Self-guided cycling and hiking vacations are the original green travel holiday, especially when you book with Pure Adventures. By its very nature; a self-guided program uses less energy because less vehicle support is required. Pure Adventures chooses eco-friendly hotels when available, and adheres to eco-friendly policies including electronic communications, cloud storage systems and document sharing help diminish paper printing and storage. Over our history Pure Adventures has made donations supporting sustainable travel and carbon offsets. For Pure Adventures, Earth Day is important for living every day!
Earth Day is being recognized by the National Parks Service in a big way in 2014, by offering visitors free admission to all 401 National Parks on April 19 and 20! The offer is run in partnership with the National Park Foundation and helps kick of National Park Week, which runs April 19 to 27.
“National Park Week is a great time to discover the diverse wildlife, iconic landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history found in our national parks,” says National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “Every park offers a different experience so I invite everyone to join the celebration and get to know a park. And, to get the party started, all national parks will have free admission on April 19 and 20.”
In our opinion, there is no better place to celebrate Earth Day than in our National Parks. Here are three of our favorite parks and our top Earth Day events.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park has a wide variety of family-friendly activities planned for Earth Day, including Junior Ranger Walks, family hikes, trash pick ups and an evening dramatization of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax. Pure Adventures Pick: a fun and educational bike ride about the Yosemite’s environmental efforts. Space is limited so advanced sign up is required. Information and tickets available at any Tour & Activity Desk at Yosemite.
- See the complete Earth Day schedule for Yosemite National Park here
- Check out Passport the the American West, our self-guided tour which includes time in Yosemite National Park.
Zion National Park
Leave No Trace is the theme of the 2014 Earth Day celebration in Zion National Park. This free event includes information sessions on Leave No Trace principles, along with demonstrations about solar ovens, sustainable products, native plants and alternative energy. Even the live music at Zion National Park will be solar powered on Earth Day. More than 1,000 people will be there – will you? Pure Adventures Pick: Bring the kids to participate in fun games, including a reading of The Lorax.
- More information about Zion National Park’s Earth Day events
- Self-guided tours in Zion National Park offered by Pure Adventures
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park has long been concerned with litter, especially disposable water bottles. When the Park banned the sale of small disposable water bottles two years ago because of the increasing amount of trash left along the canyon trails, nearly $300,000 was spent on water stations to keep thirsty hikers hydrated. To celebrate the positive impact the plastic water bottle ban has had, Grand Canyon National Park will focus their 2014 Earth Day celebrations on the theme of water conservation which will include a display of art made by the public – crafted out of used water bottles! Activities throughout Grand Canyon National Park on Earth Day include litter clean up, interactive and educational displays related to water conservation and more family-friendly events. Pure Adventures Pick: After spending Earth Day at Grand Canyon National Park, finish off the day by watching the free screening of Watershed at 7:30 p.m. at Shrine of the Ages. Produced and narrated by Robert Redford, Watershed tells the amazing story of the canyon and the Colorado river.
- More information about Earth Day events at Grand Canyon National Park
- Plan your own self-guided tour of Grand Canyon National Park with Pure Adventures