Best Spots for a 'Green' Vacation

Last week, I offered a doomsday road trip of sorts, suggesting some naturally beautiful places around the world to visit before global warming and human folly change them beyond recognition.

To show that I'm not a total curmudgeon -- and to combat any notion that I'm not a fun travel companion -- I'm focusing this week on the umbrella-cocktail glass that's half-full.

Here are five ways to travel this summer to appreciate people and places that are finding a sustainable balance of commerce, tourism and environmental friendliness.

Indulge in Wine Appreciation
Napa and Sonoma wineries are exploring myriad ways to go green -- some by adapting organic farming and productions standards, some by going biodynamic and others by employing sustainable methods that combine the first two along with conventional farming in whatever mix they believe best balances their interests as business people and land owners who want to see their vineyards endure.

More than 100 wineries and 800 vineyards have taken a sustainability self-survey provided by the California Sustainable Winegrowers Alliance. These include well-known winemakers such as Beringer Vineyards, Robert Mondavi Winery (STZ), Wente Family Estates and the Gallo wineries.

For a behind-the-scenes look at how sustainable grape-growing and winemaking work -- with some beautiful Sonoma scenery thrown in for good measure -- head to the Kunde Estate Winery in Kenwood (Sonoma). Several times a year, chairman Jeff Kunde dons hiking boots and leads eco-tours that cover more than 1,800 hilly acres of vines, cows and lessons in grape growing that will help you to newly appreciate what you sip in the region's tasting rooms.

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