Hiking · Eco-Chick

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Eco Chick Escapes to Kaua’i: Hiking and Staying in Sustainable Style

The walk from the St. Regis Princeville to the beach.

My favorite kind of wedding to attend is, by far, the destination wedding. While an open bar is never not fun, it’s even better if the drinks are located in a country that takes a passport to get into. And a wedding is a genuine excuse to blow your budget to travel (I barely need an excuse to get out of town, but it’s always nice to have one).

So when my boyfriend received an invitation to nuptials in Kaua’i, I started planning the trip immediately, even though I had never met the bride or groom. Having sojourned on the Big Island and visited Oahu numerous times growing up, I was excited to check out “The Garden Isle” of Kaua’i, which I’d heard so much about.

The Makana Terrace at the St. Regis is just one of the hotel’s restaurants that serves local, organic food. Image courtesy St. Regis Princeville.

After scouring the web for ethical accommodations, I ended up at the St. Regis in Princeville, a stunning hotel in the old-school style, with impeccable customer service and a lobby that I’ll never forget (picture several story-high glass windows fronting a view of one of the most famed spots in Kaua’i and miles of ocean and sky).

While not a small lodging, the St. Regis is well integrated into its environment, and unlike many of the newer hotels I’ve lately seen, it doesn’t try to be more than its location. I have a major antipathy for cheesy, overdone, glitzy hotels that seem designed in Des Moines and plopped down wherever tourists are flying this year. The St. Regis is not one of these, but in its elegance, seems almost to serve to remind us why a boutique hotel isn’t always the way to go.

I had a bit of a stretch out on the rocks in the bay off the beach at the St. Regis.

I had the chance to have a lovely breakfast with Stephanie Reid, the Director of Public Relations for the hotel; she is both a native Hawaiian from Kaua’i (going back 10 generations) and a wealth of knowledge of the natural and human history about the area where the St. Regis is located.

To read the rest of this post, and see all the amazing images, please click over to our sister site, Eco Chick Escapes.

green, hawaii, Hiking, Kauai, princeville, st. regis, sustainable style, travel

Harvest Time! Eco Chick Escapes to Stowe, Vermont for Waterhole Swimming, Hiking and Farmer’s Marketing

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by Starre Vartan · 08/18/11

Along with the ‘big city’ of Burlington, Stowe is the epitome of Vermont’s many facets; conscious, cosmopolitan and cozy. I love visiting the Green Mountain state any time of year (well, except mud season!) but there’s no time like August, September and October for a trip to what I think of as “The Promised Land” (because every time I go, I get to do all the things I promise myself I will do! How often does that happen?).

When I visit Vermont, I’m lucky enough to have excellent tourguides in my friends who have moved there over the last few years from New York and Connecticut. Holistic health expert Cara Joy, a good friend I met in 9th grade honors English class, drove me around, pointed out the best places to eat, and took me on a waterhole tour of mega proportions. Read on….

Our first stop was Moss Glen Falls, which, as you can see are a huge waterfall that you can swim at the bottom of, or climb into. After a 5-hour drive from my house in Connecticut, the mountain-cold refreshment was intense! And delicious, not to mention instantly calming many of my worries away. Among alternative health practitioners, it is noted that the negative ions surrounding places of water movement are excellent for stress-relief.

These almost perfectly circular potholes were caused by hundreds of years (or more!) of water action on the rock that has now moved and left these behind. This tiny one held an ecosystem within its depths.

eco chick escapes, farmer's market, Hiking, travel, vermont

These Eco Boots Were Made for Walking; Through Wind, Sleet and Snow

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by Starre Vartan · 12/02/10

Guest post by Kathie Butler.

Winter is upon us. For many of us, this means our delicate strappy sandals are now shoved to the back of the closet, only to be replaced by footwear that resembles something possibly worn in war trenches. But just because it’s cold and damp outside, it doesn’t mean we have to sheath our feet in block of concrete. There are options out there to stay dry and fashionable.

Like what? (She asks, as a friend calls to report snow flurries are falling in Chicago.) Recently, I had the chance to check out a new, eco-friendly boot from Hi-Tec. The Altitude Enviro WP boot provides some serious coverage for our feet. They are made with waterproof vegetan, which is derived from a process that uses less chemicals while tanning. They also contain 50% post-consumer recycled nylon lining. The boots have a recycle metal steel shank for support, while the hiking outsole contains recycled rubber.
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boots, eco, Hiking, leather, Winter

Simple Ways to a Green 2008 Holiday

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by Kimberly Jordan Allen · 12/21/08

Every year there are things we do to minimize the consumptive haze. This year, with the economy being what it is and people mowing each other down at Wal-Mart, many are choosing alternatives to corporate Christmas debris. Here are some of the tips that help my family to slow down, enjoy each other and breathe.

1. Get Outside: This is always the number one answer for us. When cabin fever settles in or the air is getting stale, we head for the wild. Today we took our screaming toddlers for a cross-country ski. The gray sky broke as the sun set behind snow-covered trees. My son, who only has a few words (mama, dada, eat, lulu doggie) said “Weeeeeeee” as my husband glided on the snow. Moments like this make it worthwhile.

2. Avoid wasting energy with lights, inflatable snowmen and massive automated plastic snowglobes (these strange spheres that send styrofoam snow in circles are perhaps one of the signs of the capitalistic Apocalypse?)

3. Make stuff: This year I made my tahini, garlic, lemon dressing for friends. My hubby makes a mean roasted butternut squash soup with garlic, ginger and cinnamon and we put it in mason jars with a bow. I have friends who knit, make homemade lip balm, and create art to share with loved ones.

4. If you use Christmas trees, there are several sustainable options. One choice is to use a potted tree. If you don’t want to keep it after the holiday, you can find a planter who will take the tree. Here is a great resource page on how to manage live trees. Some municipalities collect trees for mulching. Use Earth 911 to find your local waste management. Fresh Christmas Tree is a great place to find sustainably harvested trees, but by this time of year they are usually sold out. They might be able to refer you to local farms that are growing trees responsibly.

5. Recycle Wrapping: instead of spending money on wrapping I actually save old wrapping and ribbons. Gift bags get used multiple times in our house. Re-gifting is also a really good way to avoid wasteful spending.

6. Donate to a cause: For those who don’t need ‘stuff,’ giving to local charities is a great way to give a gift with meaning.

7. Give an experience: Yoga classes, massage, theater tickets, or an afternoon of hiking…

Here is an excellent resource for other environmentally conscious holiday ideas. Mahalo!
Wishing everyone warmth for the season.

bags, charities, Christmas, dress, Energy, farm, farms, giving, Hiking, holiday, Home, homemade, local, mom, Outdoors, plastic, recycle, soup, sustainable, Tea, trees, waste, yoga

ENDoutdoor: New Sustainable Trail Sneaks for the Green Outdoorschickie

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by Melissa Goldberg · 07/28/08

Many people think that when you live in the suburbs you are only surrounded by tiny plots of land with mowed lawns and white picket fences. That’s not the case for me. I am very fortunate to live within a half mile of a forest reserve of more than 2,000 acres of undeveloped land. Twice a week my friend and I take an 1-1.5 hour hike — no matter the weather, no matter the season, we take her dog and hike.

So I was really excited when I was offered the opportunity to test out a new brand of high-performance eco-friendly trail shoes. Now I’ve seen eco-friendly clothing and everyday footwear. Never before have I seen green footwear for athletic and fitness needs — think Nau for the outdoor fitness enthusiast.

Launching August 1st, ENDoutdoor (END) is a new sustainability company that is focused on designing outdoor gear that performs well without all the “bells and whistles”- no pumps or air cushions that don’t really do anything. By keeping it simple, END reduces components, material and manufacturing waste. END’s stated goal is to reduce waste up to 59% in the first season compared to the top rate trail running shoes.

Their trail shoes are made from renewable, sustainable or recycled (RSR) materials wherever possible. The company’s goal is to reach 100% use of RSR in the next 3-5 yrs. END shoes are being manufactured in China. China, I know what you are thinking! However, the company made a conscious decision by going to China. They believe that China is the best choice because they want to be part of the solution by working closely with manufacturers to make the processes as eco-friendly as possible. END is teaching Chinese manufacturers how to produce environmentally, not just low-cost. The company hopes this focus spreads beyond just the producing of END’s shoes.

One of the most interesting features of END’ manufacturing process is that all materials used to make the shoes are sourced within 1 hour of the production factory, cutting down on transportation pollution. Additionally, all wastes are recycled back into the shoes, and the shoes are shipped in lightweight containers, cutting down on use of fuel for shipping. Importantly, END shoeboxes are made of recycled and recyclable material.

So how do they actually perform in the field? I love them. I have been hiking in the END Stumptown 12 oz running shoes (pictured above) that use 35-59% less material; rubber, foam, resins and glues (compared to the top five trail shoes by Outside Magazine in 2007).

From the feel, they sure seem like it. They are comfortable, light and stable. No fancy colors or logos. I even went hiking the other day with my husband and we took a new route. We had to cross a river that we both fell in. My END sneaks dried out in the the sun in about an hour and my husband’s Adidas Sambas (not the best hiking shoes) were still wet that night!

fitness, Hiking, Outdoors, shoes, sustainable