Nature's Bucket List, Part 2

• Rocky Mountain National Park – Topping out at over 12,000 feet, Colorado’s mountains will take your breath away.  With 416 square miles to explore, you’ll find alpine meadows, show-stopping peaks, and crystal-clear rivers and lakes.


• Zion National Park – The red cliffs of Utah are home to a variety of wildlife, including 271 different species of birds.  The park is a sanctuary for adventurers too, with hiking trails, mountain biking, and equestrian trails throughout.


• Grand Teton National Park – This 484-square mile swath of Wyoming’s Rocky Mountains includes nine peaks over 12,000 feet, glacial lakes, and sweeping grasslands.


• Cuyahoga Valley National Park – The Erie Canal and 60-foot-tall Brandywine Falls provide the backdrop for one of the youngest national parks (founded in 2000).  An unlikely sight is an old junkyard, which has been turned into a refuge for beavers.


• Acadia National Park – The first area of protected land that would become a national park, Maine’s vast forests, rocky Atlantic shoreline, and old carriage roads provide a beautiful backdrop for the state’s famous fall foliage.

Source: The Daily Green

Tailgating Made Green

At the next home game, try these ideas for a greener tailgate party:

1. Localize the Food. Rather than serving the typical foods (frozen burgers, bags of chips, etc.) look for local options. Search your local farmers markets and grocery stores for foods like organic or locally grown beef, chicken or pork for the grill, potatoes and eggs for homemade potato salad, or veggies for burger toppings.

2. Pick Better Disposables. Forget about the standard plastic cups and paper plates. There are so many better options out there today like compostable paper goods and bio-based cutlery.  Check out the “Bare” line of picnic goods from Solo, sold at Target.

3. Make Trash Talk Easy. Instead of making it easy for everyone to toss all of their paper plates, bottles and such in the trash, make it easy for them to compost, recycle, and then, as a last resort, trash.  Set up bins, buckets, or bags and clearly label them.  And be sure to drop it off at the recycling center on your way home.

Source: Treehugger