Travel

A safari might sound like a nice outdoorsy, environmental kind of vacation, but they often take a toll on wildlife in the areas you visit (even when you only take pictures). But these seven companies take a social approach to their conservation efforts: By working with local communities, they turn wildlife viewing into a source of income for the nearby people, which leads to lower incidences of poaching and hunting. Travel to one of these seven countries to see how supporting nearby villages, artisans, and guides can have a positive impact on animal populations.

Count Prague in on the trend toward green hostels and hotels: The opening late last week of a cool new central-city accommodation not only provides a fresh option for eco-conscious travelers, it also marks a green "first" or two for the entire Czech Republic.

When the weather’s nice, it seems almost criminal to travel via car or stuffy bus. Jumping on a bike and cruising down the street with the breeze blowing through your hair—now, that sounds like a better way to celebrate the sun. Unfortunately, my bike is a rusted mess, with shoddy brakes and practically flat wheels.

OK, the volcano-invoked ash cloud put a terrible pall on airline travel in Europe (UK flights are expected to resume early Tuesday) and stranded TH correspondents all over the continent. It was costly for stranded travelers, Kenyan flower farmers, and the airlines. One the bright side, train travel is at an all-time high.

When it comes to reducing our carbon footprint and paying attention to how we treat the planet, we're doing it for two main reasons - so that we can provide a healthy home for all the flora and fauna of the globe, and so that we get to enjoy those very plants and animals across the planet. That's what's behind this year's Travel and Nature winners - ways to enjoy everything life has to offer, and celebrate all the amazing living creatures that call our planet home. From the most beatuiful green yoga retreats to the most amazing natural discoveries, see what we think are the best of the best.

Though lucky participants might catch a glimpse of a bottlenose dolphin or two, smokestacks, sewage pipes, and shipping containers are the main attractions on the Urban Ocean Boat Cruise, a two-and-a-half-hour voyage along a part of the Los Angeles coastline not featured on Baywatch.