Best Sustainable Travel Destinations to Visit in the USA Promoting Eco-Tourism
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The United States of America is a vast country geographically, with 11 time zones and 50 states. This is enough to prove that it would not be easy to cover the USA in one go. But if planned properly, then it would not be that hard. Traveling around the USA itself means the trip could be very expensive. Spending money is not an issue, but the key point is to make the trip sustainable. The main intention was to find out about eco tourism in the USA, making it a part of your sustainable travel goals.
Being one of the most important and influential countries with diverse geographical locations, many tourists visit the USA every year. From pristine and amazing beaches to the rich and natural landscape of mountains and forests, the USA has it all.
Let’s now chalk out some of the best places to visit USA that support eco-tourism.
1. Yellowstone National Park
Let’s start with one of the most popular destinations: Yellowstone National Park. What kind of destination list would this be without Yellowstone National Park? It is the very first national park in the USA and in the world. What do you get to see? The most common feature here is the awesome geothermal.
The Old Faithful Geyser is the park’s second-most popular attraction. Despite it being the home of the continent’s largest super volcano, the Yellowstone Caldera, the native Americans still inhabit the park today.
The park and its incredibly detailed ecosystem are a must-see for the ultimate eco tourism experience. If you are a tourist and come to visit, the best place to stay in the park is Canyon Village.
It is best to stay in a centrally located place, as Yellowstone Park is huge, making it sustainable. From here, it is a short drive to Hayden Valley, Tower Falls, and Norris Geyser Basin.
2. Mount Rainier National Park
The Mount Rainier National Park is a 369-square-mile state reserve situated in the state of Washington. It is a 3-hour journey from Seattle. At a height of 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier is the highest volcanic peak in the United States. It boasts the world’s largest volcanic glacier cave system (in the summit crater), as well as the largest alpine glacial system outside of Alaska.
Mount Rainier National Park is a reserve for many species, including black bears, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, Cascade red foxes, fishers, raccoons, minks, striped skunks, and short- and long-tailed weasels.
Few mountain ridges are more iconic than Mount Rainier, and the park itself is a gem of sustainable travel. There are several natural attractions in this area, including hot springs, waterfalls, and caverns. The best side is Paradise (south side), with meadows, mountains, wildflowers, and a great view of Mt. Rainier.
When visiting Mount Rainier National Park, Ashford or Packwood are the ideal cities to stay in. If you are only visiting Paradise, Ashford is the place to stay. But if you visit both Paradise and Sunrise, you’ll save driving time by staying in Packwood instead.
3. Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
The Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park is quite a mouthful, right? But it is totally worth the visit. Located on Hawaii’s big island, this historic national park protects cultural and wildlife landmarks that are unique to this small portion of the Pacific.
Exciting archaeological sites are there for visitors, such as temple ruins and royal fishpond remnants. The history of this area is so captivating that tourists find themselves intrigued by it. One of the must-do things would be interacting with the Rangers, as they are a wealth of information.
Several bed and breakfasts are located within Honaunau and neighbouring towns. Hotels are to be found in Kailua-Kona, approximately 1/2 hour from the park.
4. Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park in northwestern Arizona is another of the best eco tourism destinations in the USA. It is an Arizonan canyon with steep sides that was sculpted by the Colorado River. Numerous ecosystems are created by the Grand Canyon’s extreme width and depth. That is why it has been turned into a national park to conserve flora and fauna. The Grand Canyon’s wide range of elevations gives rise to several unique ecosystems.
The 277-mile-long Grand Canyon offers one of the most visible examples of a worldwide geological phenomenon known as the Great Unconformity. Tusayan, just a 6-mile/10-minute drive from the South Rim, is the best place to stay near the Grand Canyon. If you plan to stay inside the park for a night, then you are in for a lifetime of experience that would be worth every penny. Staying on the South Rim would be best.
Many places support eco tourism in the USA, but these are the best of the lot. When planned six months prior to travel, the rates will go down considerably, making the travel sustainable and yet unique.
