Honest admission: I don't really know what geotourism is. It sounds like a word I should be familiar with, because it clearly has to do with tourism, and secondly, because it brings to mind "geocaching," which is a slightly mysterious pastime that I've read a little bit about.
I'm not sure how you handle it, but when I'm stumped with a word... or an idea... or an acronym.... I head straight to Wikipedia. And so, I find that "Geotourism is 'best practice' tourism that sustains, or even enhances, the geographical character of a place, such as its culture, environment, heritage, and the well-being of its residents."
As it turns out, glossy magazine and adventure travel pioneer National Geographic (NG) coined the phrase in the '90s AND they're written a whole charter on it. Yes, a charter. You can download the PDF here if you want the nitty-gritty.
My lesson stops short however, because the reasoning behind this post is not to educate you on the history on geotourism (which by the way, is not recognized by spell check and is driving me crazy), but to point out a cool endeavor headed up by Travel Oregon. Said endeavor is The Central Cascades Geotourism Project of Oregon and Washington.
Now, getting back to NG, who helped to create a brand-new map/guide for the Central Cascades (printed on recycled paper, natch) and available for FREE to download as a PDF here. Not only is it pretty, it's useful.
And best of all, it was created by hundreds of local residents who wanted to shine the light on their favorite sustainable tourism spots. Alongside the pin-pointed locales, you'll find tips from some of these folks, making it an especially personal experience. (Imagine if you could work hand-in-hand with NG to craft a map like that of your hometown... there's something so warm and heartfelt to it all. Like marking the memories of hundreds of people. I like it.)
If you're yearning for a true taste of the Cascades, this is the way to do it. Just remember these simple sustainability tips as outlined on the map and by the website: leave no trace; keep wildlife wild; be prepared, stay safe; shop local; respect local cultures; reverse your route; mind your resources; park the car; and give back.
[Photo up top by Larry Gedis, courtesy of Travel Oregon.]
0 comments:
Post a Comment