Travel: Ecotourism & Other Specialty Travel

This open-access site is maintained by the World Resources Institute. "EarthTrends is a comprehensive database that focuses on the environmental, social, and economic trends that shape our world."

Part of the EbscoHost list of databases, GreenFILE "offers well-researched information covering all aspects of human impact to the environment. Its collection of scholarly, government and general-interest titles includes content on global warming, green building, pollution, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, recycling, and more. The database provides indexing and abstracts for more than 384,000 records, as well as Open Access full text for more than 4,700 records."

This is a blog that provides an assortment of articles and posts on the ways to travel Green, such as tips for greening your hotel stay. There is also a section on green travel gear.

Considered to be the world's oldest and largest ecotourism society, this site includes a searchable database of articles on ecotourism. Among the topics you will find information on are mainstreaming sustainability in tourism, eco-destinations, tips for travelers, a guide for traveling Green, a definition of ecotourism, an ecotourism job board, and resources for researching the topic of ecotourism and related subjects.

This site was created in 1995, by Bill and Carol Randall (Carol Randall has MS and is confined to a wheelchair) to provide access information and resources to the
travelers with disabilities (as well as the "mature" traveler).

"An Adventures by Disney family vacation is an expertly planned, guided vacation to some of the most intriguing and beloved destinations around the world. On an Adventures by Disney trip you're a traveler and adventurer, not a tourist. You and your family become active participants in incredible stories, experiences and cultures through immersive activities only Disney can bring you."

"Our international travel seminars take learning adults around the world, introducing them to the peoples and situations of Mexico, Central America, Southern Africa and other places. The Center’s one-to three-week travel seminars bring participants face-to-face with people of other cultures, people working for justice and struggling for human dignity ... Many of these trips are open to the public and often welcome people not associated with the sponsoring organization."

"We publish thoughtful and entertaining articles exploring travel in the 21st century. Incorporating mostly original content from staff writers and guest authors, BNT avoids “destination-specific” narratives and instead focuses on topics like philosophy, health, politics and culture."

A U.K. site, BUG offers information useful to the backpacking traveler. BUG covers the Americas, Asia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

A site "dedicated to accessible travel information. This new site will provide you with information on businesses from around the world that specialize in disability travel.
A comprehensive listing of accessible travel specialists: Travel Agents, Tour Operators, Adventure Travel Companies, Accessible Cruise Specialists, Accessible Van Rentals & Equipment, Travel Companions, Home Exchanges, and Access Guides for wheelchair users and other disabled travelers."

"Extreme Adventures are for the traveller ready to meet a different kind of challenge... An Extreme Adventure reveals exactly who you are, demanding the most of your physical, psychological and perhaps even spiritual selves."

"Extreme Planet was founded the 13th of November 1998 by Bjørn Loe. As an wildlife enthusiast and part time explorer he spend days looking for and collecting info. The wish to give fellow explorers and adventurers access to this information, resulted in the site Extreme Planet. The search for new adventures will continue to make sure that your adventure are available here."

"Founded by Diane and Bill Geer in 1995, with more than 100,000 pages, GORP is the largest (w)eb site devoted to outdoor recreation and adventure travel." Type of travel include biking, scuba diving, archaeology, surfing, backpacking, climbing, nature viewing, snow sports, windsurfing, and fishing, to name several.

"Leisure and travel industry professionals with backgrounds in the military and federal government service founded the Government and Armed Forces Travel Cooperative (GovArm.com) ... (which) provid(es) a resource for travel providers to address this under-served market."

For over 20 years, "IndependentTraveler.com is an interactive traveler's exchange and comprehensive online travel guide for a community of travelers who enjoy the fun of planning their own trips and the adventure of independent travel." The site includes helpful information on a number of health issues, including traveling with dietary restrictions.

The Association's mission is "To develop, promote and preserve food cultures globally through education, development and promotion of the culinary tourism industry."

"The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) is a great tool to find LGBT travel businesses and destinations... use the map and links ... to find welcoming hotels, cities, countries, travel agents and tour operators around the world."

"Gaytravel.com connects gay and lesbian travelers with gay friendly destinations, hotels, cruises and tours throughout the world. We consider our site to be a virtual gay travel magazine! Our mission is to provide our site visitors with the most comprehensive and accurate information available to ensure that every vacation is both pleasurable and comfortable."

You can search the site for volunteering tourism opportunities and information.

"On a National Geographic Expedition, you'll travel not as an observer but as an active participant, with boundless chances to be surrounded by natural wonders and exotic wildlife, to explore celebrated archaeological sites, to learn about different cultures and environments, and to meet local people and share in their traditions. The signature of our programs are our National Geographic experts ..."

This is a guide to world-wide offbeat travel and unusual destinations.

Another travel resource for the LGBT community.

"For more than 30 years now, I've been organizing tours, taking thousands of travelers to Europe's most thrilling destinations. This part of our 2010 Tours website isn't about those destinations ... " Rick Steves' tours focus on learning about the history, culture and people of the destination.

The web site of Elderhostel, Inc.

"For 40 years, Smithsonian has tapped its resources, developed unique travel itineraries, and assembled the experts for the sole purpose of providing exciting educational travel experiences. As the largest, most diverse museum-based educational travel program in the world, our commitment to excellence is unrivaled."

This is a web site dedicated to the solo (single) traveler.

"Founded in 1980 by intrepid travelers C. Steen Hansen and Andy Alpine, Specialty Travel Index is the #1 source for adventure and special-interest vacations worldwide. Featuring tour and contact information for hundreds of tour operators around the globe, the directory offers details on everything from river rafting in Idaho to art classes in Florence." There is also a bi-annual print magazine.

"The World Volunteer Web is brought to you by the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme ... The World Volunteer Web supports the volunteer community by serving as a global clearinghouse for information and resources linked to volunteerism that can be used for campaigning, advocacy and networking. It is an online hub where the community can meet, share resources and coordinate activities to mobilize volunteer action ..."

From BUDGET TRAVEL magazine comes these tips for traveling with your pet.