NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Sustainable Food & Wine Experiences in Elk Grove
Elk Grove offers a variety of eco-friendly dining and wine experiences, blending sustainability with quality. Adkins Family Vineyards operates entirely on solar power, crafting premium wines with minimal environmental impact. Ever After Wine Bar focuses on organic, low-intervention wines, curating small-batch selections for a mindful tasting experience. Todo Un Poco embraces farm-to-fork dining and sources fresh ingredients from Cliff’s Garden, a local energy-efficient farm, while repurposing waste into compost.
Sustainable Adventures in Morgan Hill
Morgan Hill offers eco-friendly experiences, from sustainable wineries to outdoor adventures. Guglielmo Winery and Clos LaChance Vineyards employ natural farming techniques to conserve water and reduce emissions. MOHI Farm sources ingredients locally, and The FillerUp Shop provides zero-waste products for conscious shoppers. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve and Anderson Lake County Park, both dedicated to conservation and natural beauty.
Sustainable Dining & Cruising in San Francisco
In San Francisco, you can find sustainable dining and cruising options. Red and White Fleet’s hybrid-electric vessel, Enhydra, provides a scenic, low-emission way to explore the bay with ongoing efforts to transition to greener technologies. Terrene at 1 Hotel champions zero-waste dining, using locally sourced ingredients, rooftop garden produce and repurposed kitchen scraps for creative dishes and cocktails. The W San Francisco, the first LEED-EB Platinum-certified hotel in North America, offers EV charging, urban rooftop beehives, carbon-neutral meeting spaces and thoughtful design to minimize environmental impact.
Sustainable Luxury in Sonoma County
Sonoma County offers a premier blend of sustainability and luxury through eco-conscious dining, travel and winemaking. SingleThread Farm cultivates diverse crops with regenerative farming, supplying its Michelin-starred restaurant for a true farm-to-table experience. Healdsburg promotes green tourism with eco-conscious hotels H2hotel and Hotel Trio and carbon-neutral wineries like Quivira and Jordan Vineyard & Winery, which lead in sustainable winemaking, preserving vast natural habitats and generating solar power. Timber Cove Resort enhances eco-travel with conservation efforts, Tesla chargers and nature experiences along the Sonoma Coast.
Sustainable Wine & Travel in Mendocino County
Mendocino County stands out as a leader in sustainable wine and hospitality with 25% of its vineyards certified organic and top eco-friendly wineries like Frey, Bonterra and Girasola. Terra Farm Kitchen and Mendocino Inn & Farm celebrate the region’s rich agriculture with locally sourced, plant-forward dining. Stanford Inn by the Sea offers a luxurious, all-vegan eco-retreat with organic gardens and sustainable architecture. Mar Vista Farm + Cottages furthers the region’s green ethos with renewable energy, EV charging and conservation-focused hospitality.
Eco-Friendly Adventures & Lodging in Tuolumne County
Tuolumne County offers sustainable travel experiences through eco-conscious outdoor activities and green hospitality. Echo Adventure Cooperative provides low-impact adventures like hiking, rafting and fly fishing while following "Leave No Trace" principles and using 100% solar-powered facilities. First Light Resorts, including Evergreen Lodge, Rush Creek Lodge and Firefall Ranch, prioritize sustainability through water reuse, local sourcing and environmental education.
Eco-Luxury at Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur
Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur is a leader in sustainable luxury, featuring organic architecture and energy-efficient practices, including one of California’s largest solar arrays. It actively preserves local wildlife, such as the Smith’s Blue Butterfly and California Condor, while promoting regenerative tourism. As an Earth Month getaway, it exemplifies how high-end travel and environmental responsibility can coexist.
Paicines Ranch: Regenerative Agriculture & Sustainable Living
Paicines Ranch in San Benito County regenerates its ecosystem through natural farming methods while producing food, fiber and fuel. Visitors can attend farm-to-table lunches, regenerative farming workshops and purchase pasture-raised meats on site. This working ranch exemplifies how agriculture and environmental stewardship can work hand in hand.
Monterey’s Sustainable Culinary Delights
Monterey Bay Food Tours showcases local flavors while highlighting sustainability efforts. Stops include Schoch Family Farmstead, which naturally ages Monterey Jack cheese, and Revival Ice Cream, which sources seasonal ingredients and supports local school gardens. The historic Joseph Boston Store promotes hyper-local artisan foods, making this tour a unique way to taste Monterey’s eco-conscious food scene.
Sustainable Travel in North Lake Tahoe
North Lake Tahoe promotes responsible tourism through the Traveler Responsibility Pledge and TART Connect, a free shuttle reducing emissions. The UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center educates visitors on lake conservation, while the Tahoe Science Center showcases sustainable design.
Sustainable Winemaking in Napa Valley
Napa Valley leads in eco-friendly winemaking, with Larkmead Vineyards earning organic certification in 2023 and following regenerative practices. Wineries like Sterling Vineyards run on 100% renewable energy, while Clif Family Winery commits to zero waste as a Certified B Corporation. Pine Ridge Vineyards targets net-zero emissions by 2050, and St. Supéry preserves two-thirds of its land for biodiversity. Baldacci Family Vineyards uses organic farming methods, like sheep grazing for weed control, pollinator-friendly plantings and recycled glass wine bottles.
Butte County’s Green Culinary & Brewing Scene
Butte County businesses are committed to sustainability, with Chico’s Grana sourcing fresh produce from local farms. Sierra Nevada Brewery Co. incorporates alternative energy, solar power and composting while using vegetables from its certified organic garden.
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
SLO Keys for Trees: Stay and Plant a Tree
San Luis Obispo’sKeys for Trees program ensures that every hotel stay contributes to local tree planting efforts. A portion of lodging revenue funds the city’s goal of planting 10,000 trees by 2035, enhancing green spaces and reducing carbon emissions.
Santa Maria Valley: Sustainable Wine Tasting
Santa Maria Valley offers eco-friendly wine tastings with its Sustainability in Practice-certified wineries, including Riverbench Vineyard, known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Presqu’ile Winery elevates the experience with its Wine + Food Experience, pairing cool-climate wines with a chef-prepared mezze picnic.
Sustainable Travel & Eco Events in Ventura County
Ventura County promotes sustainability through farm-to-table dining, marine conservation and community-driven events. Farm Day Every Day provides hands-on agricultural experiences, while the Celebration of Whales Festival on April 13 highlights ocean preservation with exhibits and live music. The Ventura Earth Day Celebration on April 19 features green businesses, an EV expo and sustainability initiatives, making the county a hub for eco-conscious travel.
Sustainable Travel in SLO CAL
San Luis Obispo County integrates sustainability into its food, wine and entertainment scene. The MICHELIN Star and Green Star restaurant at JUSTIN Winery in Paso Robles leads with sustainable fine dining, while the region’s 50+ certified sustainable wineries showcase eco-friendly winemaking. Tablas Creek Vineyard is the world’s first Regenerative Organic Certified winery, while Castoro Cellars and Ancient Peaks Winery offer sustainable vineyard tours via e-bikes with VineCycle Tours. In San Luis Obispo, the Palm Theatre is the nation’s first solar-powered cinema, and local artisans create eco-friendly goods.
Sustainable Ways to Enjoy Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, the birthplace of Earth Day, promotes sustainability through car-free travel, eco-friendly dining and marine conservation. Visitors can arrive via Amtrak’s scenic Pacific Surfliner and explore the city with Santa Barbara BCycle’s electric bike rentals. Night Lizard Brewing Company crafts eco-conscious beers, while Chef Vicken Tavitian of Bouchon hosts farmers market tours for a farm-to-table dining experience.
Earth-Friendly Experiences in Solvang
Solvang, rooted in Denmark’s eco-conscious traditions, offers sustainable wine tours and farm-to-table dining. My Electric Vehicle Experience (EVXP) provides eMoke rentals for car-free winery visits, including Kings Carey Wines, which uses recycled glass bottles and plastic-free winemaking techniques. peasants FEAST highlights local, seasonal ingredients and zero-waste cooking practices.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Eat Green in San Diego: Sustainable Dining & Farmers’ Markets
San Diego’s food scene embraces sustainability with farm-to-fork destinations like Fox Point Farms, which combines fine dining with regenerative agriculture. Chef Drew Deckman’s 31THIRTYONE champions locally sourced ingredients through a dynamic prix fixe menu. Visitors can also explore the region’s 50 farmers’ markets, including the Little Italy Mercato and Coronado Farmers Market, supporting local growers and artisans.
The Ranch at Laguna Beach: Sustainable Luxury
The Ranch at Laguna Beach combines history, sustainability and luxury with eco-friendly programs like glass recycling for golf course sand and reclaimed water irrigation. Its farm supplies fresh ingredients, while the resort’s two Surfrider Ocean Friendly Restaurants align with its sustainability mission. Recently named California’s first Ocean Friendly Hotel, The Ranch sets a new standard for green hospitality.
Irvine: A Model for Green Living & Sustainability
Irvine stands out as one of America’s greenest cities, preserving over 16,500 acres of open space and developing Great Park, which will surpass Central Park in size when expansions are complete. Tanaka Farms offers farm-to-table experiences like strawberry picking, cooking demos and hilltop luncheons. The Irvine Ranch Conservancy engages visitors in conservation efforts like habitat restoration events, such as planting native species and removing invasive plants.
Cocktails with a Purpose
Parkestry Rooftop Bar at JW Marriott Anaheim Resort creates sustainable, health-conscious cocktails using ingredients from its on-site JW Garden. Inspired by the Marriott family’s tradition of growing fresh produce, the garden provides herbs, fruits and vegetables for cocktails, oils and dishes. The "Cocktails with Purpose" initiative enhances the beverage program with fresh juices, raw honey and natural garnishes.
Sustainable Travel at The Oasis at Death Valley
The Oasis at Death Valley balances luxury with sustainability in one of the driest regions of the U.S. The resort conserves water through a gravity-run system that recycles spring water across the property before returning it to nature. Guests can experience two distinct properties, The Inn at Death Valley and The Ranch at Death Valley, along with the Furnace Creek Golf Course, which is irrigated sustainably. By maintaining wetland habitats and preserving natural springs, The Oasis ensures the delicate desert ecosystem remains protected for future generations.
Sustainable Travel in Santa Monica
Santa Monica promotes green tourism through its solar-powered Pacific Wheel, energy-efficient hotels and eco-friendly dining. Heal the Bay Aquarium educates visitors on ocean conservation, while the city’s farmers markets supply fresh, local ingredients to top restaurants like Lunetta, Huckleberry Bakery & Café, The Curious Palate, Michelin two-star restaurant Mélisse and more. LEED-certified hotels The Ambrose and Shore Hotel prioritize sustainability, making Santa Monica a model for responsible urban tourism.
Beverly Hills: 9021 Zero Climate Action Plan
Beverly Hills is committed to carbon neutrality by 2045 through clean energy, sustainable infrastructure, waste reduction and urban forestry. The city has converted all municipal energy to renewable sources, installed LED lighting for efficiency and promotes greener transportation. Enhanced recycling and composting efforts support waste reduction, while tree-planting initiatives preserve green spaces.
Big Bear Lake: Businesses Leading the Way in Sustainability
Big Bear Lake embraces sustainability with businesses committed to eco-friendly operations. Stella Luna offers farm-to-table dining, while birding store Chirp serves triple-certified coffee. Outdoor enthusiasts can join Big Bear Hiking Adventures for guided eco-conscious hikes. Local photographer Bending Energy captures the beauty of Big Bear to raise awareness of conservation efforts.