There are a number of options to investigate when you decide to take an eco-vacation.  The first place that many people start is with packaged eco-tours or resort spots that cater to the environmentally-minded.  These are great, easy ways to ensure that your vacation is fun, ecologically friendly and maybe even educational.  All you need to do is an online search and you'll be flooded with options for earth-friendly vacations worldwide. 

You can also custom tailor your own eco-vacation.  If you need to travel long distances, you can't get around the need for fuel, so consider buying carbon offsets to balance out your actions.  Formulate a transportation plan for your final destination, utilizing bicycles, your own two feet, and public transportation as often as possible. Your lodging is the next thing to consider- if you're the outdoorsy sort, you can't get more earth-friendly then a leave-no-trace camp out. If you can't find an eco-friendly hotel and camping isn't an option, make do the best you can - reusing sheets and towels, for example, will cut down on water usage.  Consider it your mission to find restaurants that use local and organic produce, dairy, and meat, and give them your business.  

Simply seeking out the better option for every aspect of your vacation can turn a trip into an exploration of environmentally-friendly options that you can later recommend to friends and family for their own travels!

Children aren't born with the innate knowledge of the three R's - reduce, reuse, recycle.  As a parent, you have the opportunity to raise your child with a waste-conscious mindset.  A long lecture on the values of reducing waste and recycling would be completely lost on a young child, so you will need to teach them by setting a good example and inviting them to participate in the process.  Rather than present it as an option, teach them that it is the way things are done.  Praise them when they show an understanding and respect for these processes.  
 
Reduce:  Show your children how you personally reduce resources used, such as bringing your own containers to the store for purchasing bulk food rather than the packaged alternative.  Point out ways that they can do the same. Share examples of wastefulness with them and explain why this isn't a good way to live.  Questions to ask: Do we really need this?   Is there a better way to buy this?  Do we have something else that will serve the same purpose?  Why do we need this?
 
Reuse:  Narrate your re-use of items to your children, showing them that there are a number of ways to reuse items both for the same purpose and for different purposes. Buying things second-hand or gifting toys they are through with, rather than throwing them away, is a good way to help expand their understand of reusing beyond in-home reuse of items, like washing and reusing plastic bags or keeping glass jars for storing leftovers.  Questions to ask:  What else could we do with this?  Can we use this again?  Where should we put things when we are done with them?
 
Recycle:  Tell your children about recycling in words they can understand.  Explain that recycling something is better than throwing it away.  Encourage them to find items for recycling.  Let them help you sort out your recycling. Encourage them to find recyclable packaging in stores.  Questions to ask:  Should we throw this away or recycle it?  What happens when we recycle paper/metal/glass/plastic?  Should we buy something we can't recycle?

Container gardening is growing in popularity as more and more people realize that growing their own food is not only a great way to save money and eat healthy, but also an earth-friendly practice.  If you're living in an urban setting where you can't till up a nice big garden for yourself, don't despair.  You can grow a wonderful supply of fresh fruits and vegetables for yourself - all you need is sunlight and a few supplies!
 
The main limiting factor in growing fruiting plants is sunlight, so make sure that your plants will receive six to eight hours of bright sun each day.  If you don't have south-facing windows or a sunny corner, you can supplement with a plant light.  If you are starting from seed, purchase a seeding tray and keep the soil wet and warm until seeds germinate, then water regularly.  To stimulate root growth, allow the soil to dry out some between watering, as this will encourage the roots to grow in search of water, but not to the extent that the plant begins to wilt for lack of water.
 
Transplant your seedlings into more size-appropriate containers once they are strong and healthy.  Do your research so that you know how much space each plant will need - greens such as lettuce, chard, spinach, and kale aren't going to need nearly as deep a pot as a tomato or pepper plant will.  Feed your plant food designed for vegetable plants as they grow, and then for blooming plants as they begin to flower and bear fruit.  Consult a gardening center or book for tips on plant care so that you'll know all the tricks, such as pinching off suckers to increase fruit size.
 
If you do have outside space- a patio, deck, or balcony, the same applies to you.  Start your plants as seedlings indoors and then transition them into pots outdoors once it is safe. You may need to harden your plants up by putting them out for a few hours and then bringing them back in for a day or two.  Some plants can overwinter, but many need to be planted after the last danger of freezing or frost.  Just because your plants are outdoors doesn't mean you're done- make sure to check that they are getting watered regularly.