| About Green Routes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sustainable tourism in its purest sense, is an industry which attempts to make a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate income, employment, and the conservation of local ecosystems. It is responsible tourism, which is both ecologically and culturally sensitive. Green Routes is the state's first sustainable tourism initiative.
Through an ever expanding website, convenient glove box maps and this newsletter, Green Routes helps you find one-of-a-kind places to eat, play, shop, sleep, and learn while traveling! There are currently seven "routes" developed. They include Agassiz, Pine and Lakes Country, Bluff Country, North Shore, Tamarack, Upper Minnesota River Valley and the newest Route: Tatanka Bluffs.
From unique businesses rooted in their communities, to artist studios, to restaurants serving locally-grown food, Green Routes helps you find fun, rich experiences while also supporting healthy, local communities. Launched statewide in 2006, Green Routes is managed by Renewing the Countryside (a non-profit organization) in partnership with a number of other organizations.
|
| Have Fun! Make a Difference! Take the Green Routes Travel Pledge!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 We're serious about growing and sustaining our rural economy. We want to support small businesses and communities that have made a commitment to be more environmentally and socially responsible while building their local economy. Join 1,000 green travelers who pledge to visit at least five Green Routes businesses this summer.
Here's how the pledge works.
1) Send us an email with "I pledge" in the subject line. In the body of the email, include your name, preferred email address, and your mailing address (optional).
2) Then, next time you travel in the state, use the Green Routes website or one of the Green Routes maps to find fun and unique places to eat, play, sleep, shop and learn.
3) Keep track of the places you visit, and then once you've visited five places, send us an email with the names of the places you've visited and the dates you were there.
4) As an incentive to for you to keep track of your visits, those who submit their list will be entered in a drawing for a $50.00 gift certificate that can be used at any of the Green Routes businesses.
Our goal is to sign up 1,000 people by July 1, so if you haven't signed up yet, please do and help us meet our goal! |
|
Green Routes Travel Tips
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Green Routes is about "slow travel." It's taking the time to explore the back roads, learning about a region from the people who live there, and getting "unchained" (at least for a little while) from the ubiquitous places that dominate so much of our lives.
Green Routes businesses come in many shades of green. Some of them are exemplary examples of how to incorporate environmental values into a business. Others are leaders in contributing to their local community. And some are at early stages in the sustainability continuum. We ask Green Travelers to be supportive and encouraging. Enjoy these great destinations and pay attention to the progress they make over time. As we see it, Green Routes will be successful not based on where these businesses are today, but where they are a few years down the road.
Also, a number of the places highlighted in Green Routes are not necessarily your
typical tourist destinations (e.g. farms, artist's studios), so call ahead or check their website about the hours they are open and let them know if you have special
needs. And as you travel, let us know of new gems that you think should be added to Green Routes!
|
| Events - with a Green Twist
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 8 - 9 Small Footprint Living Fair
Cook County Community Center in Grand Marais, MN
This event offers work- shops and tours (some free) from an amazing array of speakers. On June 9 from 9 to 5 there is a free crafter and exhibitor fair. http://www.co.cook.mn.us/commctr/small_footprint.pdf
June 15 - 17 MREA Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair
Custer, WI
Midwest Renewable Energy Association's 18th annual event. This affordable, family-friendly fair features hundreds of workshops, speakers and
exhibits all emphasizing renewable and local energy and sustainable living.
http://www.the-mrea.org/energy_fair.php
June 16 Bike-in at the Bell,
Bell Museum courtyard, Minneapolis, MN
Come celebrate people-powered transportation. Part community education fair, part family picnic, Bike-In at the Bell is a chance for adults and children to learn about how their transportation choices can positively impact their environment and community. Noon-midnight, $8; $5 if you ride your bike.
http://www.bellmuseum.org/bike-in/index.html
|
| Featured Green Route - Tantanka Bluffs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nestled in the beautiful Central Minnesota River Valley, Tatanka Bluffs is part of the nationally recognized Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway.
Experience the local flavor by sampling wines made from Minnesota grapes at a local vineyard. Tour beautifully restored historic buildings. Canoe down a scenic river. Or learn about the art of blacksmithing. |
|
