If you’re looking to support destinations that are doing their part for the planet, look no further than the Golden State. It should come as no surprise that California is a pioneer in green initiatives and sustainability programs: Thirteen of the top 20 most sustainable large U.S. cities are located in California. Here are 11 destinations that are doing their part to help with game-changing policies and programs, listed north to south.
1. Eureka
Why it’s an eco-friendly destination: Eureka has 14 parks, including the 67-acre Sequoia Park Zoo and its Redwood Sky Walk, a series of bridges and platforms 100 feet above the forest floor • The Eureka Waterfront Trail offers six miles of wildlife education and recreation along Humboldt Bay • An active port, Eureka’s restaurants serve locally harvested seafood including oysters, salmon, and crab
2. Truckee and Lake Tahoe
Why it’s an eco-friendly destination: Take Care Tahoe ambassadors roam the lake’s trails and Truckee’s historic downtown to promote responsible recreation • Truckee has more than 50 electric-vehicle charging stations and 93 miles of bike paths, street lanes, and routes • TART Connect is North Lake Tahoe’s free shuttle service, which allows people to leave their cars behind and ride to dining and attractions • South Lake Tahoe is adding paved paths to connect existing trails, including the new South Tahoe Greenway • The Keep Truckee Green program places solar-powered compacting trash bins throughout Truckee’s historic district
3. Sonoma County
Why it’s an eco-friendly destination: Sonoma County Winegrowers is the world’s most sustainable wine-growing region, with 99 percent of the county’s vineyards certified as sustainable • Benziger Winery was the first in Sonoma County to become certified biodynamic • Silver Oak Winery’s Alexander Valley and Oakville production facilities are LEED Platinum certified • The Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport is 100 percent solar powered
4. Sacramento
Why it’s an eco-friendly destination: As America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital, Sacramento has more than 25 regional farmers’ markets, including the state’s largest certified farmers’ market The Golden 1 Center’s farm-to-fork food program sources meat and produce locally • Many of Sacramento’s more than 50 breweries send their used mash to livestock farms for animal feed • The city has the country’s greenest city-vehicle fleet, with more than half of its 2,300 vehicles running on green, low-carbon energy • The SAFE Credit Union Convention Center is LEED Silver certified
5. San Francisco
Why it’s an eco-friendly destination: San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (MUNI) operates the largest fleet of zero-emissions electric trolley buses of any U.S. transit system • Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) trains are 100 percent electric • The city is ranked as the No. 2 best large U.S. city for biking • In 2007, San Francisco became the first U.S. city to ban single-use plastic grocery bags • The city’s composting program collects more than 500 tons of food scraps per day and turns them into fertilizer
6. Monterey
Why it’s an eco-friendly destination: The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program has educated diners about sustainable seafood choices since 1999 • Monterey County hosts 13 weekly farmers’ markets • Salinas Valley’s Scheid Family Wines uses wind turbines to power its operation and 120 surrounding homes • Ventana Wildlife Society works to protect the California condor, a bird that was nearly extinct but now can be seen soaring over Big Sur and Pinnacles National Park • More than 90 businesses are part of Monterey County’s Green Business Program
7. Big Bear
Why it’s an eco-friendly destination: The Southern California Mountains Foundation Program connects people to public lands through education, stewardship and environmental citizenship • The Care for Big Bear campaign inspires residents and visitors to care for the natural environment • Volunteers keep Big Bear Lake’s shoreline and beaches clean through the Adopt-a-Shoreline program • The Adopt-a-Trail program maintains clean trails in national forest lands
8. Los Angeles
Why it’s an eco-friendly destination: L.A. has more electric vehicles and more Energy Star-certified buildings than any other U.S. city • The Los Angeles Convention Center, The Broad art museum, the J. Paul Getty Museum, and The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures are all LEED certified • L.A.'s LEED-certified hotels include the Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles, Kimpton La Peer, W Hollywood, and Shore Hotel • L.A. has ranked as America’s No. 1 solar city for six of the past seven years • By 2028, L.A. will plant 90,000 trees citywide • It is the first city to repurpose plastic bottles to repave its streets L.A. uses the nation’s first hybrid-electric street sweepers
9. Greater Palm Springs
Why it’s an eco-friendly destination: Greater Palm Springs’ wind farm in San Gorgonio Pass contains more than 4,000 windmills and provides enough electricity to power the entire region • The Coachella Valley Water District recycles more than 2 billion gallons of wastewater annually • Sunline Transit Agency fuels its buses by low-emission compressed natural gas or no-emission hydrogen and electric
• The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens composts all human and animal food waste on site • Two Bunch Palms is North America’s first carbon-neutral spa resort
10. Irvine
Why it’s an eco-friendly destination: The master-planned city of Irvine has 300-plus miles of on-road bike lanes, 50-plus miles of off-road trails, and 16,500 acres of parks and dedicated open space • It’s home to the historic Irvine Ranch, a National Natural Landmark featuring 50,000 acres of protected land laced with hiking and equestrian trails Irvine has one of the highest percentages of solar-powered homes among U.S. cities • In 2021, it became the third California city to pledge carbon neutrality by 2035
11. San Diego
Why it’s an eco-friendly destination: San Diego International Airport has the world’s first LEED Platinum-certified commercial airport terminal • In 2021, the San Diego Trolley opened its expanded UC San Diego Blue Line with nine added stations • More than 5,000 farms are spread throughout the county, with dozens of farmers’ markets held each week • San Diego Zoo Global is one of the world’s largest animal conservation organizations • San Diego County has more than 120 hiking trails throughout its parks, coastlines, and forests
For even more tips on sustainable travel in California, order or download a free California Road Trips guide.
