travel but make it ✨sustainable✨ + 10 tips for how to travel eco-friendly this summer 

"Take only pictures, leave only footprints" is a motto I use when I hike. I'm starting to take plastic bags that I get from the grocery store when I forget my reusable bags and use them to pick up what other people have left behind.

For the past few years, I have been buying postcards as souvenirs. I have been writing a small bit about the trip on the back and then been collecting them in a photo album. It's a lot easier to pack a postcard than other traditional souvenirs. It has kind of turned into a travel journal. I love it and it is so cheap!

shelbi, I know you said you weren't going to get emotional about your dad's life long wish to go to Yellowstone. I'm glad you went while you still had time. My aunt died this past Monday and it really put into perspective how much time I have left with my mom, who's lifelong wish is to go to Alaska to see the northern lights. It's been on her bucket list since her dad promised her they'd go but he died before they could go. You've inspired me to start saving & thinking about getting to Alaska before its too late.

I do want to say, it's actually really important to have a physical map when hiking. Not because it's a sustainable option, but because if something happens like your batteries run out or your phone breaks, you won't have to worry about getting lost or losing your way. This isn't as important for Shelby because there's 4 of them and they're very serious about sticking to the trail, but not everyone is so principled OR with people who care about safe hiking. Back up maps are Really Important.

Another great option if you do like souvenirs- thrift them! I recently went on at trip to Arizona/Utah and thrifted a vintage tee that I love very much, it will always remind me of my trip. 🖤

Another tip for any beach going travelers: if you want to collect shells, please don’t take a lot! or consider just taking photos instead. the prettiest shells on the beach most of the time are of high need to any conch snails/Gastropods :) also in some states/countries Shell collecting or conch shell collecting is illegal, so be sure to check local laws so you don’t commit a crime by accident lol

You should partner with Amtrak because they are really trying to sell the smaller carbon footprint angle and I'm sure you'd be a great asset!

Stay on the trail is especially important in Yellowstone- The land is NOT all stable. The crust is very thin, and you can fall through and get severe burns. There's a whole book that's updated almost every year of Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park- Don't be an addition to that book.

Another tip for leaving no trace on public lands - PLEASE do not make rock cairns! They're so popular on Instagram pics, but depending on where you are, you could be disturbing an animal's habitat or an archaeological site. Plus, the only reason there should be a cairn in a park is to mark a trail, so you may end up confusing future hikers.

Well said. Travellers forget that they can do some damage to the environment when they veer off a path or trail. So it’s important to stick to the defined paths. Thanks for making this video!

recognition of tourism, its effects, and the cultural significance of a destination is so so so refreshing to see online oh my goodness!! as a Hawaiian and as someone who wants to live sustainably, this video literally gives me hope for the future thank you so much for doing what you do!!!

I'd be interested to hear you do a deep dive on traveling with a camper! Is it more or less eco friendly (used of course!)? Like compare campers vs. hotels, compare different types of campers, for larger families is it more or less eco friendly than 2 hotel rooms, etc. I'd love to hear a deep dive on this. We're currently expecting twins (making us a family of 6) and we've been considering getting a camper because we do love traveling with our kids (and we live far away from family, so we travel a lot too see our loved ones). So I'd be interested to know the environmental impact and weigh that in our consideration on if we buy one or not. 😊

Enjoy Yellowstone! It is a wonderful place but I'm sure it will be a zoo. It is a great place to see with someone in a wheelchair, tons of accessable trails. My best advice is get out early, like 7am early, to see things. There is almost no one around and driving is so much easier. And yeah nothing out there. We took a train from the Bay Area to SLC and then had to rent a car to get to YS.

We always give the food that is going to go bad to my family. Whenever someone goes on vacation in my family it's fun to raid the fridge and make different meals than I normally would while I pet sit. Fun way to not have food waste!

“You can’t do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good you can do” love that

I literally just clicked on your page to watch a video I’d missed and then you uploaded at the same time! I’ve literally never been this early, so crazy lol if you see this, I love your content and appreciate the time and effort you put into everything you do ❤️❤️

I love the travelling opportunities in Europe honestly. I have never flown by plane and I am going to study abroad just by a train. It takes about 17 hours for 1000 kilometers, but I love trains. Maybe the US should get inspired there

I think it would be cool if you made sustainable travel guides to popular destinations. I was interested in the information you knew about Hawaii. Or maybe a video walking through how you go about researching that.

I love your point about staying on the path. It also helps to wipe the bottoms of your shoes when you leave the park so that you don’t take microbes, pollens or whatever that’s natural in one place and contaminate another place where it doesn’t belong. I would LOVE your Hawai’i video because I live on O’ahu! Don’t go to a lu’au. They’re perversions of Hawaiian culture.

I do really love the focus on using less electricity - especially when you're not even there. Unplug everything that you can! Plugging your lamp and toaster back in when you get home takes 2 seconds but saves energy and money. And I treat travel-buying the way I treat regular buying - if I really like it and know that I will use it regularly, sure. If I won't? Nah, it was fun to look at in the store but I don't need it (although I admit I really like fridge magnets and probably have more than I need. They're all in use though!)

I think if you really want a souvenir, just collect postcards. you can either buy from a local shop or support a small artist. plus you can write a little note on the back with the date you visited, very fun to look back

Pack a stain remover and some laundry detergent (there are solid or powdery versions and travel versions) so you won't have to buy a new item if you get tomato sauce on your shirt. This also allows you to pack super light if you plan on washing one or two things by hand

I’ve gotten into perfumes and fragrances lately, and I’ve started to switch to purchasing one when I go on a special trip if I feel that urge to buy a souvenir. I do a ton of research ahead of time on which ones are more sustainable and which ones are available from good small businesses and create a wishlist so when I go on a trip or accomplish something big, I allow myself to finally purchase one. Then, whenever I smell that fragrance, it reminds me of that special time 🥰

Wow, absolutely great video. From having been born & raised (moved to another state after 7th grade), thanks for the “plug “ there in terms of being culturally aware, supporting small businesses, etc. I ❤️ Hawaii with all my heart.

Before going on a weeklong trip we unplugged everything. Well my fiancé didn’t realize he unplugged the fridge and the SMELL we came home to 😭 his mom was watching over our cats and never once smelled anything but I know they had to and we felt so bad

Every popular influencer needs to watch this 😒

Ditto on playing the Prius fuel conservation game. My husband thinks I'm nuts.

I heard my neighbor listening to this video and then found your channel! I’m so happy I did, I have a trip coming up soon and this is super helpful :)

Love all of these sustainable travel ideas! I would say to exercise caution on the digital maps, only because in some areas like national parks, you may struggle to get a signal. That could be because you in a remote area without coverage or sometimes more likely, there are so many people in that area that the towers are overloaded. Yellowstone is CROWDED in the summer, think all those people crowded into ACL festival and you can’t get a signal.

I’d love to see a video about clothing rental subscriptions! I feel like they are not as sustainable as they market themselves to be. Especially nuuly who’s owned by urban outfitters. I can talk about this forever but would love to hear your take!

Wow, absolutely great video. From having been born & raised (moved to another state after 7th grade), thanks for the “plug “ there in terms of being culturally aware, supporting small businesses, etc. I ️ Hawaii with all my heart.

I also leave a empty taperware or glass jars and bottles in the fridge because it consumes less energy when its not empty

This was such an in-depth video! I’m feeling super inspired to make some tweaks to my summer travel plans and ideas 🌿

I love train travel it's the best way to travel on the east coast we have some but I've heard Nordic countries have trains all over and it's quite inexpensive. Our camping rules are leave nothing but footprints where we go there is no chain restaraunts or stores.

I just found your videos and I love your message! I really like that you go into all types of ethical living in a way that does not make it overwhelming!

the only souvenir I get (non-food) are stickers from tourist shops (just for me) to immediately stick on my suitcase. Looks cool over time and harder to steal a suitcase covered in stickers that's VERY recognizable. Also over time more and more airport officers/passport control will be checking out my suitcase, ask if I've been to all these places, and give me an easier time ;u; Once when my suitcase (carry on size) had to be checked they left a sticker behind for me :'D

Another tip my mom used to do: If you're able to empty your fridge and/or freezer before your trip, defrost it and turn it off. Saves tons of energy (and money) for the time you're away.

Love love LOVE this video, very informative. Definitely one of my favorites. I’m glad a big company like Google is trying to make a difference and it’s such a cool feature that they have the eco-conscious hotel options. Is the eco-conscious route an option on maps?

I clicked FAST coz Shelby delivers QuAliTy, honey!

i’m traveling today so this was very timely - thank you!!

I remember a while back you mentioned a website that is good for buying & selling used technology such as laptops, phones, tablets, etc. I cannot find the video in which you mentioned that so if you see this could you tell me what that website is? I want to buy a used tablet from there. Thanks! :)

Ngl surprised to see you partner with Google but always here for any content that helps make travel more sustainable. it is one of the most wasteful things that most people do and it's so uncommon to see people with reusables even now

I always unplug everything if I’m gone overnight thanks to my Mexican mom instilling that habit, cause why pay for energy we have no chance of using? 😆 My new travel tradition is to buy a dainty ring every new city/place I visit from a local artisan or store/vendor. I’ve never really been a fan of touristy souvenirs, cause I don’t use them since they often aren’t my style so it’s just clutter. But I love dainty rings and switch out the ones I use regularly so this has become a great thing for me personally. And if I buy something for someone it’s something I know they will love because they needed, will use, or collect it.

That’s actually super awesome about the eco-friendly feature for the search results.

I think it’s amazing that you and your wife have a flexible lifestyle that allows you to do things like this trip with your dad.

Thanks for sharing! I’m going on a plane for the first time this August because I’m going to D.C., and I’m not crazy about the emissions, but it’s not like I travel often.

Welcome to Montana/Wyoming! Yellowstone is so beautiful. But yes, there is nothing out here 😅.

I find it a bit crazy that in the US people need to cool their homes 24/7. I come from Brazil and we don’t use the AC all the time, and when we turn it on, it’s usually just before going to sleep when it’s really hot. Honestly we don’t have to be cool all the time. 🤔

Another new google feature is emissions for flights! For almost every flight I see they have a little button that says what emissions it has on average and how it compares to other flights on that route. Very cool!

support local communities, by buying handmade creations if feeling to support them and bring one souvenir.. ;) totally agreee

I love Nest Renew! Highly recommend.

So most of these i do daily to save money. Vampire power is so hard to explain to people. Dont just turn off power strips unplug them if you can. Never occurred to me to look for eco friendly hotels. I normally go by price.

I would love some tips on how to manage hygienic cleaning of water bottles, tiffins, etc. When on the go, especially for longer periods of time! I love the idea, but eating/drinking out of stinky containers makes me less likely to use them.

I'm going to Paris soon with my boyfriend and it will be my first time using the self-check-in at the airport. I can't wait to do it :) it saves time, it reduces the long lines of queue, and it reduces paper waste.

I just took a roadtrip from Canada to the US last month... It was just me and my 3year old... a 20+ hour drive stopping once at a hotel. It was soooo boring and also a bit stressful when my daughter got upset when she dropped something or was just sick of being in the car. Flying would have been nice but I knew my family had gifts for my daughter (their first time seeing her in 3 years), an aunt made her a large quilt and then I had a dollhouse my dad built for me when I was little, so driving was neccessary to safely bring back those items- plus not have to pay for extra suitcases. I made a specific stop on the return trip at a privately owned gas station :) the owner is super nice and he also cares for stray cats in the area, one of them was super friendly and followed us right inside and demanded love. I remember 5 years ago stopping when I first moved to Canada and there were 3 little kittens there. The gas station literally next to this one has changed owners numerous times (was an Esso, then Petro, and now some other company) so I am happy the little one has continued to do well. For souvenirs I mainly bring back things I can't find where I live. Example: Bold Chex Mix- we have Chex Mix in Canada but I can't find that flavour and my husband's aunt LOVES them, so I buy her a bag or 2. I also have a coffee blend and a creamer that I buy while I'm in the US instead of going out for coffee every day. Most of the things I miss are some local restaurants, food/drinks, and family of course. I also like thrift shopping in the US because prices and selections are SO MUCH better when I am looking for specific things.

Great video💙yes, please research the culture before visiting. Be respectful of the culture, you are on their land. The least you can do is be respectful 💚

I LOVE your videos! You opened my eye and I'm trying to do better! I just had a baby and all the stuff I'm currently throwing away (for myself) is making me feel so bad 🥴. Could you do a video about being more "eco" friendly with a baby??

Yes, so useful! I’ve been traveling a lot lately and am always trying to consider how I may do so more sustainably. Also, I have the nest thermostat at my house, too, as it came with my solar panels. 😊

Yes it is definitely great to come back to a nice clean home! I hate wasting food. Do you have a video about composting? This is something I have been wanting to get into but I haven't been able to.

On a trip with my husband, I ended up with a terrible splinter in my hand, and the old tweezers I packed were not in shape enough to pull it out. I sent him to the store to pick up a new one, with the words "don't get some cheap piece of junk tweezers just 'because we are on vacation'. Get a pair you want to keep using at home, that is worth the cost." It was like I watched a lightbulb go off in his head, that he didn't know needed switched on. 🤔 He was proud to show me the tweezers he brought home, I was proud of his conscious choice💜.. and boy was I proud to get that stupid splinter out of my hand! 😅

I think this is a great video and you make a good point about reconnecting with nature. Also, a lovely thing you did for your dad. :) Have a nice day.

I freaking love your videos. You say everything that's on my mind, you should always Be a Good Guest!

I’ve been wanting to go on a family trip to Korea since I’ve been a couple times and I’d like to share the experience. I didn’t think to look out for sustainable lodgings so thanks for that!

Oh, traveling is one of the hardest things to give up. I live in Finland where most of the year it is cold and dark, and even this short 3 months of summer we have can be sometimes cold and rainy. And I'd just love to experience all the sun, beach and swimming even once in a year or two! 😭 So I haven't given up with flying yet, even though I probably should .

ALWAYS spitting truths and facts 🙏🏻🙂 you make sustainability attainable and positive and I am thankful for that! thanks for another great video - have a great time on your Yellowstone trip!

Perfect timing!!!! Leaving on vacay this month! 😍

Super excited for the carbon off-setting video!! It’s something I’ve been thinking about for awhile, but there seems to be so many options! And as someone on a college budget, I try to be very cautious about what I’m supporting with my money

Could you share your resources on Hawaii? I'm going later this year and would love to know more before I go.

If you can’t use bar soaps, do you have any recommendations for packing bottles and other things that can leak? I usually put them in plastic bags, but I always hate doing that.

Thank you for buying from the Navajo nation 🐾🐾🐾🐾

Ok soo i just want to comment on keeping all of your travel documents digital. I completely understand the reasoning, and that it is now possible to just pull up all the docs on your phone. BUT i still say to print all of your boarding passes, confirmation docs, anything to do with your trip, and this is from experience. My mom has always instilled this in us, because technology is absolutely not always reliable, and always seems to crap out right when you need it the most. We have seen people who cannot access an important document when needed, or their phone dies, or the app doesnt work, or their data/wifi doesnt work, etc. and they are literally SOL in that moment. But, since we always have everything printed, we are always one step ahead, and also from experience, travel workers (in airports, etc) truly seem to take more kindly to you if you had them a physical copy of what they need. This is part of being prepared for anything, especially if you are travelling internationally. Keep everything in a folder.

My husband and i are into bike-packing/bike-touring. We travel by bicycle. :)

so many great tips i haven't heard!! and love googles new features!

Girl you are awesome!

I did a trip to Yellowstone with my dad a few years ago! He had wanted to go for years and road trip there too. However my partner and I live in FL and the rest of the family in Ohio, with limited time off so we ended up flying. It was beautiful though!

6:37 Yep...but another reason to unplug things is the risk of surges. When we lived in SC way back in 1999, a lightning strike hit SUPER close. It sent a surge through our building and fried certain things...like our house phone. Which we had just bought. We didn't really have a lot of stuff plugged in at the time but we lost that, and it's worse for computers and the newer smart tv's.

The information on your home energy use is awesome!!!!!

LOL I feel it about the driving eco friendly game! I drive a Prius and I am always trying to see how high I can get my mpg 🤪

This video is just perfect right now!! I am heading to Mallorca as an Au Pair in two months

Great video Shelbi! Love it!!! I was wondering what do you think about Elon Musk's statement that "environmentalists are annoyingly wrong"...

THIS IS THE VIDEO I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR

Friendly reminder that “sustainable travel/tourism” is an oxymoron: planes emit approximately 1 ton of Co2 for a trip from San Francisco to New York, and your strategies to reduce emissions or use less resources will put only an extremely small dent in that. Also, please check that hotels and other products branded as eco-friendly or sustainable are not greenwashing you. Thank you.

All great tips! I brought a week's worth of outfits that I can wash and wear so it lasts me two weeks. I tried to pack light but I'm pregnant and all my family and friends wanted to give us gifts for the baby 😂

I like the plants outlining the mirror but how do you keep it from dying? I mean is the end that plant in a pot and it just grows that long wow.

Traveling Good for the soul and the heart: Taking a vacation can lower your risk of heart disease.

quality content!! i was wanting this video!

Wonderful video 🤩 S! I basically do all these things! Like you, I won't give up travel but willing to make comprises and be sustainable as possible as my day to day actions I do make me realise that all steps are important no matter how small! My Souvenir purchases are tea towels or postcards.

I’ve seen a RU-vid channel saying to pack light and that if you need anything just go to the thrift store for what you need then to return it to the thrift store when you leave. Your thoughts on that? 🤔

i open my windows at day/night if not to cold/hot

Bold of you to assume I won’t lose my phone, I have left it in the screening tray going through security way too many times 🤣 these tips are great though! I have definitely learnt something new

I don't take advice from people who obviously have NO self control.

shelbi has the best tips!!!!

Wow perfect timing I'm going on a trip next week!

Could you possibly do a video on sustainable baby/kid things or brands that aren't just green washing? I know it's a big ask but I genuinely trust your take and I just found out I was pregnant with my second and it's been 8 years so I have literally nothing anymore. I cloth diapered last time and got almost everything second hand, but I'm trying to slowly buy/find the stuff I need in the next nine months or so. If anyone who reads this comment knows of any brands pleaseee let me know. 🥰

not me realising this video is brand new after reading the comments lmao

Bro when you were about to. Slingshot.Inside you were not looking at the building.

My boyfriend and I recently went to Zion and Bryce in Utah. The way we chose to remember the trip is by buying a pin in the national gift shop. We then put the collection of pins on our traveling backpack. It puts money back into the park and we get to remember our trip :)

Ohh I'm excited about the offsetting your carbon footprint video! I'm graduating this summer, so when I get a job after that I'll have more disposable income and hopefully not be as broke lol. I'm excited to use that money to do things like offsetting my carbon footprint, so I'm very curious about what you have to say about it ^^

Tru by Hilton is sustainable

Great tips and very useful. Thank you for the information. Also just wondering what brand your shirt is? I really love that shade of purple.