By Greg Benchwick

What could make travel even better than it already is? Taking a few positive steps forward toward a greener future by traveling better — looking not only at our carbon footprints, but also at the way we travel, the impact we have on local cultures and environments, and the tiny steps we take along the way to give back. With this in mind, here are five valuable tips for greener travel.

1. Visit places within 50 miles of home.
   While it's a big, big world out there with a million exciting places to go, consider staying local for your next trip. Head out someplace within 50 miles of your house — most likely you'll find amazing sights and experiences along the way as you explore places right in your own backyard.

   Plus, staying local lowers your carbon footprint and puts more money into local pocketbooks. So head over to the local state park, take a jaunt to the nearby historic attraction, spend a romantic night in the B&B just down the street or visit the local museum. Chances are, you'll discover something you've never seen before.

2. Leave the car behind (even if just for the day).
   No matter where you are, you can probably head out on a bike to experience your surroundings at a slower pace. When you bike, not only do you exercise, you give back to the environment, too. By stepping off the grid — be it for a day or a month — you're taking that first step toward a greener future. You can even get a little more adventurous and look for long-haul bike trips, backpacks or rafting tours to create a few less common travel tales to tell afterward.

3. Consider the source for everything, including food and lodging.
   Greener resources are one of the keystones of sustainable travel — and a sustainable planet. Next time you head to your local restaurant or spend the night in a hotel, think about where everything in it came from. Did the restaurant buy locally grown food? (A good gauge in the country is a 10-mile radius from the restaurant.) Also think about what hoteliers are doing to "green" up their businesses. Do they recycle? Do they encourage the re-use of towels and sheets? Do they give back to the local community? And what are they doing to find sustainable energy sources? By asking these questions, you are taking the first steps to creating a truly "green" travel culture.

4. Look for certified businesses.
   Many businesses tout their green credentials to attract new clients, but how do you know if a hotel, restaurant or travel service is "green"? Start by checking with a certification organization. For example, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) has created a rating system for green architecture, so you can see if a hotel or vacation home is considered green before you book it. Many travel publications are now actively covering the sustainable travel movement, telling their readers exactly where and how to get the best services, too.

   Splash around Chesapeake Bay

   When it comes to food, don't discount the mom-and-pop farms that are nearly organic but aren't certified. Often, they simply lack the resources to get full accreditation. Another way to look at it: A centuries-old farmhouse certainly uses fewer resources than it would cost to build a new one.

5. Volunteer while you're on vacation.
   Why not consider volunteering for all or part of your next vacation? Whether you build houses for Habitat for Humanity, spend your nights as a poaching warden on a remote beach or teach English at an underfunded school, you'll be doing your small part to give back to the host community. Some volunteering programs require you to pay your own way (or an administration fee), but the payoff is nearly always priceless. Plus, it just feels good to help others.

Travel is such a positive thing — it creates memories, it's a boon for local economies, it allows cultural interchanges among many things, and through it, we can give back by taking small steps forward, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

Greg Benchwick regularly writes and speaks about sustainable travel. His work has been featured in numerous publications around the world, but he's most proud of his work with Lonely Planet, where he helped shape the company's sustainable travel guidelines.