Eco Conscious Holiday Goodies for the Road… or the Sofa

Retrospec’s NRDC Collection

When we spotted Retrospec, an e-commerce brand that offers active-lifestyle products for adults and youth across bike, skate, paddle, snow and fitness, we had to inform our readers as they just launched a Second Nature Apparel Collection with 100% of sales donated to NRDC, the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Since 1970, the NRDC has worked to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. They combine the power of more than three million members and online activists with the expertise of some 700 scientists, lawyers, and policy advocates across the globe to ensure the rights of all people to the air, the water, and the wild.

A great cause married to a great collection which includes a long-sleeve ($34.99), crewneck ($29.99), sweatpants ($29.99), baby onesie ($24.99) and a mug ($14.99).

I’d say that’s a stylish feel good reason to shop this holiday!

Eco-Friendly Bag Find

I was lucky enough to meet this cool chick in college named Jennifer Silbert. She went on to become an architect and, one day on Facebook, I noticed she was making some of the coolest recycled bags I’d ever seen.

Here’s her story.

And get that bag of hers!

“We started Rewilder 4 years ago after strong careers in fashion (Lisa) and architecture (me), where we were distressed with the waste we were creating. I was teaching a Materials Innovation class at Art Center in Pasadena when I started doing research on post-industrial waste and came across some incredible materials being thrown away on a massive scale. It’s truly overwhelming. 

So now we use these amazing materials to make the best bags for the planet. A few other bags out there claim to be sustainable but we are 100% – zero waste, high quality, made in LA. Nothing excites us more than making something amazing from unconventional, industrial materials that would have ended up in a landfill.”

Need we say more?

She’s a gem, her cause noble, and so are bags.

rewilder.com

Bicycling Through Bhutan

 

 

Lungchutse Monastery, Bhutan

 

 

We’re anxious to get ourselves to Bhutan as this country is one of the most majestic in the world. With intelligently controlled tourism, peaceful landscapes of rice fields and prayer flags, and ecologically minded communities, it’s very likely one of the most treasured places on earth. And, for those with a love of nature and outdoor adventure, Bhutan Bike & Hike Adventure from Grasshopper Adventures explores the Kingdom of Bhutan, perched on the southern Himalayas between Tibet and North India. A 10-day cycling and trekking itinerary showcases Bhutan’s unique culture, history and natural beauty while offering fun and rewarding challenges through a variety of active adventures. Accommodations are 3-star hotels/resorts, all meals are included, and there is no surcharge for single travelers.

 

Bhutan’s Longest and Highest Suspension Bridge above the Pho River

 

Highlights of the Bhutan Bike & Hike Adventure include crossing the country’s longest and highest suspension footbridge stretching over 200 meters above the Pho River, trekking to the Lungchutse Monastery, meeting locals in the valley of Gangtey, exploring a number of ancient dzongs (including Punakha Dzong), touring a recently-opened craft brewery, and trekking to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

“Parts of the biking, which range from 15 km to 63 km rides, will be a challenging with mountain climbs and thrilling descents at altitude,” said Grasshopper Adventures President Adam Platt-Hepworth.  “But the effort is immensely rewarding with beautiful views and an adrenaline-fueled sense of personal achievement.”

 

Bicycling in Bhutan

 

Aside from the absolute stunning natural scenery, the enduring image of Bhutan for most visitors is the strong sense of culture and tradition that binds the kingdom and clearly distinguishes it from its larger neighbors.  In South Asia, Bhutan ranks 1st in economic freedom, ease of doing business, and peace; 2nd in per capita income; and is the least corrupt country as of 2016.

Group sizes are limited to 14, Trek 4300 disc brake mountain bikes are provided, and

Prices start at a very reasonable $3,500/pp.

I’m in!

For more information:

https://www.grasshopperadventures.com 

 

Natural Habitat Adventures: Tiger-Intensive Expedition

 

Bengal Tiger (c) Toby Sinclair

 

I love a good tiger safari. Who doesn’t?

Now, one of the world’s leaders in sustainable nature travel, Natural Habitat Adventures is introducing a  new 7-day tiger-intensive expedition, India Tiger Quest, offering the rare opportunity to see Bengal tigers in their natural habitat along with other remarkable wildlife of India.

Natural Habitat Adventures has been a leader in responsible adventure travel and ecotourism since 1985. From polar bear tours in Churchill to small-group Galapagos cruises, from Alaska grizzly bear adventures to African safaris, their journeys, led by professional naturalist guides, reveal the planet’s most extraordinary nature destinations.

With this tiger safari, you can visit one of India’s premier places to see some of the world’s last remaining wild Bengal tigers: Ranthambore National Park.

After years of plummeting tiger numbers, India charted a 30% rise in its quadrennial tiger census in 2014, compared to 2010. Conservation groups attribute some of that growth to sustainable ecotourism. The economic impact of visitors to India’s tiger reserves benefits the communities in proximity, providing jobs and offering local people an incentive to protect the wildlife with which they share the land. Given that India is home to 70% of the world’s remaining wild tigers, and India is the only country currently seeing a rise in tiger numbers, the presence of wildlife tourism here is integral to that continued conservation success.

Led by India’s top naturalist guides, travel at the optimal time of year for sightings, when temperatures are getting hot but monsoon rains are still weeks away, drawing wildlife into the open to drink at shrinking waterholes. Search for tigers on morning and afternoon drives through the deciduous jungle, keeping a lookout for other jungle wildlife, too: sloth bear, leopard, sambar, chital, palm civet, langur monkeys, pythons and more. With 11 guests total–and just four per safari vehicle–everyone gets a “window” seat in open-sided 4x4s.

The per-person double rates start at $6,795 ($1,275 single supplement). Included are all activities, accommodations, train from Ranthambore to Delhi, airport transfers, most meals, guiding by professional naturalist Expedition Leaders, most gratuities, all permits, taxes and service charges.

Departures are offered throughout 2019 and 2020.

www.nathab.com