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For many, living "green" has become a way of life. Excessive consumerism and the recent changes in the environment have prompted many people to adopt a way of life that makes the planet a better place for future generations.

Many families have made major strides in reducing trash and natural resources and have stepped up their recycling efforts. It makes sense that these efforts would not stop when a family leaves home and takes a vacation. There are many ways to be an eco-friendly traveler while on the road.

While planning your trip, give a lot of thought as to where you will be visiting. The closer you stay to home, the less gas and energy will be consumed.

Consider staying where the majority of your stay will involve walking, biking, hiking, or skiing. Not only will you have more fun and be in better physical condition by participating in these activities, but you'll reduce your "carbon footprint" the impact you make by participating in your environment. If you're feeling really ambitious, you can even take an extra bag with you while walking or hiking to help pick up trash and debris left by other hikers along the trails.

Plan a vacation for the greater good on humanity. Join others to help build a home for a family in need with Habitat for Humanity (http://www.habitat.org) or help work on an organic farm and learn more about sustainable agriculture with WWOOF (http://www.wwoof.org) World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. If you're interested in helping to clear, clean, or build hiking trails, think about taking a seven-day volunteer hiking vacation with the American Hiking Society (http://americanhiking.org).

Be fore leaving, think about all of the items in your house that consume energy while no one is using them. Unplug all unneeded appliances, televisions, and computers. Turn off all of the lights or set a timer for certain lights to turn on and off at certain times. Reset the thermostat to preserve energy sources.

If you're traveling with others, think about carpooling. Combining resources will save money, as well as gas consumption. Don't throw anything out of car windows and avoid disposable cameras, which contribute to waste consumption.

If you're flying to your destination, order your tickets online to prevent excess paperwork. Take public transportation like buses and subways (if available) and avoid taxis. If you're renting a car, see if hybrids are available to save on fuel resources.

Certainly packing much of your own food while on the road is an

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