Where do you want to go natural next?

The Modern Girl's Guide to Going Natural By Jane Buckingham

While Traveling: Eco-friendly tips for the road

Who doesn't love traveling? There's room service, fluffy beds and always coming back to a clean room with fresh towels. While I must confess a weakness for nice hotels, I am trying to find ways to travel that allow me to go natural and minimize my impact on the environment when I jet out and about. Here's how you can help too...

Yes, fresh towels are great, but twice a day??? Come on! If you're staying for more than a few days, leave a note for the housekeeper that if towels are hung, they don't need to be replaced. If they are on the floor, they do. Imagine how many loads of laundry we could prevent if EVERY traveler did the same!

Second, don't forget to pack your favorite travel essentials. I always bring a travel size Jergens® Naturals® Ultra Hydrating Daily Moisturizer because flying dries out my skin and I love to have something that reminds me of home. I also try to bring a travel size soy candle for the same reason, because no matter how fluffy the bed, there's still no place like home.

Finally, skip the fancy tours and go for a ride! The coolest trend in sightseeing these days involves trading in the bus tour for two-wheeled transportation. Not only is bike riding an activity your entire family can participate in, but it is a low-cost way to see a city on your own terms. Ask a local, the concierge, or search for "bike rentals" for the city you are headed to, and you will be exploring in no time.

Two of my favorite trips were when I took bike tours. One was of San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge. It took about three hours (and I'll be honest, I was grateful there was a ferry to take us back) but the views were amazing, and biking over such an incredible landmark was breathtaking! The other was in Boston, with a company called Urban AdvenTours. (How could you not love a company whose slogan is "We burn carbs not carbon")? They showed us Boston the right way – from a dweller's perspective. You see (and feel) every hill, historic street, and landmark.

In addition, a few hotels are "Greenie Points", with brands and corporations offering perks to consumers and employees alike for making sustainable choices. For example, Kimpton® Hotels has offered everything from free parking to meal coupons to hybrid car drivers. Concierges around the country are also presenting guests with alternative transportation options, such as walking tours and bike rentals—a no-brainer way to go green, and get fit as an added benefit.