Before you travel, calculate the carbon footprint for your journey and find the greenest route to take.

Over the river and through the woods? Forget it, Grandma's got a condo in Boca Raton! Finding the greenest way to get there takes a little research, and the Hipsters unpack some info to help you get on your way. Also, Dori picks a winner for the Amazing Race, and Val's Christmas lights are better than yours!

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: What's the Scuttlebutt about this Porter brewed in Everett, WA? Well, the beer's dark and the label's cute, but it wasn't a Hipster fave.

Chocolate: Lovely listener Isabelle in Belfast sent along her favorite Swiss (not Nestle!) chocolate. Camille Bloch Ragusa Noir with truffle filling was a sweet treat, though it left Dori with a napkinful of discarded hazelnuts.

Finds:

• Val's Favorite Things! It's a recycling 2-fer: use an old CD and an old circuit board to create a stylish desk clock. A great conversation piece, made in the USA and affordable at about $25. And oh-so-timely!
• Eight crazy lights. Hanukkah has gone high-tech with the LED Motherboard Menorah. Adds a geeko-friendly glow to the Festival of Lights.

• Worst of Both Worlds. One-third of the toys tested by a non-profit group were positive for chemicals like lead, mercury and cadmium. Among the worst offenders: Hannah Montana brand jewelry items. Identify the toxic toys, and avoid low-cost children's jewelry.

Dish it out! Make the commitment to serve at least one organic dish at your holiday dinner, whether it's the meat, the veggies, the dessert or even the wine. Point it out to your guests if you like; you may convince the meanie at your table to go for seconds!

Off to grandmother's house you go for the holidays! But how does a Hipster travel, by plane? Train? Car? The green solutions vary by the type of trip you're taking and the number of people on board. Use these tools to figure it out, then enjoy your journey!

• Planes. Generally considered to be the least green option, since their carbon emissions go right into the upper atmosphere. But for long distance travel, flying may be your best choice. Try to purchase carbon offsets. Should you fly?
• Trains. Rail travel is almost always greener than a car for a single traveller. But a recent report from the Cato Institute argues that "feeder" buses between stations can counteract environmental gains. Should you ride the rails?
• Automobiles. Carpooling generates the fewest greenhouse gases per passenger, so driving shorter distances with your family or friends could make sense. Make sure your car is well-maintained and not overloaded with crap. Should you drive?

Your ideas travel fast! Send an e-mail to hip@greenfeet.com. And remember to post articles, links and travel itineraries at our MHTH forum!

• Eileen in Dominica unveils her tropical island sanctuary. Calibishie Cove offers low-impact luxury that at least 2 Hipsters would love to experience!
• Meredyth in Texas alerts us to an article about the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. It seems "recycle" is another word for "incinerate".
• Elizabeth in St. Paul, MN loves a new iPhone app called the Good Guide, which indexes green products so you can shop for the greater good. Bonus: it's free!
• Jodi introduces us to Green Changes, a company that creates eco-friendly apparel and helps spread the word about sustainability.

**Greenfeet's Pick-A-Present Promotion is on! Spend $75, pick a present worth up to $20 FREE!**

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for holiday gift-giving! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Don't forget to vote for us at podcastalley.com and podcastpickle.com. Send us a voice message at our Skype address "morehip" or +1.530.554.2605. Don't have Skype? Get it - it's free! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.