At offMetro, we long for the day when there is no more Earth Day. When a holiday reminding ourselves to treat the planet better is no longer necessary. But we’re not there yet, so for now here are our 10 favorite Earth Day happenings around NYC and beyond, from planting trees in Queens to the Green Festival in Manhattan to Broccoli City in Washington D.C.
(No need to wait until Earth Day to start greening your lifestyle. Check out these 11 easy green travel tips that will help you get healthier, stress less, save money and time, and enjoy the journey even more.)
In NYC
Enjoy free admission when you ride your bike to the Green Festival (April 19-21), the ultimate party for the planet, featuring an Eileen Fisher-hosted fashion presentation, urban beekeeping workshops, eco clothing and jewelry booths, hands-on DIY exhibits, live music, an organic beer and wine garden, a Sierra Club cinema, a vegan meatballapalooza, classes on yoga, family, and having a sustainable love life, plus many more activities.
Join forces with New York Restoration Project and help revitalize Highland Park after Hurricane Sandy by planting trees at JetBlue’s One Thing That’s Green Day (April 20).
Bring your used electronics to Union Square on April 21 for free recycling, part of the Official Earth Day New York (April 20-21) festivities, which also include sustainability talks and activities for kids in Grand Central and a green-vehicle runway show in Union Square.
Take what feels like a city break at Wave Hill for Family Art Project: Flags and Kites for Earth Day/Banderas y carretas por el dia de la tierra (April 20) and make kites and colorful flags out of reusable materials like plastic bags; admission to the beautiful grounds is free until noon.
Share your green words of wisdom and learn from fellow Earthlings—from raw food recipes to transit tips—all month-long on this inspirational website produced by Whole Foods.
Start commuting by bike when the Citi Bike Share program launches in May.
Beyond NYC
From April 22-April 26, revel in the great outdoors and enjoy waived entrance fees to 401 parks during National Park Week when you’ll be reminded why this planet is worth protecting.
Having nothing to do with the vegetable, Broccoli City (April 21) in D.C. is a sustainable smorgasbord with an awesome lineup that includes outdoor hip hop yoga classes, healthy food truck feasts, concerts, sneaker recycling centers, mini acupuncture booths, an artisan market pop-up, craft beer stands, and oversized games including twister, flip cup, and jenga.
One of the greenest (and most luxurious) hotels in the country, the Lenox Hotel in Boston is offering a Green Dreams package (from $395/night), which includes overnight accommodations in a “Heaven on Eleven PURE room,” breakfast for two at the City Table, an eco tour of the property and a guaranteed carbon-neutral stay.
Book the Earth Day Super Deal at the Mohonk Mountain House (April 21-22, from $150/pp) and get breakfast and dinner, complimentary access to resort activities like golf, mountain biking, horseback riding, tennis, and rock climbing, an afternoon tea party, spa credits, and spectacular views of the Catskills from your private balcony.
Photo: onesevenone
The co-founder and editor-at-large at offMetro, Lauren is a sustainable travel specialist and freelance journalist with frequent bylines in National Geographic, Bicycling Magazine and Shape. Follow Lauren’s adventures at @laurenmati.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram