Did you know there are only six nationally-recognized long weekends in the US each year? This means you have just six opportunities to take advantage of some guilt-free exploring without dipping into your precious paid time off. And why not enjoy this month’s Presidents’ Day weekend with some conscious travel?
Whether you're interested in volunteering for a few hours while checking out a new area or getting inspired through weekend events benefitting the planet, there's no shortage of ways to travel with purpose. This month, we’re celebrating four destination travel organizations inspiring us to do a #littlebitbetter while exploring their regions!
South Yuba River Citizens League: Adventure a Little Bit More Informed
Our nation’s rivers are the pipes quite literally keeping our ecosystems hydrated. The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL), based in Nevada City, California, has worked tirelessly to protect and restore the beautiful South Yuba River through educational events and programs. A 1% for the Planet environmental partnermember, this non-profit has advocated for the surrounding rivers, forests, and meadows for over forty years. Nestled alongside the Western Slope of the Sierra Nevadas, this is the perfect place to explore with purpose.
We highly recommend the group’s hosted watershed excursions and the annual Wild for the Yuba fundraising weekend featuring music, food, and wine each June. But if you want to travel with purpose in February, you can’t miss the Wild & Scenic Film Festival.
This year, ChicoBag will be one of the sponsors of the 22nd annual film festival over President’s Day weekend, drawing top filmmakers, celebrities, leading activists, social innovators, and well-known world adventurers to the historic downtown areas of Nevada City and Grass Valley, California.
This year, ChicoBag will be one of the sponsors of the 22nd annual film festival over President’s Day weekend, drawing top filmmakers, celebrities, leading activists, social innovators, and well-known world adventurers to the historic downtown areas of Nevada City and Grass Valley, California.
Pacific Beach Coalition: Adventure A Little Bit Cleaner
Like a moth to a flame, there is no more alluring travel destination come wintertime than the Pacific Coast of California— the 840+ miles of coastline see over 150 million beach visits a year. And what do those visits bring? Trash. (Not you. We know you’re carrying ChicoBag’s reusable Snack Time Bag and Travel Pack rePETe to avoid leaving trash behind!)
Fortunately, the Pacific Beach Coalition out of Pacifica, California has partnered with the Clean Swell App to make helping the environment on your trip to the beach fun and educational. While the coalition hosts a robust calendar of organized cleanups for a variety of beaches every weekend, the Clean Swell App allows you to do so on your own time and location while visiting the state's natural treasures. Data is then sent to scientists and policymakers around the world to help them tackle ocean pollution on a global scale.
Tourism Cares: A Little Bit More Conscientious
Not sure where you want to make your next sustainably-minded getaway? Let Tourism Cares help, with their award-winning Meaningful Travel Map. Tourism Cares is a non-profit organization committed to advancing the travel industry's positive social, environmental, and economic impact to help people and places thrive.
Launched in 2023, the interactive map helps spotlight sustainable, community-led enterprises, products, services, accommodations, and tours that users can add to their itineraries. It features over 150 verified sustainable experiences in destinations across the globe. Travelers can use this map as a resource to find vetted, small, sustainable businesses and make more informed travel choices.
Tourism Cares: A Little Bit More Conscientious
Not sure where you want to make your next sustainably-minded getaway? Let Tourism Cares help, with their award-winning Meaningful Travel Map. Tourism Cares is a non-profit organization committed to advancing the travel industry's positive social, environmental, and economic impact to help people and places thrive.
Launched in 2023, the interactive map helps spotlight sustainable, community-led enterprises, products, services, accommodations, and tours that users can add to their itineraries. It features over 150 verified sustainable experiences in destinations across the globe. Travelers can use this map as a resource to find vetted, small, sustainable businesses and make more informed travel choices.
Ready for more?
Tag us, email us, or DM us with an organization going the green mile in making our world just a #littlebitbetter