sfenvironment.org

Tourism Goes Green in SF--California Travel

(February 1, 2010)

By Karen Misuraca

One of the most eco-friendly cities in the world, San Francisco helps visitors reduce their impact on the environment while enjoying their sightseeing.

Tourists in San Francisco will find "green" itineraries, sustainably-operated lodgings, restaurants and stores, and tips on alternative-fuel transportation on this "Only in San Francisco" Web site.

A small, compact city nearly surrounded by water, San Francisco is easy to get around on foot. It was named the most walkable city in the nation by WalkScore.com and the American Podiatric Medical Association, and Forbes.com ranked San Francisco as America's "best city for the outdoors."

San Francisco is one of the country's greenest cities
•first city to ban plastic bags
•70% recycling rate and growing
•converting 100% of taxi fleet to hybrid or alternative fuel
•largest city-owned solar installation in the U.S.
•a 2009 Nalgene study lists SF as the "America's Least Wasteful City"
•world's most environmentally-friendly museum (California Academy of Sciences)
Alternative-Fueled Transportation in San Francisco
The SF Bay Area's largest fleet of amphibious land/sea vehicles has gone green, by using biodiesel. "Ride the Ducks of San Francisco" is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Tourists can see the city from a duck's eye view on 90-minute tours in open-air amphibious vehicles on land and sea, passing through such districts as Fisherman's Wharf, North Beach, Chinatown, SOMA and the Embarcadero and splashing right into the bay at China Basin and McCovey Cove.

San Francisco International Airport has launched the nation’s first Green Rental Car program that rewards customers for renting alternative-fueled vehicles. Customers who rent hybrid cars at SFO, such as the Honda Civic Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid or Toyota PRIUS, receive a discount at the rental counter. It is estimated that more than 4,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year will be eliminated through the implementation of this program.

Sustainable Sightseeing in San Francisco
Dozens of barking California sea lions draw crowds of spectators on Pier 39's K-dock nearly every day. Marine Mammal Center docents in the "Whale Bus" are often on hand to answer questions about the city's famous pinipeds. Pier 39’s West Marina has been declared a Watchable Wildlife viewing area by the California Wildlife Project. For information visit www.pier39.com.

One of the largest urban parks in the world, Golden Gate Park stretches for three miles on the western edge of the city, with not a single "Keep Off the Grass" sign. The park is the home of:

•new California Academy of Sciences (more here about the Academy)
•Conservatory of Flowers (the oldest surviving wood and glass greenhouse in the U.S.)
•San Francisco Botanical Gardens (more than 7,000 species of plants)
•Japanese Tea Garden
•Shakespeare Garden
•Rose Garden, and other leafy attractions
Many San Francisco companies offer guided tours geared to active people who want to see and touch the "green." The most popular guided walk offered by California Nature Tours is called "The Wild Side of Nature," a four-mile stroll along a paved section of the California Coastal Trail, with stops at the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park and the Presidio, ending on the Pacific Ocean side of the city on the cliffs at Land’s End, and at Ocean Beach.

The Ferry Building Marketplace at the foot of Market Street showcases the products of nearly 100 organically certified farmers.

San Francisco a World leader in Sustainable Tourism
San Francisco is the lead U.S. city to partner with the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria Partnership, a coalition of more than 40 international conservation, development, and travel industry organizations to implement sustainable tourism principles. The city promotes local businesses that protect cultural heritage and the environment.

And, one more thing! San Francisco has formed a partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative to transform the city's Civic Center into a sustainable resource district that maximizes energy and water efficiency, reduces waste, and increases the use of wastewater.