Going Green

Going Green for Your Honeymoon
By Grove Fisher

Weddings...what can you say? For some of us, we dream about “our day” from the time we are children. For others, we cringe at the notion of the planning, the spot light, the money. It depends on who you ask but there is one thing we can all get together on and that is the honeymoon! It is the proverbial carrot at the end of the stick that all newlyweds look forward to whether they enjoyed a grand 4 day event at a gulf coast resort, or tied the knot on a boat in Destin harbor.

Some couples dream of traveling abroad, others stay stateside, and some do not even leave their beautiful destination wedding site on the Florida or Alabama Gulf Coast. No matter your vibe, you can make your honeymoon a green one almost anywhere. While this might be pushing it, there are several options for a “green honeymoon” that range from posh ecovations in a tropical setting such as Costa Rica to hiking the Appalachian Trail. There is a major movement in the tourism industry around the world to make vacations green, or at least green “er”. The ways in which this is being done are both broad and creative. Some resorts are constructing all of their buildings with very little environmental impact. Developers are sourcing from local forests. Restaurants are serving only local, organic foods. The recreational activities revolve around environmental education. Whether it is a fishing trip in the Pacific or a zip line ride in the rain forest’s canopy, each event is an opportunity for a first hand teaching moment.

Leisure Seeking Honeymooners.
Just because your honeymoon is an “ecomoon,” does not mean you have to rough it. You can find eco-resorts that are service oriented with thousand count cotton sheets, only they are organic cotton! One such resort on par with our leisure seeking honeymooners is Costa Rica’s, Arenas del Mar. According to its website, Arenas del Mar has been awarded the Certification for Sustainable Tourism. The concept behind this resort has always been to minimize the impact on the surrounding nature, while providing the most benefit to the local community through employment opportunities. Water is heated using solar panels, grey water is recycled for irrigation, and the whole building structure blends with the surrounding trees and forest. It boasts rooms with an ocean view, jacuzzis, and two restaurants that offer gourmet preparation of local seafood.

If you wanted to stay stateside, The Lodge at Sun Ranch is a resort that is built around eco-tourism. They offer a large number of activities including hiking, riding, fly fishing, and. for the less “outdoorsy,” massage and spa packages. A farm table culinary program is available where the chefs of The Lodge prepare the meals with local, natural, free range and organic products. Over night educamping is offered and guests are treated to a leader who shares his knowledge of the animals and fauna of the majestic Rocky Mountain region.

DIY Honeymooners.
For the couples that like to do it themselves, state and national parks offer many opportunities. Two of my best friends chose to take two months and hike the Colorado Trail. They lived out of their bio-diesel Volkswagen bus and camped in the many well maintained campgrounds they encountered. This may be too much for some, but even the day hikers would love a trip to Glacier National Park. Glacier, located just north of Kalispell, Montana is one of the United States’ treasures. It is not a populated as Grand Canyon National Park or as popular as Yellowstone, but it shares the same grand majesty. Glacier has many beautiful camp sites that have running water, bear lockers and bathrooms. There are countless activities available from swimming in the lakes and streams, traveling the Going-to-the-Sun scenic road, hiking, boating, fishing and many more.

If you want a few more amenities, the Lake McDonald Lodge will not disappoint. It is an amazing rough hewn cedar structure that is a reminder of the building’s origins as a hunting lodge. It offers 100 rooms and a fantastic fireside restaurant, Russells, with a dinner menu featuring wild game and local vegetables. You can even enjoy a frosty pint of locally brewed micro-beer.

Hard Working Honeymooners.
Some couples are thrilled by the idea of self-propelled transportation and hunting for their meals. These couples are few and far between, but a honeymoon with a zero carbon foot print is dreamy. The Appalachian trail offers all of what these thrill seeking couples are looking for. You can bike or hike the trail and fish for your food along they way. Almost every state in the union has a trail system. The low country states of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina have a paddling trail up the Intercoastal Waterway with state parks and protected lands along the route. If this interests you or your honey, some research might prove the honeymoon of your dreams is right under your nose. Check with your local tourism development committee or your state park website. The options are endless for you!

Whether you are the leisure seeking honeymooner or the hard working type, going green can be done with fun. There are countless opportunities out there for you to explore, relax, indulge and do it all with a reverence for our environment. For more information on ecovations a quick Google search will prove the endless options for an eco-friendly honeymoon…and remember, Green is becoming the new white. •

Grove Fisher is a regular contributor to Gulf Coast Bride, as well as being co-owner of Fisher’s Flowers & Events, located in Grayton Beach, Florida. Grove is well versed in wedding floral design and has been called upon to create floral designs for brides from as far away as the United Kingdom. See more of her work at: www.fishersflowersandevents.com.

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