U.S. Destinations for Celebrating Earth Day

Plan family travel to coincide with this year’s Earth Day celebration. Taking place April 22, cities throughout the United States offer family-friendly activities and events to celebrate Mother Earth.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Visit John Ball Zoo’s Washed Ashore exhibit this Earth Day. The new exhibit features 16 massive sculptures of sea life, including sea turtles, whales and fish created from debris found in oceans and waterways. The project aims to educate visitors about plastic pollution and its destructive effects on aquatic life. Washed Ashore runs April 1–Oct. 31.

Kansas City, Missouri

Visit Kansas City Zoo’s Party for the Planet on Earth Day. Watch a screening of The Lorax. Learn how to attract pollinators by making your own native plant seed ball. Bring old cell phones, tablets and other devices to recycle and receive a free gift. Learn about composting and the zoo’s ZooManoo compost program. The event is free with zoo admission.

Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara’s Earth Day celebration takes place across more than a dozen museums, public gardens and historic sites through a new collaboration, Impact: Climate Change & the Urgency of Now. The unique program runs April–September.

© Courtesy of Visit St.Pete/Clearwater

Sea Island, Georgia

Georgia’s Sea Island Resort offers guests unique experiences with local biodiversity through its Sea Island Nature Center. Learn about coastal ecology and meet the resident animals. The program hosts numerous activities including a coastal wildlife bike tour, birding tour, dawn patrol for nesting sea turtles, a marsh walking tour and a nighttime owl prowl.

St. Pete/Clearwater, Florida

Celebrate Earth Day at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The nonprofit working marine rescue center is dedicated to preserving marine life while promoting education, research, rescue, rehabilitation and release. Celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year, the museum is home to rescue sea life and mammals including rescue dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, stingrays and nurse sharks. Visit St. Pete Pier, a new waterfront park designed with sustainability in mind. There are electric vehicle charging stations, solar panels at the parking canopies and breakwaters to mitigate erosion and protect sea grass.