The Greener Guide to Seeing San Francisco More Sustainably
Head out on hiking trails, rummage through community thrift stores and rest your head at planet-hugging places to stay in California‘s most conscious city.
Ah, San Francisco. Who could resist your combination of hipster culture, hippie history and natural highs (we mean those hills, of course)? The city is like a distillation of the best bits of California: warm weather, the ocean, redwood forests, cosmopolitan food and counterculture politics. It’s also considered a global powerhouse on the eco scene. Not only does it recycle approximately 80 percent of its municipal waste, but it also has one of the largest public transport networks in the country and is working towards running entirely on renewable energy by 2025 and being carbon neutral by 2040. We think the Sixties flower-power children would approve.
Muir Woods National Monument
Natural Feature
It’s hard to tear your eyes away from the magnificent giant redwood trees in this forest, but if you can, you may glimpse a shy bobcat streaking across the path or a chipmunk foraging for nuts. Some of the trees at Muir Woods National Monument are more than a thousand years old, and as you hike the 6mi (10km) of trails, it’s easy to convince yourself you’re the only person around. It’s particularly atmospheric on gray days when rain pitter-patters on the canopy and the forest floor comes alive with a host of bizarre insects, including bright yellow banana slugs.
California Academy of Sciences
Building
Explore Earth without leaving Golden Gate Park at the groundbreaking California Academy of Sciences, featuring an aquarium, a planetarium, a rainforest dome and a natural history museum. The curved building itself looks more like a spaceship with a 2.5-acre (1ha) living roof home to 1.7m plants. Also, the institution supports several conservation initiatives, including a breeding program for endangered African penguins.
Hotel Spero
Suite Hotel
Near Union Square, Hotel Spero is a colorful and cultured spot to base yourself during your San Francisco trip. In the lobby, packed shelving contrasts with modern art, while original features, such as beamed ceilings and a stone fireplace, create plenty of character. To reduce water consumption, the hotel installed low-flow faucets, toilets and showers, and there’s also a program called the Giving Rack, where you can donate unwanted clothes to local shelters.
Community Thrift Store
Store
Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
Building, Market
Good Hotel
Hotel
In a 100-year-old building in the artsy SoMa neighborhood, the Good Hotel is one of the best-value options in the city. The vibe is minimal and relaxed, with furniture made out of recycled materials and water-saving sinks and toilets. Expect fun touches, including a chalkboard wall to save paper. As a bonus, you also get access to the heated rooftop pool at its sister hotel, the Americania, across the street.
Arizmendi Bakery
Bakery, Pastries
Argonaut Hotel
Boutique Hotel
Find out more and start planning your trip now by visiting sftravel.com