In March 2022, we went on our third trip to Costa Rica. Our first trip was in February 2014, when Willa (my oldest child) was just 20 months old. We went for 10 days, flying in and out of San José, and exploring the Monteverde region before heading to the beach in Guanacaste province. We had a fantastic trip, and came back to Denver knowing we’d travel there again, if we had the chance.

The next time we planned a beach vacation, it was when Cameron (my second child) was 17 months old, and so we decided we should go somewhere “easier” and “simpler.” We went to Tulum, Mexico, and despite having a good time, it wasn’t at all easier, and we said to ourselves “we should have gone to Costa Rica!”

Apparently we’re into trips when our kids are just under age 2, because the next time we went to Costa Rica, our littlest, Zoe, was 16 months old. That was in 2019, and we traveled with another family. We loved that trip so much, we pretty much repeated it this year. No toddler in tow this time, though!

There are a lot of one liners about traveling with kids and how hard it can be. We love traveling as a family, challenges and all, but Costa Rica is the one vacation we’ve done that truly feels like a vacation. It is genuinely relaxing. Here are a few things we’ve done that I think have helped make this our favorite family vacation:

Go to a small town:
On our second trip to Costa Rica, we were very specific about what kind of place we wanted to stay. We searched for rental houses all over the country, looking for one that was walking distance from a beach and a grocery store. Our top pick was to be in Guanacaste or Nicoya, and we ultimately found a great-looking rental house in Playa Carrillo. The house worked out perfectly: we walked to the beach 1-2 times a day, and we could also walk to a small grocery store and a few restaurants. We went back to Playa Carrillo this year, but stayed in a different house. Still walking distance to the beach and closer to the store and restaurants. Plus it had a pool (see below for more on that). Playa Carrillo is just a short drive to Sámara, a larger beach town that is fun to explore. There’s a public bus between the two towns, too.

Fly to the smaller airport:
To get to Playa Carrillo, we fly to the Liberia airport in northwestern Costa Rica. It’s a small airport that primarily serves tourists. From Denver, Southwest flies to Liberia direct, but only on certain days of the week during peak season. We’ve closely watched Southwest’s schedule to get flights as soon as they’re released.

Don’t rent a car:
Many of you know that driving is not my favorite. Of course it has it’s role and with a rental car you can go more places on your own schedule. But we find renting a car when traveling can often be stressful, and driving in Costa Rica isn’t always smooth. Literally. On our first trip., we drove from Monteverde to Guanacaste and gosh it was a bumpy adventure! Our last two trips to CR have been with a group of 9 people. With that size group, we hire a van to drive us to and from the Liberia airport and our rental house in Playa Carrillo. It costs about $150 USD each way, and the drive is 2 hours. We’ve used Samara Adventures and always had a really good experience. They will supply car seats if you need them.

Rent a house with a pool:
To be honest, I had a lot of reservations about renting a house with a pool. Pools obviously add a good amount of risk, and I was worried that managing the kids around the pool would add a lot of stress to our vacation. Thankfully, after setting clear expectations and rules around the pool, we found it added so much FUN to our time in Costa Rica! Even though the beach was walking distance away, sometimes a jump in the pool was what everyone needed. The kids would swim first thing in the morning while the adults leisurely sipped their coffee. We’d have a quick swim before dinner. You get it - pools are great.

Find someone to cook at your house:
On our first trip to Playa Carrillo, we tried to find someone who’d be willing to come cook at our rental house, but we didn’t have any luck. This last trip, our property manager had a friend who was interested, and it was such a treat. She met with us and discussed our dietary preferences (1 gluten free, 1 vegan, 1 vegetarians) and then came three nights during our stay and cooked the most delicious Costa Rican food (plus some chicken tenders and fries for the kids). It was less expensive than going out to eat at the local restaurants, even though we ended up paying more than she asked for because we were so happy with the experience.

Buy groceries:
I know not everyone agrees, but I don’t find eating out to be that “easy.” I’m not good at deciding what to order, and I’ve gotten even worse since eating a more vegan diet. With kids, you have to help them decide what to order too…and then you have to wait. Anyway, my point is there is some ease that comes with having groceries and making food at your rental house. We like to have the airport transfer van stop at a larger grocery store en route and then we re-stock from the small store in Playa Carrillo. Easy meal ideas: pasta with jarred sauce, tacos, eggs and veggies. And don’t miss the fresh fruit!

Keep plans minimal:
I know this isn’t everyone’s preference, but for us, it’s worked out really well to keep our days very simple while in Costa Rica. We are there for a week, and only planned a couple outings or adventures. Most days we “just” go to the beach. Coming from Denver, the beach is very different and exciting and keeps us all entertained for hours at a time. In 2019, we went into Sámara one day, and also went on a dolphin watching adventure. This past trip (2022), we again went to Sámara and also spent a morning zip-lining in the jungle. We booked our outings with Samara Adventures. They pick you up and drop you off at your rental house, so no car needed!

Make piña coladas:
With or without rum, fresh pineapple blended together with coconut cream and ice is absolutely divine after a day at the beach. So refreshing!

Take a wagon:
A wagon is key for getting kids and stuff to and from the beach. Without one, it might have seemed necessary to drive, but with two wagons we were able to take all our towels, toys, snacks and kids on the 10 minute walk there and back. Ours is a Costco wagon and it was easy to take through the airport. We’ve gate checked it and checked it as a stroller. Both work!

Watch the sunset:
Sunsets are relaxing. I highly recommend taking a picnic dinner to the beach one night to watch the sun go down after you play in the waves.

Everyone likes different types of vacations, but for us, keeping things low key has been delightful. What’s your favorite way to actually relax on vacation?

Pura Vida!

I am working on a post about our trip to Costa Rica earlier this year (so overdue!) and as a result, travel and its environmental impact have been on my mind. Actually, I frequently wrestle with the issue of travel and how responsible I am as an individual to decrease my travel due to the climate crisis. Light thoughts, right? Phew.

I don’t have many answers but I am always trying to learn more and to be aware of how my behavior fits into the larger picture. Apparently tourism accounts for 8-11% of annual greenhouse gas emissions globally, and that is mostly how you get where you’re going: car or plane. Planes are more polluting, but more people travel by car. 

Like many people, I have always loved to travel, and I am so appreciative of the opportunities I’ve had in my lifetime to experience new places, both near and far. I grew up in a small, rural town, and always longed for adventures. My parents instilled a love of travel in me from a young age. Most of our trips were in North America: spring break in Florida at my grandparents’ house, holidays with family in Ohio, road trips across the country with stops at national parks.

When I was in high school, I had a unique opportunity to go on a school trip to China. I can’t remember all the details, but there was a lot of fundraising and some mandatory language lessons. I spent almost two weeks in Beijing, living with a host family. That experience prompted me to study Mandarin Chinese in college, which afforded me several more trips to China and Asia more broadly.

But before studying Chinese, I first worked on my French skills as an exchange student in France in between graduating high school and starting college. That was in the fall 2001, so my ability to explore France and Europe as an American was limited due to concerns in the aftermath of 9/11, but I did manage a solo trip to visit a friend in Germany. 

When I was taking these trips, I was blissfully unaware of the impact airplane travel has on the climate. Admittedly, I was selfish. I can recognize now that I was broadening my own horizons to the detriment of others.

But it’s not like I stopped traveling. Like I said, I love it. So many of us do... Before having kids I went to Greece, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Switzerland, Italy, and Aruba. As a family, we’ve traveled with one to three kids to Costa Rica, Mexico, Iceland, Germany, and Denmark.

I don’t mean to sound like a braggart here (does anyone even use that word anymore?); my main goal is to reflect on my past to help inform future choices, but I can see how listing where I’ve traveled might sound a little annoying. So let me get on with my point, shall I?

I have no plans to give up flying altogether. I do, however, try to be more thoughtful all the time about our trips, and only take the ones that are really important to our family. I also hope to go on a few longer trips where we can see several sights at the “cost” of only one long flight. There are also so many places closer to home we have yet to explore. I’m always reminding myself to explore my city; the state; our region. 

Another way I think about the impact of travel is through a yearly carbon budget, similar to the way I think of how the plane tickets I purchase affect our finances. I don’t do any actual calculations, but I just think about how it wouldn’t be good for my bank account to take five international trips a year, and it isn’t great for my “carbon footprint” to do that either. Now, there could be a year in which five international trips are necessary, whether it be for your work or if your family is abroad. I’m not judging. I’m not telling you what to do. I’m just suggesting we all think about it when we are booking our plane tickets.

There’s no doubt that flying is the single most polluting thing an individual can do, but there is some doubt about how much individual action has an impact on changing the systemic problems that got us into this mess. If my family stops flying, it won’t get us out of this mess. But if we all are more conscious about all our actions and we use them to educate others and advocate for change across industries and society, that might actually move the needle just a smidge.

I’d love to hear your musings in the comments! 

• If you could only take one international trip in the next five years, where would you go?

• Where’s your favorite place to explore in your city/town?

• What’s a road trip you hope to take in the next year?

More reading: the New York Times recently wrote about how to Be a More Sustainable Traveler

I grew up camping. From summer camp canoe trips to family hiking trips to the times we didn’t want to rent a hotel on a road trip, I camped a lot. I’ve always considered myself a “camper.” However, when we moved to Colorado eight years ago and got invited to go camping with friends, I realized family car camping was a whole different beast than the camping I grew up doing. There was no filling your sleeping bag stuff sack with dirty clothes to make a pillow. People brought pillows! And mattresses. And bikes!

In the past several years, we’ve embraced this type of camping. I love sleeping with my pillow. I recently bought a sleeping pad and it’s divine. And yet, I still seek some degree of simplicity when we’re out in nature. Less is more. And this is particularly true when it comes to waste. I have no interest in creating a bunch of trash while I’m communing with the great outdoors. There are few things that hurt my heart more than an overflowing dumpster at the edge of a campground.

Figuring out how to minimize waste while camping can be a bit daunting. Drawing on my childhood memories of minimalist camping and my more newly-developed “zero-waste” habits, I’ve come up with some tips for making your outdoor adventures more waste-free!

one // Compost. Whether camping or in your house, composting is the number one way individuals can reduce the amount of waste they send to the landfill. By some estimates, up to 50% of household trash is organic matter. So much of our camping “trash” is compost: produce scraps, coffee grounds, uneaten sandwich crusts that fell on the ground… Put all this in a compost bin and take it home with you. If you don’t have your own compost service, most cities have a free drop-off locations. Line your bin with brown paper to reduce smell and make sure to tie your bin up high in a tree or put it in your car overnight!

two // Bring your own plates, cups, and utensils. When we camp, we bring three large plastic bins. One contains dry foods, one contains cooking utensils, and the third holds miscellaneous camping items like matches, flashlights, a first aid kit, bug spray, etc.

I pack plates, cups, bowls, and silverware for everyone in our family. I also bring a lightweight placemat to use as a cutting board, a sharp knife, a peeler, a large bowl for prepping foods, a cast iron pan for cooking, a sauce pan for boiling water, a moka pot (small stovetop espresso maker)…and any other cooking tools I’ll need for the meals I have planned.

I beg you, do not use disposables when you camp. It just goes against the entire idea of enjoying nature. You’re going to eat off a plate that was made by cutting down trees while you’re enjoying the view of the trees?

three // Take your “rag system” with you. I always encourage people to adopt a “rag system” in their home to minimize the use of paper products like tissues, napkins, and paper towels. And it’s not that hard to take some cloth towels on the road!

Here’s what I do: I take a bag of clean cloths (mostly dish towels, but also smaller clothes to use for spills and noses) and a wet bag for dirties. When a dish towel is dirty beyond reuse, I throw it in the dirty bag. Any super dirty clothes might go in there too. Wash it all once you’re back at home.

four // Bring tap water in reusable containers. Years ago, we had a large plastic “bladder” for taking water camping. These are great, and I support anything reusable that limits single-use water bottles! But, we made the mistake of letting our kids play with it at home, and it inevitably sprung a leak. Instead of buying a new one, the next time we went camping I brought a six pack of old wine bottles filled with water. I put them in one of those reusable wine carrying bags to keep them organized. This worked well, so now we bring them every time we camp. I also have a few gallon-sized bottles we bring. If the campground has a water pump, bring a funnel and you can easily refill these bottles. When we go somewhere without a water source, we bring a large 5-gallon glass bottle I bought at a vintage store as a decorative item. (I was searching Amazon for a non-plastic water container and saw a bunch of large glass bottles and realized I already had one sitting in my dining room full of fake flowers!) #usewhatyouhave

five // Minimize individually wrapped foods. It can be tempting to rely on “convenience foods” when you go camping. Granola bars, juice boxes, applesauce pouches, chip bags… Marketers convince us our life will be easier if our food is “grab and go.” But, really, when you’re camping there’s plenty of time to cut up some fruit or bread for a snack. There are many delicious snacks that don’t come with a lot of packaging. Make a big jar of trail mix to dole out to the kids. Give them bananas or apples. For more ideas, check out my post on low-waste snack ideas.

six // Recycle. Properly. It ceases to amaze me how many people put their recyclables in a plastic trash bag. If you do this, they WILL NOT be recycled. Put recyclables in a recyclable bag, like a paper grocery bag.

Another “no-no:” can crushing. Do not crush your cans; this also reduces the chances they’ll be recycled because recycling machines have electronic readers that scan for the shape of cans.

Something else to consider: rural areas typically don’t have as robust of recycling facilities as urban areas. If you’re someone who lives in a city and is going camping in a more rural setting, bring your recyclables back home to ensure they get recycled.

seven // Meal plan. Just like at home, you’re likely to waste less food and maximize your ingredients if you have a plan. Some of my go-to meals for camping are:

• pasta with pesto and veggies/legumes

• tacos with sweet potato or mushrooms, avocado, salsa etc.

• lentil soup with rice (make both ahead and just reheat!)

• peanut butter + jelly sandwiches

• vegetable and hummus wraps

• scrambled eggs and potato hash

• oatmeal (oats, chia seeds, flaxmeal, coconut flakes, raisins…)

• pancakes (try my make-ahead mix!)

eight // Consider non-tangible waste. Reducing waste is a simple step we can all take to help the environment. I’m a big believer that the benefits stretch far beyond the trash bin by simplifying your life. But it’s also important to remember that our trash might not be the biggest way we pollute the earth. The fossil fuels burned by driving to a campsite are not insignificant, and neither are those powering a RV generator. Often, when we camp somewhere with a body of water or a hike, I’ll see people driving from their campsite to the lake or trailhead. If this is absolutely necessary, then by all means. But you already drove to the campground, so maybe spare the earth the extra pollutants while you’re there?

nine // Keep learning and researching. Every year I have new ideas about how to do something that I hadn’t considered before. I discover new ways to reduce my waste or accomplish a task in a way that has a smaller environmental impact. My next goal: cook while camping with fewer gas canisters. They’re not recyclable and they’re also a hazardous waste, so they need to be dropped off at drop off locations and should not be put directly in your trash bin. (But, if you’re like me, they just accumulate in you house because you can’t confront the waste you’ve created!)

ten // Teach others. We need to remind each other how to take care of the earth so it will always be enjoyable for camping trips. Talk with your family and friends about the importance of reducing our environmental impact. Pick up any litter near your campsite. Exploring and respecting nature is a key to becoming more eco-conscious citizens!

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll notice I post a lot about biking. Switching to a “car-lite” lifestyle has been one of the most significant intentional changes our family has made in the past couple of years. I am a huge believer that biking or walking more instead of driving has a profoundly positive impact on one’s life. It also is a change that helps minimize your environmental footprint. Transportation is the largest contributor to C02 emissions in the US. And most of the driving comes from short trips around one’s town or neighborhood. Of course the automobile has opened up so many opportunities to us, but next time you go to jump in the car for a short trip, ask yourself if maybe you could get there by a smaller, cleaner vehicle instead. (Or a larger one with lots of people on it!)

In order to making biking your norm, you need a bike to suit your needs. Enter: the cargo bike. We bought ours two years ago, and as cheesy as it sounds, it has truly changed my life. I get a decent number of questions and comments about my bike, so I thought I’d do a little FAQ here for anyone who’s interested. Let me know if there’s anything you’re curious about that I’ve missed.

What type of bike is it?
Our bike is a Nihola 4.0.

Nihola bikes are made in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their “family” model is the most popular: it has one bench which fits two children. Our model, the 4.0 has two benches so it can fit up to 4 children with seat belts.

Where’d you get it? Is it custom?
We ordered our bike from Practical Cycle, a bike store in Sacramento, California. They import Nihola bikes from Copenhagen and have sold them to customers across the United States. The bike was shipped in a truck directly to our garage! The cost of shipping was minimal relative to the overall purchase.

Why not just use a trailer or bike seat?
We’ve used both of those bike attachments to transport our kids. But when I was pregnant with our third child, I realized I really wanted a bike that I could use in place of a car to go almost everywhere we need to go. I didn’t want to bike just for recreation or occasional use. A trailer and/or bike seat can be heavy and awkward depending on your set-up. I loved the idea of a “bucket bike” where I could just throw everything in the cargo area and not worry about attachments or the kids dropping things etc.

Why a bucket bike instead of a longtail?
Longtail bikes were some of the first cargo bikes for carrying kids available to the American market. I remember over 10 years ago I watched a video about a family using an Xtracycle for errands (they bought a tree at a nursery, haha) and seeing that lit the flame that turned into a burning desire to own a cargo bike. But later, I saw a Madsen bucket bike (basically a longtail with a cargo bin on the back) and thought that would be much better for kids. More research led us to the Nihola, and I love having the kids in front of me so we can talk and I can keep an eye on them. And I love having the ability to just throw everything inside the cargo hold and get on our way. I don’t have to think too much about adding bags or attachments. And I don’t have to worry about the kids dropping their belongings en route!

Why do you like it so much?
This might actually be the hardest question to answer, just because it’s hard to put it into words. Riding a bike gives me a feeling of freedom and excitement while simultaneously making me feel calm and at peace with the world around me. The sensory experience of the breeze in your face and the weather all around you is truly good for one’s soul. I love getting my exercise while also getting somewhere. I like talking with the kids about the things we see around us. When I see traffic, I am gleeful that we’re not stuck in it. Riding a bike makes me feel strong and independent. The most mundane errand, is more fun when you’re biking. At least, it is to me!

When are you going to let your kids bike on their own?
When Denver has more protected bike lanes? ;) Kidding. Kind of. Willa is 7, and her biking skills are improving. Cameron is almost 5 and he’s good on a bike too. They bike on her own for recreation and in parks. But generally, the traffic and roads around our neighborhood do not feel safe for children, in my opinion. Even the large park we live near allows cars on the roads, and the drivers go too fast while looking at their phones. I wish my kids were able to bike more on their own, because I think it’s important for kids to be independent. And I’m a parent who is ok with kids taking on a bit of risk. But I also have to be honest with myself about where we live and central Denver just isn’t the best place for kids to be biking on their own at a young age. I’m hopeful the bike infrastructure will continue to improve though.

All that said, I plan to keep riding the Nihola with the kids for years to come. Often we bike to places that others would drive. This morning I took Willa to her soccer game 5 miles away. She’s not going to bike that on her own any time soon.

Is it hard to ride?
In short, no. It rides much easier than I thought it would before buying it. Even though we have the electric assist, we don’t use it all the time. The Nihola is relatively lightweight as far as cargo bikes go. The challenges with riding it are more related to navigating streets and obstacles in the city. It doesn’t clear steep curb cuts, so I have to angle the wheels to make sure the front doesn’t bottom out. It also doesn’t have the same turning radius as a two-wheeled bike, so I sometimes have to do three-point turns. Locking it up can also be tricky sometimes, depending on what types of bike locks are available.

Where do you ride it?
Pretty much everywhere! We live in central Denver, so we can get to so many places within a mile or two. We use it almost every day for school drop off and pick up, as well as trips to the grocery store, the doctor, friends’ houses, and more. I love having the cargo bike in the garage ready to go at all times, so we can just jump in it without too much rigamarole. I try not to drive unless I’m going somewhere over 5 miles. Last summer, we did swim lessons 4 days a week for 4 weeks about 45 minutes away (biking). I biked most days. It was a great way to spend time together with the kids and for them to decompress after swimming. Last year, I used the bike to bring my son’s classmate home from their preschool a couple days a week. I call it my “bike minivan:” I use it for everything!

Do the kids like it?
Yes! They’ve gotten very used to it over the past two years. They often complain now if we’re going to drive somewhere. But, just like anyone, they can get crabby if it’s hot or we’re on a long ride. They sit pretty close to each other so kicking and yelling at each other is not uncommon. But neither is singing songs or laughing. Mostly, we have a good time when we’re biking around the city.

Is it just for carrying kids?
No way. We sometimes load it up with lawn chairs and a cooler for a picnic in the park. I regularly use it for grocery shopping. Occasionally I’ll ride in it for a date night! (When we were in Copenhagen, that was commonplace!) Whatever kind of cargo you need to move around, there’s a bike for that!

How much cargo can it hold?
The bike can carry 265 pounds plus the rider. People often ask when the kids will be “too big” for it, but going by their weights, it will be a long time before we out grown it!

What about when it’s cold or rainy?
There’s a rain cover for days with inclement weather. We use it occasionally, but thankfully we don’t get too much precipitation in Denver. On days that are just cold, I have the kids bundle up with coats and blankets. The cover makes kids cozy for sure, but it’s hard to get them in and out of their seats and it’s sometimes a bit claustrophobic for them. I stay warm by using no assist and getting my heart rate up!

How much was it?
The Nihola 4.0 was $3500 and we added a BionX e-assist battery for an additional $2000. I sometimes feel uncomfortable when people ask how much it cost, but I also remind myself and them that it was much less than a car! And we are now a one-car family, so we feel like we came out ahead! There are definitely more inexpensive cargo bikes available, but we wanted one with high-quality parts that would last for years. We are hoping to use it for many years to come.

Should I get one?
YES! I’m a big believer that everyone needs some sort of cargo bike. Even if you don’t have kids, we all have stuff we need to carry around. You’re more likely to bike places if you have a way to carry cargo (hello, grocery store!). There are so many types of cargo bikes, there’s definitely one that would suit your needs.

If you’re in the Denver area, I highly recommend MacKenzie at Hardt Family Cyclery in Aurora. In other cities, search “cargo bike shops” and I’m sure you’ll find something not too too far away. They’re becoming more common all the time.

There’s tons of information available online too. Check out Denver Bicycle Lobby on Twitter or Cargo Bike Republic on Facebook; both communities have tons of advice to offer!

I love food: Trying new foods. Going out to eat. Ordering Chinese.

But you know what I no longer love? Take out.

Since becoming more intentional about avoiding single-use packaging, going out and ordering food has become more stressful. When I don’t feel like cooking, the option of ordering take out is not a suggestion that puts me at ease. It does quite the opposite.

So, what to do? Here are five ways I avoid the terribleness that is single-use foodware:

I rarely order “take-out” or “to-go” food. This might initially sound like a bit of a downer, but honestly I feel alright about it. Food never tastes as good when you order it as it does in a restaurant. And all the new delivery services are expensive. Plus, take-out food isn’t usually the healthiest. When I’m feeling lazy about making dinner, we eat something super simple like a frittata, baked potato, rice bowl, pancakes or granola. Even if what I come up with isn’t healthy, at least it’s a lot cheaper than take out.

I order pizza. Yep, that’s our main source of delivery. Pizza. It comes in a box that is reusable (great for poster making!) or compostable (the greasy bottom part). Just make sure to ask for no condiment packets and NO “PIZZA SAVER” (that silly plastic table they put in the center of the pizza.

I BYO utensils and cups. I always have small metal cups and reusable utensils and straws in my bag. This way, if we go to a restaurant to dine in, but they’re using disposables (the worst!) then I can still minimize my waste. The cups come in handy for splitting beverages amongst the kids. Or at an event where they’re serving wine in a plastic cups! I have about 10 of them that I bought at H-Mart. Asian grocery stores are a great place to find stainless steel cups and plates.

I take a container everywhere. I always have a little bag, beeswax wrap, or container in my bag for food. If we eat out and there are leftovers, I slide them into my container. Never once have I gotten any negative comments or looks from a server or fellow diner. It works great; you can even take the extra bread! Health codes have provisions about restaurants touching your container. But they can put it on their plates and then YOU can put it in your container. So, even if you don’t want to dine in, you can still order “for here” and then just take it with you!

I usually use an old plastic container because it’s light. But my favorite are the Onyx stainless steel containers. If you can’t find them at a store near you, order (with free shipping!) from the Package Free Shop!

I tell restaurant workers and managers how I feel about single-use foodware. Last month, in California, Berkeley City Council unanimously passed a groundbreaking ordinance aimed at reducing the use of single-use disposable foodware. Restaurants are now required to use real plates and cups and utensils for customers dining in. For takeaway, containers must be compostable and come only at a 25 cent fee. And that’s not all! The city is working on implementing a program of reusable to-go containers with pick up and drop off locations around the city.

This is an example of how real change will happen. We need our systems to fundamentally change. I haven’t started pushing the Denver City Council yet (frankly, our city has a lot of other issues to address first that Berkeley probably addressed in the 1990s), but telling restaurants that I don’t like their single-use foodware is a good place to start. Just last weekend we went to a great local restaurant and our only complaint the whole meal was the plastic drink stirrer in a cocktail.

Demand what you want as a consumer!

PLEASE NOTE: This post was written for a different blog in 2014. This is an issue I still care deeply about and the problem has only gotten worse in the past 5 years. I did, indeed, change our bottled water consumption when traveling. We now use a SteriPen to sterilize water when unsure of it’s safety.

^^costa rica sunset, february 2014^^

I'm a rule follower. When someone of authority tells me to do something, I do it. And when I break rules or recommendations, I do so only with intense anxiousness. Before we left for Costa Rica, I called my doctor's travel clinic to talk about our trip. We had all the necessary vaccinations, but the lady I spoke with emphasized that we should not drink the tap water there. I asked a few follow up questions, because what I'd read had made me think the tap water was safe in Costa Rica, but this woman insisted there were serious health risks.

I hate buying water. I hate creating unnecessary waste. Both of these principles are hard to stick to when you're traveling in a place without potable water. I've spent a good deal of time in China, and it's actually not hard there, because boiled water is readily available. When I studied abroad in Harbin in 2003, I'd fill my Nalgene with boiled water and stick it out on the windowsill to cool off. Sure, bottled water was cheap. But think of all the people in China. If they're all drinking water from bottles, imagine how many plastic bottles that is. Where do they all go?

^^woman sweeping up trash at the forbidden city in beijing. taken by my mom when visiting me in december 2003.^^

But back to Costa Rica. While there, we bought bottled water. 6L jugs of it usually, so only 4 or 5 were needed to get us through the 10 days. But still, those bottles made my heart hurt. Especially when an expat in line at the supermarket lectured me about how Costa Rica's drinking water was totally safe. I know, lady, you're preaching to the choir. But I didn't want to risk it with Willa, and getting sick was not in our vacation plans. I didn't want to go against what my doctor had advised.

^^selvatura park. monteverde, costa rica. february 2014.^^

But during our trip, I vowed I'd do something different the next time. Once home, I went through my bookmarks and favorited tweets, and found two fantastic organizations I'd previously heard about: Ban the Bottle, and Travelers Against Plastic. I've been following Ban the Bottle for a few years since I support their mission of: "eliminating plastic bottles in schools, offices and public areas...[so] we can eliminate unneeded waste in landfills." Travelers Against Plastic has a different, but potentially even more important slant. Their mission is to "educate global travelers about the harmful impacts of plastic water bottles usage and encourage travelers to be prepared to clean their own drinking water."

^^GUILTY! penang, malaysia. july 2011.^^

On their resources page, they recommend a few methods: a SteriPEN, which is likely familiar to those who go camping, as well as old fashioned iodine tablets. We used to use those when I went to summer camp, and the water always had an odd taste. But apparently they're more advanced now and you can get neutralizing tablets which eliminate it.

As someone who cares a lot about these types of issues, I am mad at myself for not thinking more about this before our trip. It would have been so easy to buy a $50 SteriPEN or pack a few iodine tablets which are even cheaper! But even I didn't think of it. The only way to make change is to educate people. I'm glad I've been thinking about it lately. I hope you, too, will think twice before buying a bottle of water?