Additional Eco-tourist Links for the San Francisco Bay Area

Additional Eco-Tourism Links for the San Francisco Bay Area

Below are some additional resources I found for greening your travel in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

This page supplements two articles that I wrote on this topic for print periodicals:

1) Ask EcoGirl column, "Greening Your Vacation," June 2012, www.patriciadines.info/EcoGirl5i.html

2) Green Getaways, NorthBay biz magazine, July 2011, www.patriciadines.info/a_NBbGreenGetaways11.html.

Thanks for your interest!

Best regards - Patricia Dines, EcoWriter www.patriciadines.info

=== ECO-CAR RENTALS ===

If you're renting a car, consider a hybrid or electric option, which lets you to save gas, impress your friends, and explore future purchase options. Some rental car agencies offer eco-car options, usually from major airports such as San Francisco and with advance reservations. Here are some links with more information.

Hertz www.hertz.com/rentacar/byr/index.jsp?targetPage=USgreencollection.jsp

Avis www.avis.com/car-rental/html/landing/green-car-rental.html

Budget www.budget.com/budgetWeb/html/rentals/hybrid-rental.html

Enterprise www.enterprise.com/car_rental/hybridOfferedCities.do

You can also rent Toyota Prius from dealers, including north bay locations; see www.toyota.com/rental. (They don't offer insurance, so bring your own proof of insurance.)

Additionally, this web page has some good background information, although the links are old or less useful www.greenyour.com/transportation/car/car-renting/tips/drive-a-green-rental-car

=== GREEN LODGING ====

For more about California's Green Lodging Program, including its directory of participating hotels, see www.dgs.ca.gov/travel/Programs/GreenLodgingProgram.aspx.

Other Marin green lodging is listed at www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/CD/main/comdev/advance/sustainability/greenbusiness/directory/business_listing.cfm#lodging

=== MORE ECO-PLAY IDEAS ====

A map of Sonoma County birding "hot spots" is at www.sonomabirding.com/birding_maps/sonoma.htm.

You can even get a taste of Africa's wildlife at Santa Rosa's Safari West (www.safariwest.com), a 400-acre wildlife sanctuary with guided open-air jeep tours of over 400 varieties of mammals and birds that helps preserve endangered species and educates to raise awareness.

=== CERTIFIED GREEN BUSINESSES IN THE NORTH BAY + BEYOND ====

The main link to the Bay Area's Green Business Programs is www.greenbiz.ca.gov. If you click on "Find a Business," you'll get a searchable database by category and county, which is handy.

However, I also found these county lists to be useful for seeing all businesses at once, by category and town.

* Marin County Green Business Program, Business Listings www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/CD/main/comdev/advance/Sustainability/greenbusiness/gbiz_index.cfm

* Sonoma County Green Business Program, Business Listings www.sonoma-county.org/sonomagreen/green_listings.htm

=== OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES ====

The Redwood Coast Geotourism Project. This is a collaborative project of the National Geographic Society and local organizations to encourage geotourism, which they define as "tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place - its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents." The website has a handy interactive map of selected local nature areas, farms, lodging, restaurants, cultural centers, events, and more. www.visitredwoodcoast.com.