Make like LA locals and embrace the natural environment via beaches, parks and coastal trails with this tread-lightly guide to California’s biggest city.
Traffic jams aside, Los Angeles is a surprisingly green city. A 2,500-strong fleet of clean-energy buses means it’s becoming easier to get around Southern California’s star-studded city, and eco-friendly clothing brands, such as carbon-neutral Reformation, were pioneered there. Add in the region’s array of sandy beaches, public parks and vegan restaurants, and you’ll see it’s not so hard to plan a light-touch trip to LA.
You won’t find any single-use toiletries or plastic straws in this LEED Gold-certified Santa Monica hotel – an impressive effort has been made to keep your stay ecofriendly. From the solar-heated pool to the low-flow showerheads and drought-resistant plants – which all reduce energy consumption and water use – you can focus on enjoying those Pacific Ocean views.
It’s a good hour’s drive along the coast (keep an eye out for A-list celebs as you meander through Malibu), but this relatively uncrowded wonder is worth the journey. You could easily spend a day exploring the mountains on the dusty hiking trails, but most people come for the beach. It’s one of the county’s most scenic spots, ideal for swimming, surfing and, of course, working on that tan – you’re still in LA, after all.
Keep your eyes peeled for kingfishers, mandarin ducks and a party of roaming peacocks as you wander this 127-acre (51ha) botanical garden in Arcadia. Deepen your relationship with nature by joining a forest bathing walk, or swing by Crescent Farm, a once-neglected plot of land which has undergone an eco-transformation, demonstrating how gardeners can save water with drought-tolerant plants, smart landscaping and soil-friendly practices.
This LGBTQ-friendly, woman-owned ethical store near Griffith Park sells zero- and low-waste beauty products, quirky homewares and kitchen essentials, as well as locally made artworks, textiles and clothing sourced directly from designers. Come to stock up on reusable straws and packaging-free shampoo bars, stay to ponder how many 100% cotton, silk-screened pillows you can fit in your suitcase. Our tip? Treat yourself.
Inspired to make your LA trip a sustainable one? Eat at the city’s 12 best eco-friendly restaurants, or six where you can take a responsible bite on a budget. It’s not just the City of Angels with green credentials, of course – read about San Francisco’s claim to being California’s most sustainable city, then find your own sustainable stay in the Golden State, bookable on Culture Trip.
We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK"