Cities don't get much greener than San Francisco.
The southern California city is well known for banning plastic bags, plastic bottles, and Styrofoam take-out containers, and San Francisco International Airport was the first to install carbon offset kiosks. And the California Academy of Sciences is at the forefront of avant-garde green building.
If you're thinking of dashing off to the Golden Gate City for a weekend, here are some of the top eco-friendly services and attractions the city has to offer.
Eco-Transportation
San Francisco is a pedestrian-friendly city, and walking is the best option-you'll see everything, it's zero-emissions, and you'll get some exercise. But if your feet need a break from the city's famously steep hills, there are other options.
The Muni, San Francisco's public transportation system, is one of the top systems in the country with its mix of rapid rail, commuter rail and bus lines that span the city. The city's buses run on biodiesel, and the historic cable cars are a treat for visitors.
If you want to skip the public transportation but want to get around more quickly than you can on your feet, consider renting a bike from one of the many rental shops in the city-including Bay City Bikes and Blazing Saddles, both of which also offer bike tours.
Sustainable Eats
Don't miss the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, open Tuesday and Saturday. The market is operated by the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture, most vendors are small regional farmers and ranchers, many of whom are organic farmers.
Plant Café is one f the city's best places to eat green. The organic café and juice bar is totally organic, and they use local produce as much as possible. Don't pass up the chance to dine at Fish and Fare, which features local cuisine, and Millennium, which supports organic food production, small farms and sustainable agriculture-and they recycle and compost.
Vegans, whose animal-friendly food choices are also eco-friendly, will love Mixt Greens and Herbivore.
Do not leave the city without stopping by Tartine Bakery and Café, a totally organic French bakery offering fare such as pain au chocolat and éclairs. Tartine's pressed sandwiches include a mouth-watering array of options, including prosciutto and provolone, and mozzarella and tapenade.
Eco-Friendly Things to Do
For an eco-friendly day outside the city, head to the Golden Gate National Parks. While most tourists want to visit Alcatraz, there are countless other options for enjoying all that nature has to offer in the Bay area.
Hike out to the Point Bonita Lighthouse, or watch dolphins play in the waves at Baker Beach. Experienced hikers will love the trek up Hill 88 at Marin Headlands, and if you're looking for stunning views, be sure to climb the "bootleg" steps up the bluff at Mori Point. If the family has come along for the trip, be sure to visit Crissy Field Center, where programming focuses on urban environmental issues.
The Scroungers' Center for Reusable Art Parts, or SCRAP, is a Do-Not-Miss for crafters and creative types. You can take a workshop such as puppet making or lamp rewiring, or simply stock up on dirt-cheap supplies like scraps of fabric from local textile factories, paper, jewelry findings, buttons, plastics and more. And the best part: Everything you find in the store has been donated, diverting what could have been a lot of waste from landfills.
Green Sleep
Need a place to rest those tired feet after a long day of exploring the city? Look no further than Orchard Garden Hotel and Hotel Triton.
Orchard Garden Hotel earned LEED certification in 2007, becoming only the third hotel in the U.S. to get the benchmark green building designation. The hotel is also Green Seal certified for waste minimization, water efficiency, energy efficiency and environmentally responsible purchasing.
Hotel Triton offers a different kind of green experience. With a dozen eco-suites designed by Woody Harrelson, Andy Dick and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, it's a pop culture lover's dream. The eco-suites are outfitted with sustainable furniture and water-conserving fixtures and fittings. All rooms in the hotel are cleaned with green cleaning products, they only use low-VOC paints, air conditioning units and minibars are energy efficient, and they even offer a 25 percent discount on valet parking if you're driving a hybrid. Do you need anything more to get revved up?
