SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
San Francisco Moves Cleaner from City Streets to Peninsula Rails
San Francisco makes low-impact travel feel seamless, from the Presidio's free electric GO shuttle to MUNI’s zero-emissions trolley fleet and transit network powered largely by greenhouse gas-free hydropower. BART extends across the Bay Area with fully electric service, drawing 97% of its energy from clean sources. Beyond the city, Caltrain's electrified 51-mile corridor connects San Francisco to San Jose, cutting emissions significantly while linking walkable Peninsula downtowns like San Mateo, Redwood City and Burlingame with easy airport access.
Explore Santa Rosa with a Lighter Footprint
Santa Rosa gives visitors plenty of easy ways to travel more sustainably once they arrive. The Redwood Bikeshare program offers on-demand electric pedal-assist bikes around downtown, Historic Railroad Square and near SMART stations, while the SMART train connects the city to Bay Area and North Bay communities. EV charging at Santa Rosa Plaza Mall, the Charles M. Schulz Museum and several hotels, along with bus service and expanded bike paths, makes low-emission travel practical across the city.
Stay Sustainably in Mountain View at The Ameswell
The Ameswell Hotel makes sustainable travel in Silicon Valley feel seamless, with on-site EV charging, access to nearby Caltrain and a bike program that connects guests to Stevens Creek Trail and Shoreline Lake. Its LEED Silver and Ocean Positive credentials show up in practical ways, from solar panels and pollinator-friendly landscaping to compostable utensils made from bamboo and sugarcane. A zero-waste banquet program and food donation partnerships round out a stay that keeps environmental impact lower without making the experience feel stripped down.
HIGH SIERRA
Limelight Mammoth Brings Sustainability to the High Sierra
Limelight Mammoth builds sustainability into the guest experience with a fully all-electric design that will get cleaner as California's power grid improves. Reclaimed materials, native landscaping and architecture that highlights the alpine setting reflect a clear respect for place, while on-site EV charging and an all-electric Audi guest fleet make lower-impact exploration easy.
Ride YARTS into Yosemite the Easy Way
YARTS is one of the simplest and most affordable ways to reach Yosemite from Tuolumne County without driving. Running from mid-May to mid-September, the service includes park admission in the ticket price and offers pickups in Sonora, Jamestown and Groveland before continuing into Yosemite. Comfortable motorcoaches head north toward Tuolumne Meadows or south to Yosemite Valley, letting travelers focus on the scenery instead of traffic, parking and entrance logistics.
CENTRAL VALLEY
Roll into Lodi by Train and Trolley
Lodi is an easy car-free wine country escape thanks to Amtrak's San Joaquins line, which stops downtown near tasting rooms, restaurants and boutiques. Sacramento visitors can get there in under an hour, while travelers from San Francisco can connect through Emeryville for a smooth trip of about 2.5 hours. Once in town, the Lodi Wine Trolley adds a fun, lower-impact way to explore the region's vineyards, including Saturday winery tours with tastings and lunch.
CENTRAL COAST
Sustainable Road Trips & Coastal Stays in Monterey County
Monterey County makes Highway 1 EV travel seamless, with charging stations woven into scenic stops, restaurants and walkable areas, turning recharging into part of the experience. Travelers can also tap into the Stewardship Travel for Good program through beach cleanups, farmers' markets, eco-conscious stays and wildlife education. Asilomar extends that mindset with Level 2 chargers, bike rentals, locally sourced meals and 109 acres of preserved coastal habitat. Ongoing upgrades honor Julia Morgan's historic design while reinforcing the property's commitment to sustainability and community.
Take the Train & Trolley into Camarillo
Camarillo makes sustainable travel easy with rail access, local transit and EV charging across the city. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner drops visitors near Old Town Camarillo, where restaurants, tasting rooms and local shops are across from the station. EV drivers can charge at Camarillo Premium Outlets while shopping or dining, and the Camarillo Trolley connects key spots around town without needing a car.
See Paso Robles the Responsible Way
Paso Robles makes it easy to arrive and explore with a lighter footprint, starting with Amtrak's Coast Starlight, one of the country's most scenic long-distance rail routes. Once there, local operators like Pour Decisions Paso offer guided transportation to wineries, breweries, distilleries, restaurants and other popular stops. EV travelers also have solid charging options at wineries including Booker Vineyard & Winery, Tablas Creek Vineyard, Niner Wine Estates and Cass Winery.
Bike Your Way Through Morgan Hill
Morgan Hill offers one of the simplest low-impact travel experiences in the South Valley thanks to the Coyote Creek Parkway. The flat, paved 15-mile route connects Morgan Hill and San Jose along Coyote Creek, giving cyclists, walkers and commuters a scenic, car-free corridor through wetlands, open landscapes and spring wildflowers.
Car-Free Cruising & Easy Charging in San Luis Obispo
SLO makes getting around simple without a car, with a walkable downtown, direct Amtrak access, bike-friendly buses and the SLO Car-Free Rideshare Program offering discounts on hotels, dining and attractions. More than 75 miles of bike routes, protected lanes for all skill levels and Gold-level Bicycle Friendly Community status reinforce its easy, active appeal. Downtown, the Cultural Arts District parking structure adds 41 EV chargers, the city's largest concentration, making it seamless to park, charge and explore nearby shops, restaurants and cafes without breaking stride.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
See Southern California by Rail on the Pacific Surfliner
Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner gives travelers a lower-carbon way to experience 351 miles of SoCal coastline, linking San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. The route includes ocean views that are often only visible from the train, along with practical perks like reclining seats, Wi-Fi, power outlets and a Market Café. It is also significantly more energy-efficient per passenger mile than flying or driving, making it one of the easiest sustainable travel swaps on the coast.
Torrance Keeps It Green Without Trying
Torrance makes lower-impact travel easy with affordable public transit, strong EV charging stations and a growing list of sustainability-minded stops. Torrance Transit links places such as Del Amo Fashion Center, SoFi Stadium and the Hollywood Bowl for $2.00 each way, while the city's 132 public EV charging stations, including 23 free ones, make electric driving especially convenient. With eco-conscious stays at Miyako Hybrid Hotel, stops at businesses like Smog City Brewing supporting environmental nonprofits and outdoor spots like Madrona Marsh and Torrance Beach, the city offers a solid mix of access and intention.
Harbor Breeze Cruises Goes Hybrid in 2026
Harbor Breeze Cruises is pushing cleaner coastal tourism forward with El Escudo, a 350-passenger parallel hybrid vessel launching in 2026. Designed for zero-emission operation during harbor and low-speed cruising, the ship exceeds EPA Tier 4 and CARB standards and can run in four modes, including full electric and shore power charging. Backed in part by California Climate Investments and the Port of Los Angeles, it marks a major step toward lower-emission harbor tours, charters and educational cruises.
ORANGE COUNTY
Irvine Makes Sustainable Travel Feel Easy
Irvine has built the kind of infrastructure that makes lower-impact travel genuinely convenient, with more than 1,000 public EV charging stations placing it among California's top cities for EV access. Visitors can ride the zero-emission Great Park Balloon for panoramic views, use Irvine CONNECT’s free shuttle and explore walking and biking trails that link parks, green spaces and local farms.
Sustainable Luxury Hits Different at The Ranch at Laguna Beach
The Ranch at Laguna Beach composts kitchen waste and paper into soil for its gardens, turns recycled glass into golf bunker sand through its Bottles to Bunkers program and uses reclaimed water to irrigate all 87 acres, saving more than 20 million gallons of potable water each year. Rivian electric house vehicles, electric golf carts, sustainably sourced dining at Harvest and recognition from Beyond Green and the Ocean Friendly Hotel program highlight the focus on eco-friendly practices.
INLAND EMPIRE
Electric NAV Tours Through Doffo Winery
Doffo Winery gives visitors a more immersive way to see Temecula wine country with an eco-friendly Kawasaki NAV tour through the family's vineyards. The experience includes the winery's production facility, stories about the Doffo family and the land, tastings, charcuterie and plenty of photo-worthy stops. The tour ends with a visit to the MotoDoffo Vintage Motorcycle Collection, where more than 200 motorcycles and scooters spanning eight decades add an unexpected twist to the day.
Big Bear Lake Makes Mountain Travel Greener
Big Bear Lake builds sustainability into the visitor experience with free transit, EV access and a strong stewardship message. The fare-free Big Bear Trolley connects major visitor areas including The Village, Moonridge, Sugarloaf, Bear City and Boulder Bay, while the Trolley to Trails route helps people get to outdoor adventures without driving. Through Care For Big Bear, travelers are encouraged to follow Leave No Trace principles, support green businesses, volunteer and help protect the area's natural beauty and dark skies.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Oceanside Is Made for Car-Free Coastal Days
The Oceanside Transit Center links Pacific Surfliner, Coaster, Sprinter and Metrolink lines steps from downtown and the beach, while the on-demand gO'side Shuttle covers the three-mile coastal corridor between the harbor, downtown and south Oceanside for $3.00. Even travelers flying into San Diego can make the trip simply by taking the free Flyer shuttle to Old Town Station followed by the Coaster to Oceanside.
San Diego Airport Leads with Sustainability
San Diego International Airport has turned sustainability into something travelers can feel across the airport experience. Terminal 2 West was the first commercial airport terminal in the world to earn LEED Platinum certification, backed by programs focused on air quality, greenhouse gas reduction and 100% carbon-free electricity. That mindset also extends to dining and retail through the airport's Green Concessions Program, which helps businesses cut energy and water use, reduce waste and make more sustainable purchasing choices.