Travel responsibly this season by booking a stay at one of these eco-friendly resorts.
‘Tis the season … for fun, sun, road trips, and flights. But traveling doesn’t have to mean throwing your environmental values out the window. So pack your bag and book your stay. These sustainable hotels in California have the eco-friendly practices you’re looking for.
Stanford Inn by the Sea
Mendocino, CA
Not only is the food at Stanford Inn by the Sea 100% vegan, but the California resort incorporates other sustainable practices as well. For starters, this Mendocino coastal destination offers complimentary charging stations for your hybrid or EV. The inn also incorporates composting and recycling programs and maintains an on-site certified organic garden. Dine at Ravens Restaurant, featured in Oprah Magazine. You will enjoy a whole food plant-based menu selection, the ultimate in sustainability. This pet- and family-friendly spot offers a range of wellness and environmental experiences for guests and supports environmental education through their Environmental Leadership Field School.
Courtesy of The Stanford Inn
1 Hotel
West Hollywood, CA
At 1 Hotel, you will enjoy fresh, organic meals that are locally sourced or sourced from the resort’s on-site garden. The plant-friendly menu offers a number of zero-waste dishes. For breakfast, choose from Coconut Yogurt & House Made Granola, Avo Toast, a seasonal fruit bowl, and more. And be sure to try the House Made Chickpea Burger later in the day. This LEED Certified hotel also offers EV charging stations for guests, reusable and recyclable amenities, and on-site filtered water sources. In addition, 1 Hotel has eliminated all single-use plastics! Going above and beyond is the name of the sustainability game here. From using native and reclaimed materials to leaning on indigenous landscaping, 1 Hotel covers it all.
Courtesy of 1 Hotel West Hollywood
Two Bunch Palms
Desert Hot Springs, CA
Two Bunch Palms sees the sustainability efforts of other resorts and raises them “marketing to a local, drive-market crowd.” Sure, the hotel implements water conservation techniques, recycling programs, and solar power usage, but they also work to attract guests who are within driving distance from the resort. This reduces flight emissions and creates a smaller environmental footprint. In addition, the California hotel kicks its sustainability efforts up another notch by offering a vegetable-forward menu. Enjoy seasonal items such as Vegan Key Lime Pie, Caesar Salad, and Cauliflower & Coconut Curry. Or try one of their adaptogenic drinks, juices, or grab-n-go snacks from the coffee bar.
Photo by Stephanie Pia
H2Hotel
Healdsburg, CA
If you’re looking for hotels in California, LEED Gold certified H2Hotel is your vacay away in the Northern Sonoma wine country. This sustainable hotel, located in the historic town of Healdsburg, offers 36 guestrooms. Each room is stocked with a reusable water carafe, which can be refilled with either purified sparkling or still water from the custom-made water bar located on each floor. To drink, enjoy wine on tap (no excess packaging or waste). While there are no listed vegan items on the menu, there are a select few options that could be modified to be vegan. From its green roof, rainwater collection practices, and solar panels to its complimentary Dutch cruising bicycles for use during your stay, H2Hotel is the eco-friendly spot to be.
Courtesy of H2Hotel
Fairmont Grand Del Mar
San Diego, CA
As a guest of the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, you will enjoy complimentary filtered water in your room, a practice that eliminates 268,000 plastic bottles a year. You will also find large-format bath amenities, another plastic-reduction strategy. In addition to working to reduce single-use plastics, the resort sorts and recycles all green waste, uses reclaimed water for the golf course, and waters the course only when needed. The Fairmont also refrains from working on the course from April through October, a practice that protects the Gnatcatcher bird species, one of California’s protected species. The menu offers a small selection of plant-based items or items that can be modified, such as avocado toast, an acai bowl, and steel cut oats.
Courtesy of Fairmont Grand Del Mar
Ojai Valley Inn
Ojai, CA
From rainwater collection, green golf practices, and turf reduction to on-site herb gardens and fruit trees, sustainability is the name of the game at this eco-conscious hotel. In addition to resort-wide recycling, repurposing, and food composting programs, Ojai Valley Inn has committed to eliminating all single-use plastics. You will also find complimentary reusable water bottles with filling stations located throughout the resort. The Forbes Responsible Hospitality Verified hotel offers a selection of vegan options across their dining menus as well. Choose from Vegan Lasagna (with roasted root vegetables and cashew ricotta), White Bean Hummus (with herb salsa and grilled flatbread), cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and more.
Courtesy of Ojai Valley Inn
Post Ranch Inn
Big Sur, CA
The Post Ranch Inn is California’s largest hotel solar project. In addition to utilizing the power of solar panels, the building was designed using natural materials and, when possible, taking advantage of passive solar heat. This sustainable hotel also created the first greywater system approved in Monterey County. In addition to these sustainability measures, the resort has eliminated all single-use plastic bottles from the property and relies on native plants and drought-resistant landscaping for its grounds. You will also find a small selection of vegan items on the menu.
Courtesy of Post Ranch Inn
The Ranch at Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach, CA
Enjoy Southern California’s coastal shores from The Ranch at Laguna Beach, one of the premier sustainable hotels in California. A Beyond Green hotel, The Ranch goes above and beyond “reduce, reuse, recycle.” They utilize on-site composting and maintain a property garden to be used for the resort’s restaurant. And no more swiping plastic keys! This sustainable California hotel provides biodegradable wooden and bamboo keys for your door. The resort has also switched from compostable cups to reusable aluminum cups. You will find a small selection of vegan menu items at The Ranch, including the Harvest’s Garden Mezze Platter, pickled and raw veggies with roasted baba ganoush, white bean spread, and toasted naan.
Courtesy of The Ranch at Laguna Beach
