PLAY
Redwood Wonder
The Redwood Forest area in Del Norte County is a natural wonder worth seeing and preserving. With Redwood Rides Adventure Outfitters, visitors can tread lightly with their “leave no trace” wilderness ethics whether mountain biking through the forest, running the rapids on the Smith River or casting a line from an ocean kayak.
Bridge of Hope
The Sundial Footbridge on the Sacramento River in Redding is the first bridge that famed architect Santiago Calatrava designed in the U.S. The bridge links the Turtle Bay Museum to a 200-acre Arboretum. The bridge was designed to not harm the native habitat, with no columns in the river and translucent materials on the footpath to avoid casting shadows on the spawning ponds of the river’s salmon.
Cultural Connections
Learn more about the land and history of the Palisades Tahoe region on a cultural tour led by a member of the local Washoe Tribe. Visitors will learn about natural landmarks, native plants and animals and the Washoe way of life.
Giving Back
Travelers in Visalia that want to really connect to preserving nature can take part in conservation and stewardship volunteer activities with Sequoia Riverlands Trust, dedicated to preserving the nature of the southern Sierra Nevada and San Joaquin Valley. Visitors can help out in the Dry Creek Preserve plant nursery propagating native grasses and drought tolerant plants, or trail maintenance and tree planting crews at Kaweah Oaks Preserve.
EAT
Adkins Family Vineyards
Located in California’s Gold Country, Adkins Family Vineyards is a 100% solar powered winery that is on the path to also becoming a certified organic winery. The boutique winery has 35 acres of vineyards and is known for its Viognier wines.
Go Fish
You’ll know you’ve found Fish when you find the line running out the door. The popular Sausalito seafood spot is known for its fresh, sustainably sourced seafood at both its restaurant and market. In fact, they were awarded the Sustainable North Bay Award to honor their commitment to protecting wild fish populations and helping the local economy by supporting local fishermen.
Sustainable Sips
You’ll feel good about tasting your way through Temecula’s Ponte Winery portfolio knowing that the winery has been committed to sustainable farming and winemaking practices since the mid 1980s. Ponte uses composting, reduced water practices and natural pest controls in the winemaking process and is committed to energy reduction and recycling in all its facilities. The winery was the first in Temecula to achieve the Certified California Sustainable Winegrower (CCSW) designation.
Plotting the Future
The Plot in Oceanside is a plant-based restaurant that has cut its produce and dry goods waste to under 1%, an unheard-of number in the restaurant industry. The Plot focuses on whole vegetables, many of which come from the garden behind the restaurant. Don’t miss the Chicken & Waffles, whole grain waffles, smoky maple syrup, habanero shallot sauce, house cashew butter and crispy-coated fried tofu cakes.
STAY
Iconic and Sustainable
Known for amazing golf, luxury car shows and stunning ocean views, Pebble Beach Resorts are now also making a name for themselves as eco-friendly. Over 75% of the hotels’ energy comes from renewable sources and water conservation efforts include using the high-tech Rain Bird Cirrus irrigation system to water the famous golf courses more sparingly and sustainably. The resort also works diligently with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and others to address incidental golf ball accumulation in the marine waters off Pebble Beach.
For Shore
Located just steps from the iconic Santa Monica Pier and with each room boasting ocean views, Shore Hotel is an eco-friendly hotel that doesn’t sacrifice luxury for sustainability. It was Santa Monica’s first LEED Gold Certified hotel. The pool is heated through solar energy and guest rooms are designed with energy reducing climate systems, low-flow shower heads and enough natural light to eliminate the need for using lots of lighting.
What’s Old is New
Two Bunch Palms might be one of the oldest resorts in Coachella Valley, but it’s one of the most modern when it comes to sustainability. The wellness resort was the first solar-operated hotel in the Coachella Valley and is the only carbon-neutral wellness resort in the nation. In fact, it has a 3.5-acre solar farm on property that not only saves energy, but also reduces the resort’s water consumption by 21 million gallons a year.
Go Green
The Ranch at Laguna Beach recently was rewarded with the highest level of certification in California’s Green Lodging Program. The resort employs a wide variety of eco-friendly practices including grinding used glass bottles into sand for its golf course bunkers and irrigating with reclaimed water, which saves 20 million gallons of water annually. The just-launched OC Tree Collective is helping plant trees throughout the area's communities, while a new program encourages employees to collect organic waste for composting.