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.

For my full article on this topic, see the July 2011 issue of NorthBay biz magazine, available in July at newstands and at www.patriciadines.info/a_NBbGreenwashing10.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.