Environmental Guide to San Francisco
Golden Gate Park photo uploaded by Orin Optiglot
According to our friends at TripAdvisor, environmentally conscious travel (or ecotourism, as it’s sometimes called) is one of the top trends predicted by travelers for 2008. With a high percentage of parks and many residents walking using public transportation (BART), San Francisco ranks among the US’s most environmentally friendly cities.
Here’s our guide to going green on your next trip to San Francisco.
- Make like a local and walk, bike, or use public transportation. BART or the Bay Area Rapid Transit District can take you to many of the Bay Area’s tourist attractions, plus it’s often cheaper than renting a car. For a bit of exercise, you could take a walking tour or rent a bike.
- Fly green. Online retailers like Planktos offer flight eco offsets that will balance out the carbon emissions of your plane based on the length of your journey.
- Book an eco-friendly hotel. Hotel Triton in Union Square offers eco-friendly rooms that have water saving devices, energy efficient AC units, among other amenities. Five Star Alliance recommends Hotel Vitale, Hotel Palomar, and Fairmont San Francisco.
- Get an eco-education. San Francisco is home to dozens of beautiful parks and nature preserves. For a taste of the local landscape, check out the Conservatory of Flowers, the University of California Botanical Garden, and San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum.
- Support green businesses. There are tons of globally conscious shops in the Bay Area, so those are a great place to find one-of-a-kind souvenirs. Check out Azalea Boutique for eco-friendly clothes or Global Exchange for fair trade items like coffee and crafts.
Is there something we’re missing? Leave a comment and let us know!
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[…] Offsets to neutralise air travel and Susan J presents carbon friendly travel options with her Environmental Guide to San Francisco posted at Go San Francisco Travel […]