For Americans, Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial arrival of summer, and with it a season of travel. From weekend getaways to longer undertakings, it's the time to get outdoors and celebrate the beauty of US nature. And what better way to do that than with a clear conscience that your trip is eco-friendly?
So here's a round-up. Some of these expeditions can be day trips, some weekends, and some fully fledged vacations. Some take place on a boat, some on foot, some by horse. But all of them fit the phrase "getting away from it all". And if you can't afford it, the pictures will make a good screen saver.
If you have other America-based nature-loving destinations you'd like to share, feel free to mention them in the comments section underneath.
Walk
The Oregon and he Appalachian trails, the two most famous American trails, are on opposite ends of the country. To the west, the 2,000 mile Oregon trail, which runs from Missouri to Oregon, is known to many because of the book Children on the Oregon Trail and, of course, the Oregon Trail video game that is popular in American schools. Now, you can replicate the experience with an Oregon trail covered wagon tour. But there are also numerous walking tours, which take you through the old paths to the vineyards of today.
The 2,000-mile footpath of the Appalachian Trail is more recently famous, because Mark Sanford (then governor, now a congressman from South Carolina) turned hiking it into a euphemism. But that's to sell it short. The Appalachian Trail runs from Georgia to Maine, covering some of the most beautiful country in the east. No one expects you to walk it all in one trip, so plan your visit. Because so many states are on the trail, the most all-inclusive place to look for lodging is on Pinterest. (If you only have a day and are nearby, head to the Maryland portion.)
Ride
Everyone knows about dude ranches, but there's a way of getting even further back to the land – with a pack string horse vacation. Pack string riding takes you into wilderness country in Colorado, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. You (and your kids, if you like) ride through deserted backcountry by day, along rivers, and up into mountains and forests. By night, you camp in tents and cook out under the stars. This is an opportunity to see miles of wildflowers, swim in hot pools and beneath waterfalls, and catch your own fish for dinner.
Sail
Maine is my destination of choice for a sailing holiday, mainly (no pun intended) because of the combination of the landscape and the no-fuss approach of its inhabitants. There are plenty of ways of sailing in Maine, from short trips in Kennebunkport to slightly more ambitious voyages.
The good news is, you don't actually have to know how to sail to be a sailor!
Raft
A better, prettier, more natural version of the water rides at amusement parks. Less crowded too. Three major north-east cities – New York,
Washington DC and Boston – have rafting day trips within easy driving distance. I have done the New York and DC day trips and they are perfect for a hot Saturday in July when you are dying to get out of the city and get wet. You get on the boat and immediately enter another world as you hit the rapids. The websites mention that you laugh a lot as you bounce downstream. They are correct.
Bike
The most comprehensive list of biking holidays is here. You can bike in every state – riding past Alaskan glaciers, through the deserts of Death Valley, Nevada or camping at Niagara Falls in New York.
Every level of ride is available, from beginner to experienced, though this is a trip for which you might want to get in shape before you start
Fish
There is more choice for fishing holidays than you might think. And again, kids are now welcome, so you can bring the next generation up to think in terms of catching their own food (and maybe even get them to develop a taste for the stuff). The top 10 family fishing destinations are listed here and range from California to Texas to Pennsylvania. So wherever you are, you're close to a catch.
Staying in one place
Sometimes you want to get where you're going and just sit down and enjoy the view. The eco resort/rental industry is growing rapidly, giving the greener visitor more options. So here's a selection of cool places to stay.
Rent a yurt
A yurt is a circular tent of felt or skins on a collapsible framework, once used by nomads in Mongolia, Siberia and Turkey but now the hip way of getting back to the land in the USA. Let's assume the nomads didn't have all the mod cons some yurts have today – dishwashers? Overall, though, most modern-day yurts go for some level of sustainability and are relatively inexpensive. A comprehensive list of yurt rentals is here, but our favorite is this one in Hawaii, which costs $55 a night. If a yurt isn't hardcore enough for you tent-wise, try a tipi.
Stay in a treehouse
This is a spectacular holiday, and not just because it fulfills so many childhood fantasies. You can stay in a treehouse hotel in Washington state, or rent one of these on a river in South Carolina. You get to your holiday home by paddling 13 miles in a canoe.
Rent a houseboat
What is it about the charm of boats that look like houses? Is it something to do with having the best of both worlds? The houseboat market wants you think so, providing boats on both coasts that come complete with white picket fences. Ah, the American dream.
Find a cabin
A good list of cabins is provided by the government, which also has very good information about visiting national forests and parks, here. Government cabins are usually remote and cheap ($35 a night, for example, for a cabin in Alaska that sleeps four to six is not unusual.) Being off the grid while renting a cabin from the US government might not be to everyone's taste, but if you can stomach the idea it's the best value for your taxed dollar.
Stay home
Flick through Cabin Porn, trade in your gun for a sling shot,
plant some herbs and learn how to cook some organic food. Or simply take an online yoga class, or download a meditation podcast.
Travel can be all in the mind.
