vacations and staycations. What about Traincations? It's what it sounds like, taking a break from work and at-home hassles via the rails. According to some experts, it's becoming the next big travel trend.

As most folks who have flown on commercial airlines can attest, flying is no fun anymore. Long waits and delays, cramped seats, bland snacks.

Driving can be fun, but you're supposed to pay attention to the road, not the countryside.

Trains can be more inviting than planes and automobiles, with more room, food cars, and places to plug in your laptop. Being a low-carbon form of travel doesn't hurt either.

Photo of the Swiss Rhone Valley, by snappa2006/Creative Commons

The Green Thing blog calls Traincations "So Hot Right Now." Why? More upsides of train travel include less invasive security measures, carrying on your own luggage, and even bringing bikes aboard. To put it another way: "On a train I can use my pen-knife to make a cheese sandwich without getting wrestled to the floor by people in uniforms."

The blog, highlighting train travel in Europe, says this summer was an especially popular one for Traincations.

The cats at Global Cool offer more info on rail riding, including tips on Traincation gear, deals and even a Twitter feed where questions and comments are exchanged.

Global Cool gave away a Traincation this year via its Facebook page to the Gurten Festival in Switzerland, with a musical lineup that included the Arctic Monkeys and Jamiroquai.

The contest winner gave the train trip high marks.

It seems for now that Traincations are largely a European thing, since the United States is still working on a newer, faster passenger rail system. Still, there also are opportunities in the U.S., and throughout North America. Chicago and Toronto come to mind. It can be slower, but cheaper.

Feel free to share you Traincation stories below. Or just gripe about planes and cars. Happy riding.

More on Train Travel
6 Essential Train Travel Tips
5 Reasons You Should Travel by Train
Bringing Back the Popularity of the Train

The best part about a trip might actually be looking at the photos after and sharing the stories behind photos with friends. And taking a photo in today’s world has become extremely simple.

You can take one while you text your friend what time to meet you at a café. But don’t forget—you create a world through your images. Just like you monitor which personal photos you put up on your social media pages like Facebook and Twitter, in order to give what you believe is an accurate and complete depiction of yourself, you must take this same care with photos of others that you take while traveling.

The tiniest camera phone can be snuck into a sacred place. If you wanted to, you could take a photo of just about anything. But, as always, with freedom comes responsibility. Here are a few tips on being a responsible, ethical photographer while traveling.

1. Unless you are at a public performance, parade or somewhere where the individuals expect to be on display, always ASK to take a photo. Sometimes language is a barrier, in which case simply smile, present the camera, make a motion to take a photo and see how the subject responds.

2. It’s tempting to pay your subjects to be in your photo, but this encourages a type of prostitution, so to speak. Individuals in that culture might then offer to pose for photographers in exchange for money, making their ordinary lives look more “photogenic” rather than portraying the reality of it.

3. Try to develop a relationship with an individual or a group. If you can just spend an hour or a week with them, they will grow a trust for you and usually want you to take photos of their life. Also, those photos will be more genuine because the subject is comfortable with you, and feels they are being in your photo, rather than imagining all the websites they may appear on.

4. If there is a sign that says “no photos” , that means no photos. Some travelers think that the “no photos” sign at a funeral or wedding only pertains to those in the funeral or wedding. Actually, the opposite.

5. Capture a large spectrum of images. Many photographers make the mistake, for example, of taking only desperate looking images when traveling to places that are reputed to be impoverished. And while it is good to spread that awareness, not everyone wants to be pitied. There are bright sides of life to such areas, and it would be unfair to not share with others that culture’s ability to have fun and create an uplifting environment, even in the worst of conditions.

6. Whenever you post a photo to the internet include a caption. Many practices and traditions of one culture may look grotesque or just ambiguous to another culture. Portray the image honestly with a written explanation. You took the photo, now take the responsibility to deliver the message accurately.

7. Don’t take photos of any illegal happenings you see. It may feel adventurous and journalistic, but you could put yourself in danger.

You should absolutely take photos of your travels so you can share those experiences with those who are not as fortunate to be able to have them. Just remember your life is multi-faceted and if a camera crew followed you around, you would want them to portray you in as honest and complete way as possible.

Read More On Ethical Travel
2011's 10 Most Ethical Destination Countries
Learn Outdoor Ethics with Leave No Trace
Is Your Hiking Jacket Toxic? Tent, Too?

How much do you set aside for helping the planet, as in living more sustainably? Do you spend more for organic food, offset your carbon emissions or maybe even ride a bike (that counts, bikes aren't free). There are a number of businesses that donate at least 1% of their sales to support about 2,600 environmental organizations around the world. And that number just grew by one, as in Outside Online, an outdoor publication. Does that sound funny? An online outdoor mag called Outside?

Either way, the partnership between 1% for the Planet and Outside will span print, digital and broadcast media. And it's one more reason to check out both organizations, you might say.

Photo Credit: Outside Magazine

It's estimated that the 1%-Outside effort will reach millions of consumers annually. Besides Outside Online, there's the printed Outside Magazine, and Outside Television (the last one may require an extension cord).

Other 1% media friends include Mother Jones, Utne Reader and CSR Wire. In total, there are about 1,460 business members. In 2010, 1% member companies donated more than $20 million, a 30% increase over 2009.

Want to know more about 1%? Funny you should ask.

[one percent] of the story from 1% for the Planet on Vimeo.

More on Sustainability and the Outdoors
Jack Johnson Among Musicians Donating 1% to the Planet
Travel With Piers Morgan: Growing Sustainability in the World's Most Unsustainable Places
Making Conservation as Common as McDonald's

I needed to get away, regroup, think about who I am, where I have been, and where I’m going. There was one destination that I felt was calling my name- Hollyhock. Situated on Cortes Island in British Columbia, between the glaciers of Vancouver Island and the Coast Mountain range of the mainland, is Hollyhock Retreat, a healing oasis that guests can’t help but make repeat pilgrimages to. The retreat oozes peacefulness and is extraordinarily verdant. I guess that's what founder Rex Weyler was looking for... yeah, same guy who founded Greenpeace International.

The pristine property consists of 44 acres of old-growth forests where bald eagles, black tailed deer and barred owls dwell. Guests spend their days traversing the meandering trails that lead through the trees to the water’s edge where gaggles of geese congregate protecting their kin. When not strolling along wild mushroom strewn paths or driftwood dotted beaches, yoga, tai chi, meditation and massage help unfurl frayed nerves and mangled muscles. Dance performances, farmers markets, and cultural activities take place only a few miles down the road in the town’s center where you just might run into a local like Dr. Andrew Weil (yes, he has a house there). Hollyhock is a place where, no matter how still you sit and how quiet you are, you still won’t hear anything but the nature that surrounds you… that and the thoughts in your head. And that’s exactly what I needed.

While every day at Hollyhock offers a treasure trove of healing activities, minds are encouraged to further expand and bodies are led to dance through an array of focused and intensive expert-led workshops including photography, drumming, poetry, even the zen of business. But for me, this was a personal workshop- I was working on myself. I went with intention. I was seeking certain clarity, looking for specific answers. And my questions were constantly in the back of my mind- allowing every conversation or experience I had to resonate, in some way, with my focus…

Here are 3 days in the life of my Hollyhock experience:

Take Off and landing on a Sea Plane! This was my first sea plane experience, and despite major nerves (I actually have a fear of flying), the flight was calming and beautiful, flying low over the ocean, so close that we could see a pod of migrating whales!

Walking around the Point on Cortes Island was one of my daily activities. Not only was it an amazing opportunity to just be with myself, listening to music, processing long overdue issues in my mind, but it was amazing exercise!

… even getting lost wasn’t so bad as I skipped from one rock to the next, navigating the terrain like you would stack blocks in Tetris- always looking two steps ahead.

You can’t buy an oyster on Cortes Island. That’s because it is naturally so ripe with sea life that if you feel like eating oysters on the half shell or having a clam bake, you simply go down to the waters edge and pick some up. Some areas are so littered with shellfish that you can’t help but walk on them. They are literally under every step you take. Finding oysters or clams is as difficult as bending down and opening your hand! Talk about a bottomless oyster bar!

Hollyhock may be known for healthy, vegetarian cuisine, but I didn’t expect to literally pick my salad! Between the hotel’s massive organic herb garden and the myriad of greens that you find lingering by the water’s edge, you pretty much can’t go hungry. Here I learned about Sea Asparagus…

About once or sometimes twice a week Hollyhock has an oyster BBQ on the beach. Those oysters that I went hunting for in the afternoon, we got to eat them fresh just a couple of hours later. I even attempted to shuck them! Here’s my attempt at Shucking Raw Oysters

Because this was a personal workshop- working on myself, I was constantly searching, seeking, taking in, and analyzing. And finally I came to some amazing conclusions just from watching a dance class… Confession: Time to Let Go

It’s interesting how, even when away, you can fall into rhythm, create new norms, and design routines that make you feel comfortable. This was my final morning at Hollyhock, before it was Time to Say Goodbye to Hollyhock.

More Content on Green Travel Destinationsng>
10 Reasons to Save Mary Lake
Conch and Crabs- A Perfect Combo For Love In Andros
Top 7 Sustainable Travel Destinations

It’s amazing to be surrounded by the people you love in a beautiful, exciting new place. But a lot of parents forgo traveling with their kids until they become older, worried that it will be too much of a hassle, that they won’t enjoy the experience as much, neither will their kids and that there will be a ton of additional expenses. My parents took me all over the world when I was little and I know that it has had a huge impact on who I am today. To be entirely honest—it has given me an advantage in many ways. Potential employers, new friends, new love interests have all said there is an openness about me that they just don’t find in people who haven’t traveled. To give your kids the chance to develop that same quality, here's some perspective that might ease your anxiety about packing up your strollers and using those precious miles.

Little kids are harder to travel with than teens
Ever notice how a little kid can be entertained by pushing a button over and over again on a talking teddy bear? Compare that to a kid in his teens who is saying constantly “I’m booored!” Yes, you need to watch your little ones a bit more to make sure they don’t wander off or make a mess, but they are very easily entertained and won’t try to pull you away from the museum you went to visit as much as a 12 year old will.

Little kids won’t remember the trip anyways
They subconsciously remember it. Kids who are exposed to different cultures at a young age become much more comfortable with and accepting of “otherness” than kids who barely travel outside of their state or country. Added bonus: you DO remember the trip. And you will cherish forever the photos of you holding your baby in a Gondola, or playing with him under a waterfall. That amazing, innocent time combined with a new, exciting destination is an unmatchable experience.

We can only eat at restaurants that have kids menus
It’s true that countries outside the US don’t have the designated “kids menu” loaded with hot dogs and mac and cheese. But they do understand that kids have special dietary “needs” (preferences) and most are accommodating—willing to make a smaller portion and adjust the price, or remove ingredients the kids won’t eat. And hey, if your kid is forced to eat a foreign food here or there—good! He will have a more evolved palette that he will thank you for later when his date is impressed with his knowledge of exotic foods.

Traveling with babies means triple the luggage
The hospitality industry had the same thought, which is why many hotels today provide most of the necessities for traveling with babies on site. Call your hotel ahead of time to see what they offer so you don’t over pack.

We need a jam-packed agenda or our kids will get bored
First off—cultivate a little spontaneity in your children! As any seasoned traveler knows, the best experiences are a little off the map and are found more through word of mouth than any tourism guide. Don’t cut yourself or your kids off from those hidden gems by packing your day with back-to-back guided tours. Also—kids can get worn out from a too-rigid schedule!

Jet lag is harder on kids
Not even! You know how hard it is to put kids down for a nap at home—use that to your advantage when you’re traveling. Kids in general are less aware of when it’s time to sleep. They will usually be surprisingly bright-eyed when you will be the one craving some caffeine.

Luxury Hotels Are Not Kid Friendly
As snobbish as it may sound, one thing my travels definitely cultivated in me was a love of the finer things. Experiencing 5 star hotels with fresh fruit baskets placed on mahogany tables looking over the most popular promenade or beach, attendants spritzing you with Evian poolside and servers who fold your napkin while you’re in the bathroom has made me want to work very hard to eventually provide those things for myself and my family. But, more to the immediate point, luxury hotels will actually work harder to cater to your family’s needs than a mid range hotel. You did shell out the big bucks after all…

Are you eager to make your child a citizen of the world yet?

Read More About Traveling With Kids
7 Strategies for Teaching Your Kids What Real Food Is
DIY Activity Kits for Kids of All Ages
Ed Begley Jr. on Insulating Hard-to-Reach areas, Teaching Kids to Go Green, and More

When you're packing for a trip, it helps to have a list. One more thing you might want to add, besides clothes and a camera, are art supplies. But what if you're flying instead of driving? Is there a TSA requirement? I hope not, because your next trip could result in a map on They Draw & Travel, if you've got the skills.

They Draw & Travel features maps illustrated by artists from around the world. And the term applies to professional and amateur artists. Hint: If you can't get your brushes, paint, markers or canvas through airport security, you might want to pack them carefully in a suitcase, or wait until you get home to sketch out your maps-ter-piece. That's a new word.

They Draw & Travel was created by Nate Padavick and Salli Swindell, a brother/sister design and illustration team who work under the name of Studio SSS and live in Ohio and Massachusetts, respectively.

What follows are a few examples from the site, of places people have visited, hope to visit, or like to call home.

What location would you draw? What would you include? The site also is a wander-ful resource if you're looking for a place to go, and unusual spots to visit.

You can sign up to submit a map right here. See the TDAT site for full maps. These are only snippets.

1. Europe, by Ina Ahoi

2. Division Street Love in Chicago, Illinois, by April Nemeth

3. Valencia, Spain, by Rai Josep

If you think this site is unique, you must not have seen its sister, They Draw and Cook.

Really. A collection of illustrated recipes.

More on Travel and Art
Make Tracks for Traincations
The World's Most Beautiful Beach Art ... from Jersey (Photos)
Abandoned House Becomes 'Before I Die' Wall of Dreams (Photos)
How to Take an Extended Vacation, Around the World, in Style

Have you saw, I mean, seen the latest trend in music? Actually, the proper verb is saw. And maybe it's not a trend. But if you thought saw-playing died with Jackyl's "The Lumberjack," you're wrong. It's still going on, sans chainsaws that run with two-stroke engines. Astoria, New York, recently hosted the ninth annual NYC Musical Saw Festival. People came from all over to play music using saws. And people came to listen. Boy, does this music sound weird. There's no way to describe it, except maybe "Wooo ooooo."

If you're making plans for 2012, you might want to consider the 10th annual festival. It's bound to have even more teeth than last year. Teeth, like you use on a saw to cut wood. Performers at the festival twist and turn and "play" their saws with string quartets and such.

Take a listen here, to Saw Lady, from Ameriklectic. Wait for it ... she's in the middle.

The Saw Lady's real name is Natalia Paruz, founder and organizer of the event. Now how does this fit in with Planet Green? No, we're not a sponsor. But the planet wouldn't be green without trees. And saws like these would be out in the forests, cutting down trees, if it weren't for these musicians. Talk about environmentally friendly music.

This may be one event to keep your eyes on for next year. Paruz says she's hoping to hold the 10th festival in July 2012. The NYC Musical Saw Fest holds the Guinness World Record for the "Largest Musical Saw Ensemble," set in 2009. If you have 3D glasses handy, take a look at "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from this year. Or at least squint and listen.

Apparently, making music with a carpenter's handsaw, like you see here, has been around for 300 years (that's a long trend). The Astoria fest has seen players come from as far as China, Japan, India, Germany, Sweden and Canada.

More on Weird Music and Travel Destinations
Coachella DJ Contest Requires 12 Friends and Lots of Sweat
They Draw & Travel Features Art, Adventure & Maps
Country Singer Jimmy Wayne Will Be Homeless Again This Winter

The best pizza. The most beautiful women. The finest wines. Plenty of cities claim to have these. But which cities are competing for a medal that means a greener, possibly longer-lasting planet? These ten cities have committed substantial budgets and time to making public transit not only accessible, but also appealing.

10) Honolulu, Hawaii
It’s not only the city’s efforts that put Honolulu among the top ten. Honolulu residents play a large part—they are bus lovers. Honolulu is in fact the only city on this list without an urban rail system. This is soon to change though, as the city is looking to build a 20-mile above-the-ground rail system that will transport residents to neighboring Oahu. No wonder Hawaii is considered the happiest state.

9) Seattle, Washington
Offering its residents the traditional bus and rail systems, what makes Seattle unique is its monorail right in the city center, as well as ferries. Seattle gets extra green points for being ranked the third-highest per-capita transit spending in 2008.

8)San Diego, California
We all know the famous San Diego trolleys that have graced the big screen many times. This social form of transit moves passengers through the city and even into the suburbs. San Diego is also a stop on the major southern California Metrolink passenger rail system.

7/6) Salt Lake City, Utah (tie)
Providing public transportation to an extensive urban and suburban population (approximately 1.7 million) requires a large investment—one that Salt Lake City has made, putting it at a tie as number 6. TRAX—Utah’s light rail system—is currently undergoing expansion, anticipating four new lines to the three-line system. This will give easier urban access to the suburban population.

6/7 San Jose, California (tie)
Most of the San Jose area receives its public transportation from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, which provides both bus and light-rail lines. The city ranked even higher in the safety category, reaching number 3 in the top 10 in 2008.

5) Portland, Oregon
In the public transit world, Portland is famous for its Free Rail Zone, an area in downtown Portland where light rail and streetcar rides are free 24/7, seven days a week.

4) Boston, Massachusetts
Boston was a trailblazer in the public transit movement. Since 1631 Boston offered ferries that connected the city’s peninsula to the mainland. Today, the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority provides multiple options to commuters, still running commuter ferries, as well as buses, rail lines and the “T”—it’s subway system.

3) Los Angeles, California
63. That’s how many hours in delay each driver in Los Angeles is estimated to experience per year in traffic. That could be the reason for the city’s popular public transit systems, including the L.A. metro bus and rail systems that run Monday through Friday. This system includes 2,600 buses and a 7.9-mile rail system track.

2) New York-Newark, N.Y.-N.J.-Conn.
To be expected, New York City is ranked number one in passenger trips as well as government spending per capita on public transportation. On an average weekday, the public transit ridership is estimated at over 8.4 million customers. The 2010 budget for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in the area was $13.4 billion. A more staggering figure—the city made up 40% of the nation’s public transit trips in 2008.

1) Denver-Aurora, Colorado
The area offers commuters bus and light rail lines, as well as airport shuttle services.
Denver’s MailRide bus lines carries shoppers over the mile-long 16th Street mall at no cost, seven days a week. Currently, the city is taking on a multi-billion-dollar project to expand its transit system by increasing light real, commuter rail and rapid bus transit lines.

Are you considering moving now?

Read More About Green Travel
A Bike-Riding Bus Driver's Tips for Urban Cyclists
How to Ride the Bus
10 Things You Need to Know to Make your Cross-Country Bus Trip Comfortable