By Josh Lew
...Green-minded travelers (click here) who want to cross this famous city-state off their wish list can find enough eco-friendliness to create a low-impact itinerary. Monaco is also ideal for tourists whose idea of a perfect vacation is wandering by foot from upscale neighborhoods like Monte Carlo to Old World streets like those found in the Monaco Ville district to the rural landscapes and historic villages on the French side of the border....
...Go green
Driving is not advisable in Monaco. Sure, you'd love to rent a two-seater and take on the winding, hilly roads of the Cote d'Azur, but parking in Monaco is difficult. Since it covers such a small area, the principality can be negotiated easily on foot. Changes in elevation pose some issues for pedestrians who want to avoid strenuous walks. However, Monaco's public escalators and elevators , placed in especially steep high-traffic areas, can make it easier to arrive at your destination without breaking a sweat....
Sleep green
Some of the largest, most glamorous hotels in Monaco are making strides toward sustainability. The Hotel Metropole and Fairmont Monte Carlo have both launchedsustainability programs aimed at conserving water and energy. The Fairmont aids organizations and groups in making their conferences and events greener. The Metropole has a Green Committee made up of hotel employees who devise and implement energy-, water- and waste-reduction strategies. Another high-end property, Le Meridian Monte Carlo, has taken steps to make the environment as important as luxury. Guests have the option of reusing linens, and energy saving measures such as not turning on television and lighting before a guest arrives, have given this notoriously luxurious property a greener tint....
...Eat green
It is possible to get your ingredients very close to the source in Monaco at markets. The Marche de Monte Carlo and Marche de la Condamine are open daily and have stalls selling fresh produce, bakery, deli and dairy products....
...See green
Monaco's showcase museum is the Oceanographic Museum. Perched on a hilltop in Monaco's Old Town, overlooking the Mediterranean, it has been in operation for a century and enjoyed a long association with famed ocean explorer and conservationist Jacques Cousteau. The museum features marine history and includes skeletons and artifacts from the sea. A huge on-site aquarium houses everything from seahorses and starfish to sharks, manta rays and squid....
